Jan 19, 2024
This past Tuesday marked the beginning of the 2024 General Legislative Session. This has already been a productive week full of legislation and debates that will greatly benefit Utah. I am grateful to be back with my colleagues, working hard each day to pass Legislation that will have a meaningful impact on our community. I am honored to serve each of you. Make sure you follow along with the process, in person or online at le.utah.gov.
Fiscal Responsibility
We are blessed to live in such an incredible state and the Nation is beginning to take notice of how truly extraordinary Utah is. This past year alone we received accolades such as the Best Overall State, Best Economy, Best State to do Business, and many more. One of the key contributors to all these accomplishments is our state’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. While neighboring states are facing deficits approaching the billions, Utah stands as an example of financial prudence. Our constitution requires the Legislature to pass a balanced budget, which will ensure that Utah can continue to prosper, now and for generations to come. Learn more here.
For Utah: A Bold Vision, Bright Future
Each year, the House Majority Caucus prepares for the upcoming Legislative session by identifying its key policy priorities — what we most want to accomplish to benefit our state. Over the last year, our Legislators have worked tirelessly to identify problems and drafting policy solutions for Utah. This session, the Majority Caucus has identified four key areas of focus: People, Resources, Accountable Government, and Future. This legislative session, we will pass policies that address today’s problems and create generational benefits for our constituents, for our future, and for Utah. Learn more here.
Keeping Our Students Safe
Every child deserves to feel safe in their classrooms. Over the last year, schools across Utah have received an increase in hoax threats against students. These hoaxes have an enormous cost, both monetarily and mentally on our students, teachers, and first responders. The perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable. This week, the House passed H.B. 14 School Threat Penalty Amendments to do just that. This bill increases criminal penalties for those who make threats against our students and schools, creating a needed additional deterrent.
Bills Passed by the House this Week
H.B. 10 Public Fund Amendments
H.B. 12 Tax Incentive Revisions
H.B. 14 School Threat Penalty Amendments
H.B. 16 Sexual Offenses Amendments
H.B. 17 Sales and Use Tax Revisions
H.B. 19 Higher Education Financial Aid Amendments
H.B. 22 Concurrent Enrollment Revisions
H.B. 23 Division of Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council Sunset Extension
H.B. 24 Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act Amendments
H.B. 25 Electronic Notarization Amendments
H.B. 32 Short-term Rental Modifications
H.B. 33 Cigarette and Tobacco Tax and Licensing Act Amendments
H.B. 34 Tax Refund Claim Amendments
H.B. 37 Joint Tenancy Presumption Amendments
H.B. 39 Massage Therapy Practice Act Amendments
H.B. 42 Water Rights Publication Amendments
H.B. 54 Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments
H.B. 46 Veterans and Military Affairs Commission Amendments
H.B. 47 Utah Seismic Safety Commission Amendments
H.B. 50 State Highway Designation Amendments
H.B. 53 Multi County Appraisal Trust Amendments
H.B. 45 Safeut and School Safety Commission Amendments
H.B. 60 Phased Retirement Extension
H.B. 64 State Construction and Fire Codes Amendments
H.B. 66 Property Tax Relief Amendments
H.B. 67 First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program Amendments
H.B. 88 Landowner Liability Amendments
S.J.R. 1 Joint Resolution Reappointing John Q. Cannon as Director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
Dec 22, 2023
All eyes are on Utah. The Beehive State is on something of a winning streak after a month of back-to-back-to-back good news. The Winter Olympics will make a triumphant return to the state in 2034. University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall will host the third and final general election presidential debate in 2024. Most importantly, Utah once again wears the crown for the most generous state in the nation – our fourth consecutive year.
Looking back, it’s been a busy month in the Legislature: interim meetings, House leadership elections, a new colleague in Rep. Ariel Defay, and a special session.
