Week 6 Updates

Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne

Senator Mayne's bill SB43 Criminal Provisions Modifications passed the house and is on its way to be signed by the governor. The bill cleaned up and improved parts of Utah's criminal code. It was the product of a task force that partnered with legislators, defense attorneys, the AG's office, the department of corrections, and other stakeholders.

Photo: Senator Mayne gives an interview to ABC4 news on her bill to provide incentives for teachers to earn national certification.

BILL REQUESTS: 16

BILLS IN SENATE:

SB156 Construction Trades Licensing Amendments
SB167 Public Safety and Firefighter Planned Retirement Program
SB176 Railroad Safety Amendments
SB245 School Community Awareness
SB241 Treatment Medication Amendments

BILLS PASSED OUT OF SENATE:

SB169 Political Action Committee Amendments
SB175 Gang Awareness Week. Read more about this event here.
SB208 National Certification Teacher Incentive Amendments
SB217 Gang Prevention Funding Amendments

BILLS PASSING THE LEGISLATURE:

SB43 Criminal Provisions Modifications
SB10S01 Identification Request Amendments
SB76 Workers' Compensation Adjudication Amendments
SB68S01 Driver License and Implied Consent Modifications
SB124 Local Government Administration Amendments
SJR10 Joint Resolution Encouraging More Training and Resources for Municipal Code Enforcement Officers

IN THE NEWS:

The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Senate committee kills House-approved bill that would allow cars to sometimes run red lights

ABC 3340 (Alabama) Sex for unmarried in Utah may soon be legalized

Deseret News Parents, local governments would get 120-day notice prior to school closures under Utah bill

KSL.com Parents, local governments would get 120-day notice prior to school closures under Utah bill

KSL.com Bill to add counterfeit pills, online doxing to Utah’s criminal code sent to House for vote

TheDailyUniverse.com Animal shelter transparency bill fails in committee; senator looks forward

Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla

Senator Luz Escamilla saw four bills successfully passed out of committees or the Senate this week: SB215 Adoption Services passed the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee; SB161 Medical Cannabis Act Amendments passed the House Health and Human Services Committee; SB225 Homeless Service Provider Amendments passed the Senate 3rd reading calendar and moved to the House; and SB143 Public Education Vision Screening passed the 3rd reading calendar in the House.

Photo: Senator Escamilla meets with 8th graders from Northwest Middle School.

BILL REQUESTS: 10

BILLS IN SENATE:

SB144 Environmental Quality Monitoring Amendments
SB215 Adoption Service Agencies Amendments

BILLS PASSED OUT OF SENATE:

SB161S06 Medical Cannabis Act Amendments
SB225 Homeless Service Provider Amendments

BILLS PASSING THE LEGISLATURE:

SB55S01 Charter Trust Land Council Amendments
SB87 Procurement of Design Professionals Amendments
SB143 Public Education Vision Screening

IN THE NEWS:

The Salt Lake Tribune This cannabis patient is believed to be the first in Utah to face drug charges since the new state law was enacted. Prosecutors later dropped all counts.

KSL.com Utah Senate committee endorses bill that would help people compare medical prices

Deseret News Expanded protective orders for victims of sexual violence moves forward in Utah Senate

Associated Press/Philadelphia Tribune Bid to fortify Utah hate-crimes law passes first Senate vote

Fox13now.com Hate crimes bill passes a critical vote in the Utah State Senate

Deseret News Utah hate crimes bill approved in initial Senate vote

KSL.com Utah hate crimes bill approved in initial Senate vote

Senate Minority Assistant Whip Jani Iwamoto

Senator Jane Iwamoto's big successes this week included SB134 Campus Safety Amendments passing out of the House Education Committee Tuesday evening. In addition to community testimonies, Matt McCluskey--father of slain University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey--flew in from Washington state to support the bill as well.

Senator Iwamoto's bill to reduce the minimum age of jail workers to 19 also passed the Legislature. Read more about how SB162 Corrections Officer Certification Amendments fills a critical need here.

