Libertas Legislation Tracker

With local government approval, this bill enables home builders that are willing to construct smaller or lower priced homes (in some circumstances) the ability to construct more homes than the current zoning allows.

Libertas supports this bill. While a different approach to property rights expansion would be preferred, the bill does enable the construction of more homes without government subsidy and expands property rights in certain circumstances.

This bill makes updates to environmental permitting, including plantwide applicability limitations and permit by rule registration.

Libertas supports this bill. By streamlining and clarifying permitting processes, the bill reduces regulatory burdens on businesses while maintaining environmental oversight, encouraging innovation and operational efficiency.

This bill prohibits law enforcement from requesting license or registration suspension for window tint violations, even if repeated.

Libertas supports this bill. This prevents citizens from facing unnecessary penalties for minor, non-safety-related offenses.

This bill eliminates vague and restrictive language, ensuring that only clear cases of fraud or misrepresentation are penalized.

Libertas supports this bill. While fraud and misrepresentation should be prohibited, the law must clearly define these offenses to prevent vague or overly broad restrictions.

This bill prohibits school districts from selling teachers' contact information to third parties, including organizations like teacher unions.

Libertas supports this bill. Government groups like public schools should not aid public school unions in their efforts to gain membership. It is a conflict of interest.

This bill makes an assault against a referee during a sporting event considered a more severe offense than against other individuals.

Libertas opposes this bill. Referees should not be considered a special, protected class of individuals under the law.

This bill increases the tangible personal property tax exemption from $25,000 to $100,000.

Libertas supports this bill. The tangible personal property tax is one of the most burdensome and tedious taxes for businesses, particularly small businesses and entrepreneurs. Raising the exemption to $100,000 would reduce the number of businesses subject to this tax, providing relief and allowing them to focus on growth and innovation instead of compliance with complex tax requirements.

This bill ensures that minors are properly informed of their right to legal counsel during juvenile proceedings, including nonjudicial adjustments, and mandates the provision of legal advice when a minor considers waiving counsel. It also strengthens indigent defense services.

Libertas supports this bill. This bill aids individuals ill-suited to navigate the judicial system by creating a more robust structure designed to inform such individuals to act in their own best interest.

This bill removes the requirement for bachelor's degrees to be accredited for non-medical licenses that include a licensure exam as part of the process.

Libertas supports this bill. The accreditation process does not improve the quality of education and creates unnecessary redundancy when a licensure exam is already required. Removing this requirement promotes efficiency and encourages competition and innovation in higher education.

This bill directs the Department of Corrections to use these funds for rehabilitation and reentry services.

Libertas supports this bill. It reduces recidivism and supports offenders' reintegration into society.

This bill would allow triplexes and quadplexes to be regulated under the International Residential Code (IRC) rather than the more stringent International Building Code (IBC).

Libertas supports this bill. This bill would lower construction costs for triplexes and quadplexes, making them more affordable for families seeking entry-level housing without relying on subsidies or additional government programs.

This bill creates a registration requirement for an occupational therapist to perform dry needling, expands the definition of both physical therapy and occupational therapy to include dry needling, and creates a registration requirement for an occupational therapist to engage in dry needling.

Libertas supports this bill. Dry needling is an effective treatment and should be accessible and practicable.

This bill puts unreasonable restrictions on Utah Fits All scholarship recipients, including prohibiting any service that can also be provided by the local district.

Libertas opposes this bill. Many of the restrictions in this bill are overly stringent, placing so many limitations on the scholarship that it becomes practically unusable for anything other than the most traditional education options.

This bill eliminates the homeschool affidavit, allowing parents to start with a letter of intent and removes the need to reaffirm homeschooling after moving.

Libertas supports this bill. Homeschooling should be easy to choose, without unnecessary forms or reapproval after moving.

This bill establishes a grid enhancing technologies program to modernize Utah’s energy grid.

Libertas supports this bill. By incentivizing utilities to adopt advanced grid technologies, it improves energy efficiency, reliability, and capacity while ensuring cost-effectiveness for consumers through innovative solutions.

This bill seeks to create an additional criminal offense for an act that is already illegal under existing law.

Libertas opposes this bill. This is a redundant penalty that should not be enacted.

This bill ensures that accident reports and records are more easily accessible by involved parties

Libertas supports this bill. All parties in an accident case should have access to any relevant evidence, regardless of its sensitivity.

This bill empowers the state treasurer to invest in qualifying digital assets, protects digital asset mining, and establishes requirements for investing in digital assets.

Libertas supports this bill. By integrating digital assets into state investments, this bill modernizes financial management, enables innovative asset strategies, and further positions Utah as a leader in digital innovation.

This bill clarifies that land dedicated to urban farming qualifies for agricultural tax treatment if it generates at least $1,000 in annual gross sales per quarter-acre.

Libertas supports this bill. Small-scale farmers should receive tax treatment comparable to larger farms and efforts to simplify and streamline eligibility requirements for farmers deserves support.

This bill enables property owners of at least 50 acres of agricultural land in a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class to create a "minor subdivision" which enables them to carve out lots as small as one-acre from the larger parcel.

