It's Day 30 of 45: school calendars, tie votes in elections and much more today; Utahns support banning cell phones from classrooms | | | 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. 14, 2024 It's Wednesday, Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday, a rare combination. Three things to watch: SB194 Social Media Regulation Amendments by Sen. Mike McKell requires social media companies to verify a new account holder's age, to enable maximum privacy settings as the default and provides âcompliance safe harborsâ for companies. This bill will be heard in the Senate Business and Labor Committee at 4 p.m. HB515 Election Administration Modifications by Rep. Karen Peterson addresses tie votes in elections. First, there would be a recount, then, if the race was still a tie, within three days, the election officer would determine the winning candidate by lot, in the manner of their choosing. This bill will be heard in the House Government Operations Committee at 4 p.m. SB216 Public School Schedule Amendments by Sen. Dan McCay would require all local education agencies to use only semesters or quarters beginning in the 2025-26 school year. A few schools in Utah have trimesters, which complicates things for concurrent enrollment students. This bill is scheduled for the Senate Education Committee at 4 p.m. On the Hill Today, Day 30 of 45 - we are two-thirds of the way through 8:00 am: House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment; House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology; House Transportation 10:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 10:00 am-12:00 pm: House floor time
2:00-3:50 pm: Senate floor time 2:00-3:50 pm: House floor time 4:00 pm: House Government Operations; House Judiciary, House Political Subdivisions; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education; Senate Health and Human Services 5:30 pm: House Judiciary | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Utah taxpayers could help lay the groundwork for a constitutional convention (Salt Lake Tribune) Students head to Utah Capitol Hill to advocate for state issues (Fox13) 'Your voice matters': Utah immigrants, advocates gather to promote civic participation (KSL) Business and Labor Utah Senate committee rebuffs bill targeting imposition of racial views; measure likely dead (Deseret News) Utah House will debate whether to take beehive regulation out of local hands (KUER) Economic Development and Workforce Services Utahâs version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act passes the Senate (Deseret News) Education Former University of Utah gymnasts to state lawmakers: Take verbal, emotional abuse seriously (Deseret News) Utah lawmakers running nearly a hundred education-related bills (KSL TV) House ed committee advances bill policing âviewpoint neutralityâ in Utah classrooms (KUER) Government Operations Utahâs experiment with ranked choice voting might get cut short (Deseret News) Effort to raise vote threshold to 60% on some Utah initiatives advances in state Senate (Deseret News) Health and Human Services Opinion: Cold plunges should be regulated. Hereâs why (Deseret News) Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Utah bill would boost penalties for domestic violence offenders violating gun restrictions (KSL) Utah could criminalize A.I.-generated ârevenge pornâ under new bill (Salt Lake Tribune) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Utah may soon have a plan to ensure Great Salt Lake benefits from 'wet' water years (KSL) Opinion: Utahâs SB172 is special interest legislation on steroids (Salt Lake Tribune) Great Salt Lake bills continue to flow through the Utah legislature (Fox13) Other Utah News Political news Ambassador Jeff Flake: A strong relationship with Türkiye is in Americaâs best interest (Deseret News) The crux of legal challenges around statesâ social media laws (Deseret News) Sen. Mitt Romney issues dire warnings if the U.S. doesnât continue to help Ukraine (Deseret News) Cache County election officials falsified records, violated Utah election law, report says (Salt Lake Tribune) Read: Utah Lt. Gov.âs office report alleges Cache County election officials falsified official records (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah news Kevin Costner to open new film studio in St. George, mayor announces (KSL) Mental health specialists share life experiences of being Black in Utah (Fox13) Spires placed on the Salt Lake Temple in latest step in renovation (KSL TV) Crime/Courts Magna man arrested with pink stuffed animal, charged with trying to meet 9-year-old for sex (KSL) Plaintiff says these audio recordings prove OUR lied about 'sex slaves' to raise money (Fox13) Culture 'My Beautiful Black Hair' encourages Black women to embrace their hair (UPR) Education Utahns support banning cellphones in classrooms (Deseret News) Principal and assistant principal at Edgemont Elementary placed on administrative leave (KSL TV) South Jordan mother raises concern over use of 'seclusion rooms' in public schools (KUTV) Environment Bear Lake Watch announces new executive director (KSL) The St. George area needs more water. Neighbors are fighting the fix. (Salt Lake Tribune) Family Let your marital light shine: A call to cute old married couples everywhere (Deseret News) Health Utah had a bigger share of kids lose Medicaid than most states. Hereâs how officials aim to improve. (Salt Lake Tribune) C.D.C. considers ending 5-day isolation period for Covid (New York Times) | | |
