Legislators / Ariel Defay
Ariel Defay
Republican · House District 15
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Ariel Defay
- Email: adefay@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-793-8944
- Office: 350 N State Street, Ste 350, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114
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Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Ariel Defay serves on:
- Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Education Committee
- House Transportation Committee
- Education Interim Committee
- Transportation Interim Committee
What they've said
201 remarks on 37 billsS.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Rises in support, saying Utah is a national leader in protecting children from social media and that the bill is limited to large technology companies.
▶ Watch at 2:03:31Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Speaker Pro tem. I rise in support of this legislation. As many of you know, colleagues, we are leading the way and we are setting an example to the rest of the nation in this space in protecting our children from social media. In fact, we are named as one of the top national leaders from the, um, childhood index. And so I would plead with you to think about what we can do. Other states are looking to us. They're watching what we're doing, and they're adopting the same policies that we are putting forward. And when we work together to put pressure and push back on these big tech companies, that's when change happens. And …
S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Supports the bill, saying Utah is a national leader in protecting children from social media and that the tax is aimed at large tech companies rather than local businesses.
▶ Watch at 2:03:33Read what they said
I rise in support of this legislation. As many of you know, colleagues, we are leading the way and we are setting an example to the rest of the nation in this space in protecting our children from social media. In fact, we are named as one of the top national leaders from the, um, childhood index. And so I would plead with you to think about what we can do. Other states are looking to us. They're watching what we're doing, and they're adopting the same policies that we are putting forward. And when we work together to put pressure and push back on these big tech companies, that's when change happens. And I will also add that this …
S.B. 290 Victim and Witness Privacy Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Defay says the bill sets a right to privacy for victims, limits prosecutors' turnover to data that is relevant and necessary, and requires other data to be held in a controlled manner.
▶ Watch at 2:32:38Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I want you to think about everything that you have on your cell phones, um, photos, places you've been banking information and imagine having to turn that over to law enforcement and have everything revealed. Um, that is the cost of reporting a crime for some victims. Um, and because of the significant amounts of private data and sensitive data that are being collected and turned over to defense attorney, defense attorneys and defendants were subjecting victims to re-victimization through the criminal justice system. Um, in 2018, U of U student, Lauren McCluskey turned over her data and nude photos of her were copied and shared by officers showing how this can be abused. So …
S.B. 290 Victim and Witness Privacy Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Defay closes by urging members to support the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:33:54Read what they said
for summation. Colleagues, This is an important bill and I urge your support. Thank you. Thank
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Moves to concur with the Senate amendments to H.B. 306 and speaks to the motion.
▶ Watch at 2:53:35Read what they said
Motion to concur with the Senate amendments Representative. That motion is ordered. I speak to it.
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that the Senate amendment removed the requirement for HOAs to post the actual reinvestment fee amount on the Department of Commerce registry, and instead requires them to post that they have a reinvestment fee.
▶ Watch at 2:53:41Read what they said
Yes. Uh, this amendment just, uh, in the original bill required HOAs to post on the Department of Commerce's registry the, uh, reinvestment fee, um, the actual amount. This just requires them to post the reinve that they do have a reinvestment fee for transparency purposes.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Said the bill is meant to support a statewide dyslexia screening program and that it now adds a statewide intervention program, and urged support.
▶ Watch at 1:03:39Read what they said
Yes. When we pass this bill, we uh, pass it with the intention of developing a statewide screening program and we have added a statewide, um, intervention program to this bill as well and would urge your support.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Explained that the amendments remove the parental transparency provision because of cost and workability concerns, and clarify that educational technology need not be designed only for education if it has significant educational value.
▶ Watch at 1:27:07Read what they said
Yes. This bill, uh, these, these amendments do two things. First, it removes the parental transparency provision. There were some questions about costs and workability among the LEAs, so we removed that. And then secondly, it clarifies that an educational technology doesn't need to be specifically designed for education only that it has to have, um, significant educational value. And that's it.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Said a separate bill passed both chambers that covers the parental transparency provision, which is another reason it was removed from this bill, and that the remaining language is more workable.
▶ Watch at 1:28:33Read what they said
Representative Defay for summation. Yeah, so we actually passed a bill, um, through the house and the Senate that does, does the parental, uh, transparency piece. Um, and that's another reason we took this out. So we have it. The way it was written in my bill was a little less workable than the other way. So we still have that piece.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Explains that the amendments clarify safe harbor for generation services that do not offer the ability to create counterfeit intimate images, and that platforms offering data need only download metadata and provenance data rather than the underlying material.
▶ Watch at 1:30:26Read what they said
Yes. The amendments do two things. First, it clarifies that if a generation service does not actually offer the ability to create a counterfeit and intimate image, then it would automatically qualify for safe, safe harbor. Secondly, it clarifies Providence related to downloading Providence data. Um, if a platform offers data, it, it originally said they had to be able to download the data with the provenance. This clarifies that they don't have to download the data of the actual material, just the metadata and provenance data.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presents HB 329 as a family-strengthening policy that extends paid postpartum leave to nine weeks for mothers and adds adoption and foster leave, and says it also protects pumping breast milk in public.
▶ Watch at 55:18Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, I was told by Representative Walter that you should all be in a good mood after the presentation of his bill. I don't know if that's correct or not, but it is correct. That's what he told me to convey. Um, uh, I'm here to present House Bill 3 29. It is a bill focused on strengthening Utah families through expanding maternity leave. I don't know if the senate's aware, but, um, because of the dropping fertility rates and the skyrocketing costs of living, we created a pro-family and strong family working group over the interim and worked on policies to see what we could do to help, um, strengthen families. …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Shares that after her first child she had six weeks of maternity leave, found it difficult and costly, and says the bill would benefit employers, employees and the state.
▶ Watch at 58:40Read what they said
Thanks. Thank you. And I would just add to that, um, so I, when I had my first child, I was a public employee, um, and I had six weeks of maternity leave and returned to work after. Um, and it was incredibly difficult and costly for our family. It was difficult to leave a child that young find childcare and then pay for it. And so this will be a huge benefit. It'll be good for our employers, it'll be good for our employees. Um, and it'll be good for the state of Utah. Thank you.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Thanks the committee for its conversation and says the bill shows Utah families that the state values them and helps strengthen families.
▶ Watch at 1:11:59Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate that. I, we've had good conversation and this is just really important, um, to show Utah families that we truly value them. And I think this is a good step in helping us strengthen Utah families.
S.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Pediatric Care for Autonomic Disorders · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Defay presents the resolution to raise awareness of pediatric POTS, urging better education and diagnosis for children and adolescents, and says it has no fiscal note and is cost neutral.
▶ Watch at 13:17Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This is a concurrent resolution regarding pediatric care for pots. We are raising awareness for this commonly missed condition. Uh, the resolution highlights widespread mixed diagnosis of POTS and urges, better education and diagnosis, especially for children and adolescents. This is a solution to help raise awareness without a fiscal note or any, um, binding rules. And it is cost neutral and I urge your support. Thank you.
S.B. 167 Reintegration for Disciplined Students · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked how SB 167 works alongside HB 310, which the committee already passed.
▶ Watch at 1:02:24Read what they said
Yes. Thank you. I'm just wondering, we passed House Bill three 10 from Representative Romero. I'm just wondering how this works in conjunction with that bill. Yeah, they'll have coordinating clauses, uh, you know, making sure that the policy, uh, overlaps or in the right place. Uh, you know, this is, uh, we had a, like I said, we had a work group that was working through, uh, these policies and a member of our work group highlighted, uh, Representative Romero that there was, uh, that this issue was out there and she engaged as well. And so, uh, you know, she's been great to work with this policy area as well. And I don't think there will be an …
S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked whether the materials would be delivered digitally in classrooms.
▶ Watch at 1:31:40Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. I have so many questions. Um, I don't know if I'll ask them all, but what, so first of all, it looks like it's, it'll be all open through an online digital platform. So is the idea that everything will be delivered, delivered digitally in classrooms Yeah.
S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked whether the board would develop the materials with its own staff or contract with a vendor.
▶ Watch at 1:31:58Read what they said
Okay. Um, and then my other question is just the development of, of this material. Um, is the intent that the state board would develop this material, and, sorry, I haven't thoroughly gone through the, through the substitute, but does the state board develop this, um, with staff? Is this, does that fiscal note include additional FTEs, or is this something that we would, um, contract out with a vendor to, to have these materials created?
S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked how the board would handle being both a regulator and a publisher of curriculum.
▶ Watch at 1:33:01Read what they said
Uh, one more follow up. Yes, go ahead. So, I'm just interested in, um, how the department approaches its role as a regulator and a publisher. Um, I'm not quite sure, I'm not clear on how that looks, but if you could explain how you envision that, I
S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked how the materials would fit with efforts to balance technology use in classrooms, including print materials.
▶ Watch at 1:45:20Read what they said
Thank you. Superintendent Hart. As you know, I am working on some legislation to balance the use of technology in the classroom. Mm-hmm. Um, so how do you envision, if we were to adopt this, how does this work in, in practice, in having maybe more print materials or making sure that we have that balanced approach to, uh, technology in the classroom? Line 42,
S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked whether printing the materials would be cheaper than buying new textbooks.
▶ Watch at 1:47:01Read what they said
I was wondering it, you are probably more familiar with the cost of textbooks. Yes. But it would, would it be cheaper to access this and print it off than it would be to
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented the substitute, which funds a University of Utah dyslexia screener, a pilot screening program, and an intervention plan for schools.
▶ Watch at 2:44:08Read what they said
I do have a substitute. I'll be speaking to the sub. Um, so yes, thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, this bill is part of our efforts to address early literacy. Um, this started when I was contacted by members of the dyslexia community, um, that had some needs. And we started working on a program to help address this. We actually have a hole in addressing dyslexia in our schools. Um, and other states are a lot further ahead, um, than we are. And it actually impacts quite a few students. We don't know exactly how many, because we don't, we haven't screened them. We don't know. But we, a common theme has emerged that a …
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the bill has been funded and is part of the state's literacy effort.
▶ Watch at 2:46:50Read what they said
This has been funded, yeah. This is, uh, this is something we're working on as part of our literacy push.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Says she has four bills in House committees and that House sponsors offered to present them for her.
▶ Watch at 1:43:58Read what they said
So just the p the reason I'm asking everybody is I've had, I, I had four bills in house committees right now, but all the house sponsors like the wonderful representative Faye offered to present for me. So thank you. You're Welcome. And if, if she hadn't, I would be gone right now and we wouldn't have a quorum. So this is working out really well. Yes. Happy to help.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presents the bill, saying it adds new categories for viewing AI-generated child sexual abuse material to fill gaps in current law and keep Utah in line with national standards.
▶ Watch at 1:44:23Read what they said
Yes. Thank you. Um, as you may recall, Mr. Chair, we were here a couple years ago talking about making a ICA illegal and classifying as CS a m. We did do that. We passed a bill, but as you know, AI is developing rapidly. We're watching that case law play out, and there are holes in that law. So this is just aimed to fill those holes in the law. Um, so what this does is it creates a couple of new categories, um, that those who are viewing a IC SAM can fall into. Um, this is just important because it keeps us, um, up to date with what is trending nationally, um, and putting us in line, …
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Says prosecutor Carl Holland is available to answer technical questions about the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:45:28Read what they said
Um, yes. I, if you have questions, I also have Carl Holland here with me who has, um, done been, been an attorney in this area for years and years and can answer any technical questions And, um, really increase the ags success on CS m.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Says current law already gives AI-created images of a real child the same penalty, and that the new definitions help clarify which images fall under each category.
