Appropriations subcommittee in the morning, standing committees in the afternoon, including a bill to keep Utah on Standard Time | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at [email protected]. | | |
Situational Analysis | Jan. 21, 2025 It's Wednesday and National Blonde Brownie Day. There are 448 bills currently available. Three things to watch today: Beginning at 8 am this morning, appropriations subcommittees will start hearing input on where the state should spend your tax dollars. Starting at 2 pm, standing committees will begin hearing bills. In the House Government Operations Committee, Rep. Gricius has a bill that would prohibit accessing or disclosing information about ballots - like whether elected officials mailed in their ballots or dropped them in a dropbox. Rep. Joseph Elison will also present his bill to keep Utah on Standard Time
And meet Ralph! Ralph is a 2 ½-year-old yellow lab from Hungary, and is the newest Utah Highway Patrol explosive detection K-9. He and his partner, Trooper Todd Gillis, will be the 5th certified team of their kind, keeping people safe at the Capitol. If you see any of the K-9s, please donât pet or play with them - they're working. On the Hill Today, Day 2 of 45 8:00 am: Economic and Community Development; General Government; Public Education; Transportation and Infrastructure 10:00 am: Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Confirmation Committee 11:00-11:50: Senate floor time 11:00 - 12:00: House floor time 1:30 - 1:50 pm: Senate and House floor time 2:00 pm: House Government Operations; House Political Subdivisions; House Public Utilities and Energy; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session The 45-day session has begun. Hereâs how you can follow and be involved (Deseret News) Senate Pres. Adams warns Utah could be the next âPetri dish of America.â Adams said the Legislature will draft another constitutional amendment to expand their power to change citizen initiatives
(Deseret News) Preserving the âUtah Dreamâ: Legislative leaders outline bold plans on nuclear energy and higher ed (Deseret News) 8 issues Democratic lawmakers will focus on this session (Deseret News) Transgender issues reemerge as a focus of Utah lawmakers for 4th year in a row (KSL) New âTransparency Roomâ debuts at Utah Capitol building during first day of legislative session (KSL TV) A few massive changes Utah could see from the 2025 legislative session (Salt Lake Tribune) Business and Labor âNo better than working at 7-Elevenâ: Unions oppose bill to end collective bargaining for Utah public employees (Salt Lake Tribune) Education Around 1,000 students rally for school choice at Utah Capitol (KSL) Judiciary Tensions rise as Utah court faces criticism from legislators (Deseret News) Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Utah lawmaker focusing on school safety this legislative session (KSL Newsradio) Public Utilities, Energy and Technology A nuclear-powered future? Utah leaders look to fund energy boom during 2025 legislative session. (Salt Lake Tribune) Other Utah News Politics Trump sets in motion his plans to shrink the federal government. Sen. Lee says he should have power to fire anyone (Deseret News) âI donât think itâs constitutionalâ: Gov. Cox questions Trumpâs executive orders on TikTok, birthright citizenship (Salt Lake Tribune) John Curtis: Pioneer values at the border: Compassion meets the rule of law (The Hill) Utah news âAmerican Primevalâ left this historian confused and frustrated. Hereâs why (Deseret News) Biz/Tech Freshly minted Trump, Melania crypto coins raise billions for first couple (Deseret News) Study finds Utah ranks as third best state to start a business (KUTV) Trump announces private-sector $500B investment in AI infrastructure (Reuters) Crime Man arrested in Utah in connection with Honolulu 1977 cold case (KSL TV) Davis school district employee faces 32 felonies in child sex abuse investigation (KSL TV) Education Elder Gary E. Stevenson calls on BYU students to âwave flags demonstrating Christlike behavior,â including being peacemakers (Deseret News) West High School principal announces resignation after being placed on leave (KUTV) Brad Mortensen: Many higher education institutions have earned the criticism directed at them. Weber State isnât one of them. (Salt Lake Tribune) Environment Hill Air Force Base could get small nuclear reactor as soon as 2028 (Deseret News) PacifiCorp extends the life of Utah coal-powered plants â indefinitely (St. George News) Family You're right. Parents do have a favorite child, BYU study finds (KSL) Health Study ties Ozempic-like drugs to dozens of benefits and risks (Deseret News) Housing Editorial Board: Homelessness is a statewide problem in need of local solutions (Deseret News) Frosty temps hit northern Utah. Is there extra help for the homeless? (Salt Lake Tribune) What swapping crops for houses means for Utahâs water and agriculture future (KUER) | | |
