Anti-DEI bill passes House committee; transgender bathroom bill passes;Sen Weiler says at least 1 person must be in Utah to get married here | | | 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. 18, 2024 It's Thursday and National Thesaurus Day. At least that's what I read, gathered, learned, interpreted, comprehended, perceived and understood. Top of Mind Today Competing bills: One mandates posting the Ten Commandments in schools and the other prohibits displaying symbols that endorse, promote or disparage a specific religion. Both being run by Republicans. Three things to watch today: Gov. Cox will deliver the State of the State tonight at 6:30 pm. It will be broadcast on multiple television, radio and social media channels. Affordable housing, including 35,000 starter homes in the next five years, rural issues and the Great Salt Lake are expected to be part of his address. Sen. Todd Weiler is sponsoring SB81 that would require at least one party to a marriage be physically present in Utah at the time of the ceremony. This bill will be heard in Senate Government Operations at 2 p.m. HB27 by Rep. Matthew Gwynn makes it a crime for an individual occupying a position of special trust in a high school to engage in sexual conduct with a high school student who is 18 or older. This bill will be heard in House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at 2 p.m. On the Hill Today 8:00 am: Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations; Higher Education Appropriations; Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations; Social Services Appropriations 11:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 11:00 am-12:00 pm: House floor time 2:00 pm: House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment; House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology; House Transportation; Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services; Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions; Senate Revenue and Taxation | | |
| | 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 Utahâs Legislature is known for many things, but people should appreciate its fiscal management more (Deseret News) Budget, Housing and DEI â Itâs the 2024 Legislative Session (RadioWest) Wasatch County following development, debt bills as legislature convenes (KPCW) Gov. Cox and legislative leaders outline the 2024 session and discuss DEI bill (UPR) The 2024 Legislative Session begins (Access Utah/UPR) Business and Labor Transgender bathroom bill gets thumbs-up from Utah House committee (KSL) Criminal Justice The difference 1 word in a Utah law could make for victims of AI generated pornography (Deseret News) 'Never been more urgent': Service providers rally lawmakers for sexual violence prevention (KSL) Education Emily Bell McCormick: Why child sexual abuse is one of societyâs most pervasive and protected problems (Deseret News) Bill banning DEI offices in Utah passes committee (Fox13, Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox: The evidence is overwhelming. Removing cellphones during study time improves student performance (Deseret News) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Utah lawmaker proposes giving eminent domain rights to popular multi-use trail (KSL)
Sandallâs sovereignty bill aims to guard Utah from federal âoverreachâ (Deseret News) Revenue and Taxation Will the Utah Legislature cut taxes again this session? See what Republican, Democratic leaders want to do (Deseret News) Other Utah News Politics Sen. Mitt Romney says some voters are âout of touch with realityâ over Donald Trump support (Deseret News) Rep. John Curtis says Biden border policies are âhurting Utahnsâ and âhurting Americansâ (Deseret News) Election news Brad Wilsonâs campaign claims misuse of organizationâs logo was a âclerical errorâ (Salt Lake Tribune) Political candidate launches crusade against local ordinances limiting campaign signage (Cache Valley Daily) Utah news Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic dies after medical emergency in SLC (KUTV) Business/Tech Derek Miller: Rallying behind âThe Miller Wayâ makes major league baseball a reality for Utahns (Deseret News) U.S. judge blocks JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit, saying deal would hurt consumers (AP)