Libertas supports this bill. Landowners deserve the freedom to make decisions that best suit their circumstances and desires.

This bill does not enhance anyone's rights to operate a short-term rental on their property. Instead, the bill enables cities to require the inclusion of their permit number on a short-term rental listing and enables cities to request the removal of the listing if the short-term rental is operating in violation of business license or zoning requirements.

Libertas opposes this bill. Our preference is for cities to have basic regulations that address issues that may occur from short-term rentals, not to add additional requirements for listings.

This bill requires public colleges and universities to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of each of their academic programs.

Libertas supports this bill. While we would like the legislature to go further, this bill is a nice first step to rein in higher education spending.

This bill requires public labor unions to recertify that they represent at least 50% of the employees every 5 years. It also prohibits government entities from using public resources to support the labor union.

Libertas supports this bill. Public employee unions are not part of the government. They should not have access to public resources that other members of the public could not access.

This bill ensures parents have the right to opt out of newborn medical testing, and if they do consent, they must have an understanding of how the data will be used, stored, and eventually destroyed

Libertas supports this bill. By preventing medical providers from using and sharing a newborn’s DNA without proper informed parental consent, this bill restores parental choice and privacy.

This bill allows law enforcement to seize a person’s vehicle without a warrant and force them to submit to fingerprinting if they fail to provide a physical driver’s license, even if they pose no public safety risk.

Libertas opposes this bill. This bill strips individuals of their property and privacy without due process, turning a minor paperwork issue into a major government overreach. No one should lose their vehicle or be forced to submit fingerprints simply for forgetting their wallet.

This bill and substitute changes the bill from criminalizing truancy to studying why students are absent from school.

Libertas supports this substitute. Studying why students miss school will lead to better chronic absenteeism and truancy solutions than trying to involve the courts and law enforcement.

This bill allows taxes imposed by a school district to be referred and possibly overturned by the local residents.

Libertas supports this bill. Every other local government faces potential referendums on taxes—school boards, which levy the largest share of property taxes, should be no exception.

This bill requires the Drivers License Division to notify affected individuals at risk of license suspension by certified mail and provide an opportunity for a hearing.

Libertas supports this bill. Ensuring citizens are informed of their rights is an important safeguard to due process and prevents arbitrary license suspensions.

This bill would force social media companies to re-engineer their platforms so that it’s easier to track users across different services.

Libertas opposes this bill. One of the leading methods for protecting people’s data online is to keep that data secure in one place. This bill would force social media companies to create a method of transferring that data to third parties, effectively opening up people’s personal information to breaches.

This bill would provide guidance and certainty for mental health practitioners who use AI chatbots in their practice.

Libertas supports this bill. This bill reflects the findings of Utah’s AI Innovation Lab, which worked with mental healthcare practitioners and technology experts to develop a framework for integrating AI chatbots into mental health services safely and within the confines of a practitioner’s license.

This bill clarifies permitted scholarship purchases and creates an ability for unspent funds to rollover for later purchases.

Libertas supports this bill. Creating a rollover is the right incentive to prevent unnecessary purchases, and providing purchasing clarity will protect the program moving forward.

This bill provides for improved guardrails and oversight of automatic license plate readers used and accessed by law enforcement and transportation management.

Libertas supports this bill. It improves data privacy, enhances transparency and accountability, ensures legislative oversight, as well as maintaining the requirement for a search warrant to track a suspect.

This bill limits state agencies’ compliance costs, lets citizens challenge burdensome occupational rules through the Office of Professional Licensure Review, and mandates agency justification or repeal within 90 days.

Libertas supports this bill. By granting the right to petition the Office of Professional Licensure Review, and requiring a response, this bill offers needed relief to occupations that are over-regulated. By limiting the financial burden of agency rules, this bill also safeguards businesses caught in the web of overly costly regulatory compliance requirements.

This bill prohibits school districts from issuing trespass notices to parents and other citizens for participating in public comment.

Libertas supports this substitute. Parents and residents of a school district have the right to weigh in during public comment. Schools should not have the ability to keep them off of district office grounds when they don't like their comments.

This resolution calls for the streamlining and consolidation of Utah's various housing policies.

Libertas supports this resolution. Utah's current housing policies are overly complex, making it difficult for the public and decision-makers to fully understand and contribute to them. Streamlining these policies would be a positive and welcome step.

This bill requires annual property tax notices to include a statement informing property owners aged 75 and older about potential eligibility for property tax deferral, along with a telephone number for further information.

Libertas supports this bill. It ensures seniors facing difficulties with property tax payments are informed about a program that allows them to defer taxes and maintain ownership of their homes.

This bill mandates that when the government seeks to use eminent domain to acquire land for certain utility infrastructure, it must prioritize utilizing federal public lands over private property.

Libertas supports this bill. Government projects should use existing public lands whenever possible, minimizing the need to seize private property and protecting individual property rights.

This bill proposes an automatic state income tax reduction when the state receives a windfall.

Libertas supports this bill. This change promotes fiscal responsibility and ensures that surplus funds are not treated as an opportunity for increased spending.