National Headlines General TSA announces enforcement date for Real ID requirement for domestic travel (Deseret News) Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont worked at the Pentagon during 9/11, family says (AP) Political news Faith leaders weigh in as Trump puts pause on refugee resettlement (Deseret News) Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave (AP) Pete Hegsethâs former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate (AP) Trump fires female US Coast Guard chief, official cites DEI focus (Reuters) Trump administration strips schools, churches of immigration enforcement protections (NPR) At National Prayer Service, an Episcopal has a plea to Trump: âHave mercyâ (Washington Post) GOP member wants bishop âadded to deportation listâ after Trump prayer service (The Hill) Ukraine and Russia Putinâs torturers couldnât break these Ukrainian prisoners (Wall Street Journal) Putinâs ânot doing so well,â says Trump in unusually critical remarks on Kremlin leader (CNN) Israel and Gaza Aid is rushing into Gaza while the cease-fire holds (Wall Street Journal) Bereaved Gazans dig out bodies from city ruins, give them graves (Reuters) Other world news 'Be serious', says Panama president on Trump 'invasion' question (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Maloy introduces legislation to boost geothermal energy Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) introduced the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act. This legislation would expedite the approval process for geothermal projects by establishing a deadline for the Department of the Interior to process applications related to geothermal leases. (Read More) Curtis, Stefanik discuss countering Chinaâs influence During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) highlighted efforts to counter Chinaâs influence in international organizations, particularly regarding Taiwanâs status and participation in the United Nations (UN). (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan 23 - Designing Corporate Womenâs Networks, Initiatives, and Leadership Programs with UWLP, 12:00-3:00 pm, Register here Jan 23 â State of the State address, 6:30 pm Jan 27 â The Impact of Womenâs Health on Work and Life with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Jan 29 â A Conversation with Pat Jones on Women's Leadership with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 3 â Building Bridges: Leading as Women in Local Government with the Utah Women and Leadership Project, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 5 â Women and Policy, Strategy, Politics, and Change with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 10 â Gail Miller: Making a Difference with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 11 â "Heart on the Hill" Day with the American Heart Association, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Copper Room in the Senate Building Feb 12 â Navigating the 2025 Tax Reconciliation Bill webinar with the Hatch Center, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, MST, Register here Feb 12 â Crossing the Divide: Making an Impact in Career and Community with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here Feb 20 â BioHive Live, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Hale Centre Theater, Sandy, Register here Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1871 - Justina Laurena Carter Ford is born. Shortly after earning her medical degree from Hering Medical School in Chicago, Ford became the first African American woman to obtain a medical license in Colorado. However, since all the hospitals in Denver denied her privileges, she opened her own practice. 1946 - President Harry Truman signs a directive creating the Central Intelligence Group, the predecessor to todayâs CIA. 1970 - First commercial Boeing 747 flight goes from New York City to London in 6 ½ hours. 1973 - Former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson dies at age 64. 1973 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Roe v. Wade. 1984 - Appleâs iconic â1984â commercial airs during Super Bowl XVIII. 1987 - Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer calls a press conference, then shoots and kills himself on live TV. Thatâs messed up. 1997 - The United States Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the first female Secretary of State. 1998 - Ted Kaczynski pleads guilty to a 17-year stretch of package bombings. 2005 - Donald Trump marries Melania Knauss. 2016 - Winter storm strands 500 motorists for 24 hours on the New Jersey Turnpike. Quote of the Day âThis was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.â
â Madeleine K. Albright On the Punny Side A co-worker said to me, âCould you be any more annoying?" So the next day I wore tap shoes to work. | | |
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