▶ Watch at 1:54:20Read what they said
Certainly. Um, so that's already the, the law right now. So we decided two years ago that, uh, AI created CSAM is, is the same as is real child CSA that's depicting a real child. Um, You mean the same penalty? Yeah. Oh yes. Sorry. Same penalty. Um, so we're, we're not changing that or enhancing that. We're just, we're creating a new definition, um, because there's such a flood, um, online that it's so hard to tell what is real, what's not real. Um, so we're just creating new definitions, um, to help delineate, um, whenever a person is being, uh, is being prosecuted that they may know where to put 'em. Okay. I didn't say that very well. …
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Sums up by saying it is important for the state to send the message that it will not tolerate exploitation of children.
▶ Watch at 1:56:48Read what they said
Um, I Juab. I just think it's important that as a state we, uh, send the message that we aren't gonna to tolerate, uh, exploitation of children.
S.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Pediatric Care for Autonomic Disorders · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presents the resolution on POTS awareness and diagnosis, which is nonbinding and cost-neutral, and introduces guest Halle Hartley.
▶ Watch at 2:08:34Read what they said
Is it? Okay. Alright. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a guest with me here. This is Halle. Um, and so I am honored to talk to you today about pots. This is a resolution that raises awareness of a commonly missed condition. The resolution highlights widespread misdiagnosis of POTS and urges better education in diagnosis, especially for children and adolescents. It addresses long-term disability risks. Earlier recognition in management of POTS can reduce the risk of life long disability and downstream costs to families and public programs. And this is non-binding and cost neutral. The resolution does not mandate coverage or spending. It formally encourages medical providers and insurers to close the gap in care. Um, and …
S.B. 241 Early Literacy · House Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Spoke on the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:26:40Read what they said
Alright. I recommend, um, that we favor, or I motion that we favorably recommend first substitute SB 2 41.
S.B. 241 Early Literacy · House Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Thanks Senator Millner for her work on the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:32:14Read what they said
Yes. Thank you. Senator Millner Millner for all your work on this bill. Um, and for all you're doing for children's literacy. I appreciate it.
H.B. 407 Public Education Information System · House Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Thanks the sponsor, says he wants to fully understand the bill, and says he will vote yes for now.
▶ Watch at 2:54:11Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. I wanna thank the sponsor. I know that he addressed many concerns. Um, I'm gonna be, yes, but I also wanna make sure that I completely understand the bill. Um, and I, I think, I think it's pretty straightforward, but I just wanna make sure. So I'll, I'll be yes for now and hopefully yes on the floor.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presented HB 273 to balance classroom technology use, including a grade-level framework, limits on take-home devices, an AI policy requirement, and accommodation plans for students who struggle with technology.
▶ Watch at 35:48Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Chair. We just have some slides. This is a pretty comprehensive bill and it does have a few, uh, provisions. So I just have some slides to help keep things clear. So if you know me, if you've spent time with me, I'm, uh, really passionate about student outcomes in schools. Watching my own children learn and speaking with care parents across the state has helped me reach a difficult but important conclusion that our current tech centered approach is not translating into better student outcomes. Um, and so this bill really just aims to balance the use of technology. This is not an anti-tech bill. We still want teachers to have all the tools that they …
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Explained that the bill targets generative AI and asks schools to adopt an AI policy.
▶ Watch at 43:59Read what they said
So what, when I say AI is the wild West, I'm saying, what I'm saying is that schools haven't adopted an AI policy. So, and we are more concerned about generative ai, and that's what we're addressing in this bill is generative. So when you're talking about Gemini or chat, um, schools may want to think about a policy that's saying, we're not using generator generative AI on our Chromebooks in the classroom. Um, so that our kids are learning how to write and think critically before they're just turning to their computer. Uh, that's what we're contemplating in this bill.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said she is aware of those programs, has met with them, and that they support the bill's intent.
▶ Watch at 44:36Read what they said
Ai? Yeah. I'm aware of those. And there, those are good players in this space. I've had many meetings with them. Um, we've had good conversations. They're supportive of the intent, um, because they are good actors in the space. We don't want to remove AI tools. We just want to make sure that we're employing AI tools that support learning.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the bill instructs districts to have an AI framework and that the concern is not accurate.
▶ Watch at 45:03Read what they said
No, that's incorrect. So this, this is just, uh, instructing LEAs to have a framework around ai. So,
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said she is willing to have a conversation about changing the language.
▶ Watch at 45:22Read what they said
Yeah, I'm, I mean, I'm happy to. I don't, I don't think we need to. I think it's okay because I've met with those companies and they seem happy where the language is. Mm-hmm. Um, so, but I am happy to have that conversation.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Confirmed that districts oppose the bill and said she has talked with them about local control.
▶ Watch at 45:42Read what they said
That is correct. Yep. I've talked to them many times and tried to explain the local control pieces of it. Um, I have heard from many teachers, many administrators who agree with it and they are supportive. But, um, as a whole, they have decided that is their position.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said she cannot give exact numbers, that districts vary, and that she worked with a USBE AI specialist on the bill.
▶ Watch at 46:18Read what they said
I can't say how many don't have a district policy. I, and how many do, I mean, I didn't go one by one and count the districts. Um, but I've spoken to both urban, rural, suburban, um, across the state and, and it just varies. It's across the board. Um, some, it's very new to them. And the office, uh, we have an AI specialist at USBE. He's doing fabulous work. He's going around training teachers. Um, and I worked closely with him to craft this legislation so that it was so we weren't infringing on those, um, on those tools that are being used that are beneficial.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the bill would not prohibit those tools, and that carve-outs were removed so districts can amend tools to fit local needs.
▶ Watch at 47:21Read what they said
No, it would not be. So, actually, so what happened, we started down the road of carve outs. Um, but every district had so many different unique needs of the tools that they would need carved out. Um, 'cause we, like you said, we have ELL programs, we have wonderful numeracy, um, and reading programs that help kids who are below benchmark bring 'em up to benchmark really rapidly. So there is some great technology that's doing things. We also have programs in rural districts for rural, uh, schools that are going four days a week or some where there's multiple grades in a classroom, and they all have different tools that they need. So rather than trying to exempt …
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said she has worked with stakeholders, is willing to make amendments, and asked for the committee's support.
▶ Watch at 1:19:06Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for the good conversation. I appreciate it. I won't belabor the point, but I do want to know that I have tried to be as open as possible working with everyone, um, and getting really good feedback. I am willing to, um, make some amendments. And also, I just want to reiterate that this does not harm the use of tech in classrooms. We want the use of tech for those who can. Um, but I would ask for your support for this bill. Thank you.
S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend the first substitute as amended.
▶ Watch at 1:12:30Read what they said
I can, do you want me to, I move that we favorably recommend, uh, first sub SB 1 97 As amended. Okay.
S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Thanks stakeholders and says she is pleased with the substitute and hopes the governance change benefits workers.
▶ Watch at 1:12:49Read what they said
Yeah, I would. I want to thank all the stakeholders and everyone who's come together. I know that there has been a lot of conversation about the best way to move forward, and I know that, um, there have been a lot of people who have spent time in figuring out how they can best address the concerns of the public, how to, um, improve transit in Utah. And I hope to the, uh, worker over here who shared, I hope that this new governance structure will actually serve to benefit you because I think it's going to streamline and, and help things across the board. Um, and as far as the substitute, I am thrilled with it. Um, we …
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Presents the bill, which requires platforms to obtain consent before publishing deepfake intimate images, adds a safe harbor for good-faith platforms, and requires disclosure of content provenance data.
▶ Watch at 1:16:55Read what they said
Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, I have with me director Zach Boyd, uh, the director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy in the state of Utah. He is a wonderful partner, and as many of you may know, we have an AI task force, um, made up of some representatives and Senator Vickers. And we work closely with the Office of AI policy over the interim to look at trends in AI and what we can do to better protect our children and protect our citizens from, um, the emerging harms of ai. Um, as well as looking at how can AI help to improve lives and how can we, um, encourage innovation in a …
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Responds that the bill focuses mainly on images and video, with some audio touched on, and that audio is already addressed in existing code.
▶ Watch at 1:19:42Read what they said
Correct. This, I mean, this, correct me if I'm wrong, I mean, there is some audio components. Just go ahead. The, the, Yeah, toward the end there is some touching on audio, but the bulk of the bill is about the image and video, Although we have, we have addressed audio in the past. Um, so that is already covered in code.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the bill creates a private right of action against platforms that do not obtain consent or disclose provenance data, and that the Department of Commerce also enforces it.
▶ Watch at 1:20:13Read what they said
Yeah, so this is, this creates a private right of action. Um, so the platforms, uh, this would give someone a private right of action against the platforms if they were not obtaining consent or not disclosing data provenance. Um, then, and we also have an enforcement mechanism through the Department of Commerce.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the state has built the Office of AI Policy and works with consumer protection and the Attorney General's office so the bill is ready to implement.
▶ Watch at 1:20:54Read what they said
And just, I believe we are. We, we have, so we've started down this, we've created the Office of AI policy. They work in conjunction with the Department of Consumer Protection, and we also work with the Attorney General's office, um, to make sure that this is already to go. So we've kind of built an infrastructure that's ready for it.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the bill's goal is to help good-faith companies set an industry standard so people can trust platforms.
▶ Watch at 1:24:49Read what they said
and I appreciate that sentiment. I think the goal in this bill is that, um, those who are good actors want to set an industry standard so they can be trusted and reliable sources of information. And so if they're willing to set that standard, then people know what they can trust and it'll make, and they'll lean towards those types of platforms. This goal is to help the companies who want to be good in this space start going that direction. And it is, it's happening somewhat organically, but this is going to help continue in that direction. Um, I think like anything you, you want to, you wanna eat food that you know you can trust, you want …
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Summarizes that the bill was worked on during the interim with stakeholders, includes a heightened pleading standard and safe harbor, and that she will keep working on it.
▶ Watch at 1:38:18Read what they said
Representative for summation. Yeah, Thank you. And I appreciate the concerns. Um, I just want to assure you that we have worked, so this, we did work. This was an interim, uh, item. We worked through the interim. Um, we have worked extensively with stakeholders. As you notice, we have a heightened pleading standard and a safe harbor. Um, we've tried to do everything but happy to continue working and to make sure that this bill, uh, makes it to the finish line. I think, like you said, we all agree with the intent. Um, we've been very thoughtful and deliberative in working with everyone and happy to continue that. Thank you and I appreciate the support.
S.B. 81 Dyslexia Testing Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Presents S.B. 81, which requires schools to identify students with dyslexia and create intervention plans, protects educators who recommend screening from discipline, clarifies that screening is not a diagnosis, and has a zero fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 43:11Read what they said
Mr. Speaker colleague GRE ma May remember a couple days ago we passed a dyslexia bill. Um, this is part of a two part series, uh, that we are, uh, addressing dyslexia. This is a bill that just has policy. It has a zero fiscal note. And this is a policy, as I mentioned earlier, we have a whole in our education system when it comes to addressing dyslexia. And these are the policy pieces to help us, um, that require schools to identify and to intervene and create a plan for children with dyslexia. It also, um, has protected, uh, protection provisions for teachers and any educators and professionals who recommend a screening, um, that they'll be protected from …
S.B. 81 Dyslexia Testing Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Says federal law does not allow punishment for not recommending screening, that Utah law aligns with it, and that there are no repercussions for recommending screening.
▶ Watch at 45:38Read what they said
Um, currently under federal law, they are not supposed to. However, there is somewhat, this is actually how, uh, we started having this dyslexia conversation. There was a little bit of a culture that there could be backlash for recommending a screening. And so we just wanted to make it very clear that Utah law aligns with federal law and that there are, um, no repercussions for recommending screening.