November Interim
My colleagues and I met for our last interim meetings of the year this November. You can watch the full recordings of those meetings at le.utah.gov or click hereto read the highlights. I look forward to taking what I have learned throughout the interim process to pass meaningful legislation for Utah in the upcoming 2024 general legislative session.
House Leadership Team
With the resignation of our former Speaker Brad Wilson, my colleagues and I met to elect a new House leadership team. The new assignments are as follows:
Speaker of the House – Mike Schultz
Majority Leader – Jeff Moss
Majority Whip – Karianne Lisonbee
Assistant Majority Whip – Casey Snider
I am excited to work with these individuals and I know they will do great things for our state.
Special Session
During last month’s interim meetings, the House convened in a special session to instate our newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Schultz. We also passed a Resolution of Supporting the State of Israel. While much of the world fails to acknowledge the full scope of horrors committed against the Israeli people, Utah continues to stand with Israel as we pray for peace.
Water Policy Symposium
As the second driest state in the nation, it’s crucial that we are continuously planning for our water needs and preserving our water resources. With this goal in mind, the Utah House of Representatives hosted the third annual Utah Water Symposium, where we met with stakeholders and policy experts to discuss the current state of our water systems. We were also privileged to hear Seth Siegel, author of Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water Starved World. In case you missed it, you can watch the full recording of the Symposium here.
Utah’s Budget Process: Leading the Nation
This November, Pew Charitable Trusts recognized the Beehive State for comprehensive and sustainable budget practices, including the deployment of long-term budget assessments and budget stress tests.
An early adopter to budget sustainability tools, Utah is one of only eight states to harness both practices and one of two to boast a AAA credit rating. These assessments help the Utah Legislature craft a balanced budget year after year.
Long-term budget assessments project revenue and spending several years into the future to determine whether the state of Utah is likely to face chronic budget deficits. Stress tests estimate the size of budget shortfalls from potential recessions or other economic events to gauge preparedness. The strategies paid off during the pandemic, allowing the Legislature to balance the budget “while minimizing harm to residents and the economy.”
Pew recommended other states follow Utah’s lead. “States could implement Utah’s strategy of paying for infrastructure with cash in most years to retain borrowing capacity for downturns,” says the report. “One advantage of Utah’s approach is that the state avoids some of the trade-offs between saving and spending, instead putting its dollars to work throughout the economic cycle rather than having them sit unused in an account potentially for years.”
Taxpayer Receipt
Utahns deserve to know how the state spends their tax dollars. A decade ago, the Legislature authorized the creation of the tool that reasonably estimates how much you paid in taxes and what those dollars fund in state government.
The Taxpayer Receipt – an easy-to-use online tool – has been revamped for Utahns. Get an estimate for your household here.
Utah Fits All Scholarship
The newly selected program manager for the Utah Fits All Scholarship will begin accepting applications on Feb. 28, 2024.
The Utah Board of Education selected the Alliance for Choice – a nonprofit with management experience in 12 states, including Utah – to oversee the program to provide up to $8,000 to eligible Utah students who attend private school or home school. Scholarship accounts can pay for education expenses and services, including private school tuition and fees, tutoring services, testing fees, materials and curriculum costs, contracted services, and more.
The application window closes May 15 and eligible families will receive notice about the award by May 27. Funds will be deposited in an ESA account by June 3. Learn more about the Utah Fits All Scholarship program here.
Get the facts: Utah’s Sensitive Materials Proposal
A draft proposal to empower parents to remove pornography from libraries and curriculum in Utah schools passed the Interim Education Committee with the full support of House Republicans.
The committee has worked through the interim to provide clarity and support for schools, and it’s important to set the record straight about what this proposal accomplishes:
“Should this bill become law, books and classroom materials that contain pornography as defined in Utah law, will be removed immediately,” according to committee co-chair Rep. Candice Pierucci. “Materials that do not meet that threshold, but are potentially harmful to children, will be reviewed by local schools and parents. Those decisions may be appealed through the local school board. This proposed legislation strikes the right balance in empowering parents, protecting children, and giving the needed support and guidance to schools and districts.”
