It's Day 45 of 45. Kids' school lunch debt not funded; ranked choice voting stays - for now; NHL bill goes to the Senate and psilocybin? | | | 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 | Mar. 1, 2024 It's Friday and sine die! It's also the first day of National Caffeine Awareness Month. Seems appropriate right about now. A very happy birthday to Rep. Marsha Judkins tomorrow - hope you get to sleep in! ð ðð Three things to know: The Utah legislature passed 97 bills on Wednesday and 85 on Thursday, for a total of 435. So far. The highest number of bills passed in one session was 575 and that was last year. Rep. Tyler Clancy requested $4 million in appropriations to expand free school meals to families qualifying for reduced-price lunch but that request was not funded this year. Clancy says he's not giving up. Still in the pipeline: the hockey stadium bill, the NIL bill, a psilocybin bill, Ballet West, Inland Port, a big crime victim bill and oh, so much more. On the Hill Today, Day 45 of 45 9:15-11:50 am: Senate floor time 9:15 am-12:00 pm: House floor time
2:00 pm-5:50 pm: Senate floor time 2:00 pm-5:50 pm: House floor time 7:00 pm-11:59: Senate floor time 7:00 pm-11:59 House floor time | | |
| | Protect the freedoms of public employees across Utah by voting NO on H.B. 285. H.B. 285 creates big government intrusion on private matters, threatens individual agency, and takes away paycheck freedom. It needlessly increases government red tape and places financial burdens on teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, and other public servants. | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session âThe toughest session Iâve had,â Utah House Democrats say (Deseret News) Utah lawmakers dedicate $25 million for homeless shelter and $2.5 million for vulnerable people with mental illnesses (Deseret News) Utah Legislature approves $167 million income tax cut largely benefitting high earners (Daily Herald) Business and Labor Utah lawmakers pass omnibus liquor bill: Are prices about to go up? (ABC4) Economic Development Church âpleasedâ with potential effort to refresh downtown (Deseret News) NHL arena bill passes House of Representatives, LDS church comments (ABC4) Utah's getting 2 new state monuments. Here's what they are (KSL) Government Operations Utah Senate rejects effort to end ranked choice voting early (KSL TV) Education Utah Senate defeats bill that would have made UHSAA subject to GRAMA and placed lawmakers on postseason appeals committee (Deseret News) Efforts to expand free school lunch program fail in legislature (Fox13) Judiciary Utah Legislature extends involuntary commitment for mental health crises (Deseret News) Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Expungement changed this womanâs life. Why she says changes to Utah bill are âunfortunateâ (Deseret News) Clergy protections for child abuse reporting approved by Utah Legislature (KSL) Speeding in Utah school zones will cost a lot more under newly passed bill (KSL TV) 1,000+ complaints against Utah police lead to new towing law (Fox13) Natural Resources, Environment Lawmakers approve tighter controls on mineral extraction at Great Salt Lake (Deseret News) Will Utah take ownership of a Delta coal-fired power plant now serving California? (Deseret News) Utah Legislature passes bill to make grazing a state right (KSL) Utah Legislature passes criticized, generational out-of-state water bill (KSL Newsradio) Revenue and Taxation New bills would make it easier for first-time homebuyers to enter Utah market (Fox13) Utah lawmakers find a way to give more money for homeless services â liquor (Fox13) State tax form will allow Utahns to help those in need of food, shelter (Fox13) Transportation Navajo Nation reps press for funds to build road to isolated community; won't get funding from the Utah legislature (KSL) New teen drivers still canât have friends in car after Utah bill fails (KSL TV) Utah Legislature passes bill dropping front license plate requirement (ABC4) Bill cracking down on road rage in Utah passes legislature (Fox13) Other Utah News Political news Rep. Celeste Maloyâs bill will help women-owned small businesses earn federal contracts (Deseret News) Hereâs how Utah representatives voted on the stopgap bill to avert shutdown: the delegation was split (Deseret News) Cache County Clerk slates public gathering to report on state election probe (Cache Valley Daily) Election news Sen. Lee endorses Utah AG candidate Derek Brown (Deseret News) Utah news Details of Utahâs bid for the 2034 Olympics formally submitted by governor, mayor. International Olympic Committee set to finalize Winter Games site on Pioneer Day (Deseret News) Business How the Rosie Project is breaking barriers for military spouses in the workforce (Deseret News) A. Scott Andersonâs remarkable career growing Utahâs economy and guiding its nonprofit community (Deseret News) Crime/Court 80-year-old Roy man charged with sexually abusing young girl over years (KSL) Culture Valerie Hudson: The case of abolishing prostitution (Deseret News) Education USU's Black Student Union creates a safe space for students (UPR) Environment Congress passes bill to accelerate advanced nuclear projects (Deseret News) Miller family to donate $2.2 million in water conservation efforts in Utah (KSL) Study shows Utahns pay cheapest electricity bills in the country (KSL Newsradio) Utah State Parks appoints new director touted for âunwavering dedicationâ (St. George News) Family RootsTech 2024 at a glance (Deseret News) Utah company aims to help postpartum moms with special retreats (KSL Newsradio) | | |
National Headlines General Meet the man who brought the World Cup to the U.S. (Deseret News) Political news Presidential standoff: Biden, Trump visit the Texas border amid immigration crisis (Deseret News) Russian disinformation is about immigration. The real aim is to undercut Ukraine aid (AP) Congress passes stop-gap spending bill, preventing a partial government shutdown (NPR) GOP senators faces Trump civil war with McConnell retiring (The Hill) Election news Watch Biden, Trump take on immigration, each other in border speeches (Washington Post) Mike Johnsonâs plan for getting the House in line: Deploy Trump (Politico) There's a good reason Haley's still running - and it's not Trump's legal problems (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ Pentagon weighs new plan to ship weapons to Ukraine quickly (New York Times) Israel ð®ð± Democrats grew more divided on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poll shows (Washington Post) World Navalny buried in Moscow as thousands chant his name (Reuters) A large crowd gathered for Navalny funeral as his supporters came to bid farewell (NPR) | | |