S.B. 88 School Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Presents the bill, which would require local education agencies to give parents access to monitoring of students' school devices and, at a parent's request, provide a whitelist of websites instead of a blacklist, to increase transparency about students' screen time.
▶ Watch at 1:43:34Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. This Bill, um, is a, a one of a suite of bills that we have, uh, brought forward this session to address the use of technology in classrooms. And this specific bill does a couple of things. First of all, it requires for LEAs to give per parents access to, um, their students', um, web devices and monitoring of their computers so they can see what websites they're on and how long they're spending on those computers. It also at the parents' request requires an LEA, um, to provide a white list of available websites rather than a blacklist. Um, and this is just to help with par with transparency and help parents understand …
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Expressed support for the bill and said it would make the designation process easier.
▶ Watch at 1:02:05Read what they said
Thank you. I am just going to fill some time and say that I love this bill. I think it's phenomenal. And I just want everyone to know that in five years when somebody comes before this committee with a designation bill, Representative Thurston is, will remember this moment. And he will make sure that that bill does not advance in our committee. So I think it's wonderful. Thank you for what you're doing. And I think that will be a very good amendment. And I, do I need to take up any more time or are there other people wanting to speak? There's still more so Perfect to that, to that, uh, response or question or statement. Uh, I …
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether the bill is permissive for officers and how an encounter with a child would work, and says she supports giving officers these tools.
▶ Watch at 1:17:39Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. As you know, I am very interested in this, as many communities struggle. Mine does as well. Um, I appreciate you bringing this forward once again. So I love that we're giving tools to officers. Um, are the, um, let's see, I think it's an infraction, right? For a child who violates mm-hmm. Um, is this a may or a shall or how, how are officers, um, once, if they, if they encounter a child on a bike, how does that interaction look? So, um, because of the discussions we had, um, last session, I know that we have, um, members of our body that, um, that are supportive of, you know, kids being able to, to …
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Says that under current code a parent who knowingly allows a child to take a car may face a Class D misdemeanor, so the cases are not identical.
▶ Watch at 1:38:05Read what they said
So I don't know if this is accurate because I'm asking the internet and chat. Um, it seems like if a child, if if a parent knowingly allows a child to take a car, then it is a Class D misdemeanor with a fine up to a thousand dollars and potential gel time. So it would, so it wouldn't be apples to apples. If so, that's just knowingly. Um, which is something we could, we could add knowingly in, but it's difficult to decipher, but, so it wouldn't be the same with the amendment.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Thanks the sponsor for working on concerns and says she supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 18:23Read what they said
Thank you. I wanna thank the sponsor for working with me, working together as one of my favorite things. Um, and she was able to address many of my concerns. And, um, we got to a really good place with this bill. We spent a lot of time in committee and I would just like to thank her and I support this bill.
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Speaks in support, saying schools asked for the policy to be broadened after success last year.
▶ Watch at 35:13Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support. Um, I think the work we did last year, uh, really spoke to how important this is in our children's education, and I am proud of all the work that's happened and what the sponsor has done to make progress. The reason it's back this year is because we've had such success, um, in schools, and schools are asking us to broaden the policy. So I am really appreciative. I know that this will be so impactful for our students, and I encourage you all to vote for the bill.
S.B. 164 School Construction Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks about fees, which parts of the bill are mandatory, and reporting and maintenance requirements; sponsor and Jim Russell respond that fees apply only when DFCM is hired and that data reporting and facility assessments are required.
▶ Watch at 1:07:46Read what they said
Thank you. And thank you to the bill sponsor. Um, these are things I have been thinking about for years. I appreciate your, um, work to try and address them and address the audit findings. Um, I do have a few questions and concerns. So first of all, um, I am concerned about fees. So you mentioned, um, that it won't cost a district more than 2000 to $107,000. Um, so are, is there anywhere in this bill that there could be any additional fees, other than you said if they manage the entire project, it's that one and a quarter percent Is there, and that's, and that's optional. That's if the districts wanted to hire them to do those. …
S.B. 164 School Construction Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Summarizes his understanding of the mandatory parts of the bill, including inspections from an approved list, data collection, cost reporting, facility condition assessments and maintenance standards. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:10:11Read what they said
So just to, I've just been making a couple of notes. So just so, uh, I'm clear, the parts that are not optional are in inspect the inspections have to be from somebody that's on a list that you'll essentially curate and, and, uh, uh, uh, you'll, they'll have to be authorized. Um, there's a number of data collection and in addition to that, there's some cost reporting. Those, those data collection, which have been at USBE and the cost reporting elements are, are not optional. Um, the facility condition assessments, right. Those are the things that I think I've heard you say. And then the maintenance, the building maintenance standard and Audits. Thank you. That's right. To make sure …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Presented the bill, which lowers the reinvestment fee for HOAs with few amenities, keeps the 0.5% fee for others, requires half the fee to go to reserve funds for non-master-plan HOAs, and requires HOAs to post fee information on the Commerce registry.
▶ Watch at 39:21Read what they said
Thank you. Members of the committee. This bill came to me, um, from a constituent who moved three times, um, over the course of five years. And each time she moved into an HOA and when she moved, she had to pay a 0.5% reinvestment fee of the cost of her home. So, um, that was really a home affordability issue for her and something that, um, it, the buyer or the seller can bring to closing. But, um, in a seller's market, it's often the buyer. So this, I, she came to me and said, I have, I kinda have a home affordability idea for you. Uh, and so, uh, what I proposed to do is to cut, um, …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Explained that the original proposal was a 0.25% cap, that the amended version was shaped with industry input and the HOA ombudsman, and that the carve-out covers HOAs with larger amenities such as golf courses, ski resorts, and private roads.
▶ Watch at 41:54Read what they said
Yeah, so when I initially proposed this, I was, uh, proposing a 0.2, uh, 0.25% cap across the board. However, in working with industry, and also we have, we, uh, have a new HOA ombudsman in the Department of Commerce. Um, they indicated to me that, um, really the health of HOAs is a concern for, uh, for our state. And so they say they use, uh, I mean this is used as a tool and the HOA ombudsman agreed that, um, this is a tool that's needed to replace those capital intensive projects. Things such as pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, um, and then you have like resort communities that have big projects in them, like golf courses, ski resorts, …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the line on where to draw the carve-out came from industry and the HOA ombudsman.
▶ Watch at 43:12Read what they said
Yeah. Is that how you came? Yeah. Yeah. I worked with industry and the ombudsman and, and this is where we came, came to that, That, so it comes from industry and ombudsman.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Says the bill directs the University of Utah College of Education to develop a dyslexia screener that the state would own and make available to all LEAs, to help identify students and intervene early.
▶ Watch at 1:27:04Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. As many of you know, we're focusing on literacy this year. And, um, this is one, uh, piece of legislation that is part of that literacy package. So, as we talked about literacy, we noticed that there is a hole in our education when it comes to, um, screening and intervening for dyslexia. And other states who have done, uh, a good job in, in identifying dyslexia and intervening, um, have developed their own screener. The, the difficult piece of really helping teachers and parents, um, with the intervention piece is really first identifying and screening for, and it's very costly, can be anywhere from 500 to $2,000 for a screener. So what this bill does …
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Says the bill is an important part of the literacy package and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 1:28:21Read what they said
Thank you. I think this is an important piece of the literacy package and I would appreciate your support.
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the bill covers labor trafficking.
▶ Watch at 51:57Read what they said
Thank you. And thank you for bringing this forward. Uh, I appreciate your work on this and I think it's something we do need to address. I just have a couple of questions. First of all, um, can you address, does this touch on labor trafficking as well?
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asks how the bill has a zero fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 53:05Read what they said
Okay, thank you. And then one more question if I may. Mm-hmm. Um, and you may have mentioned this, I I came in a little late, so I apologize. There's a zero fiscal note, and so I don't know if you explained that. Um, how is there zero fiscal
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Supports the bill, citing an estimated number of smokers who might quit, marketing to lower-income groups, and public costs.
▶ Watch at 2:37:26Read what they said
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. I am appreciative of the good sponsor and the work that he has done. Um, and as the good representative from Sandy indicated, um, that it is good policy, it is estimated that up to 6,000 Utahans would quit if there was a $2 increase tax on cigarettes. How do we know this? They implemented a similar policy in Indiana and 40% of smokers quit, and then 40 per, there was an increase 40% of the smoking cessation programs. Um, so we know that this is great impetus for helping those who would like to quit. We also know that, um, cigarettes and nicotine products are unfairly …
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Supports the bill, citing an estimate that up to 6,000 Utahns would quit with a $2 cigarette tax increase and concerns about marketing to lower-income groups.
▶ Watch at 2:37:26Read what they said
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. I am appreciative of the good sponsor and the work that he has done. Um, and as the good representative from Sandy indicated, um, that it is good policy, it is estimated that up to 6,000 Utahans would quit if there was a $2 increase tax on cigarettes. How do we know this? They implemented a similar policy in Indiana and 40% of smokers quit, and then 40 per, there was an increase 40% of the smoking cessation programs. Um, so we know that this is great impetus for helping those who would like to quit. We also know that, um, cigarettes and nicotine products are unfairly …
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Defay asked how the bill fits into the broader public school funding conversation.
▶ Watch at 1:10:29Read what they said
Thank you. Um, so I know the fiscal note is large. I know it's part of a bigger conversation about public school funding. Can you address how this fits into that larger, broader conversation?
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Defay said she now opposes holding the bill to signal the issue's importance, while doubting it will be funded this year.
▶ Watch at 1:16:23Read what they said
Yeah, I, I was going to vote in favor of the motion to hold, but I think that Representative Welton makes a really good point that we are signaling the importance of this issue. I am doubtful that it'll get funded this year, but I do think it does signal to leadership that this is a conversation we wanna continue having. And if it doesn't get funded, I think we continue this in the interim study and figure out the funding mechanism.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Defay says the amendment clarifies that the bill targets large platforms using generative deepfake tools, not tools that only make changes to images.
▶ Watch at 1:21:03Read what they said
Yes. This is a DeepFakes bill. Um, and this is just, we are, we're addressing large platforms. We are just making a few modifications so that it's not touching tools that are, um, that are making changes to images. This is more of a generation generative type tool that we're, we're looking at. So we're just making those clarifications in the substitute, I mean in the amendment.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Defay says the bill requires large platforms to get consent from people depicted in deepfake intimate images or take them down, includes a safe harbor for compliant actors, requires disclosure of provenance data, and directs the Department of Technology Services to disclose provenance data on government websites.
▶ Watch at 1:21:48Read what they said
Thank you. As I mentioned, this is a date DeepFakes bill. So this bill, um, was drafted in coordination with the Office of AI policy in the Department of Commerce. We worked over the interim, um, with the legislative task force, uh, to try and find some targeted solutions on how we protect our children, how we protect our citizens from the emerging technology of deep fakes. And so this is, um, from that effort. So the first thing it does is it addresses the creation of intimate images, um, that are created from AI deepfake services, or what some people are saying, notify, notify apps or large platforms that are using generative services, um, to create those types of …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Presented H.B. 126 as a clarifying bill stating that cities may use zoning rules and ordinances for micro-education entities with up to 100 students, without affecting home-based schools or co-ops.
▶ Watch at 1:57:02Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this is just a quick clarifying bill. I worked with, uh, Senator Fillmore on, he passed a wonderful bill about, uh, micro schools last year. Um, and this was brought to me by my city. There was a little bit of vague language that, um, kind of opened up, uh, municipalities to, uh, having to put micro schools that have up to a hundred students inside residential areas. So what this just does is clarifies that cities can have zoning laws and rules and kind of creates a list of different zoning laws, not that they have to follow it, but gives them ideas of, um, rules like parking, traffic, circulation, noise, ordinances, and hours …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Explained that the bill gives cities the option to create zoning ordinances for micro entities in residential neighborhoods, using a cul-de-sac example.
