Here are some highlights from the Last Week of the Utah Legislature.
Tax Cuts – This session saw the Legislature passing significant tax cuts in three priority areas:
- Tax relief to retired military living in Utah ($24 million annually, SB11)
- Tax credit for individuals receiving Social Security Income ($18 million annually, HB86)
- Partially restored dependent tax exemption ($55 million annually, SB153)
Investment in Utah
This year’s budget included record funding for new education and nearly a billion dollar investment in infrastructure (mostly transportation related). Here is a 2 minute video highlighting how our actions help a typical Utah family.
Relationships
As a Legislature, we were pleased to welcome several distinguished guests to the Capitol. Most recently, my friends Merrill and Diane Christensen came to give the opening prayer and pledge during floor time.
This session, my intern was Taylor Hill, a BYU senior majoring in economics (who has also completed the Russian program). He was fantastic! He had a busy session and kept me organized and rolling. Thanks Taylor!
Karen Ellingson and Marilyn Boucher also came as my guests to watch floor time on the second-to-last day of the session.
I also learned that one of my colleagues, Representative Doug Welton, and Rep. Brooks’ intern are my 3rd Cousins. We are all descendants of Thomas Jefferson Thurston, one of the original Utah pioneers (1847).
With the end of the session also comes the end of testing (2 or 3 times per week). I will miss our new testing friends, but maybe not the actual test itself. I am looking forward to getting my vaccine this week!
Executive Powers
There were several bills that address the Executive Branch’s emergency powers. At the end of the day, we were able to make significant improvements to the laws that apply generally as well as address the current pandemic.
- SB195 limits the timeframe for both executive orders and public health orders to stay in place, as well as making it clear that the Legislature has the final say. I understand that many people feel that this bill does not do enough to reign in the executive branch’s powers, but it is a good first step. This bill does not create any new executive powers. What it does do is label and limit some powers that the executive branch has already been exercising.
- HB294 specifically addresses the current pandemic and will end all statewide orders no later than April 10. Local elected officials can reinstate those orders, but unelected bureaucrats will not be able to do that on their own.
- SB86 addresses how price controls work during emergencies.
Transparency
This year I sponsored HB140, which would have required the Legislature to vote on how to use a surplus income tax windfall like that created when the federal government removed the dependent tax exemption in 2017. My goal with this bill was to ensure that the Legislature would not be able to raise income taxes without a vote as has happened every year since Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues in the Senate were not comfortable with the increased accountability and transparency this bill would have created, and consequently it failed its final vote. Even so, I think it was good to have a conversation about this important issue. Next year, I will continue pushing for legislation that increases transparency in the process by which the Legislature spends your tax dollars.
Senate votes on HB140 which would have increased government transparency in tax policy
My Bills – A Status Update
A complete list of my bills is available to view online along with the current status of each.
In terms of volume, I had my busiest and most productive session ever. Of the 14 bills I sponsored and floor sponsored this year, 11 were passed by both the House and the Senate. Here is a summary:
Bills that Passed both the House and Senate
- Created a process to allow for responsible reallocation of excess funds in the Department of Human Services. Improved efficiency (HB11)
- Removed an inconsistency in the law that allows agencies to share information pertaining to alcohol licenses. Improved efficiency (HB40)
- Congratulated the Utah Medicaid Accountable Care program on its success over the past 10 years. Recognizing improved efficiency (HJR1)
- Prevented healthcare providers from falsely claiming to be part of a consumer’s insurance provider network. Consumer protection (HB202)
- Ensured that government agencies hire employees based on competency rather than just education. Improved efficiency (HB139)
- Allowed and encouraged families that are helped by the Children’s Hearing Aids Program to contribute back to the program so more can be helped. Improved efficiency (HB118, transferred to Rep. Shipp)
- Set up a process to allow pharmacists to prescribe certain prescription drugs. Decrease regulatory burden on consumers (Hb178)
- Cleaned up the language regulating initiatives and referenda so it is more consistent and easier for citizens to understand and removed some unnecessary restrictions. Improved efficiency (Hb211)
- Eliminated the duplicate registration fee when people who are leasing a car pay them off. Decreased regulatory burden on consumers (SB73)
- Streamlined and simplified campaign finance reporting requirements to make it easier for the public to see where the money is being used. Increased transparency (SB92)
- Required schools to be consulted when public health orders will impact their operations. Increased efficiency (SB187)
Passed the House but Failed in the Senate
- HB125 Intergenerational Poverty Solution got stuck in the Senate Rules Committee and was unable to be heard this year.
- HB140 Income Tax Revenue Amendments passed its Senate committee hearing but failed its final Senate vote. This bill would have created transparency in cases where there are unintentional tax increases and prevent the Legislature from keeping your tax dollars without an up or down vote. See picture above for a list of senators that voted against this bill.
- HB190 Interstate Compact on Curing Diseases failed its Senate vote, but I will be running it again next year.
