Plus, human composting, and election bills up today | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | Feb. 4, 2025 It's Tuesday and World Cancer Day. There are 640 bills available. Happy birthday to Sen. Luz Escamilla! ð ð ð Three things today: SB178 by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore sets a baseline smart device rule for all schools in Utah: no usage during classroom hours. The bill also allows local education agencies to set their own rules if they wish. This bill has broad support and is expected to pass. It will be heard in the Senate Education Committee at 3:40 pm. HB300, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Burton, would require voters to return their ballot in person and provide valid voter identification to poll workers. The bill sponsor said this bill is a way to âkeep Utahâs voting system convenient, accessible and secure.â This bill will be heard in House Government Operations at 3:40 pm SB84 is a bill being run by Sen. Jen Plumb, who is also a physician. The bill would allow for individuals to choose ânatural organic reductionâ as an option for disposal of remains after death. The process involves speeding up natural decomposition. The bill will be heard in Senate Business and Labor at 3:40 pm On the Hill Today, Day 15 of 45 8:00 am: Criminal Justice Appropriations; Higher Education Appropriations; Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environmental Quality Appropriations; Social Services Appropriations 11:00 - 11:50: Senate floor time 11:00 - 12:00: House floor time 2:00 - 3:30 pm: House and Senate floor time 3:40 pm: House Government Ops; House Political Subdivisions; House Public Utilities and Energy; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education; 4:00 pm: Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Confirmation Committee | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Patriots' Day, commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War, could soon be celebrated in Utah (Deseret News) Voices: The Utah Constitution deserves respect, particularly by members of our Legislature (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah's youngest female legislator is ready to fight for Utah's families (UPR) Business and Labor Are HOAs headed for more state oversight? Should they be? (Deseret News) Rent bill sputters out in Utah legislature (KSL Newsradio) Criminal Justice Utahâs battle against child abuse: Lawmakers push for sentencing reforms (Deseret News) Utah House greenlights restrictions for transgender inmates in state custody (KUER) Education Advocates say Utah could do more for K-12 students' mental health (UPR) Energy New legislation pushes for efficient use of federal land in energy development (Deseret News) Government Operations Mike Lee backs efforts to change how Utah submits mail-in ballots (Deseret News) Law Enforcement How one bill could boost ICE deportations in Utah (Deseret News) Some raising questions about Utah's gun safety laws after fatal Santa Clara shooting (KUTV) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Utahâs pollinator program demonstrates success amid crisis (Deseret News) Opinion: Now is the time to invest in Utahâs forests and watersheds (Deseret News) Transportation Lawmakers hesitant to allow new teen drivers to have friends in the car (KSL TV) Other Utah News Politics Utah GOP leaders support Trump's tariff plans, say 'It'll be challenging' (KSL) Hawaii Gov. Josh Green wants Sen. John Curtis to vote against RFK Jrâs nomination. Hereâs why. (Salt Lake Tribune) Clearfield mayor co-chairing two national housing committees (Standard-Examiner) Santa Clara mayor delivers State of the City address, announces he won't seek reelection (St. George News) Colby Jenkins joins Trump administration in Pentagon role (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah news âWe know these kids:â U.S. figure skaters lost in D.C. plane crash remembered in Utah (Deseret News) Voices: As a Utah chaplain, I recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border. What I saw broke my heart. (Salt Lake Tribune) Biz/Tech Utah has $37B in import/export activity. What impacts would Trump tariffs have? (Deseret News) Utah businesses close their doors for a day in national show of support for immigrants (KSL) Future of Pleasant Groveâs Evermore Park in limbo again; lawsuit claims sale never went through (Daily Herald) Crime/Courts Final arguments heard in Utah's ongoing anti-gerrymandering battle (Deseret News) Former Latter-day Saint bishop charged with sexual abuse of teenager (Deseret News) Culture After Sandy Hook: Robbie Parker on family and fighting for Emilie (Deseret News) Perspective: Black History Month is for all of us (Deseret News) Utah fellowship helps young women connect to their Samoan heritage (Fox13) Environment This Utah park reclaimed the top spot as national park visitation, rallied in 2024 (Deseret News) Health Chocolate recall: FDA warns about potentially deadly treats (Deseret News) Utah research uses AI to find biological factors that pose risk to pregnancy (Daily Herald) Housing Local company tackles Utah's skyrocketing housing market with tiny homes (KUTV) | | |
