The following bills are included in this year's Legislative Tracker. Below each bill's title and number is our summary and explanation of why we support or oppose the bill.
Expanding Public Oversight of Local School Board A (HB 170) Support
This bill clarifies and streamlines the process for voters within a school district to use a referendum to weigh in on certain school board actions, including taxes.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. By cleaning up definitions and aligning procedures in state law, HB 170 removes confusion about how and when a referendum can be used, giving both citizens and school districts a shared understanding of the rules.
Expanding Access to Raw Milk (HB 179) Support
This bill allows raw milk producers who do not own any percentage of a store to sell raw milk and for 3rd-party pick up and deliver. The state government will also no longer do monthly tests.
Libertas supports this bill. It provides for additional deregulation in an area of law that the government has no role being involved in.
Property Tax "Truth-in-Taxation" Improvements (HB 236) Support
This bill requires local taxing entities to make preliminary public statements about proposed property tax increases and present alternative budgets showing operations with and without the proposed tax increase.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. This bill improves transparency and allows residents to meaningfully engage when property tax increases are proposed.
Lowers Driving Age & Allows Parent-Led Training (HB 464) Support
This bill lowers the minimum driving age by six months and allows parents to handle all driver education requirements for their children instead of requiring formal programs.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. Parents should have the authority to make decisions about their children's education and development without unnecessary government mandates.
Removing Barriers to Healthcare Jobs (SB 31) Support
This bill changes the scope of practice for the nursing, hearing, physical and occupational therapist, and hearing professions.
Libertas supports this bill. Most occupational licenses have arcane and protectionist requirements that unnecessarily create scarcity and drive up costs. This bill reverses a lot of those issues for these professions.
Law Enforcement Quota Ban (SB 67) Support
This bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from requiring officers to meet impermissible quotas and bans retaliation against officers who don't meet such quotas.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. Quota systems can incentivize unnecessary arrests and citations that violate individual rights.
Payment Plan Options for Court Debts (SB 156) Support
This bill enhances individual liberty by allowing constables to offer payment schedules as an alternative to property seizure, reducing the immediate financial burden and protecting property rights of citizens facing debt collection.
Seclusion Room Requirements (SB 181) Support
This bill requires construction requirements making seclusion rooms more safe including the use of video and audio recording of the building always.
Libertas supports this bill. While we don't think that seclusion rooms should be used ever on a child, if they are going to allow them requiring video and audio recordings of the room will prevent and detect abuse of the room outside of law.
Conviction Reductions for Police Cooperation (SB 184) Support
Allows courts to reduce a defendant’s conviction to a lower degree offense after sentencing if the individual provides substantial assistance to law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting others.
Libertas supports this bill. This creates a practical incentive for cooperation that can help solve crimes and improve public safety without expanding penalties or incarceration. It also gives judges discretion to reward rehabilitation and accountability, ensuring outcomes better reflect a defendant’s post-conviction conduct rather than locking in overly rigid sentences.
Legalizing Backyard Cottages (SB 284) Support
This bill expands the existing state statute governing accessory dwelling units to include detached accessory dwelling units, such as backyard cottages. It also makes a series of technical, clarifying changes to other land use provisions.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. We, and many Utahns, understand local control to mean the freedom for individual property owners to make reasonable use of their land, subject to basic safety and parking standards. This bill would allow property owners to build detached cottages for family members or to rent to others, a reasonable reform that we strongly support.
Expands Interior Designer Scope & Powers (SB 286) Support
This bill expands the scope of practice for certified commercial interior designers by removing occupancy group limitations and wall height restrictions.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. Expanding professional licensing scope typically reduces barriers to competition and increases market freedom.
New Tax on Targeted Digital Advertising (SB 287) Oppose
Creates a new tax on companies that deliver targeted digital advertising to Utah users, calculated from gross receipts tied to advertising impressions delivered in the state. Revenue is deposited into a restricted account for various youth and public awareness programs.
Libertas opposes this bill because it creates a new tax on digital services that is difficult to administer and risks discouraging innovation and investment in Utah’s technology sector.
Student Data Consent Rights (SB 296) Support
This bill establishes student ownership of educational data and requires informed consent before schools can access, disclose, or use student educational information.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. Students should control their personal educational data and have the right to consent to its use.
Protecting People from Unnecessary Arrests (SB 301) Support
This bill modifies the legal procedures for when courts issue arrest warrants versus summons to compel defendants to appear in court.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. Protecting individuals from unnecessary arrest and detention serves the principle of limiting government coercion to only what is truly necessary.
AI Education Regulatory Sandbox Program (SB 322) Support
This bill creates an artificial intelligence regulatory sandbox for Utah's public education system.
Libertas Institute supports this bill. The bill will allow schools to responsibly experiment with AI tools given parental consent and student safety protections.