6HB198 Concealed Carry Amendments
In the 2017 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored a bill creating a Provisional Concealed Carry Permit for adults aged 18 to 20. Status: Passed
HB281 Prosecution Review Amendments
In the 2019 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored Prosecution Review Amendments providing a process for the Utah Attorney General’s Office to review alleged first degree felonies if the local and district level enforcement agencies decline to prosecute. This bill led to the identification of at least two serial rapists and many more violent criminals. Status: Passed
HB166 Down Syndrome Nondiscrimination Abortion Act
In the 2019 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored the Down syndrome Nondiscrimination Abortion Act, a bill seeking to halt the eugenic-like eradication of children with Down syndrome through elective abortion. The bill contained a contingent effective date. This bill will enact when a court of jurisdiction decides in favor of a Down syndrome Nondiscrimination Act being challenged in another state. Status: Passed
In the news: https://kutv.com/news/local/utah-bill-to-ban-abortion-if-down-syndrome-is-the-only-reason
HB231 Tangible Personal Property Tax Revisions
In the 2019 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored HB231, Tangible Personal Property Tax Revisions alleviating onerous regulatory and tax burdens from small businesses in Utah. Status: Passed
In the 2019 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored HB250, a bill placing guardrails around the assessment of school fees. Status: Passed
HB246 Hunting and Fishing License Amendments
In the 2019 Utah Legislative Session, Karianne sponsored HB246, a bill that created reduced cost hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans. Status: Passed
HB183 Driver License Record Amendments
In the 2020 legislative session, Karianne sponsored legislation protecting the privacy rights of Utah residents by creating an opt-out option from automatic inclusion in the Utah Population Database. This data has been shared by the Utah Driver License Division for over 50 years. To have your personal identifying information from your driver license record(s) removed from the database, you can submit an online form to the Driver License Division https://dld-rge.ps.utah.gov/. Status: Passed
In the news: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/02/12/compromise-allows-utahns/
SB 18 Property Tax Exemption Amendments
This 2021 bill is a continuation of Rep. Lisonbee’s multi-year, multi-bill effort to alleviate significant tax and regulation burden from small businesses. It changes the taxable tangible personal property exemption from $15,000 to $25,000. Overall, this bill provides for a two-million-dollar property tax cut. It helps around 40,000 small businesses. Status: Passed
In the News: https://www.abc4.com/news/infocus/in-focus-discussion-utah-2021-legislative-wrap-up-pt-2/
This 2021 bill cleans up language in Rep. Lisonbee’s 2017 bill that created the provisional concealed carry permit for individuals 18 – 20 years old and allowed permit holders to carry concealed on college campuses. Status: Passed
In the News: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20210303/utah-self-defense-bills-awaiting-senate-action
HB 227 Self Defense Amendments
HB227 enacts a new process for certain charges the state may bring against an individual who has acted in self-defense. Before the bill, if charged, the burden of proof was on an individual to prove to the court that they had acted in justifiable self-defense. Now, a person acting in self-defense can take advantage of the new process created in this bill by motioning for a special hearing at least 28 days prior to trial where the state has the burden to prove with clear and convincing evidence that the individual did not act in justifiable self-defense. Only one other state, Florida, has this important self-defense protection. In the past, when these cases went to trial, they could cost the individual acting in self-defense around $250,000 and much higher for high-profile cases. If an individual is charged in a clear case of justifiable self-defense, they will be able to avoid the devastating expense of a jury trial. This 2021 bill also includes the same protection for our law enforcement officers acting in self-defense. Status: Passed
In the News: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20210303/utah-self-defense-bills-awaiting-senate-action
HB 239 Online Impersonation Prohibition
This 2021 bill makes it a crime to impersonate another person online without consent and with the intent to harm, intimidate, or threaten through social media, email, websites, text, or other online methods. The content of this bill was brought by constituents who experienced difficulty keeping employment or gaining new employment because of online impersonation actions. It is a third-degree felony to create impersonating websites or social media profiles or send messages through these platforms. It is a class A misdemeanor to send impersonated messages through email or text. Status: Passed
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/02/24/bill-make-online/
HB 260 Criminal Justice Modifications