BILL REQUESTS: 14

BILLS IN SENATE:

SB126 Motor Vehicle Insurance Minimums Amendments

BILLS PASSED OUT OF SENATE:

SB89S01 Conflict Disclosure Amendments
SB134 Campus Safety Amendments

BILLS PASSING THE LEGISLATURE:

SJR1 Joint Resolution Supporting the Study of Water Banking in Utah
SCR2 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing Navajo Code Talkers
SB61 Poll Hours for Early Voting
SB62S01 Campaign Finance Revisions
SB65 Utah Noxious Weed Act Amendments
SB81S01 Substitute Native American Remains Amendments
SB88 Crime Victims Restitution Amendments
SB101 Navajo Code Talker Recognition
SB162 Corrections Officer Amendments

IN THE NEWS:

KUTV.com Campus safety law unanimously passes House committee, father of slain student testifies

KUER.org Slain Student's Father Says Campus Safety Bill Could Have Prevented Her Death

Deseret News 'Remember Lauren': Father of slain University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey urges support of campus safety bill

The Salt Lake Tribune ‘This bill is in some sense written in blood’: Father of slain U. student urges legislators to pass campus safety proposal

Fox13now.com ‘Remember Lauren’: Father of murdered student asks Utah lawmakers to pass campus safety bill

ABC4.com Lauren McCkuskey's father pushes for campus safety bill at Capitol

Senate Minority Caucus Manager Derek Kitchen

This week Senator Kitchen was excited to see the hate crimes bill pass the final Senate vote and pass in a House committee. He has been closely watching the conversion therapy bill, HB399, as it was drastically changed in a House committee earlier this week. Rep. Lisonbee proposed the substitute that would not properly protect LGBTQ youth in Utah, and Rep. Hall—the original sponsor—voted against the bill after the substitute was adopted.

Watch Sen. Kitchen's floor speech on the hate crime bill here.

Other bills he has been watching include HB101, the autonomous vehicle bill, and HB441, the tax reform bill that was abandoned.

BILL REQUESTS: 3

BILLS IN SENATE:

SB146 Sales Tax Exemption Modifications

BILLS PASSING THE LEGISLATURE:

SJR5 Joint Rules Resolution -- Ethics Commission Amendments

IN THE NEWS:

Utah Public Radio A Bill To Strengthen Utah Hate Crimes Law Heads To House

KSL.com Utah hate crimes bill approved in initial Senate vote

The Salt Lake Tribune 'We have reached a tipping point’: Utah Senate approves hate crimes bill in its first floor vote in years

Deseret News Utah hate crimes bill approved in initial Senate vote

Senator Gene Davis

Last Saturday, Senator Davis had a Town Hall in Murray with all of the legislators who have districts in the city. About 50 constituents attended and heard about a variety of subjects that ranged from taxes to the development of Murray. SB238 Asset Protection Trust Amendments passed the Senate and is now waiting to be heard in the House. SB253 Construction Code for Historic Preservation will be presented in the Senate Business and Labor Committee on Friday afternoon. Senator Davis had a great week meeting with a University of Utah students who presented their research on cardiac health in the Rotunda.

BILL REQUESTS: 10

BILLS IN SENATE:

SB238 Asset Protection Trust Amendments
SB253 Construction Code for Historic Preservation

BILLS PASSING THE SENATE:

SB49 Homeless Shelter Funding Amendments

IN THE NEWS:

Deseret News Bill expanding Utah's stand-your-ground law passes through Legislature

Salt Lake City Weekly Dog and Pony Show The Legislature’s final days are upon us.

Senator Kathleen Riebe

Senator Riebe, an Honorary Commander of The National Guard, brought her unit's Lt. Col. Michael Kjar to visit the Senate floor on Thursday. The Utah Senate thanked him for his role in supporting our communities and providing opportunities, and for all of his and his family's sacrifices. Having met multiple times throughout the week in the Education Committee, Senator Riebe wants to say, "Thank you to all of the engaged citizens that shared their experiences and expertise at the Senate Education Committee. I appreciate your commitment to our kids and families." Senator Riebe will continue to speak out in favor of public education, lower class sizes, and adequately provided services to our diverse populations.

Photo: Sen. Riebe and Lt. Col. Kjar selfie on the floor.

BILL REQUESTS: 3

BILLS IN SENATE: