On the Hill today: sunsetting boards and commissions; gender identity in child custody cases; and a medical director for youth in DHHS | | | 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. 25, 2024 It's Thursday and it's Clashing Clothes Day. My 4th-grader will be so excited! Oh, and only 11 months until Christmas! ð Top of Mind Today The US economy grew 3.1% over the last year, prompting the Wall Street Journal to write "What recession?" A resilient labor market and strong consumer spending led to the surprising amount of economic growth, which is expected to continue this year as well. Three things to watch today: HB72, by Rep. Cal Musselman, adds sunset dates to a dozen boards and commissions. They include the Utah Homeless Steering Committee, the Grid Resilience Committee, the Food Security Council and the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board. This bill will be heard in the House Government Operations Committee at 2 p.m. HB157 by Rep. Stephanie Gricius would instruct the Division of Child and Family Services and the courts to not consider a parentâs agreement or disagreement with the childâs gender identity that is different from the gender at birth when deciding custody. This bill will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee at 2 p.m. SB129, by Sen. Jen Plumb would create the position of medical director within the Department of Health and Human Services, with a specific focus on children, youth and families. The medical director must be a physician with at least seven years of experience and be board certified in pediatrics or family medicine. This bill will be heard in Senate Health and Human Services at 2 p.m. On the Hill Today, Day 10 of 45 8:00 am: Business, Economic Development, and Labor Appropriations, Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations; Public Education Appropriations 11:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 11:00 am-12:15 pm: House floor time 2:00 pm: House Government Operations; House Judiciary; House Political Subdivisions; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education; Senate Health and Human Services | | |
| | Construction Underway, Scheduled Operation: 2025 The Intermountain Power Project's transformational âIPP Renewedâ project is under construction and on track for mid-2025 start-up. The project includes new natural gas-fueled electricity generating units that will also utilize "green" hydrogen for long-term, dispatchable storage of renewable energy. There are currently 600 workers on site in Millard County, with 1200 expected during peak construction. Click here to watch construction unfold. For more information, visit www.ipprenewed.com | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Business and Labor Senators significantly alter transgender bathroom bill (KSL) âEvil thrives in silenceâ: Bill aims to nullify NDAs in cases of harassment and assault (Salt Lake Tribune) Education There are more than 80 education bills on Utahâs Capitol Hill â hereâs a look at what they would do (Deseret News) Opinion: What MLK Jr. actually said and why it matters for DEI (Deseret News) Opinion: Why Utah political leaders are right to take action on DEI (Deseret News) What the latest version of Utahâs DEI bill will â and wonât â prohibit (Deseret News) Utah bill may threaten Ute Tribeâs agreement with the U., Native tuition waivers. The Senate sponsor of HB261 says âweâre just not sureâ of the full impacts of the fast-tracked measure. (Salt Lake Tribune) Elizabeth Smart wants more college students to get self-defense training (Deseret News) Government Operations Why do some lawmakers want to change vote-by-mail? (Deseret News) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Increased funding sought to improve mapping of Utahâs critical minerals (Deseret News) Revenue and Taxation Will the Utah Legislature cut state income taxes again this year? âStay tuned,â the state Senate leader advises (Deseret News) Transportation Utah bicyclists may soon be able to ride hands-free (Fox13) Other Utah News Politics Sen. Mike Lee and other lawmakers question Biden administrationâs authority to order strikes in Yemen (Deseret News) Utah news âHidden gemâ Indian restaurant in Utah County is âbeyond blessedâ to make Yelp top 100 list, owner says. Little India was the only Utah eatery to be featured on the national lineup. (Salt Lake Tribune) Business/Tech The effort to bring an NHL franchise to Utah just took a huge step forward (Deseret News) A new camera created by scientists lets us see colors only seen by animals (Deseret News) Colorado-based company acquires land for another data center in Eagle Mountain (KSL) How To Tech: Why itâs important to turn on Appleâs new Stolen Device Protection (AP) Culture Dwayne âThe Rockâ Johnson gets rights to his nickname (Deseret News) Americaâs nonreligious are a growing, diverse phenomenon. They really donât like organized religion (AP) 'Barbie' receives 8 Oscar nominations, but was that Kenough? (NPR) Crime isnât funny â unless 65 Stanley cups are involved (Deseret News) Education Box Elder District to remove Chinese immersion program in schools (KSL TV) These Utah students want their school district to commit to clean energy. The Sierra Club is helping. (Salt Lake Tribune) Environment Wet, sloppy commute expected Thursday as storm sweeps into Utah (ABC4) White House said to delay decision on enormous natural gas export terminal (New York Times) Judge keeps Oakland coal port plan alive, but opponents say it will never happen (Salt Lake Tribune) Health How menopause treatment is changing and why it matters (Deseret News) Gray Matters urges parents to talk to their kids about teen marijuana use (KSL Newsradio) Gene therapy shows promise for an inherited form of deafness (NPR) Housing This county uncovered the secret to decreasing chronic homelessness â know them by name (Deseret News) Provo takes big steps to tackle Utah's housing shortage crisis (KUTV) Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds (NPR) | | |