This 2021 bill makes significant overhaul to the restitution process in Utah. The goal of the bill is to make the process fair and equitable to all involved through ensuring victims are fully compensated for losses and that defendants have a fair process and are given incentives to pay restitution. Specifically, this bill does 4 things: it eliminates the multi-track system for establishing restitution orders; it eliminates the distinction between court-ordered and complete restitution; it stops the intermingling of civil and criminal processes and remedies; and it allows the defendant to receive remittance or “forgiveness” from the court or board of pardons at termination of sentence. Status: Passed
HB 289 Victim Services Amendments
There is significant disconnect between the many different victim services agencies in Utah and this bill seeks to make it easier for victims to avoid process revictimization by state agencies. This 2021 bill adds members to the Utah Council on Victims of Crime, including a representative of the Department of Health’s Violence and Injury Prevention, the director of the Division of Child and Family Services, a citizen representative, and a victim of a crime. It also allows the council to advocate in appellate courts on behalf of a victim of crime. Status: Passed
HCR 8 Concurrent Resolution on Education
This 2021 resolution reaffirms the primary role that parents play in the education of their children. It also recognizes the important support provided by schools and teachers and all of the efforts by educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution quotes existing Utah statute affirming parents’ vital role in the education their children. Status: Passed
HB 37 Child Protection Unit Amendments
This 2021 bill eliminates Child Protection Units in Utah because they are no longer used. The bill provides for members of child protection teams to share case-specific information with other team members with specific guard rails to enhance the current ability of law enforcement and DCFS to share information in the child protection process. Status: Passed
SB 98 Asset Forfeiture Amendments
This 2021 bill makes modifications to laws regarding asset forfeiture. Asset forfeiture occurs when a person’s personal property is impounded during the commission of a crime. This bill helps protect the rights of individuals who have had their property unjustifiably seized and ensures judicial oversight. It allows release of property to an innocent owner and prohibits forfeiture of property seized solely because of possession of a controlled substance. Status: Passed
This 2021 bill creates an alternate presumption in state law allowing a judge to consider a 50/50 custody arrangement between parents who are separating or divorcing. It disallows certain manipulative tactics involving children in divorce and custody proceedings. Status: Passed
In the news: https://www.ksl.com/article/50159672/hundreds-of-new-utah-laws-take-effect-today–what-changes-for-you
HB 412 Probation and Parole Employee Incentive Program
HB412 (2022) fills a gap in Utah’s current incentive framework. This bill offers regional probation and parole offices financial incentives for increasing the annual employment rate of their caseloads AND for every offender who completes his term of supervision with at least six months of employment. Under this bill, successful probation and parole offices earn additional funding to invest in and expand the strategies or programs that helped their officers promote employment, creating a new cycle that gets more offenders back to work and improves public safety. Status: Passed
HB28 Offender Supervision Amendments
This 2022 bill addresses the absconder and fugitive issues the state of Utah is experiencing. The Courts, Board of Pardons, the Sentencing Commission, Law Enforcement, CCJJ, and AP&P all collaborated on this bill. It requires a jail to detain an individual who violates their probation or parole by committing a violent felony. It also requires a private probation provider to contract with an agency of local government in a county where private probation services are offered and requires a court to review costs that a defendant will be charged for supervisory services. Previously, private agents who had nothing more than a license from DOPL were supervising felony offenders. HB28 also creates a notification provision for victims similar to SB1412 – Kayley’s law from Arizona. Status: Passed
HB146 Local Licensing Amendments
HB 146 (2022) reduced regulatory and financial burdens for food trucks and other small businesses. Under the bill, food truck owners will only have to obtain a business license in their originating city and can legally operate anywhere in the state. This bill does not change the tax revenues to the cities generated by food trucks, but it does remove expensive and onerous regulations that did not increase consumer safety, but did increase consumer cost. Status: Passed
HB 304 Juvenile Justice Revisions
According to a recent audit, teachers cite student behavior as the number one reason they are leaving the profession. This bill (2023) reverses the longstanding soft on crime policies on K-12 school grounds by removing current prohibitions placed on School Security Officers to enforce the law. And it requires robust data reporting on weapon possession and violent crime by juveniles in Utah schools. Status: Passed
HB 50 Criminal Financial Obligation Amendments
This bill (2023) ensures victims receive restitution and streamlines the process among state agencies. Status: Passed
HB 107 Concealed Weapons Permit Fee Amendments
This bill (2023) removes concealed carry permit fees for teachers and staff who work in K-12 classrooms in Utah. Status: Passed
HB 352 Law Enforcement Data Amendments
