Posted on 2017 Legislative Session

2017 Legislative Review: Business, Campaign Finance, Crime and the Courts

View other reviews in this series: Agriculture, Air Quality, and Alcohol Business HB 40 – Check Cashing and Deferred Deposit Lending Amendments from Representative Brad Daw (Republican – Orem) Representative Daw, a long time adversary to Utah’s payday loan industry, scored a victory in 2017 by successfully passing legislation that would prevent the refinancing of payday loans (a loophole often used by that industry to avoid other laws that prevent the “rolling over” of existing loans). It is hoped that such reforms will encourage smarter lending in an industry that is often considered predatory. Effect on Budget: $0 Effective Date:...

Posted on 2017 Legislative Session

2017 Legislative Review: Agriculture, Air Quality, and Alcohol

Now that the governor is starting to sign bills into law, we felt it was a good time to recap some of the more talked about bills to come out of the 2017 legislative session. Over the coming days, we will be talking about major topics such as education, health care, elections, and transportation. Today we start our series with Agriculture, Air Quality, and Alcohol. Other reviews: Business, Campaign Finance, Crime and the Courts Agriculture HB 121 – Local Food Advisory Council from Representative Steve Handy (Republican – Layton) HB 121 is designed to create a Local Food Advisory Council...

Posted on 2017 Legislative Session Davis County Executive Branch Salt Lake County Utah Politics

HEAL UTAH Joins the Calls for HB 65 Veto (Audio Update)

Before Utah’s 62nd Legislature adjourned for the regular year’s business on March 9, The Utah Air Quality Board issued a formal objection addressing the effort behind HB 65 – Air Conservation Act Amendments sponsored by Representative Mike Shultz (Republican – Hooper); requesting a veto from Governor Gary Herbert on March 3rd. The legislation would specifically prevent the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) from creating rules that would restrict the cooking of food with polluting sources such as wood or charcoal. Air quality activists say that for approximately 340 days per year, there could be no problem. On the red-air days, they say maybe...

Posted on The UPC Show - Season 2

The UPC Show – Episode 189 – Legislative Extravaganza! (Part 2)

Welcome to the UPC Show with Curtis Haring, Dylan McDonnell, and Alex Cragun. We talk even more bills! We start off by talking about: Government Regulations, specifically: HB 11 – State Boards and Commissions Amendments from Representative Norm Thurston (Republican – Provo), SB 250 – Food Truck Licensing and Regulation from Senator Deidre Henderson (Republican – Spanish Fork), HB 224 – Specie Legal Tender Amendments from Representative Ken Ivory (Republican – West Jordan), HB 237 – Firearms and Domestic Violence Modifications from Representative Lee Perry (Republican – Perry), and HB 200 – Sexual Assault Kit Processing Amendments from Representative Angela Romero...

Posted on The UPC Show The UPC Show - Season 2

The UPC Show – Episode 188 – Legislative Extravaganza! (Part 1)

Welcome to the UPC Show with Curtis Haring, Dylan McDonnell, and Alex Cragun. We talk bills (no shocker there)! We start off by talking about housing and homelessness (HB 178 – Good Landlord Amendments Rep. Brian King (Democrat – Salt Lake City) and HB 441 – Housing and Homeless Reform Initiative Amendments Rep Francis Gibson (Republican – Mapleton); Drugs (HB50 – Opioid Prescribing Regulations Rep. Ray Ward (Republican – Bountiful),HB 130 – Cannabinoid Research Rep. Brad Daw (Republican – Orem), and SB 211 – Cannabinoid Product Act Sen. Evan Vickers (Republican – Cedar City)); Child abuse (HB149 – Child Abuse Offender Registry Rep....

Posted on 2017 Legislative Session In the Senate

Utah’s Senate Leadership Reviews Their 62nd Legislature

Today, on day 45 of a 45 day legislative session, The Utah Republican Senate supermajority leadership reflected on their considerable efforts at creating and overseeing a $15.3 billion state budget, on the laws they’ve created and/or revised, and on making their state the first in the nation to drop the legal blood alcohol limit while driving to 0.05. Wayne Niederhauser, Utah’s Senate President, gathered his Senate majority and minority leaders and his executive appropriations chairman to discuss their efforts with reporters for one of the last times before adjournment Sine Die at midnight. Big Policy Changes “There were some big policy changes made...

Posted on Executive Branch On The Hill Uncategorized Utah Politics

Governor Herbert Responds to AHCA Defection by GOP Lawmakers (Audio)

Salt Lake City — At a meeting with reporters to address his views on the state’s legislative efforts to create laws and establish Utah’s budget priorities for the coming fiscal year, Governor Gary Herbert issued his own understanding of the U.S. Senate’s rebuke of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) from its original announcement in Washington on Monday, March 6. Herbert described the GOP’s “replace” effort on Obamacare as a “starting point,” that would doubtlessly have several more versions before being made into federal law. Herbert’s own state will conclude its effort with budget and lawmaking on Thursday of this week when part-time...

Posted on Utah Politics

BREAKING: Utah’s Senator Mike Lee Denounces GOP’s AHCA Healthcare plan

In a prepared statement issued by his office, Utah Senator Mike Lee has broken ranks with Republican leadership over the long-awaited replacement for the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. Congressional leadership had released the details of their version of a national healthcare system on Monday of this week and will need all of the Senate majority to get it passed. Lee represents one of two Republicans who will be needed by opponents to the American Healthcare Act (AHCA) to stall the effort. “This is not the Obamacare repeal bill we’ve been waiting for. It is a missed opportunity and a...