Here are the highlights from Week Two of the Utah Legislature.
Constituent News
Visitors to the Capitol
I always love hosting neighbors and friends at the Capitol. This week’s guests included Provo High School students participating in the Multicultural Youth Leadership Day, reknowned artist Karl Momen (creator of the Tree of Utah) and Herman DuToit, and the state FFA officers (including my constituent Chloë Wimmer). 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 FFA officers visiting the House Floor |
Photo Highlights
For a photographic overview of my week, please take a look at the Photo Highlights for Week 2
Big Issues
Slowly, but surely, we are making progress on the big issues:
- Medicaid Expansion (See http://www.normthurston.com/coverage-for-all/ for a more thorough discussion.)
- Tax Reform
- Election Issues
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.
Great Progress
SB0030 – Continues to collect data on adverse events and deaths associated with outpatient anesthesia and sedation – has passed the Senate and a House committee and is just waiting to be funded before final passage.
SB0031 – Reauthorizes for ten years the licensing of speech pathology and audiology – has passed both the House and Senate and sent for enrolling.
Bills in Play in the House
HB0176 – Would eliminate the ability of the government to collect a fee in lieu of property tax more than once per year – there are some practical considerations dealing with this bill and it has been held in the Revenue and Taxation Committee to give everyone time to figure something out.
HB0226 – Would allow for training programs to see if they can use Competency Based Assessment as a substitute for a specific number of hours of training to qualify students for licenses in certain professions. It has been assigned to the Business and Labor Committee and will have a hearing this week.
HJR016 – Outlines a concise policy statement for the State of Utah regarding the right of individuals to pursue occupations or professions without unnecessary regulatory burden. It will have a hearing in Business and Labor Committee this week.
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. It will come up for a vote in the full House this week.
