Utah committee approves child actor regulations improving parent protections

The House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee of the Utah State Legislature convened on February 18, 2025, to discuss significant legislative measures, including child actor regulations and electronic cigarette modifications.

A key focus of the meeting was House Bill 322, which addresses regulations concerning child actors. Representative Peterson raised concerns about the financial implications for parents of child actors, particularly regarding expenses incurred during their children's upbringing. The bill stipulates that parents can net their expenses and profit up to $150,000 from content featuring their children, with a portion allocated to the child. This aims to balance parental rights and the financial interests of child actors, ensuring that families are fairly compensated for their contributions.

Public comment was limited, with Dave Davis representing the Utah Creators and Influencers Coalition expressing support for the bill's revisions. He noted that initial drafts would have severely impacted content creators, but recent adjustments have made the bill more manageable for them. Davis commended Representative Owens for his willingness to collaborate with stakeholders.

Following the discussion, the committee unanimously adopted a second substitute for HB 322, moving forward with a favorable recommendation for the bill.

The committee also briefly addressed House Bill 432, which focuses on modifications to tobacco and electronic cigarette regulations. Representative McPherson shared personal anecdotes about the impact of smoking in his family, emphasizing the importance of preventing youth access to smoking and vaping products.

The meeting concluded with the approval of minutes from the previous session and a commitment to further discuss the implications of the proposed tobacco regulations in future meetings.