This bill reduces the individual and corporate income tax rate from 4.55 percent to 4.5 percent.

Libertas Institute supports this bill. While a larger tax cut would be ideal, cuts to Utah's income tax are very welcome.

This bill separates the public and private statewide online education program in two programs.

Libertas supports this bill. Public schools have different needs and requirements than private and homeschool students. Separating the programs ensures each can better serve students based on their educational model.

This bill allows a government entity to use information and data obtained from an automatic license plate reader for certain law enforcement purposes, including certain instances where the information was not obtained by a warrant.

Libertas opposes this bill. Citizens have a reasonable right to privacy as motorists.

This bill establishes age verification and parental consent requirements for app store providers and developers to protect minors using mobile apps.

Libertas opposes this bill. Increased regulation may discourage innovation and free market competition while also restricting individual and parental autonomy and responsibility

This bill ensures municipal broadband proposals are subject to adequate transparency and accountability for residents to make an informed decision.

Libertas supports this bill. While some municipalities should be free to improve their own communities, municipal broadband proposals tend to be overpriced and unsustainable. This law would put these programs to a vote, and ensure all available information is available to the public.

This bill ensures that cities and counties establish a clear, transparent process for entrepreneurs seeking to have new or innovative business types added to local zoning ordinances. It also sets a firm 60-day deadline for local governments to approve or deny such applications.

Libertas supports this bill. Residents and entrepreneurs deserve a predictable, efficient, and fair process when navigating local zoning and permitting regulations.

This bill allows individuals convicted of certain offenses, including traffic violations, to perform community service instead of paying fines.

Libertas supports this bill. Allowing community service as an alternative prevents fines from becoming excessive government revenue while helping offenders reintegrate and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

This bill increases the income thresholds necessary to qualify for two of Utah’s Property Tax Relief programs.

Libertas Institute supports this bill. Low-income seniors should not be at risk of losing their home simply because property taxes have substantially increased the past few years.

This bill would require certain regulated occupations to be clear when a customer is interacting with AI instead of a certified professional.

Libertas supports this bill. Minor updates to occupational licensing code to ensure AI interactions with customers are transparent is a sensible way to update regulatory codes for AI.

This bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from imposing quotas on stops, citations, arrests, or warnings and prevents officers from being evaluated or disciplined based on such quotas.

Libertas supports this bill. Eliminating quotas ensures law enforcement focuses on public safety rather than arbitrary enforcement targets, preventing unnecessary stops and citations that burden citizens.

SB 248This bill ensures that Utah’s medicinal psilocybin and MDMA pilot program can move forward by allowing qualified healthcare providers to participate after the initial healthcare systems declined to do so.

Libertas supports this bill. Patients suffering from PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions deserve access to these promising treatments. SB 248 strengthens the pilot program by ensuring experienced providers can step in, allowing patients to receive care in a controlled, supervised setting.

This bill ensures that law enforcement promptly returns seized computer devices used for evidence that are not considered contraband and prohibits agencies from requiring owners to unlock or consent to searches as a condition for return.

Libertas supports this bill. Protecting property rights and due process ensures that individuals are not unfairly deprived of their personal devices and privacy rights without proper justification.

This bill is a first step toward identification that is anonymous, privacy protective, and fully voluntary.

Libertas supports this bill. This bill is an important first step toward a future of identification for the digital age. It directs the Department of Government Operations to study how the state may endorse a digital identification that is fully controlled by an individual.

This bill provides a nonrefundable state income tax credit for self-employed individuals 19 years old or younger, covering their state income tax liability up to a $3,000 maximum.

Libertas supports this bill. If anyone in Utah deserves a break on their state income taxes, it's a young entrepreneur working hard to earn money and develop essential business skills.

This bill reduces regulation on microschools allowing microschools in churches, museums, libraries and similar buildings.

Libertas supports this bill. Reducing regulations on microschools will make it easier for founders to start their school providing more options for parents.

This bill encourages local governments to lower property taxes by eliminating the requirement to undergo the truth-in-taxation process if, after cutting taxes, they later need to restore them back their original level.

Libertas supports this bill. The current system incentivizes local governments to never cut property taxes because they fear the possibility of going through the truth-in-taxation process. This bill makes appropriate adjustments to remove this incentive.

This bill reduces barriers to entry in the cosmetology and beauty industry while maintaining consumer choice.

Libertas supports this bill. Government licensing requirements create unnecessary barriers to employment, and reducing these regulatory burdens expands opportunities for workers and entrepreneurs.

This bill creates the Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University to oversee general education with a focus on civic discourse, foundational texts, and transparency.

Libertas supports this bill. Higher Education needs a market disruption. The bill reduces bureaucratic control, enhances transparency, and promotes intellectual diversity in general education, pushing back on the current political alignment in universities.

This resolution proposes requiring a 60% supermajority vote from Utahns to pass any statewide initiative that imposes a new tax, increases an existing tax rate, or expands an existing tax to cover additional items or transactions.

Libertas supports this resolution. New taxes, especially those being attempted via the statewide initiative process, deserve a higher threshold to be enacted.