National Headlines General Bob Moore, who founded Bobâs Red Mill, is dead at 94 (New York Times) Political news US House Republicans win impeachment of Biden's top border official (Reuters) Lindsey Graham, a longtime foreign policy hawk, bows to Trump on Ukraine (Washington Post) Biden blasts 'dangerous' Trump NATO remarks, urges Ukraine funding (Reuters) Recent gaffes by Biden and Trump may be signs of normal aging â or may be nothing (NPR) After border bill failure, ICE considers mass releases to close budget gap (Washington Post) Election news Democrat Tom Suozzi flips George Santosâ seat in Congress (AP) Haley campaign calls Trump âhuge weightâ on GOP candidates after Republicanâs loss in NY (The Hill) Trumpâs comments on NATO: Traitorous or âtough loveâ? (Deseret News) Trumpâs pick to lead the RNC is facing skepticism from some Republicans (AP) Trump loved RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel â until he didnât (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ With Western military aid increasingly uncertain, Ukraine builds its own weapons (NPR) As a package with some $60 billion in support heads to the Republican-controlled House, Ukrainian forces conserve bullets. (Wall Street Journal) Ukraine says it sank Russian large landing warship in Black Sea (Reuters) Detecting Russian âcarrotsâ and âtea bags': Ukraine decodes enemy chatter to save lives (AP) Israel ð®ð± Airstrike from Israeli hostage rescue wipes out entire Palestinian family in Gaza border town (AP) Mediators are in Cairo working to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas (NPR) Rafah is already in a humanitarian crisis. Now, an Israeli offensive looms. (Wall Street Journal) Fear of famine in Gaza (Reuters) World news Whereabouts of Venezuelan human rights attorney and her family remain unknown days after detentions (AP) China's shipyards are ready for a protracted war. America's aren't. (Wall Street Journal) | | |
| | News Releases Utah House Democratic caucus champions sustainable water policies during Utahâs 2024 legislative session As the 2024 Legislative Sessionâs Water Week unfolds, the Utah House Democrats reaffirm their commitment to championing sustainable water policies that safeguard the Great Salt Lake and preserve the stateâs invaluable water resources. Amidst the pressing challenges of climate change, growing concerns about water scarcity, and environmental degradation, the caucus is proud to introduce a series of forward-thinking legislative initiatives aimed at ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for Utahâs environment. Members of the caucus are spearheading legislation that tackles critical water conservation and management challenges facing the state. From innovative water education initiatives to strategic funding requests, the Utah House Democrats are driving a comprehensive agenda designed to address the complex issues surrounding water usage and preservation. (Read More) Gov. Spencer Cox signs one bill in the 2024 General Legislative Session Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed one bill today. He has signed 14 pieces of legislation from the 2024 General Legislative Session to date. Information on the bill signed today can be found below: SB 39 Water Shareholder Amendments | | |
Upcoming Feb. 21 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Women Focused Organizations, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Feb. 22 â Understanding Utahâs Caucus-Convention System, with GOP Chair Rob Axson and Dem. Chair Diane Lewis, sponsored by Utah Women Run, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Register here 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 270 - St. Valentine is beheaded in Rome. 1779 - Captain Cook killed in Hawaii. 1803 - Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of Congress that conflicts with the US Constitution is void. 1818 - Frederick Douglass is born. 1847 - The impressive Anna Howard Shaw is born. She was licensed as a Methodist Protestant minister in 1880, graduated as M.D. in 1886, was an organizer with the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, lectured in every state, beloved president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (1904-15) and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for her work during World War I. She died the year before the 19th Amendment was ratified. 1870 - Seraph Young cast a ballot in the Salt Lake City election, becoming the first woman in the nation to vote. 1884 - Future President Theodore Rooseveltâs wife and mother die only hours apart. 1870 - Esther Morris appointed US' first female Justice of the Peace in South Pass City, Wyoming, after previous justice, R.S. Barr, resigned to protest passage of Wyoming Territory's women's suffrage. Way to go, Wyoming! 1929 - Penicillin is discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming. 1931 - The original Dracula film starring Bela Lugosi is released. How romantic. 1971 - Richard Nixon installs secret taping system in the White House. 1978 - 1st âmicro on a chipâ patented by Texas Instruments. 1990 - The âPale Blue Dotâ photo of Earth is taken from Voyager 1, 3.7 billion miles away from the sun. 2018 - Teenage gunman kills 17, injures 17 at Parkland, FL high school. Quote of the Day "Where there is love, there is life." âMahatma Gandhi On the Punny Side What did the magnet say to the fridge? I find you so attractive. | | |
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