This bill (2023) establishes a statewide definition of recidivism, the repeat of a crime by the same individual, and contemplates future improvements to the definition as our statewide criminal justice data system becomes functional. Status: Passed
HB 120 Weapon Possession Amendments
Utah residents can have a felony domestic violence conviction expunged if they meet the requirements, but not a misdemeanor conviction. This bill (2023) aligns Utah law with Federal law allowing expungement for misdemeanor DV offenses. Status: Passed
HB 151 Veteran Property Tax Revisions
This bill (2023) increases the disabled veteran property tax exemption. Inflation has far outpaced the current exemption. This bill passed the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for signing. Status: Passed
State and local law enforcement agencies frequently cooperate with federal partners to remove dangerous criminals from our streets. This bill (2023) recognizes that important cooperation, while also protecting law-abiding citizens from an overreaching Federal Government by declaring that Utah will not allow state resources to be used to enforce unconstitutional federal statutes, rules, or executive orders. Status: Passed
2HB 368 Inmate Identification Amendments
This bill (2023) requires the Department of Corrections to provide an inmate who is a United States citizen with the appropriate identification (drivers license, drivers license certificate, or a regular state-issued identification card) to assist them in obtaining employment once released from prison. This bill does not increase taxpayer burden, but will increase revenues to the state and reduce recidivism as more post-incarcerated individuals are able to obtain employment. Status: Passed
HB 182 Student Survey Amendments
HB182 (2024) replaces a former statutory opt out requirement with an opt in for parents of any student in K-12 schools in Utah for nonacademic surveys. This ensures that students are not given nonacademic surveys without affirmative parental consent. This bill also requires a school to provide the content of any survey to parents upon request. Finally, HB182 disallows the use of incentives or disincentives so that no student is punished if they don’t participate in a nonacademic survey, or rewarded if they do. Ultimately, this bill puts parents in the driver’s seat by creating a more transparent process for the administration of nonacademic surveys in K-12 schools. Status: Passed
HB 271 Law Enforcement Employee Overtime amendments
Our first responders are the only state employees required to work 86 hours in a pay period before earning overtime. HB 271 (2024) requires that overtime pay start at 80 hours per pay period rather than 86 for our first responders. Under this bill counties and municipalities may pay law enforcement employees for overtime after 80 hours per pay period. Status: Passed
HB 352 Amendments to Expungement
HB 352 simplifies the auto expungement process and provides a waiver process for petition based expungements for individuals who have been crime free for at least 7 years. This bill also allows a court to expedite expungement of a criminal record for a defendant who successfully completes a drug court program. This bill prohibits an individual who is currently incarcerated, on probation, on parole, or has a pending criminal proceeding from qualifying for expungement. Status: Passed
HB 362 Juvenile Justice Amendments
HB 362 (2024) increases penalties for the crime of soliciting a minor to commit a criminal offense. And requires school employees to report offenses committed by a minor on school grounds. This bill will make our schools safer by reducing criminal activity on school grounds and in our communities. Finally, HB362 updates the funding formula for the Juvenile Gang Prevention Grant Program (HB 304, 2023). Status: Passed
HB 301 Charter School Accountability Amendments
HB 301 (2024) clarifies the purpose of charter schools to enhance innovation in learning environments in order to meet the unique needs of Utah’s families. This bill also improves the process for charter schools that may be struggling to meet performance measures to more quickly address insufficiencies. Status: Passed
HB 316 Inmate Assignment Amendments
HB 316 (2024) creates a presumption that inmates in correctional facilities will be assigned housing based on their biological sex at birth. This bill also prioritizes the safety of correctional staff and inmates. And provides clear guidance on inmate housing to the Department of Corrections and county sheriffs. Status: Passed
HB 366 Criminal Justice Amendments
HB 366 (2024) clarifies that an offender who intentionally or knowingly removes or disables a tracking device as part of an alternative incarceration program is guilty of criminal escape. Under this bill, courts cannot rely solely on an algorithm or risk assessment tool score when making determinations about pretrial release, diversion, and sentencing. This bill also requires that a county elected official shall serve as the chair of a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Status: Passed
HB 495 Health Care Facility Background Check Amendments
H.B. 495 (2024) creates protections for vulnerable populations by allowing family members to install cameras in care facility patient rooms and requiring background checks for healthcare workers. This bill also requires prompt reporting of abuse incidents in care facilities and prohibits violent felons from certain training (like obtaining a CNA certificate) while incarcerated. Status: Passed