Week 7 of the Legislative Session
It’s over! After 45 days of long hours, engaging discussions, the Legislature has adjourned sine die and will take a break until our next session. Here’s a summary of some of the biggest topics we tackled this year.
Water
We increased funding for statewide water projects, encouraged local governments to prioritize conservation and incentivized all Utahns to do their part. There was nearly a $500 million investment in developing and protecting Utah’s water resources, including coordinated efforts to get and keep more water into the Great Salt Lake.
Taxes
We allowed Utahns to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. A total of $850 million in total tax reductions.
- Reduced the income tax rate from 4.85% to 4.65%
- Expanded eligibility for the social security tax credit to households earning up to $75,000 per year
- Provided a double dependent exemption for the year of a child’s birth
- Set in motion a plan to eliminate the state sales tax on food, and
- Provided a $1,000 tax credit for child care for children ages 1-3.
Government
- Block efforts to distort financial markets and limit access to capital based on artificial and subjective criteria
- Protect against investment schemes based on political beliefs
- Ensure state investment is done based on financial considerations and fiduciary responsibilities
- Clarify oversight of elections, with uniform procedures and a process to reconcile disparities in tabulations
- Require an audit of election procedures
Education
- Removed the requirement for school grading
- Expanded access to optional full-day kindergarten statewide
- A total of $915 million increase in state funding for public education, including $213 million for teacher pay raises and a 6% increase in the per-pupil funding ($236 million)
Transportation
- Over $2 billion investments in transportation, including planning for growth and continued support for infrastructure
- Ensures all users of our transportation system contribute to the cost of roads and maintenance and prepares for future shifts in our systems
- Allocated funding to support international flights into the Provo airport (with matching funds from Utah County and the federal government)
My Bills – A Final Update
✅HB 26 – License Plate Amendments – Simplifies the processes for requesting and implementing changes to our license plate programs.
Passed
✅HB 35 Unfair Practices Act Amendments – Repeals this antiquated and duplicative section of the code so businesses will have a better idea of what the law requires.
Passed
✅HB 75 State Commemorative Periods Amendments – Clarifies what a commemorative period is and how they should be declared.
Passed
✅HB 116- Intergenerational Poverty Solutions – Provides an incentive program to encourage parents of low income children to save for their post-high school training and education.
Passed
⛔HB 135 – State Holiday Amendments – Modernizes how state government treats state holidays to provide increased access to the public for needed services and provide a more valuable benefit for state employees at no extra cost.
I have decided to hold this for a future session
✅HB 159 – Health Care Professional Licensing Requirements – Allows Utahns more access to telehealth providers by reducing the barriers that prevent them from being available
Passed
⛔HB 213– Social Security Tax Credit Amendments – Would repeal the unfair double-taxation of Social Security benefits.
This bill will not be proceeding because another bill by Rep. Walt Brooks will be the one to move forward with this policy.
✅HB 292 – Poverty Mitigation Program Amendments – Would allocate some of Utah’s share of federal block grant funds to counties to implement innovative models for help people be financially self-sustaining.
This project was approved for funding this week and I found out that the bill isn’t needed because the agency already has authority to do this.
⛔HB 295 – Educator License Amendments – Would create a pathway to teacher licensure based on an intensive apprenticeship program that is focused on competencies instead of course completions.
I have decided to hold this for future discussion
✅HB 303 – Elections Record Amendments – Creates more transparency with respect to voter registrations.
Passed Senate Committee hearing and awaiting a vote of the full Senate
⛔HB 359 – Animal Breeding Amendments – Would create statewide standard for dog breeders, shelters, sanctuaries and rescues.
Did not get a vote from the full Senate.
I appreciate Lt. Governor Henderson’s friendship and a good working relationship