| | News Releases Romney: We need to make sure the world knows we stand with Ukraine U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) yesterday joined CNNâs The Source with Kaitlan Collins to warn that walking away from Ukraine would threaten our own security and jeopardize the United Statesâ role as leader of the free world. Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraineâand the invasion of a NATO nation will pull the U.S. into conflict. Furthermore, failure to stand united with our friends and allies would give an opening to authoritarian states like China to emerge as the dominant powerâthreatening freedom and global stability. (Read More) Utah House Democratic Leader Angela Romero on SB 161 Energy Security Amendments Utah House Democratic Leader, Representative Angela Romero, releases the following statement on SB 161 Energy Security Amendments: âSB 161 Energy Security Amendments demonstrates the Utah Legisaltureâs support for the declining coal industry. Under this bill, the state can acquire the Intermountain Power Projectâs coal units which will require significant investment from the state to sustain the operation of the plant. Concerns of the actual owners of the plant, including 23 Utah municipalities that operate their own power systems, have been left out of the debate. The state of Utah needs to start investing in cleaner energy sources that would better serve Utahns. By prioritizing coal preservation over fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability, this bill overlooks the opportunity for our state to invest and transition to renewable energy sources for the benefit of current and future generations.â Legislature provides tax relief for Utahns â again The Utah Legislature passed $170 million in tax relief to reduce financial burdens for Utahns. S.B. 69 Income Tax Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Chris Wilson and Rep. Kay Christofferson, lowers the income tax from 4.65% to 4.55%, increasing incentives to work, save, invest and spend money. Additionally, H.B. 153 Child Care Revisions, sponsored by Rep. Susan Pulsipher and Sen. Daniel McCay, expands the child-dependent exemption for children from age three to age four, making Utah an even more family-friendly place to live. (Read More) Rep. Brian King (D), candidate for Governor, releases calendar and statement following signing of S.B. 240: âThe governor made Utah less transparentâ Rep. Brian King, candidate for Governor of Utah, has released the following statement in response to Governor Cox signing S.B. 240 â Government Records Access and Management Act Amendments: âYesterday, Governor Cox made it far more difficult for Utahns to access information regarding the actions of their public officials. With this law, S.B. 240, now in effect, official calendars of public officials are exempted from public records laws. This is not a complicated issue: public officials serve the public, meaning their business is your business. Utahns deserve to know how elected officials spend their time while being paid with taxpayer money." (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends Mar. 5 â Caucus night Mar. 20 â Utah Foundation Annual Lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm; Grand America, Purchase tickets here Apr. 20 â United Utah Partyconvention Apr. 27 â State GOP and Democratic Conventions | | |
On This Day In History 1642 - Georgeana (York) in Maine becomes the first incorporated American city. 1692 - Salem Witch Hunt begins 1780 - Pennsylvania becomes the first US state to abolish slavery (for newborns only). 1781 - Articles of Confederation are (finally!) ratified after nearly four years of wrangling. 1790 - First US census authorized. 1864 - Rebecca Lee becomes the first Black woman in the US to receive a medical degree. 1872 - Yellowstone Park established 1875 - A Civil Rights bill is enacted by Congress, giving Blacks the right to equal treatment in âinns, public conveyances, theaters and other places of public amusement.â It is overturned by the US Supreme Court in 1883. 1879 - The telephone makes it to Utah. 1880 - Gillette Hayden, a pioneering dentist and periodontist, is born. She founded the American Academy of Periodontology and served as its president. 1896 - 80,000 Ethiopians destroy 20,000 Italians in Ethiopia, killing two generals and capturing General Matteo Albertone in the Battle of Adowa. 1932 - Lindbergh baby kidnapped. 1941 - Captain America created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby is first published by Timely Comics. 1954 - US explodes Castle Bravo, a 15 megaton hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll, which accidentally became the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the US. 1960 - San Antonio, Texas, becomes the first major Southern city to integrate lunch counters. 1961 - President Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps with Executive Order #10924 1966 - Soviet probe crashes into Venus 1967 - U.S. House expels Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Civil rights leaders say Powell was ousted because of his race. 1971 - Bomb explodes in US Capitol building. 1987 - Congress passes a resolution designating March as Womenâs History Month. 2020 - Turkey launches major offensive against Syrian government in northern Syria after 36 Turkish soldiers killed in air and artillery strikes 3 days earlier Quote of the Day âThis session has focused on politics more than it has focused on policy.â âMinority Leader Angela Romero On the Punny Side Your fingers have fingertips but your toes don't have toetips,
Yet you can tiptoe but not tipfinger. | | |
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