National Headlines General Religious leader: Protecting human rights is vital to peacemaking and essential for believers (Deseret News) US foreign aid contractors fire staff, face cash crunch as Trump causes chaos (Reuters) Soaring egg prices are piquing interest in backyard chickens (AP) Political news What is USAID? The independent government agency provides humanitarian relief and works to protect religious freedom around the world (Deseret News) Iâm a physician. Hereâs why itâs important that we continue to help HIV patients overseas (Deseret News) Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID, igniting battle with Democratic lawmakers (AP) Republicans stand by Trump as Democrats unleash messaging blitz over tariffs (Deseret News) China launches limited tariffs after Trump imposes sweeping new levies (Reuters) Trump official declines to say whether women, children to be held at Guantanamo (Reuters) Trump plans to invoke obscure 18th century wartime law in bid for mass deportations (Reuters) Trump advisers weigh plan to dismantle Education Department via executive order (Wall Street Journal) Treasury Secretary Bessent, tapped to run CFPB, orders staff to halt work (NPR) Red states eye moves to fingerprint children, certify bounty hunters in immigration crackdown (Washington Post) âThere will be many casualtiesâ: Panama girds for war as Rubio opens talks (Politico) Ukraine and Russia Ukraine's politics warm up as US focuses on war's endgame (Reuters) Israel and Gaza Israeli military operation turns Jenin refugee camp into 'ghost town' (Reuters) Other world news 5 shot at adult education center in Sweden (AP) Multiple earthquakes are rattling Greeceâs volcanic island of Santorini. Hereâs what we know (AP) | | |
| | News Releases Utah Democratic leaders denounce hate rally, reaffirm commitment to inclusion Utah Senate Democratic Leader Luz Escamilla and House Democratic Leader Angela Romero issued the following statement after reports of a hate group holding a rally in Herriman, Utah: âWe are outraged by the recent anti-American, hate-fueled rally organized by the Patriot Front in Herriman this weekend. This demonstration specifically targeted vulnerable communities, including our immigrant community. There is no space in Utah for this type of hatred. We will continue to fight harmful rhetoric and not allow for hate to define our state.â Silicon Slopes and legislative leaders support outdoor recreation infrastructure as a means to develop the tech sector On Friday, the Outdoor Rec, Outdoor Tech press conference was standing room only on Capitol Hill as notable lawmakers, including Senate President Stuart Adams (R), House Speaker Mike Schultz (R), Representative Doug Owens (D), and Representative Steve Eliason (R), government officials Joel Ferry, and tech leaders Kelvyn Cullimore, Nate Quigley, Karl Sun, Trent Mano, and Jim Davis among others joined together to express the importance of outdoor recreation to the success of Utah. This coalition understands investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure will galvanize Utahâs most unique and competitive economic advantage: our unparalleled access to great outdoor recreation opportunities. (Read More) Rep. Maloy and colleagues introduce legislation honoring civil rights hero Fred Korematsu Congresswoman Celeste Maloy joined Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39), Vince Fong (CA-20), and Young Kim (CA-40) in introducing The Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act to posthumously award Fred Korematsu with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his contributions to civil rights, his loyalty and patriotism to the nation, and his dedication to justice and equality. Fred Korematsu was a civil rights leader who fought against the wrongful internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. In 1942, Civilian Exclusion Order 34 was issued and ordered all people of Japanese ancestry be removed from their homes in states along the West Coast and relocated to remote internment camps. Korematsu knew the government had violated the civil rights of thousands of its citizens and refused to comply. He was subsequently convicted for disobeying the governmentâs orders and spent over two years in prisons and incarceration sites. In September 1942, Fred Korematsu and his family were transferred to an internment camp in Topaz, Utah. Korematsuâs application to indefinitely leave Topaz was approved in January 1944. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Feb 5 â Women and Policy, Strategy, Politics, and Change with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 10 â Gail Miller: Making a Difference with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 11 â "Heart on the Hill" Day with the American Heart Association, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Copper Room in the Senate Building Feb 12 â Navigating the 2025 Tax Reconciliation Bill webinar with the Hatch Center, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, MST, Register here Feb 12 â Crossing the Divide: Making an Impact in Career and Community with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 20 â BioHive Live, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Hale Centre Theater, Sandy, Register here Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1789 - George Washington unanimously elected as the nationâs first president 1794 - France abolishes slavery. However, it was reinstated in 1802 under Napoleon. 1861 - States meet to form the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis is elected President. 1913 - Rosa Parks is born. 1962 - First U.S. helicopter shot down in Vietnam. 1974 - 19-year-old Patty Hearst is kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. 1983 - Karen Carpenter dies of heart failure brought on by anorexia. 1986 - Sojourner Truth is on a US stamp. 1987 - First âNational Women in Sports Dayâ is celebrated by Presidential Proclamation 1987 - President Reagan's veto of Clean Water Act is overridden by Congress 1996 - Republican J.C. Watts becomes the first Black Representative to respond to a State of the Union address. 2004 - Facebook launches. Do you remember when you joined?? Quote of the Day "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." âDalai Lama On the Punny Side In Athens, no one wakes before noon. Dawn is tough on Greece. | | |
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