National Headlines General A Texas schoolâs punishment of a Black student who wears his hair in locs is going to trial (AP) Death on the Arabian Sea: How a Navy SEAL fell into rough waters and another died trying to save him (AP) Political news Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigns after release of Kari Lake audio (Deseret News) Supreme Court declines to stop nitrogen execution in Alabama (New York Times) Obamacare enrollment hits record level as Trump vows repeal (Washington Post) Trump added $8.4 trillion to the national debt: Analysis (The Hill) Election news Donald Trump plans April campaign stop in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune) The UAW endorsed Biden â and panned Republican frontrunner Trump as a 'scab' (NPR) Trump leans into voter fraud playbook, preparing to cry foul if he loses expected Biden rematch (AP) Nikki Haley gets under Trump's skin (Wall Street Journal) 4 things to know about Elise Stefanik, as VP rumors swirl (NPR) How Biden plans to fight Trump in 2024, hoping for a repeat win (Reuters) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukrainian cities hit with deadly Russian air strikes (Reuters) Israel ð®ð± Israeli military engages in grueling urban battle as hostage talks regain momentum (Wall Street Journal) The Israel-Hamas conflict has produced a prodigious amount of disinformation, making the hunt for facts elusive. (New York Times) World news NATO's largest military exercise since Cold War kicks off (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Utahâs economy remarkably resilient in 2023 The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, has released the December 2023 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard to support business leadersâ understanding of Utahâs economy. âAs we conclude a robust 2023, Utahâs economic landscape reflects strength and resilience. The surge in consumer confidence and steady employment growth signal a strong economy,â said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. âWe are positioned well for continued success in 2024. Our economic outlook is bright.â (Read More) Utah State Charter School Board greenlights continued school growth for fall 2025 The Utah State Charter School Board is pleased to announce the authorization and approval of two new public charter schools set to open in the fall of 2025. This authorization reflects a commitment to enhancing public education opportunities for students throughout the State of Utah. In addition to the approval of the new schools, the Utah State Charter School Board has also granted authorization for three new satellite campuses of existing high-performing public charter schools. These expansions will enable Lincoln Academy, Syracuse Arts Academy, and Valley Academy Charter School to extend their reach and impact within the community. (Read More) Owens calls for investigation into Biden adminâs FAFSA failures Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) joined Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Senate Health, Education, Labor, Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and 26 lawmakers in requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administrationâs failure to properly implement the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, causing delays in students and familiesâ access to crucial financial aid for college. (Read More) Romney joins bicameral call for Biden to withdraw EV mandate U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined a bicameral group of 120 colleagues, led by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), and U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI), in sending a letter to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman calling for the withdrawal of the Biden Administrationâs proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The proposed standards, which would require automakers to more than double average fleet-wide fuel economy in less than 10 years, do not comply with federal law and would effectively mandate the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) and a phase out of gas-powered cars and trucks. Americans should be able to keep the ability to choose the vehicle that best fits their needs and that they can afford rather than having the federal government dictate what they can and cannot drive. (Read More) Utah students to be honored for winning statewide investment competition at January 26 awards banquet Utah Treasurer Marlo M. Oaks today announced his office is hosting an awards banquet to honor the winners of the Fall 2023 Utah Treasurerâs Investment Challenge on Friday, January 26. The banquet will feature student speeches and a keynote address by Kitty Swenson, Vice President of Director Client Services at Wasatch Global Investors. More than 4,500 students from across the state participated in the Fall 2023 challenge, competing in elementary, middle, and high school divisions. (Read More) Jeff Howell first candidate statewide to submit signatures for the primary ballot Team Howell is excited to announce that they are the first campaign to submit 1,000 signatures for the Utah State House of Representatives in House District 23 primary ballot taking place on June 25th 2024. Representative Brian King is the current Representative for House District 23, who announced his campaign for Governor of Utah last year. This is a grassroots campaign and their message is resonating with voters in the District. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 31 â Utah County Safe Child Community Training, Cascade Elementary School, 7:00 pm, Register here Feb. 5 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Healthcare, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Register here Feb. 6 â Cache County Safe Child Parent and Community Training, Riverwoods Conference Center, 7:00 pm, Register here Feb. 7 â Women in Leadership Executive Series: Finance, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Feb. 8 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Traditional Industries, 2:00-3:00 pm,Register here Feb. 21 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Women Focused Organizations, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends Mar. 5 â Caucus night Mar. 20 â Utah Foundation Annual Lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm; Grand America, Purchase tickets here | | |
On This Day In History 1554 - São Paulo, Brazil is founded. 1858 - Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" first played, at the wedding of Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Victoria, to crown prince of Prussia. 1860 - Charles Curtis is born. In 1907, Curtis became the first Native American Senator (R-Kansas). During his career as a politician, Curtis would serve as the Senate Majority Leader and support the 19th Amendment. In 1928, Curtis was Herbert Hooverâs running-mate and became the first Native American Vice President. 1890 - Nellie Bly, journalist, completed her around the world trip in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after setting sail east to prove she could circle the globe in less than 80 days 1915 - Alexander Graham Bell in NY calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco 1924 - The first Winter Olympics is held in Chamonix, France with 13 total events. 1961 - JFK becomes the first president to hold a televised news conference. 1971 - Charles Manson and his followers convicted of murder. 1983 - Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie arrested in Bolivia. 1999 - "The Blair Witch Project" premieres at the Sundance Film festival 2017 - Mary Tyler Moore dies at age 80. 2021 - Janet Yellen is confirmed as the first female treasury secretary by the US Senate. Quote of the Day âWeâve got to get past the one-size-fits-all, government top-down solutions and start, in my opinion, from the street up." âRep. Tyler Clancy On the Punny Side Why do fish always sing off key? You can't tuna fish. | | |
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