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2025 Utah Legislature Updates

Posted on 02/17/25 by Joe Hirabayashi

The 2025 Legislative session in Utah runs from January 21, 2025 to March 7, 2025.

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February 17, 2025

2025 Legislative Priorities for AARP Utah

SUPPORT

  • Eliminate Social Security Tax

In 2023, the Utah legislature voted to increase the Social Security income cap to $45,000 for single filers and $75,000 for married couples filing jointly. Individuals and households with qualifying incomes are eligible for a tax refund.

Although the income caps were a step in the right direction, Utah is one of 9 states that still taxes Social Security benefits. Senator Wayne Harper has introduced SB 71, Social Security Tax Revisions, which would eliminate the Utah state tax on Social Security benefits.

Status: Awaiting Committee Assignment

This bill would increase the income limits and credit amounts for the Circuit Breaker Homeowner’s Tax Credit and Renter’s Relief programs. 

Status: Awaiting Committee Assignment

  • Secure Meals on Wheels Funding

Meals on Wheels delivers more than 2 million meals to home-based Utahns annually. Progress is still needed as there are hundreds, if not more, of older Utahns on the Meals on Wheels waitlist.

Aging and Adult Services has requested $4.5 million to help ensure all eligible older Utahns can access home-delivered meals.

Status: $3.5 million one-time funding

  • Adopt the Health-Care Decisions Act Amendment

There is a movement to replace the Utah Advance Health Care Directive Act with the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act. The act allows people to appoint agents to make health care decisions for them in the event they are unable to make those decisions themselves.

Status: Passed Senate – Awaiting second House vote

The Committee of Consumer Services is a 5-member layperson board that advises the Office of Consumer Services to help establish policy objectives. This bill extends the sunset date for the committee until July 1, 2035.

Status: Passed both chambers – Awaiting Governor’s signature

OPPOSE

Senator Brammer recently introduced a modified version of his 2024 Medicaid bill. This proposed legislation would define a Medicaid shortfall as a condition in which the ongoing financial stability of the Medicaid/Medicaid expansion programs is uncertain. In the event a Medicaid shortfall is projected, the following would occur:

  • Suspend hiring of noncritical employees
  • Suspend increasing employee wages
  • Suspend increasing provider payment rates
  • Suspend expanding reimbursement rates
  • Cancel coverage for any optional services or populations
  • Cancel or reverse all provider payment rate increases approved or implemented during the year immediately preceding the shortfall
  • Close enrollment to new members

The Medicaid program in Utah is not operating at a deficit. These proposed changes would dramatically impact populations being served under Medicaid.

Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee, 2/19 8 am

This bill would reduce the maximum relief amount of the Circuit Breaker homeowner tax credit over 5 years. Presently, applicants can qualify for up to $1,259 in relief. This bill would reduce that amount by 20% each year until the credit is no longer offered. The proposed replacement for the homeowner tax credit is the recently created property tax deferral program.

Status: Awaiting final Senate vote

This bill's proposed mail-in voting changes would restrict how voters return their ballot. All active registered voters would still be mailed a ballot but those ballots could only be dropped off at a polling station or drop box manned by at least 2 poll workers. To vote by mail, a form would need to be submitted to the county clerk’s office with valid voter identification at least 45 days before the election. Additionally, the form would need to be reviewed every 2 years.

Status: Awaiting final House vote

Want to get involved with AARP during the 2025 legislative session? Contact Joe Hirabayashi at jhirabayashi@aarp.org for more details.

Joe headshot.jpg
Joe Hirabayashi, AARP Utah Advocacy Director

This page will be updated by AARP Utah's Advocacy Director Joe Hirabayashi, throughout the legislative session to ensure you know what's happening in Utah!

This story is provided by AARP Utah. Visit the AARP Utah page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

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