▶ Watch at 1:58:21Read what they said
No, not exactly. Okay. Um, so it's giving the cities the tools. Okay. Um, the ability to, well, it's saying that they can, um, create zoning ordinances in those neighborhoods, in neighborhoods if they would like to, for micro entities. So this, so for example, let's say in our city, what happened is we had residential neighborhood house at the end of a cul-de-sac. A micro school wanted to come in, open up a hundred student school, and they're like, wait, that doesn't make any sense. And they're like, well, it's, it kind of seems like in the language here, we can, that's where there became a problem. Some cities. So, but some cities are like, well, we have residential …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Explained that the original draft required allowing micro entities in residential zones, and the change makes clear that cities may create ordinances.
▶ Watch at 1:59:59Read what they said
So right now, the way the bill was drafted originally, it just said that, um, you had to allow micro entities in residential zones. Okay. Um, and this is just saying, and it, and it, they have The option to de They they have the option. Yeah. And it alluded to that, but we just are making it very clear that they still have the option to create ordinances so that, that it's not any residential zone.
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Thanked Senator Fillmore and a colleague for working on the clarification.
▶ Watch at 2:02:47Read what they said
Yeah, I just wanna say thank you to Senator Fillmore and to Lebert toss for working with me to make this clarification. Thank you. Okay.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Thanked the sponsor and asked how the parent driving log compares to what driver education schools currently record for drive time.
▶ Watch at 1:12:11Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, thank you Mr. Chair and thank you to the sponsor. She was responsive to my concerns and I appreciate the work that she's put in. So, um, yeah, one of my concerns was that six hours of drive time and ensuring that the students get that and that parents are accountable for that. So they're going to have the log, um, given to them by DLD and then they bring it in back to the DLD with them. Um, how does this, how does it compare to what we have now with the systems, um, that driver schools are using now and that the drivers ed schools are using now, just to ensure that we're getting that …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Explained her amendment requiring parents to complete and retain driving logs equivalent to those required by the State Board of Education.
▶ Watch at 1:48:10Read what they said
Yeah. Um, when I came to sponsor my, my concerns about public safety were that there would be parents who, um, would use the program and not actually do the training. And I wanted to make sure that there were safeguards and guardrails, um, to, and make it difficult enough that the parents who really want to do it are committed and they will do it and they'll do a good job. And she was responsive to that. I just had one amendment to kind of add to that. Um, after this discussion, um, it's online and it would just add, um, another component to what a parent is supposed to do. And it is that they complete and retain …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said that even with this option she will still use a driving school for her child, and that the option is for dedicated parents.
▶ Watch at 1:52:48Read what they said
Yeah, I just wanted to speak to that too. Um, as I indicated in our last meeting, I am in, in the situation where my child will either have to wait to get their driver's license or I would do a driving school, or now there's this option and I will still do a driving school. This is not worth it to me. So I will still do the driving school if that helps ease anyone's mind. Um, so I, I think this is for the dedicated parent, which I'm dedicated in other ways, but of Course.
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether students could connect personal devices to the bus internet or only school-issued devices.
▶ Watch at 1:49:41Read what they said
Yeah, thanks. I have a couple of questions. So you mentioned, so students won't be able to get on their individual devices and connect to the internet. They can only use their school issued devices. So with the internet that would be provided in these school buses, school kids would not have the ability to connect outside devices from it. It would only be their own school issued laptops that would be able to connect to this. So we don't have to worry about, um, things being watched in the bus or connected to that wouldn't be appropriate now if they happen to be able to connect on their own. I mean, that's just like what it is now. There's …
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the bus internet could be turned off on short trips when the buses are used for routine routes.
▶ Watch at 1:50:31Read what they said
Okay. Uh, thank you. And another question, if I may. Um, so it says that this would just be used for extended trips. So is there an ability to turn this internet service on and off when those school bus school buses that are retrofitted, um, are being used for short trips?
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks what it would cost to retrofit a single school bus.
▶ Watch at 1:51:24Read what they said
Um, do you know what the cost would be to retrofit a single school bus? Yeah,
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says they are undecided and asks why the district, rather than the state, should not pay for retrofitting.
▶ Watch at 1:51:46Read what they said
Okay. Okay. Thank you. I I I'm not decided on this one yet. I'm struggling a little bit because I think that not just rural, rural students travel long distances. I think many students travel long distances for athletic events or competitions, whatever it may be. So I'm wondering why it is that maybe I'm just thinking if this is a need of a district, maybe it should be the district paying for the retrofitting, um, rather than the state. I Can appreci appreciate that.
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Spoke in support of the bill, saying feedback has been positive and that it preserves local control.
▶ Watch at 2:32:34Read what they said
Yes. It's no secret where I stand on this issue. I am passionate about, um, balancing the use of technology in our schools, in our classrooms. There's a reason, this is back this year, and it's because the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. And it was, and the feedback is also, we should have done more because it's so good. And if there's more we can do in this area, let's do it. Um, and if, and if this good senator hadn't run the bill, I would've run the bill myself. So I appreciate him, I appreciate his hard work and for doing, um, for doing the good work. And I, I know there's some concerns with parents, but the cell …
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Said the concerns are addressed in the underlying bill and urged passage of the original substitute.
▶ Watch at 2:41:50Read what they said
Yeah, I appreciate, um, what the maker of the motion is trying to do. I would resist the motion. I agree that I think the concerns are addressed in the underlying bill and, um, would encourage the passage of the original, uh, substitute SB 69.
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Waived closing remarks on the motion.
▶ Watch at 2:50:09Read what they said
It's, thank You. My, my sum is, it's six 15 or whatever time it is. 6 24. You, you are correct. All right. To the maker of the motion, I'll waive. Thank you.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Says the amendment makes a few small changes developed with stakeholders.
▶ Watch at 31:31Read what they said
Yeah, these are just a few changes, um, little tweaks that we, uh, made with some stakeholders to make everyone more comfortable.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Presents the bill, which requires local education agencies to adopt AI and technology policies, adds AI standards to computer science core standards, and requires a resource program for students who struggle with technology, and offers to answer questions.
▶ Watch at 32:00Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker, colleagues. I am thrilled today to present to you my favorite bill in a bill that's been a, a passion project of mine. Um, this is called the Balance Act. And the reason we call the Balance Act is it's aiming to balance the use of technology in the classroom. For years, we have seen, uh, a lean into technology, and this is a requirement for LEAs to have a discussion and a thoughtful, uh, dialogue about how much technology is appropriate in the classroom and putting some guardrails around that. So it has a few requirements. And first I want you to know this preserves local control. So while we are asking to have the …
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Explains that the bill covers teaching core computer science standards and assessment preparation, and leaves other technology uses to local education agencies.
▶ Watch at 34:38Read what they said
So it's to teach to the core computer science standards, which we will also, which will also include ai, um, and then also to teach towards assessment. Currently our assessments, our statewide assessments are online. So te teaching students how to use those tools properly for assessment. And then it also leaves that local control to use the tools that they need to help, whether it's ELL or if it's, um, there are lots of valuable programs that help kids who are performing below benchmark to bring them up to benchmark. Um, we didn't, we didn't name each one because there's so many different tools and different exceptions that LEAs want to use. So we are leaving it to their …
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Says the bill aims for balance, requires local education agencies to have a policy conversation on technology use by grade level, and does not dictate specific uses.
▶ Watch at 35:45Read what they said
The goal of the bill is to provide balance, so that'll be up to the LEAs to have that conversation. They are required to have a framework grade level, so they do have to have the conversation what they want that technology is to look like in K through three and four through the rest of elementary and junior high and in high school. But it does not dictate exactly what that looks like. It's just, um, requiring that conversation in a policy to be adopted.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Says the model policy lays out a reduction in technology use, that local education agencies may amend it to add technology, and that the model policy does not name specific tools.
▶ Watch at 36:52Read what they said
Yes, that's correct. So this is the model policy. That's what the model policy lay lays out. We would like a reduction of the use. We want balance of the use of technology, but we aren't prohibiting them from amending to add technology. So they can use the tools that they would like. Um, but the, in the model policy, we don't name them.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Gives closing summation, saying the bill calls for a technology-use conversation at every school level and in local communities, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 38:36Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for the questions. Um, this is an important bill if you are tuned in at all to the education community. If you're tuned in at all to parents, if you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, anyone in school, you know that the use of tech in schools is being discussed. It is impactful and we have to have this conversation at every level. We have to have it in elementary, junior high, and high school. We need to have it in our local communities, and we need to have a plan at every level that makes sense for our communities and for our students, for them to thrive in the future. And with that, I encourage …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Moved to hold the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:48:36Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I move that we hold this bill and I'd like to speak to that.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said many parents do not complete the 40 hours and that six hours with a licensed professional is an important public safety check, so the bill should be held for further discussion.
▶ Watch at 1:48:48Read what they said
Yeah. Um, when I heard of this bill, I was really open to the idea I wanted to hear all sides. Um, I am actually the perfect candidate for this bill. I have two children who have recently, they're of driving age. I have a daughter right now who is, um, in, she, she has her learner's permit. She's a September birthday, but she does not qualify for, um, summer driver's Ed. So what that means is that she either has to wait for school to start and do driver's ed the first semester, and she won't get her driver's license until December, or she'll go to a private program. My son did the same thing. Um, so I will …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said she was open to adopting the second substitute so the committee addresses the correct bill.
▶ Watch at 1:59:29Read what they said
Uh, if, if that makes everyone feel more comfortable. Um, so we're addressing the correct bill that I am open to that,
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Supported the hold, citing suggestions from Reps. Peterson, Thurston and Okerlund that could improve the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:04:26Read what they said
Yeah, I think I am in support of the motion to hold. As I stated earlier, I think that there have been some good suggestions from Representative Peterson, Representative Thurston on things that we can do to improve the bill. Um, I think there are some questions and some out outstanding issues that we could probably address to, uh, help alleviate everyone's concerns and make it a really good bill. Um, uh, representative Oakland had a great suggestion, so I would be in favor of holding.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Presented HB 393 to fund and develop a universal dyslexia screener with USBE and the University of Utah, plus a website and intervention hub.
▶ Watch at 1:52:40Read what they said
Alright, thank you. Uh, first of all, I wanna say thank you to Senator Plumb. She and I have worked collaboratively over the interim, um, with members of the dyslexia community, um, to address what I have been calling as a whole in our education system. I didn't realize that this whole existed, but we don't do a lot in, uh, education to help address, identify, and intervene with dyslexia. Um, so this started out as a bill, as you guys, it went into the Center of Plums Bill, but a bill, just making sure that teachers didn't get reprimand, reprimanded for recommending a screening, and it kind of ballooned into, um, a bigger literacy effort as we've been focusing …
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the fiscal note will be updated and the cost is a one-time expense for a screener the state would own.
▶ Watch at 1:57:24Read what they said
Yeah. Yeah. So that'll be updated to 1.51 time. Okay. So it would just be a one time, that was my question. If you're Creating this Yeah. 1.5 Yes, one time. And that's what's nice. Once we have this, we have it forever. Um, rather than having ongoing costs forever for trying to pay for screeners, we own it. Okay. So,
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the bill creates a tool for multiple professionals, administered by school staff to students performing below benchmark.
