Here are the highlights from Week Four of the Utah Legislature. Due to Presidents Day, the week was one day shorter.
Constituent News
Visitors to the Capitol
I always love hosting neighbors and friends at the Capitol. This week’s guests included Morgan High School Ovation Choir, State 4-H Officers (including Gabriela Coca from my district), and Provo City Power officials. If you would like to visit the capitol, please let me or my intern know a few days in advance so we can make arrangements to meet and give you a chance to visit the House Floor.
 State 4-H Officers |
Photo Highlights
For a photographic overview of my week, please take a look at the Photo Highlights for Week 4
Big Issues
With Medicaid now behind use, focus is really gravitating toward tax reform.
- Tax Reform – We are hearing more and more details about what tax reform of “Broaden the Base and Lower the Rate” will look like. The sales tax base (the variety and value of goods and services that are taxed) has been steadily shrinking over time. In order to keep revenues adequate to pay for Medicaid, social programs and general government, the tax rate has been rising. Obviously, this can’t continue forever, neither would that be good policy. A way of addressing that problem is to remove “exemptions” so that the tax base includes many more things, but couple that with a corresponding decrease in the tax rate. The proposal would include all goods and services and a rate less than half the current rate. Exemptions would be limited to housing services, goods purchased as inputs to manufacturing, and health care.
My Bills – A status update
A complete list of my bills and proposals is available online along with the current status of each. Here is a summary of those that are actively progressing through the process.
Bills Making Progress
HB0094 – Clarifies when it is a crime to carry a dangerous weapon while intoxicated and outlines specific exceptions. Passed the House Floor on a party-line vote and is now in the Senate for consideration.
HB0150 – Creates industry standards for the safe operation of trampoline parks (or “jump gyms”) in order to protect the safety of children using those parks. Will have a final Senate hearing next Monday.
HB0226 – Puts forward a framework for people who participate in competency-based eduction to obtain a competency-based license. Passed out of the House and is now going to the Senate for a committee hearing.
HJR016 – Sets forward a written policy for when and how the government should limit the right of people to pursue an honest vocation, trade or occupation. Passed out of the House and is now in the Senate for a committee hearing.
Other Bills Coming Up
HB0145 – Changes the timing and other rules related to signature gathering and removal on initiative petitions. The goal is to have a more fair and transparent process from the voter’s perspective. Should have a committee hearing next week.
HB0267 – Requires the Department of Health to request permission from the federal government to create a wholesale drug importation program so that prescription drugs that are available in Canada at a lower cost can be made available at local pharmacies in a safe manner. We had a great committee discussion but ran out of time for a complete debate and vote. It should be up for final vote in committee on Monday morning.
HB0326 – Closes a loophole in the election finance code that allows people to hide resources by using informal loans. Will have a committee hearing next week.
HB0334 – Reduces partisanship in the citizen participation in government boards and commissions by removing some partisan requirements for participation. Will have a committee hearing next week.
HB0379 – Creates an incentive program to help families stuck in the cycle of poverty to engage in behaviors that are known to break the cycle, specifically saving up for their children’s future education and developing a habit of setting aside a little money.
