2025 was a busy time for the Utah Legislature. A total of 583 bills were passed in the Session, most of which were signed into law.
Many of the bills this session may impact businesses and their employees. A majority of these bills have already been signed into law, with a few waiting for Governor Cox’s decision. Most of them go into effect on May 7, 2025. Below are summaries of such new legislation:
H.B. 267 Public Sector Labor Union Amendments
This bill requires any public sector labor organizations located in the State that collect union dues from public employees to “provide an annual accounting to the labor organization members and to the Labor Commission” and “prohibits a public employer from recognizing a labor organization as a bargaining agent for public employees.” Additionally, the bill “prohibits a public employer from entering into collective bargaining contracts” and “prohibits using public money or public property to assist, promote, or deter union organizing or administration. This bill appears to primarily target K-12 public school educators. See UCA §§ 10-3-1109; 17-33-11.5; 17B-1-804; 49-11-202; 49-11-205; 49-12-202; 49-13-202; 49-22-202; 63A-4-101.5; 34-32-202; 49-11-627; 34-32-101; 34-32-102; 34-32-201; 34-32-301; 34-32-401.
S.B. 86 Workplace Protection Amendments
This bill amended the definition of sexual harassment as it relates to the limitations on enforceability of nondisclosure and non-disparagement clauses. The statute now defines sexual harassment as meaning “harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender, as prohibited in (i) Title VII of the civil Rights Act of 1964” or (ii) as defined in their employee handbook under Subsection 34A-5-106(1)(a)(i). See UCA §§ 34A-5-102; 34A-5-114.
H.B. 19 Child Labor Amendments
This bill updates language and adds misdemeanor and felony violation penalties related to the illegal employment of underage children. See UCA § 34-23-402.
H.B. 50 Occupational Safety and Health Amendments
This bill increased the civil penalties associated with occupational health and safety violations. UCA § 34A-6-307.
S.B 190 Worker’s Compensation Modifications
This bill added new cross-listed definitions to the code for the terms “balance billing,” “covered medical services,” “health care provider,” “hospital,” “physician,” and “self-insured employer.” The bill also clarified the language that describes the mandatory compliance required of employees that submit compensations claims – i.e., that the employee seeing worker’s compensation is required to submit medical records disclosures that comply with commission’s requirements. See UCA § 34A-2-407.
S.B. 245 PEHP Amendments
This bill now requires the Public Employees’ Benefit and Insurance Program “to allow a newborn or adopted child to be added to a health plan within 60 days of the birth or adoption.” See UCA § 49-20-407.1.
H.B. 373 Service Marketplace Platforms Amendments
This bill regulates daycare facilities and their employees’ use of marketplace service software programs to manage and grow their customer bases. The bill defines daycare service in this context as paid services provided “for the supervision and care of one or more children” that occurs “during a period of time where the parent or guardian of the child is not present.” Additionally, this bill creates a presumption that any daycare provider is an independent contractor of the marketplace unless there is “clear and convincing evidence that the parties intended the daycare provider to be an employee.” See UCA §§ 34-53-102; 34-53-201; 34-53-202.
These 2025 legislative changes impact a wide variety of industries. It will be important for both public and private sector organizations to take a closer look at these new laws and understand how these changes may impact their leadership, employees, shareholders, and clients. For any of your labor and employment needs, trust Clyde Snow to handle your matters with diligence and competence.