▶ Watch at 1:58:00Read what they said
It would be a, it would be a tool that would be used by multiple professionals. Okay. So if, you know, when, if you have a child who enters kindergarten, they have a screener to kind of see where they are. Um, it would be this and the teacher administers that. It would be similar to that where, you know, eventually I would like to see it get to universal screening so that every child can be screened. Um, but what, how it's written now is it would be any child that's performing below or well below Benchmark would get that screening from somebody at the school, um, who's trained in administering that screener. Right.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said University of Utah would collect data and report to USBE and the interim education committee.
▶ Watch at 1:58:51Read what they said
Yes. Yes. So the data would be, um, collected from the University of Utah. They would report to USBE. Um, so this would go to USBE and then it would also go in the interim to the education committee to update. Um, and it's on the list of all the other, you know, pilot programs and programs that may have sunsets that have to report to USBE and, um, and to the legislature.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said no RFA was submitted because the bill arrived after the deadline, though she spoke with EAC members.
▶ Watch at 1:59:26Read what they said
I did not. We did not receive the bill and time, um, to get the RFA for it. So it was past the deadline by the time RFAs had been done. So I've, I've spoken with members of EAC, but it does not have an official RFA on it.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the substitute scales back the proposed leave to nine weeks for public employees and removes the $3 million fiscal note by taking out funding for LEAs.
▶ Watch at 40:28Read what they said
Yes. This bill has seen a few changes. This is the maternity leave and amendments bill. Um, originally it was drafted for 12 weeks of maternity leave, moving from six weeks to 12 weeks for public employees. This is scaling that back a little bit, going from six weeks to nine weeks, um, for public employees, and then also removes the fiscal note of $3 million, um, by taking out the, um, fund for LEAs. So that part is removed and it's a zero fiscal note.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Explains that the substitute reduces the proposed maternity leave increase from six to nine weeks for public employees and removes the $3 million fiscal note by dropping the LEA funding.
▶ Watch at 40:28Read what they said
Yes. This bill has seen a few changes. This is the maternity leave and amendments bill. Um, originally it was drafted for 12 weeks of maternity leave, moving from six weeks to 12 weeks for public employees. This is scaling that back a little bit, going from six weeks to nine weeks, um, for public employees, and then also removes the fiscal note of $3 million, um, by taking out the, um, fund for LEAs. So that part is removed and it's a zero fiscal note.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the two schedules would remain separate, with LEAs matched to the state for up to six weeks and an additional three weeks for public employees.
▶ Watch at 41:26Read what they said
So this would be separate. So this keeps LEAs, um, equal to the state for up to six weeks. So three weeks of paternal leave and then three weeks of postpartum maternity recovery leave. And then it would add an additional three weeks for public employees.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the substitute keeps LEA employees at up to six weeks of leave, and that adding three more weeks for LEA employees was not affordable in this year's budget.
▶ Watch at 41:26Read what they said
So this would be separate. So this keeps LEAs, um, equal to the state for up to six weeks. So three weeks of paternal leave and then three weeks of postpartum maternity recovery leave. And then it would add an additional three weeks for public employees. But not, excuse me, Mr. Speaker. So not for the school employees, is that correct? Yes. Unfortunately with the budget this year, um, that was a cost we were unable to absorb and something to look forward to in the future.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the added cost for LEAs was not affordable in this year's budget and may be considered in the future.
▶ Watch at 41:45Read what they said
Yes. Unfortunately with the budget this year, um, that was a cost we were unable to absorb and something to look forward to in the future.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said businesses could extend leave if able and that the intent is to help the state's own employees, not to pressure businesses.
▶ Watch at 42:57Read what they said
Yes, thank you for the question. That's a great question. Um, if businesses are equipped to offer this, I hope that it does encourage them to extend maternity leave if they're able. I also understand that small businesses make up a large portion of our economy. And I this by no means is to put pressure on them. It's simply to help our own employees that we, that we employ.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says businesses that can offer longer leave are encouraged to do so, and that the bill is not meant to pressure small businesses.
▶ Watch at 42:57Read what they said
Yes, thank you for the question. That's a great question. Um, if businesses are equipped to offer this, I hope that it does encourage them to extend maternity leave if they're able. I also understand that small businesses make up a large portion of our economy. And I this by no means is to put pressure on them. It's simply to help our own employees that we, that we employ.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said agencies can absorb the cost because the employee on leave is often not replaced and may still work and answer calls while away.
▶ Watch at 43:50Read what they said
That's a really good question. So the agencies are able to absorb the cost. So in the case of a school or an LEA, they have to replace that employee with a substitute employee. That's why there's a cost incurred, um, with a public employee. Um, that employee is gone for the amount of time, but they are not replaced with another employee. And what this looks like in reality is probably the employee isn't completely cut off. They're probably answering phone calls and emails and working. Um, so, but the agency is able to use other employees to help cover that employee while that employee is away.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says agencies can absorb the cost of leave by having other employees cover duties, while LEAs must hire substitutes.
▶ Watch at 43:50Read what they said
That's a really good question. So the agencies are able to absorb the cost. So in the case of a school or an LEA, they have to replace that employee with a substitute employee. That's why there's a cost incurred, um, with a public employee. Um, that employee is gone for the amount of time, but they are not replaced with another employee. And what this looks like in reality is probably the employee isn't completely cut off. They're probably answering phone calls and emails and working. Um, so, but the agency is able to use other employees to help cover that employee while that employee is away.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Explained that the state offers three weeks of paternal leave for all employees and three weeks of maternity recovery leave, and the bill adds three weeks to the maternity recovery leave for a total of nine weeks.
▶ Watch at 44:59Read what they said
So that's a really good question. There's actually two types of leave that the state offers. So we offer three weeks of paternal leave. So this is for fathers and mothers. So everybody receives that leave. That's three weeks that already happens. The other three weeks that the state already offers is maternity recovery leave for a woman who has given birth. That is, we're extending from three weeks, we're adding another three weeks, which makes that six weeks of maternity or pa postpartum recovery leave. But with the three weeks of pa paternity leave that or paternal leave, then that equals nine weeks, if that makes sense. It's kind of confusing, but we have a three week chunk and …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Explains the state offers three weeks of paternal leave for all parents and three weeks of maternity recovery leave, and the bill adds three weeks to the maternity recovery leave.
▶ Watch at 44:59Read what they said
So that's a really good question. There's actually two types of leave that the state offers. So we offer three weeks of paternal leave. So this is for fathers and mothers. So everybody receives that leave. That's three weeks that already happens. The other three weeks that the state already offers is maternity recovery leave for a woman who has given birth. That is, we're extending from three weeks, we're adding another three weeks, which makes that six weeks of maternity or pa postpartum recovery leave. But with the three weeks of pa paternity leave that or paternal leave, then that equals nine weeks, if that makes sense. It's kind of confusing, but we have a three week chunk and …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the bill does not shut down government, that other employees would cover duties while one employee is out, and that the fiscal note shows no revenue loss.
▶ Watch at 47:15Read what they said
Thank you. So this is not the shutdown of the entire government for a day. This is, this is one re one employee being gone and other employees covering their duties while that employee is gone. So the potential for revenue loss is none, as is stated by the fiscal note.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says this is not a government shutdown but one employee out while others cover duties, so the fiscal note shows no revenue loss.
▶ Watch at 47:15Read what they said
Thank you. So this is not the shutdown of the entire government for a day. This is, this is one re one employee being gone and other employees covering their duties while that employee is gone. So the potential for revenue loss is none, as is stated by the fiscal note.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Defay said the bill builds on 2024 laws making AI-generated child sexual abuse material illegal, fills enforcement gaps, and adds new categories covering parent-child sexual abuse material and obscene materials to help prosecute those who distribute and produce it.
▶ Watch at 50:12Read what they said
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, if you'll recall, two years ago in 2024, we passed a couple of bills that made artificial intelligence generated, um, child sex abuse material illegal. Since then, we have found some of the holes and the gaps in law enforcement. And so this is just filling in some of those holes and gaps, creating a couple new categories, a parent child, sex abuse material, um, and obscene materials to help us ensure that we can enforce, um, those who are distributing and producing AI generated child sex abuse material. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Thanked Ballard for her work, said the substitute would create an ongoing cost to LEAs as an unfunded mandate, and left the decision to the body.
▶ Watch at 51:06Read what they said
Yes, I, I thank my good colleague from Bountiful for all her efforts. She has worked tirelessly in past sessions, um, for our educators and for that I'm so appreciative at this time. Um, as she mentioned, there was a $28 million ongoing cost to the LEAs. And, um, while I would love for this, for the LEAs to also have the same, um, week, uh, weeks available, it was an unfunded mandate to the LEAs and it's something that I'd like to work towards in the future. I see where she's coming from and I will leave it up to the discretion if the body, if they would like to adopt it.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Thanks Representative Ballard and says the LEA cost of about $28 million a year is an unfunded mandate, though she would like to address it in the future and leaves the decision to the body.
▶ Watch at 51:06Read what they said
Yes, I, I thank my good colleague from Bountiful for all her efforts. She has worked tirelessly in past sessions, um, for our educators and for that I'm so appreciative at this time. Um, as she mentioned, there was a $28 million ongoing cost to the LEAs. And, um, while I would love for this, for the LEAs to also have the same, um, week, uh, weeks available, it was an unfunded mandate to the LEAs and it's something that I'd like to work towards in the future. I see where she's coming from and I will leave it up to the discretion if the body, if they would like to adopt it.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Thanks Representative Ballard, says the cost to LEAs is an unfunded mandate, and says she hopes to address it in the future while leaving the decision to the body.
▶ Watch at 51:06Read what they said
Yes, I, I thank my good colleague from Bountiful for all her efforts. She has worked tirelessly in past sessions, um, for our educators and for that I'm so appreciative at this time. Um, as she mentioned, there was a $28 million ongoing cost to the LEAs. And, um, while I would love for this, for the LEAs to also have the same, um, week, uh, weeks available, it was an unfunded mandate to the LEAs and it's something that I'd like to work towards in the future. I see where she's coming from and I will leave it up to the discretion if the body, if they would like to adopt it.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the number was not known and would be provided later.
▶ Watch at 56:50Read what they said
I, I only have a guess. That's why I was wondering. I do not, actually, that's a really good question. I'll get back to you on that.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says she does not know the number and will follow up.
▶ Watch at 56:54Read what they said
I do not, actually, that's a really good question. I'll get back to you on that.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says she does not know the number and will follow up.
▶ Watch at 56:54Read what they said
I do not, actually, that's a really good question. I'll get back to you on that.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the answer is not known and will follow up.
▶ Watch at 56:54Read what they said
I do not, actually, that's a really good question. I'll get back to you on that.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Asks Representative Strong to repeat the second part of the question.
▶ Watch at 58:49Read what they said
can my colleague please repeat the second half of that question? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear it.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said that any additional time off would depend on the individual agency and employee.
▶ Watch at 59:21Read what they said
Um, I, I believe if they, if they elected to use time off and, and if they had the time off, it would be very individual specific that it could be used.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the amount of paid time off varies by agency and employee.
▶ Watch at 59:21Read what they said
Um, I, I believe if they, if they elected to use time off and, and if they had the time off, it would be very individual specific that it could be used. Okay. To be just maybe a little more specific, we're offering nine weeks off. How many additional days do they get off as part of their benefits package? Is it another three weeks or four weeks of personal time off or vacation or sick leave or whatever For PTO? Um, PTO, I believe that would be individual to the agency and the employee.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says employees may use time off if they have it, and that the amount depends on the agency and the employee.
▶ Watch at 59:21Read what they said
Um, I, I believe if they, if they elected to use time off and, and if they had the time off, it would be very individual specific that it could be used.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says use of time off is individual and depends on the employee and the agency.
▶ Watch at 59:21Read what they said
Um, I, I believe if they, if they elected to use time off and, and if they had the time off, it would be very individual specific that it could be used.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the additional paid time off is individual to the agency and the employee.
▶ Watch at 59:45Read what they said
PTO? Um, PTO, I believe that would be individual to the agency and the employee.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says paid time off is individual to the agency and the employee.
▶ Watch at 59:45Read what they said
PTO? Um, PTO, I believe that would be individual to the agency and the employee.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says paid time off is individual to the agency and the employee.
▶ Watch at 59:45Read what they said
PTO? Um, PTO, I believe that would be individual to the agency and the employee.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Gave a summation describing the bill as a pro-family policy and citing infant development, childcare costs, employee retention, and maternal health.
▶ Watch at 1:01:23Read what they said
Thank you. In my sum, I would like to tell you about my bill because I actually didn't get a chance to do that part yet. Um, so this policy is one of the shining outcomes of our pro-family working group that we had over the interim. Many of you were part of this group and we looked at what can we do to address affordability and helping families and helping strengthen families. And this was a very easy policy for us to get behind and to champion. So many of you asked, why maternity leave and why nine weeks? So there's a few reasons. Um, the first reason is the first weeks of a child's, um, life are very …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Summarizes the bill as a pro-family policy from an interim working group, citing infant development, childcare costs, employee retention, and maternal health and recovery.
▶ Watch at 1:01:23Read what they said
Thank you. In my sum, I would like to tell you about my bill because I actually didn't get a chance to do that part yet. Um, so this policy is one of the shining outcomes of our pro-family working group that we had over the interim. Many of you were part of this group and we looked at what can we do to address affordability and helping families and helping strengthen families. And this was a very easy policy for us to get behind and to champion. So many of you asked, why maternity leave and why nine weeks? So there's a few reasons. Um, the first reason is the first weeks of a child's, um, life are very …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Presents the bill as a pro-family policy, citing infant development, childcare costs, employee retention, and maternal health.
▶ Watch at 1:01:23Read what they said
Thank you. In my sum, I would like to tell you about my bill because I actually didn't get a chance to do that part yet. Um, so this policy is one of the shining outcomes of our pro-family working group that we had over the interim. Many of you were part of this group and we looked at what can we do to address affordability and helping families and helping strengthen families. And this was a very easy policy for us to get behind and to champion. So many of you asked, why maternity leave and why nine weeks? So there's a few reasons. Um, the first reason is the first weeks of a child's, um, life are very …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Summarizes the bill as a pro-family policy addressing affordability, infant development, employee retention, and maternal health.
▶ Watch at 1:01:23Read what they said
Thank you. In my sum, I would like to tell you about my bill because I actually didn't get a chance to do that part yet. Um, so this policy is one of the shining outcomes of our pro-family working group that we had over the interim. Many of you were part of this group and we looked at what can we do to address affordability and helping families and helping strengthen families. And this was a very easy policy for us to get behind and to champion. So many of you asked, why maternity leave and why nine weeks? So there's a few reasons. Um, the first reason is the first weeks of a child's, um, life are very …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Presents H.B. 306 as a home affordability bill that creates a 0.25% reinvestment fee cap for low-amenity HOAs and requires HOAs to post their transfer and reinvestment fees on the Department of Commerce registry.
▶ Watch at 1:42:43Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This is a home affordability bill. This was brought to me by a constituent who moved three times in the space of five years each time into an HOA. And when she moved into those HHOA, she had to pay an HOA reinvestment fee. In the early two thousands, we capped the reinvestment fee at 0.5% of the cost of the home, which sounded great when the average cost of a home was about $250,000. Now, when an average cost of a home is about $650,000 0.5% of the cost of that home is a big burden and is something that buyers usually have to come to the close to closing with that, with that cash …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Responds that the bill does not change permitted uses of reinvestment fees, which are already clarified in code, and only classifies low-infrastructure HOAs for the 0.25% cap.
▶ Watch at 1:45:24Read what they said
Uh, Mr. Speaker? No. So it's not saying what reinvestment fees can be used for, although that is already clarified in code. This is just saying that if you live in an HOA with a low amount of capital intensive infrastructure, then you will be classified as a low amenity HOA and with therefore your, therefore your reinvestment fee would be capped at 0.25%. I don't know if I'm answering that correctly.
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Explains that the fee funds reserve accounts that HOAs use for capital projects such as roads, pools, clubhouses, and roofs.
▶ Watch at 1:50:08Read what they said
I'm understanding the, the question correctly. Um, the, the need for an increased fee is often because of these capital intensive projects. Usually it's happens. Um, they have, uh, a reserve fund. Most hos have a reserve fund that's used for these for usually replacing roads, pools, clubhouses, roofs, um, things that cost a lot of money. Uh, and so they keep this reserve fund and charge this fee to keep those reinvestment, to keep those, uh, capital intensive projects up to date.
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the fee is a tool HOAs use to fund infrastructure, that the bill was developed with builders, HOAs, and stakeholders, and that the larger question is keeping HOA funds healthy.
▶ Watch at 1:51:14Read what they said
So thank you. I, I I agree with that sentiment. I've worked closely with the home builders, with the HOAs and with the stakeholders to strike a balance. Um, it is a tool that they use to fund infrastructure and projects, um, that they would otherwise not have. Uh, the, the bigger question is the health of these HOA funds and finding ways to make sure that they are staying healthy and, uh, doing the job that they're supposed to do.
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Gives closing summation describing the bill as one about home affordability, consumer protection, and transparency, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 1:51:47Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for the discussion. This is, this is a bill about home affordability. It's about consumer protection and transparency and I encourage your support. Thank you.
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Speaks in support of the bill, saying it gives law enforcement tools and informs parents.
▶ Watch at 56:44Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. I just wanna rise in suppo support and thank the good sponsor for bringing forward such an important and thoughtful piece of legislation. As many of you know, the use of, uh, e motorcycles and e-bikes among our youth have become a problem in many communities, and he has done great work to bring stakeholders together and come up with a really reasonable policy that I believe will give law enforcement the tools that they need to help regulate, um, these bikes and also inform parents on what is appropriate and what is safe for their children.
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Speaks in support of the bill, saying it gives law enforcement tools and informs parents about safe devices for children.
▶ Watch at 56:44Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. I just wanna rise in suppo support and thank the good sponsor for bringing forward such an important and thoughtful piece of legislation. As many of you know, the use of, uh, e motorcycles and e-bikes among our youth have become a problem in many communities, and he has done great work to bring stakeholders together and come up with a really reasonable policy that I believe will give law enforcement the tools that they need to help regulate, um, these bikes and also inform parents on what is appropriate and what is safe for their children.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Presents HB 276, which requires platforms to obtain consent for AI-created intimate images and provides liability protections, and requires platforms to offer provenance and metadata viewing, with a directive for state government websites to disclose provenance data.
▶ Watch at 1:39:17Read what they said
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members of the committee, and I will be speaking to the first sub. Um, so this bill is a result of a coordinated group effort conducted in partnership with the Department of Commerce and the Office of AI policy. I have Zach Boyd here. He's the Director of the Office of AI Policy. We worked over the interim, um, on this issue of deep fakes. Um, we worked deliberately to study the AI trends most affecting our children and our citizens. Our goal was to search for reasonable balanced solutions to some of the real and emerging harms associated with deep fake technology, while also working collaboratively with industry stakeholders to ensure and stakeholders to …
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says the conduct is already illegal for children and criminally, that the bill creates a private right of action for platforms, and that penalties were kept measured to balance with industry.
▶ Watch at 1:42:53Read what they said
Yeah. Yeah. Well, so it's, it's illegal for children and it's also illegal criminally, this creates a private right of action for the platforms. Um, I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna be too heavy handed with the penalties. Um, I'm hoping the industry will be responsible and move in this direction, but this will nudge them that way. Um, but yeah, I mean, you're right. It is serious. It's, it's serious. But, um, we are trying to strike that right balance with industry.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Confirms it is criminal for adults and that the bill creates a private right of action when platforms do not obtain consent.
▶ Watch at 1:43:30Read what they said
I believe so. Yeah. So we were just creating that private right of action for platforms if they aren't obtaining consent for those images to be created. Yeah,
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks for clarification of the question about consent requirements for non-intimate images. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:44:26Read what they said
I can, let me, um, do you want, you want me to tell you What makes an image? What, what
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says he does not know the exact answer and notes that non-intimate images are addressed by a business use law and a separate bill this session. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:45:10Read what they said
That's a fantastic question. Do you, I don't know the exact answer to that. I mean, the, the first chapter of this bill is really focused on the intimate image question for non-intimate image is we have kind of a business use law that was passed last session. And Senator Colmore is running, uh, an i, uh, rights to your personal identity, um, bill this session that addresses that from a different angle. And I think, and Mikel did that last? Yes, Mike, yeah. So Senator Mikel and Senator did it last session too. So we, we have addressed that and are addressing it, but that's not contemp.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Confirms the bill concerns only intimate images and explains that provenance data does not restrict content creation. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:45:53Read what they said
We're only concerned about intimate images, Correct. I mean, the, the second chapter may apply in terms of provenance, but that's, that's not a consent requirement. Yeah. I mean, you would be able to tell if it's real or not by accessing the data provenance. However, there's no limitations on whether it can exist or not.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says compliance dates were moved to January 1, 2027, with some parts delayed to 2028 for technical reasons. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:47:06Read what they said
Yeah, yeah. We pushed out, um, the date to, uh, January 1st, 2027. And for one, and for one part to 2028, because there are some technical bits that will take a little bit longer.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says Amendment 1 corrects a clerical error to make the bill consistent with its definitions and other parts.
▶ Watch at 1:49:08Read what they said
Yep. This was just a clerical error, or, and we're just fixing that and making it consistent with definitions and other part of the bill. So it's a friendly amendment.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Urges support, calling the bill an important step and saying the committee will continue monitoring AI.
▶ Watch at 1:50:00Read what they said
Thank you Committee. I, I do think this is an important step as we continue to monitor artificial intelligence as it evolves. I don't think this is where it'll stop. We'll continue to watch how this technology, um, develops and fill in the holes where we need to, to protect our children and our citizens. And I urge your support. Thank you.
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Scenic Byway Designations · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Thanks the sponsor for the report and the work done on the resolution.
▶ Watch at 52:20Read what they said
I just wanna thank the sponsor for getting that report to us and all the work that he did. Thank you.
H.B. 336 Recovery Operations Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Says the committee heard the bill over the interim and thanks the sponsor for working with stakeholders.
▶ Watch at 1:54:42Read what they said
Would you like to speak to that motion? Yeah. Thank you. We heard this over the interim. We've been having conversations about this for over a year now. I wanna tell the sponsor thank you for working with stakeholders, and I think he's brought a really good bill forward. Thank you.
S.B. 191 Tow Yard Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asks how the towing rotation works.
▶ Watch at 2:18:39Read what they said
All these towing bills, and I still don't know how a towing ro rotation works. Can you explain to me how that works?
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Explained that the bill removes the requirement to signal when entering or exiting a roundabout, while still requiring signals for lane changes within one.
▶ Watch at 1:59:57Read what they said
Okay. Hello Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, I'm excited to talk to you today about roundabouts. I had a friend who was in a roundabout and she was ticketed, um, for signaling when she, for, for not signaling when she entered a roundabout and then received a second ticket for not signaling when she exited a roundabout. And I don't know if any of you guys knew that it was required to signal to go in and out of a roundabout, but I did not. Um, and so this is a common sense update to our traffic code. It removes the requirement for drivers to signal when entering and exiting roundabout. It still requires signaling if you're changing …
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said signaling at closely spaced roundabout exits can be confusing and distracting, and that yielding is the intended practice.
