Here are the highlights from the Fourth Week of the Utah Legislature.
Public Engagement
One of the few positives of the global pandemic is the increased opportunity for members of the public to participate in committee hearings. In order to keep everyone safe, the Legislature has created tools and processes to allow remote participation. These virtual tools have allowed constituents to continue to make their voices heard in the Utah Legislature. In fact, I have been pleased to see more participation from my district this year than ever before. For those who don’t know how to participate in committee hearings, you can find the relevant committee meeting in the calendar tab on https://le.utah.gov/, click on the link, and choose the option to participate virtually in the meeting. You can request in advance the opportunity to speak or you can request during the meeting to be heard.
I encourage all of you to participate in meetings on bills that are important to you, including giving public comment. If you have questions to discuss with me in particular, you can submit your questions through the sign-up link for my weekly Town Hall updates.
Noteworthy Issues
Paris Hilton Visits the Capitol
This week, Paris Hilton visited the Utah Capitol to testify in support of SB127, which requires greater accountability from residential care centers for children and prohibits certain restraint and sedation measures. It also prohibits sex and gender based discrimination in such centers. This bill will also be discussed in the House Business and Labor committee this week. Ms. Hilton was a patient at a facility in Provo and has been an advocate for improving the level of care provided in those facilities.
Puberty Blockers
HB92, which prohibits doctors from performing transgender procedures (including prescribing puberty blockers) to minors, has been getting a lot of attention recently. Supporters of this bill argue that minors should not be given the power to make permanent and irreversible changes to their bodies (including he ability to have children) as they are not yet fully emotionally developed. Furthermore, they argue that transgender procedures can cause serious emotional and physical harm to children. Opponents of this bill view it as an issue of medical and parental rights. At present, this bill is still in the House Rules Committee waiting to be assigned to a House committee for further debate. I will provide more updates if this bill moves forward.
Transgender Athletics
I have received many emails about HB302, which one of my colleagues is sponsoring. While this bill has yet to be heard on the House floor, my understanding of it is that it would require that participation in school athletic programs be determined by an individual’s biological sex, meaning the individual’s sex at birth. I am very aware that this is a sensitive and emotional topic for many of you. I am committed to continuing to listen and learn from all sides on this issue.
My Bills – A Status Update
A complete list of my bills is available to view online along with the current status of each. Here is a summary of those that are actively progressing through the process.
So far, four of my bills have made it through the Senate and are off to the governor’s desk for his signature. These are HB11, allowing for responsible reallocation of excess funds in the Department of Human Services; HB40, removing an inconsistency in tax legislation pertaining to alcohol licenses; HJR1, congratulating the Utah Medicaid Accountable Care program on its success; and HB202, preventing healthcare providers from falsely claiming to be part of a consumer’s insurance provider network. Another bill, HB139, is waiting to have Senate amendments ratified by the House before going to the governor’s office for his signature.
HB118 Children’s Hearing Aids Program Amendments was passed by the full House and was passed by a Senate committee and should be heard by the full Senate this week. I appreciate Rep. Rex Shipp who has agreed to take over as the chief sponsor for this bill.
HB125 Intergenerational Poverty Solution passed its committee hearing and will soon be voted on by the entire House. The challenge will be to find a way to fund this program.
HB139 Competency Based Hiring Amendments passed its Senate vote but was amended in the Senate, so now it needs to be voted on again in the House.
HB140 Income Tax Revenue Amendments passed its committee hearing and will now be heard on the House floor.
HB178 Pharmacy Practice Modifications passed the full House and is waiting to be heard in a Senate committee.
HB190 Interstate Compact on Curing Diseases passed the full House and is waiting to be heard in a Senate committee.
HB202 Health Care Consumer Protection Act passed its final Senate vote and is now waiting for the governor’s signature.
HB211 Initiatives and Referenda Amendments passed out of the House and is waiting to be assigned to a Senate committee.
Norm in the News
- The Salt Lake Tribune: This bill would help some Utah cancer patients preserve their fertility
