It’s been a productive week here in the Utah House, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to keep our communities safe, support families, and strengthen our state. We’re focused on practical solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives, including improving public safety, protecting Utah families from financial risk, and promoting accountability.
The best part is that the legislative process is open and transparent. Anyone can watch proceedings live or after the fact at le.utah.gov. You can also view daily agendas, read bills, and follow along as we work on the issues that matter most to Utah. Your voice matters, and staying informed is the first step in shaping our state’s future.
This week, some of my sponsored legislation made great progress toward becoming law. The week was full of floor time, committee presentations and meetings, phone calls, emails, and plenty of extracurricular events with friends and colleagues.
Happening on the Hill
A lot was going on at the Capitol this week. We held several events in the Rotunda, including those hosted by BYU celebrating the 150th anniversary, the Springville Museum of Art with the High School Art Show Awards, the Salt Lake Chamber, the Utah Pharmacy Association, members of various trade unions, and the Utah Association of Realtors. BYU was at the Capitol serving Cougar tails and ice cream from the creamery in celebration of the school’s 150th birthday.
Bill Progress this Week
This week began with two of my sponsored bills passing the House Third Reading Calendar. HR 3 – Abandoning Legislation and HJR 10 – Sponsor’s Supporting Information. Since HR 3 is a House Resolution and does not require Senate consideration, it is my first bill to pass this session, and it is now in the enrolling process.
HR 3 – Abandoning Legislation
HR 3 allows legislators to abandon legislation. Earlier this session, a colleague of mine was working on a bill very similar to mine. The two of us met and agreed that he could incorporate the most important parts of the bill I was working on into his own. HR 3 will help mitigate the number of bills we see each session.
HJR 10 – Sponsor’s Supporting Information
HJR 10 is now in the Senate Rules Committee awaiting a committee hearing. This bill benefits both legislators and the people of our state. It allows bill sponsors to publish an explanatory handout and make it public. These handouts will provide a digestible summary of the bill’s provisions, written in plain English, explaining the purpose and goals of the bill.
HB 22 – Vintage Vehicle Amendments
HB 22 continues on its path to becoming law. I presented this bill to the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee, which gave a unanimous favorable recommendation. The bill was read for the second time in the Senate, where Senator Buss, the bill’s floor sponsor, delivered her first presentation in the Senate Chamber. She did an excellent job, and the bill passed unanimously and has now been placed on the Third Reading Calendar. As a side note, I appreciate the opportunity to work with Sen. Buss, who was recently elected as a member of the Forward Party. I think it’s healthy for us to demonstrate true bipartisanship.
HB 199 – Health Data Amendments
HB 199, also made great progress, passing completely out of the Senate. It now is waiting for the governor’s signature.
HB 384 – Executive Branch Agency Amendments
HB 384 is a clean up bill addressing some issues in government operations that were unaddressed when several agencies were combined to form the Department of Government Operations. I presented the bill to the House Government Operations Committee, which unanimously recommended it favorably, placed it on the consent calendar, and the House will vote on it on Wednesday, 2/18.
My intern, Dylan Mervis makes a guest appearance in the background on the right.
Photo Gallery – It Takes Work to Present and Pass Bills
Friends Make the Best Colleagues
Current Bill Status
| Bill | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| HB 22 | Senate 3rd Reading Calendar | Replaces the Vintage Vehicle program with a “Classic Vehicle” designation to prevent registration fee and emissions test evasion. Removes the requirement for non-OBD-II vehicles to have emissions tests. |
| HB 74 | House Rules Committee – Probably unnecessary, because the main points are covered in another bill | Allows more than 2 signatures per page in referendum or petition packets. |
| HB 129 | House Education Committee | Clarifies roles between the Legislature, school boards, and the Superintendent. |
| HB 199 | Sent for Enrolling | Strengthens and enhances the operational protocols, strategic planning, and protections for health data. |
| HB 231 | House Rules Committee – We’re trying to work out a compromise with the counties | Repeals the restaurant tax and replaces it with a much lower rate on a broad-based set of goods and services. |
| HB 384 | House Consent Calendar (2/18) | Clarifies the structure and oversight authority of the Department of Government Operations, including its divisions and offices. |
| HB 505 | House Rules Committee | Reclassifies certain taxes and fees related to vehicles and vehicle registration, designating service fees, regulatory fees, and vehicle taxes. |
| HJR 10 | Senate Rules Committee | Allows sponsors to share and publicize supporting bill information. |
| HR 3 | Sent for Enrolling | Allows sponsors to formally abandon legislation before the 3rd Reading. |