▶ Watch at 2:02:35Read what they said
Um, like I stated, if you're, if you're in a circle and you have exits that are close to one another and you're signaling, um, you may be signaling for an exit that you're coming up on, but someone may be thi may think you're signaling for the other exit. It's just, it's hard to decipher with signals. The other thing I would say is that since I learned of this, I've been trying to signal go while I'm going in stop signaling, signaling again when I'm going out of roundabouts. It's pretty tricky. I, I challenge you to do it because it's actually more distracting and I would say, I would say unsafe to try and signal and then …
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Joked that the bill did not receive a unanimous committee vote. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:04:23Read what they said
Thank you. You know, I didn't get a unanimous vote on my bill. Everybody else is feeling the love. Okay.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the amendment is friendly, reflects the intent not to overburden USBE or LEAs, and that the clarification about AI tools teachers use to organize themselves is good.
▶ Watch at 3:20:52Read what they said
Yes, that's a friendly amendment and I appreciate my colleague for bringing it forward. That was the intention. We don't want to overburden, um, USBE or the LEAs. And so we simply want the LEAs to have a policy in place and this does that. So thank you. And the clarification is also good. We also don't want to, um, hinder what tools teachers are using to help them to help AI tools that you're using to organize themselves. So that's a good clarification.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the bill preserves local control, is not an outright ban on technology, and leaves LEAs to choose tools in grades K through 3 without naming specific ones, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 3:22:32Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for the time. Um, I just, as you know, this has been a labor of love for me. I do want to clarify that it does preserve local control. If you look at lines 180 2 and 2 63, um, and then also this, this isn't an outright ban, um, on technology. So what we're, just to clarify, in K through three, what we are doing is we're, we are teaching towards assessments, we're integrating core standards, and then we're also leaving it to the LEAs to adopt any tools that they would like to use in those grades. We're just not specifying them because there are so many different ones, we don't wanna carve those …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Presented HB 306, saying it caps reinvestment fees at 0.5% for higher-amenity HOAs and 0.25% for low-amenity single-family HOAs, requires 50% of fees to go to reserves, and adds disclosure of fees on the state registry.
▶ Watch at 2:23:02Read what they said
So thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. First of all, I'd like to introduce you to Erin Rider. She is the HOA ombudsman, if you have not had a chance to meet her, but she knows everything there is to know about HOA. So I have her with me in case there are questions that I cannot answer. Um, and I'm excited for all of you get to know her because we passed a bill last year to create her office, and she's doing an amazing job. So, house Bill 3 0 6, um, HOA reinvestment fees was brought to me by a constituent. This constituent moved, um, three times in the span of five years. Um, and …
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Said the struck language is not struck in the substitute, which is posted online, and apologized for not mentioning this earlier.
▶ Watch at 2:28:07Read what they said
We, that part that struck out is not struck out in the substitute. So the sub is online. Um, so that might help clarify things as well. And I apologize for not mentioning that at the beginning.
H.B. 306 Reinvestment Fee Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Gave summation saying the bill works toward housing affordability and consumer transparency.
▶ Watch at 2:30:38Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I, I think this is a good bill working towards housing affordability and creating transparency for consumers. Thank you.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Introduces the bill and her guest, who will explain the bill's technical details.
▶ Watch at 1:41:14Read what they said
Ahead. Thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, I have a guest here with me. I'll let him introduce himself in case we have any technical questions that need to be answered.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Responds that the question could fall into several categories and asks for clarification on whether a real child is depicted. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:46:53Read what they said
So that could, that could go in a few buckets. Um, I Are you saying this is pure, it's it's a real child that is then been put into an AI generated image For, for clarification? Yes.
H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Says harm to children occurs whether or not a real child is depicted, and that synthetic AI child sexual abuse material is growing rapidly online.
▶ Watch at 1:53:13Read what they said
Yes. Thank you. Thank you for the, the discussion. This is a difficult issue and one that I am passionate about. It is important to protect our children. And, and I would just say that whether, um, something is completely synthetically AI or there's a real child, there is harm involved, there's harm that, that happens to our children. We are seeing, um, a proliferation of synthetic ai, child, uh, sexual abuse, uh, materials all over the internet. If you look up studies, internet, wash dogs, all kinds of, we have ncmec, all kinds of people are saying this is, it's exponentially growing like 15 fold online. Um, and so we have a real problem and some, this is something …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay thanked the chair and asked her co-presenter to introduce herself.
▶ Watch at 18:36Read what they said
Yeah, we have some slides. Hopefully those were pulled up for you. Okay. Yeah. Do you want me to, Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and I'll just have my co-presenter em, Emily Bell McCormick with the policy project, introduce herself.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said she would begin while the slides were being set up.
▶ Watch at 19:05Read what they said
We can plug them in, Or do you have the slides And then we can kind of All right. While she's getting the slides going, I will start, if that's okay with you, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay presented HB 329, which expands state employee maternity leave from six to 12 weeks, adds adoptive and foster leave for children six and under, creates a $3 million stabilization-fund reimbursement pool for school districts, and protects pumping breast milk in public.
▶ Watch at 19:29Read what they said
Thank you so much for having me here today. Um, I'm here to present House Bill 3 29. This is the maternity leave bill. It is a bill focused on strengthening Utah families through expanded maternity leave and clearer protections for nursing mothers. As many of you know, we formed a strong families working group over the interim and work to formulate policies that align with supporting Utah families. This policy is a result of thoughtful discussions of among committee members and advocates from the community. Like the Policy Project, Utah currently provides six weeks of paid leave for new, new mothers. And if you look, um, in statute, it's three weeks of parental leave and then three weeks of …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said full coverage for teachers was fiscally untenable, so the bill creates an optional fund to gather data and open conversations with LEAs.
▶ Watch at 27:02Read what they said
Yeah, that's a wonderful question. Um, so when we originally talked about this, um, because teachers fall in a different bucket, we had to look at them separately from public employees. Um, they're in a different category. And when we got the fiscal note on that, it is fiscally untenable for us to provide that in legislation. But what we could do is create this fund so that we can get data, um, that will help us move the needle with teachers in the future. So it's start, it's opening the door for LEAs to start having conversations about extending maternity leave forward their employees, and then also getting the right data so that a fiscal, uh, impact isn't as …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said there are different placement types and she would follow up after consulting analysts.
▶ Watch at 28:11Read what they said
Um, so that's a, that's a good question. Um, I am trying to remember, I'd have to go back to our analysts, the conversation we had a lot of questions about, 'cause there's different types of placements. Um, and so I can get back to you on that. I know that we have this discussion. We are currently working, um, on that piece to make sure that we're solid on it. But happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Do you, did you have anything with that?
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said leave should begin at placement rather than legal adoption and they would amend the language if needed.
▶ Watch at 29:00Read what they said
Yeah, that is a really great question, and that was actually brought to my attention. So we are looking at the language, we're making sure that the language adopt means when that child is placed, but not when that child is legally adopted. So that when you receive the, the child in your home, that's when the, the leave would start. So we are gonna shore up that and make sure that the way that it's written in here aligns. If it does not, then we'll make that amendment.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said the legislature is focused on families and cost of living, citing declining fertility rates and the need for many families to have two working parents.
▶ Watch at 29:30Read what they said
Uh, well, I think one, I mean as a legislature, to me, the theme this year is families and cost of living. Um, families are really struggling to make ends meet. We are also looking at declining fertility rates, and we're trying to figure out what can we do as a state to support strong families so that families can have as many kids as they would like, and still either stay in the, remain in the workforce or stay at home if they, if they choose. So this has been an ongoing conversation we're spending a lot of time on. And, and I think it's valuable that we're doing it now with that cost of living. A lot of …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay explained current law gives three weeks parental plus three weeks postpartum leave, so the bill goes from six to 12 weeks, and said she did not address fathers in this bill.
▶ Watch at 31:51Read what they said
I'd love to Add a little, yeah. Yeah. So, so first of all, so on the time, so we're not going from three to 12, we're going from six to 12. So because, but the fathers do get three weeks because that is p uh, parental leave. So fathers get three weeks, mothers get three weeks, but then for postpartum recovery, that's an additional three weeks. So that's why it's confusing in the code because there's those two distinctions. So they are getting six weeks, we're going from six to 12. Um, as far as fathers, I have to be honest, I I did not contemplate that in this bill, but maybe Emily has more to add. Yeah,
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said the money is a pilot from the stabilization fund meant to gather data on costs, with funding to be revisited afterward.
▶ Watch at 33:05Read what they said
Yeah, so this is a pilot program. So first of all, the 3 million comes from the stabilization fund. So this is not coming from our general fund. Um, and so the nice thing is we have a little more flexibility with that fund. Um, as far, so this is a pilot program. Really the goal is to gather data so we can understand how many of our teachers and public school employees are having babies. And that gives us an idea of what it would cost in order to cover those co cost ongoing. Um, so that's a conversation we would revisit once that $3 million is done. And at the same time, we're, we're shifting a culture, right? …
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said the fund is optional for LEAs and carries no promise of future state funding.
▶ Watch at 34:43Read what they said
Yeah, so that's a really good question because it's a fund, it's not a program, so it's optional for LEAs to opt in to the fund. So it would be, they are enrolling with the understanding that one, we're, we wanna collect the data and to help them get on their feet with extending maternity leave. So there's no promise that the, the state will come in, but it's revisiting a conversation. But because the LEAs, because it's optional for them, they're going to have to adapt to that timeline, if that makes sense.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay confirmed that LEA funding would require new legislation, while state employee leave needs no funding.
▶ Watch at 36:17Read what they said
Just for LEAs, for state employees, there's no funding required, so that's a totally separate part of the bill. So yes, for LEAs it would require us coming back to the table.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay agreed, calling the window an informal sunset where the legislature would reevaluate whether LEAs or the state should bear the cost.
▶ Watch at 37:04Read what they said
Does that sound correct? Correct. Yeah. Yeah. And if you wanna call it a Sunset, it could, I mean, it's not officially, but yeah, that's, because that's where we, we reevaluate, right? Can LEAs absorb the cost? How many people are using this fund? Um, is it something that LEAs wanna move forward with, or is it something that the state should be taking on? And that's a conversation that we don't really know how to approach until we test the program.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay welcomed the amendment and said she was fine putting it in a substitute along with adoptive leave clarifications.
▶ Watch at 1:02:28Read what they said
Thank you. And I appreciate the amendment. I think it's a good amendment. It, I think it makes some important clarifications and ensures that we have the opportunity to revisit this conversation so it doesn't fall by the wayside. So even if I'm not here in three years, somebody will be here and we'll have that conversation. So I appreciate it. Um, if, if it is, if it does have to go in a substitute, um, I I'm fine with that. Um, we can also make those clarifications around, uh, the adoptive leave in case we have to make any clarifications in that as well. Um, so happy to proceed.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay said she preferred passing the bill today and working with Fiefia on a substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:03:15Read what they said
Yes. Yes. If we could pass it outta committee today, I would, I would love that. And then we could work together to create that substitute. Um, that would be my preference,
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay opposed the hold motion, saying only a small change is needed and the concept should move forward.
▶ Watch at 1:04:04Read what they said
Motion in order. Yeah. I appreciate that. Um, I would resist that motion. I, I think the idea and concept itself, we know we want to move forward. I think there's just a really small change that we need to make and we're not sure if we can do it in amendment. Um, so I think it's okay to move forward. Thank you.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Defay thanked testifiers, said it is government's role to set benefits for its own employees without mandating private businesses, and urged support for families.
