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Committee advances multiple bills on mortgages, gig work, earned‑wage access and data portability
Summary
The Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee on Feb. 28 gave favorable recommendations to several bills, including a uniform mortgage modification law, marketplace contractor presumptions for childcare platforms, a framework for earned wage access providers and a data‑portability measure for social platforms.
The Utah Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee on Feb. 28 favorably recommended several bills affecting mortgages, gig‑work classification, financial technology and data portability.
The committee approved a mix of technical changes and policy frameworks intended to reduce legal uncertainty for borrowers and platform providers, create a regulatory definition for earned‑wage access providers, and require social platforms to give users greater control over their data. Most motions passed unanimously or by voice vote.
House Bill 440, the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act, was presented as a uniform law that lists “safe harbor” mortgage changes that do not materially prejudice junior lienholders and allows parties to modify loans without formal refinancing in specified cases. The committee placed the motion to favorably recommend the bill; the motion passed unanimously, 4–0.
House Bill 373, Service Marketplace Platforms Amendments, clarifies that certain marketplace platforms that mediate services (for example, child care substitutes offered via apps) create a presumption of independent‑contractor status for providers, similar to prior handyman platform amendments. Tyler Morgan of Upkid, a Utah childcare‑marketplace startup, testified in favor, saying independent‑contractor status would increase workforce flexibility. The committee favorably recommended the bill, 4–0.
House Bill 279, Earned Wage Access Services (second substitute), sets out a regulatory framework recognizing earned‑wage access (EWA) as a distinct financial product rather than a loan, and directs consumer protections for workers using EWA fintech. Nancy Coleman Chavez testified in support on behalf of a payroll‑services provider; the committee favorably recommended the second substitute, 4–0.
House Bill 418 (fourth substitute, “Data Sharing Amendments”) requires social platforms to support portability and interoperability so users can move contacts and content between services and correct or delete their data. Testimony in support came from university students and national groups; TechNet testified in opposition citing potential conflicts with Utah’s Consumer Data Privacy Act and security concerns. The committee favorably recommended the bill, 7–0.
House Bill 329 (second substitute), on homeless‑services data, winter‑response authority and low‑barrier shelter standards, was presented as a bipartisan package to improve outcome metrics and require drug‑free shelter operations; the committee voted to favorably recommend it, 7–0.
Votes at a glance
- HB 440, Uniform Mortgage Modification Act — Motion to favorably recommend passed unanimously, 4–0. - HB 373, Service Marketplace Platforms Amendments — Motion to favorably recommend passed unanimously, 4–0. - HB 279 (2nd sub), Earned Wage Access Services — Motion to favorably recommend passed unanimously, 4–0. - HB 418 (4th sub), Data Sharing Amendments — Motion to favorably recommend passed unanimously, 7–0. - HB 329 (2nd sub), Homeless‑services/data/winter response — Motion to favorably recommend passed unanimously, 7–0.
Several bills that drew extended debate were taken up separately (see related articles). Committee members emphasized brevity for presenters given the compressed schedule and said some items would continue to be negotiated before floor consideration.
The committee recessed after the day’s business to allow members and sponsors to continue negotiations on remaining items.