Legislative Audit Subcommittee greenlights audit of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and his office
This month, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee gave approval for an audit of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and his office.
In a unanimous vote, legislative leadership tasked the Office of the Legislative Auditor General with auditing recent allegations involving the Utah attorney general and his office. The move comes after a bipartisan group of 26 lawmakers requested the audit, including 15 members of the House.
Legislative auditors expect the process to take anywhere from 10-12 months.
Merry Christmas
This time of year, we have the opportunity to spend increased time with our loved ones and reflect on our many blessings. I am grateful for the continued opportunity to serve each of you and to call this great state home. From my family to yours, wishing you all a very merry Christmas.
Oct 2, 2023
September Interim and Long-Term Planning Conference
This past month, my colleagues and I took interim meetings off Capitol Hill and down to beautiful St. George. I enjoyed meeting with and hearing from the people in Southern Utah. You can read the highlights of those interim meetings here. This month’s interim meetings will take place on October 10th and 11th at the Capitol. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.org.
While in St. George, we also met as a Legislature for the Long-Term Planning Conference, where we had the opportunity to learn about and discuss topics like transportation, housing affordability, water, and technology innovation. It’s important that we begin now to plan for our future.
Happiest State in the Nation
Utah was recently ranked the Happiest state in the Nation! There are many reasons why I am proud to call Utah home, from our beautiful landscapes to our unmatched opportunities, but I believe the thing that makes Utah truly special is our amazing people and communities. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve each of you.
Supporting our Educators
During this past session, my colleagues and I passed the largest single teacher pay raise in state history and teachers across Utah are already benefiting. In total, the Legislature allocated nearly $5.6 billion towards public education. We know that education is the key to upward mobility and I remain committed to setting our students and teachers up for success. You can learn more here.
Remember to Vote
County and municipal general elections will take place next month on Tuesday, November 21st. Voting is an important constitutional right and I encourage you all to participate. Find more info at vote.utah.gov.
Sep 5, 2023
I enjoyed meeting with my fellow legislators during this month’s interim meetings. These meetings are an opportunity for us to hear presentations from experts and stakeholders, as well as public comment, all of which helps us prepare for the upcoming legislative session. You can read the highlights of these meetings here. September’s interim meetings will be held on the 18th in St George. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov
Happy Labor Day, Utah!
I hope you all had a fun, safe, and enjoyable holiday weekend! I am proud to live in a state that is known for its industrious spirit. The hardworking people of Utah are a big part of what makes our state the best place to live, work, and play.
Great Salt Lake License Plate
Looking for a way to show your love for the Great Salt Lake? Sign up today for a new Great Salt Lake license plate! Contributions will go towards conserving and protecting the GSL watershed and ecosystem. Click here to learn how you can get yours.
Back to School
To all the students across the state who are headed back for the start of the new school year, I wish you luck in all your academic endeavors! Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future and remains a top priority for myself and the legislature.
Jun 5, 2023
Special Session
This past month, the Legislature convened in a special session to address the needs of the state by extending the current state of emergency and allocating funds to help mitigate the ongoing statewide flooding. You can watch the recording of this special session here.
Bills passed during the special session:
H.B. 1001 Emergency Response Funding
H.B. 1002 Restricted Persons Amendments
H.B. 1003 Firefighter Death Benefit Amendments
H.J.R. 101 Joint Resolution Extending Emergency Powers for Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure Rehabilitation
May Interim
May interim was a success! It is always a pleasure to serve with my colleagues on our interim committees and to hear from the public about issues they care about. You can read the highlights here. June interim will be held on the 13th and 14th of this month. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time to honor all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I am grateful for all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces. Thank you for your dedication and service.
Congrats Graduates!
Congratulations to the class of 2023! Whether you finished your senior year of high school or college, I commend you for your achievement and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you.