▶ Watch at 1:05:52Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for everyone who's come to speak to the bill. I think we've had a really valuable conversation. I think we're going to make some really fantastic changes. Um, and I, what I would like to say is, when I was approached about this bill, my first thought, Uintah my daughter, um, she's 15 right now, but she will be a citizen of this state. I hope when it is time for her to have her own children. And I hope that she can afford to live here and that she wants to have children here, and that this is a place where she feels supported and that families are supported. And I think we felt that …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · House floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026
Says the bill clarifies that last year's micro-education law was not meant to require cities to allow large micro schools in residential areas, so cities can adopt land-use ordinances; home-based schools and co-ops are not affected.
▶ Watch at 1:06:02Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, this bill was brought to me by my mayor and my city manager. Last year. We passed a bill to encourage educational innovation, um, that was based on micro schools. It was a good bill. Unfortunately, there was some unin unintended consequences in some vague language that, um, could be interpreted that cities would have to and must allow for large entity micro educations to education schools to um, be able to open up in residential areas. So what this, that wasn't the intention of the bill. This is just to make a clarification that that was not the intention of the bill. I want to be very, very clear that this does …
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026
Defay presents HB 128, saying roundabout signaling requirements do not match how roundabouts are used, that signaling to enter or exit can be confusing and risky, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 1:13:33Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, roundabouts are designed to simplify traffic flow and reduce serious crashes and keep vehicles moving safely. Our current signaling requirement does not match how roundabouts are used in practice. First signaling to enter a roundabout simply doesn't make sense. There's only one direction a driver can go when entering a circle. Unlike a traditional intersection, you are not choosing between multiple directions. Secondly, signaling to exit a roundabout is often confusing and can even create risk. Roundabouts are CRC, circular and exits are frequently closed together. A signal given too early may be misinterpreted by other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists, as indicating an earlier exit or preliminary exit. And it may be confusing and actually …
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026
Defay says the bill still requires signaling when moving between lanes within a roundabout.
▶ Watch at 1:15:59Read what they said
Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. That is a good question, and that was contemplated in this bill. If you are in a roundabout that has multiple lanes, then you are still required to signal whether inside the interior exterior lane you are required to signal when moving between lanes within a roundabout.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026
Defay responds that few people are ticketed for this, but that a friend of hers was ticketed for failing to signal entering and exiting a roundabout.
▶ Watch at 1:19:35Read what they said
Most people do not get Tiff tickets, but yes, I had a dear friend who was ticketed. She received two tickets. One for failing to send to signal to enter the roundabout, and one for failing to signal to exit the roundabout. And so it has been enforced, but as this may not come as a surprise, most people again do not know that this is in fact the law because common sense would make you think that it is in fact not a law, although it is.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026
Defay gives closing remarks, saying signaling at small roundabouts has increased her risk and urging support for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:22:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to share my personal experience that since I learned in the fall that this is in fact the law that you have to signal to enter and exit. I've been trying to signal to enter and exit roundabouts and it's nearly impossible for most roundabouts that are within my city limits because they're so small and tight. And it's actually caused me to put more concentration into signaling, um, and cause more risk rather than just driving through the roundabout and using a roundabout how it's intended to. And that is by yielding and using caution. That is the purpose of a roundabout. And so I would, I would plead for your …
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Moves to adopt the second substitute and says the sponsor addressed concerns and the bill is ready to move forward.
▶ Watch at 53:36Read what they said
Yeah, I think the bill sponsor did a really good job addressing concerns, and I think it's ready to move forward.
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Moves to hold HB 144 so the committee can work out issues before revisiting it.
▶ Watch at 59:03Read what they said
You. Thank you. Thank you for your work on this bill. Uh, I move that we hold this bill for now and, um, work out maybe some issues that we're having among the committee, um, and then revisit it. Okay. We have a motion to hold, uh, house Bill a 1 44 School Community Council amendments. Would you like to speak to that motion? Um, no. I'll waive.
H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thanked the sponsor and said the bill could help university enrollment and support people serving in the military.
▶ Watch at 2:09:47Read what they said
Yeah, I thank you for bringing this forward. I really appreciate the bill. Um, I have had feedback from institutions that there are, there are things that we can do to encourage people to enroll in our schools. And I think that this is an opportunity for us to help enrollment and to support, um, those who are in the military and who are serving. So thank you for bringing it forward.
H.B. 173 Disabled Parking Permit Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Supports the bill and suggests designated stalls in government facilities for expecting mothers to encourage private businesses to do the same.
▶ Watch at 50:43Read what they said
Yes, thank you. Thank you for this bill. I really appreciate it. And, and like Representative Jeffrey, it would be, it would've been very nice to have this as an option when I was of childbearing age. Um, I'm just wondering, you and I were speaking before about how government can set an example for what a way we would like to see private industry move. Um, I'm wondering, this is just a suggestion. If we were to have a designated stall in government facilities, um, for expecting mothers, um, that would maybe help encourage private businesses to do the same thing so that we are freeing up spaces for those who are handicapped as well.
S.B. 22 Minor Driving Hours Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Moves that the committee recommend SB 22 favorably.
▶ Watch at 1:10:54Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I, uh, move that we recommend Senate Bill 22 minor driving hours amendments with a favorable recommendation.
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Defay thanked Cutler, described the rise of electric devices ridden by children in her community and safety fears, praised the OHV-style training model, and said she fully supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:34:26Read what they said
I don't have to ask a question. I I would just like to thank, um, Representative Cutler for his hard work on this. Um, he and I, he was kind to say that I helped out, he did most of the heavy lifting on this. Um, we do have a lot of young children in our community that are riding these different types of electric vehicles, scooters, motorcycles. And I am assure that some of you have seen a proliferation of them in your communities within the past year. Um, it's become a real problem. I, I don't know if I can drive down my street one time in the months between May and November without worrying that I'm going …
H.B. 106 School Attendance Changes · House Education Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked what coordination is taking place with others working on absenteeism to avoid duplication and ensure the committee's bills work together.
▶ Watch at 1:24:11Read what they said
Thank you, Representative Stoddard. And thank you for bringing this, uh, important conversation to the forefront. I think you did it last year. Um, I think it's important that we're having these conversations. My question was, uh, Representative Thompson kind of touched on it. What kind of coordination are, are we all, uh, what kind of coordination are is happening between you and the other people in this space? Um, so that we're not duplicating efforts. Um, I just wanna make sure that we are unified as a committee and we are, because we're focused on absenteeism as a committee, are we producing a batch of bills that are all gonna work in conjunction with each other to address the …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Defay presented the bill, saying it clarifies last year's micro school law so cities can use local zoning tools for large micro school entities in residential areas, and that it does not prohibit home-based micro schools or co-ops.
▶ Watch at 49:25Read what they said
Yes. Yes. I will be speaking to the sub that just came online today. But in case there is confusion, make sure that you're reading that one. 'cause this is, is pretty different. Same in concept, but make sure you're looking at that. Um, thank you. I think this is the first time I have come to this committee, so thank you for having me. Um, last year, the legislator, the legislature, worked to support educational choice, um, and parental choice, and we passed a micro schools bill, which was wonderful. Unfortunately, there was some vague language in that bill, um, that would, that was vague enough that it could be interpreted that a large micro school entity up to …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Defay said the substitute adds a capacity and building code provision and lets cities decide zoning for large micro schools instead of barring them from residential areas.
▶ Watch at 53:27Read what they said
Yeah. Um, so the original bill, I mean, it kind of addresses a different, a different part of the code. Um, the sub, well, I, I, I forgot to mention this also, we added just a little provision that, um, addresses student capacity limits and clarifies occupancies must comply with state building and fire code. So that's just an add-on. Um, what we did in this, rather than saying that residential, that no micro schools could operate in a residential area that, um, are large entity micro schools, what we're saying is that they rather we're giving the cities the tools to have local zoning control over that. For example, in our city in Kaysville, we did not want one, …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Defay said home-based micro schools of 16 students or fewer are allowed in residential areas, and that large entities would be limited by state occupancy laws and local zoning.
▶ Watch at 55:20Read what they said
Yeah, so there are different definitions of schools. So there's already home-based micro schools mm-hmm. Which is its own, uh, definition that, so that's 16 students and under, um, and so those would be allowable in residential areas. Um, and then above that, to be honest, I'm not clear if there's like a middle designation. Um, but the large micro entities allow up to a hundred students. Okay. So that, that house that you were talking about that has the five acres, that would be a large entity, it would be allowed the kind of that max capacity? Yeah. I mean, within the state zoning laws, right? Yeah. So it has to fit occupancy laws and then also whatever the …
H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Defay responded to the opposition, saying the substitute adds no restrictions on home-based micro schools, co-ops, or home schools, and only clarifies last year's law.
▶ Watch at 1:02:01Read what they said
Yes. Thank you. Um, I just wanna sum real quick in saying that respectfully, I, I disagree with the statements made from, um, the last gentleman. So we aren't placing any additional restrictions on anyone, and specifically not on home-based micro schools, co-ops, or home schools. Um, but we are simply clarifying what happened in the law last year. So, um, I think that may be a misinterpretation. Um, but as far as the bill goes, I'm so happy with the ability of everyone coming together, finding common ground, and being able to work out a really positive solution. So I appreciate your support. Thank you.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Presented HB 128, which would remove the requirement to signal when entering and exiting a roundabout, and described an amendment striking the words driving through.
▶ Watch at 1:02:42Read what they said
All right, thank you. And I just like to mention that there is an amendment online. Um, this is perhaps one of the greatest bills ever written. Um, what this does is it just removes the requirement for you to signal to get in a roundabout and to get out of a roundabout. Um, would you like me to ex expound on That? Yeah. Yeah. Tell us why. Okay. Okay. Happy to do it. So, current law requires you to signal to go in and out of, of roundabout, but it's really inconsistent with how we practice, drive, how it's practiced in reality. Um, and when you're entering a roundabout, there's really only one direction that you can go. Um, …
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said the sponsor worked with Public Safety and the Highway Patrol, whose concerns about exiting led to the signaling compromise for multi-lane roundabouts.
▶ Watch at 1:05:11Read what they said
Yes. Yeah. So we, we've worked with public safety UHP, they are concerned, uh, they had some concerns about the exiting of the roundabout. So that's why we talked about signaling when there's multiple lanes. And that seemed to clear up, um, confusion and, and bring everybody on the same page. Alright.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said the requirement has been enforced at times and that the bill came from a friend who received two tickets for not signaling in a roundabout.
▶ Watch at 1:05:40Read what they said
That Yes, it, it has been enforced, but typically, no. This bill actually came to me from a friend who received two tickets. One for not signaling to enter roundabout, and one for not signaling when exiting Roundabout. And she asked me to run this bill to remove those requirements.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said a signal would be required when driving all the way through or when switching lanes.
▶ Watch at 1:07:12Read what they said
So if you're driving all the way through, or if you are switching lanes, then you would require, it would require a signal.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Summarized the bill, saying few private citizens know that signaling to enter or exit a roundabout is required by law, and asked for support.
▶ Watch at 1:09:06Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. I two. Representative Peterson's point, I have not met a private citizen who knows that signaling to enter an exit a roundabout is an actual, uh, law. So I think this is a good change and I think it makes a lot of sense. So thank you for your support.
H.B. 146 Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Expresses support for the bill and thanks the sponsor for bringing it forward.
▶ Watch at 1:30:35Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you Representative Pucci. I think this is a fabulous Bill. I, like you said, you, those teachers stick out in our minds. Mrs. Laws. I have a friend, Lori Oliver Sin, I know she would, she's a phenomenal teacher, but she's doing admin and she should be teaching. So I really love this program. Thank you for bringing it forward.
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