âA tsunami of disinformationâ: OpenAI moves to blunt AI-driven election meddling (Deseret News) Meta's Sheryl Sandberg to exit board after 12 years (Reuters) How social media algorithms 'flatten' our culture by making decisions for us (NPR) Costco may be cracking down on membership sharing by testing a new method of entering stores (Deseret News) Crime/Courts Utah leaders, community partners hope to counter rise in hate crimes (KSL) Washington City woman told to pay $3,956 or get arrested. Hereâs what happened next. (St. George News) Culture An active duty U.S. Air Force officer is your new Miss America. What does her example mean to women? (Deseret News) Two Muslim sisters contribute to BYU Office of Belonging (Daily Universe) Environment Biden unveils ambitious solar plan for the West (Deseret News) Utah unveils plans to save the Great Salt Lake over next 30 years (KSL) A Huge Underground Battery Is Coming to a Tiny Utah Town (New York Times) Controversial oil railway sees another setback (Salt Lake Tribune) Health Cancer cases are up, deaths are down â but some cancers are killing younger adults (Deseret News) Utah sees growing trend in younger clients seeking cosmetic procedures (KUTV) Housing Newly opened micro-shelters may be part of the solution to Utah homeless crisis (KSL TV) | | |
National Headlines General Judge threatens to boot Donald Trump from courtroom over loud talking as E. Jean Carroll testifies (AP) The self-proclaimed 'Bipolar General' is waging war on the stigma of mental illness (NPR) US applications for jobless benefits fall to lowest level since September 2022 (AP) Political news White House meeting revives hopes for Ukraine, border deal (Wall Street Journal) Election news DeSantis shifts his campaign away from New Hampshire days before the stateâs primary (AP) The RNC wants Republicans to embrace early voting. Trump's rhetoric makes it tough (NPR) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukraine starts to rebuild towns and cities even as the war rages on (Reuters) Israel ð®ð± Gaza: Khan Younis battle threatens biggest hospital still working (Reuters) World news Ecuadorean prosecutor investigating TV station attack has been assassinated, attorney general says (KSL TV) US military launches another barrage of missiles against Houthi sites in Yemen (AP) | | |
| | News Releases âA betrayal of our values:â Utah & Salt Lake County Democrats call out Utah Republicans This afternoon, the House Education Committee debated, and ultimately passed, House Bill 261: âEqual Opportunity Initiativesâ, a bill which would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion departments from all public institutions, and which would ban those institutions from considering anti-racism, racial privilege, or systemic discrimination in hiring. This bill is directly oppositional to the Utah Compact on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which was signed in December 2020 by dozens of state leaders, including high-profile Republicans like then-Governor Herbert, then-Lieutenant Governor Cox, Senate President Adams, and more. (Read More) Utah House Democratic leadership team on HB 257 âToday, the House Business and Labor Standing Committee debated HB 257, a bill that directly threatens the trans community by infringing on their privacy rights and denying them the fundamental dignity of affirming their gender identity. This legislation, which restricts trans individuals from using facilities aligned with their gender identity, not only perpetuates discrimination but also denies them basic human rights. (Read More) Rep. Maloy joins Congressional FFA Caucus Today, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy announced that she has joined the Congressional FFA Caucus for the 118th Congress. The FFA Caucus is an informal, bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives dedicated to issues related to the next generation of agricultural leaders and students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and related sciences. (Read More) âMy district is not safeâ â Curtis gives remarks during E&C border hearing Representative John Curtis (R-UT) gave remarks during an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing on the Biden Administrations border policies and their effect on Utah. âWith open borders, theyâre not safe. My district doesnât feel safe, and itâs unacceptable on every level.â (Read/Watch More) Utah Farm Bureau lists âIssues to watch for in 2024â The Utah Farm Bureau has released its list of âIssues to Watch For in 2024â as the 2024 Utah general legislative session begins. Though not exhaustive in scope, the list is based on the Farm Bureauâs policy book, adopted at its convention in November and national priorities released at the beginning of the national convention â held this week in Salt Lake City. The policy book will guide the general farm and ranch organizationâs public policy actions throughout the upcoming year â including the current legislative session. (Read More) Clark D. Ivory to be honored as 45th Giant in our City The Salt Lake Chamber announced that Clary D. Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes, will be honored as the 45th Giant in our City. The award recognizes those with exceptional and distinguished service, as well as extraordinary professional achievement, and is widely known as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. Clark D. Ivory leads Ivory Homes, Utahâs Number One Homebuilder since 1988. Ivory was ProBuilderâs National Home Builder of the Year in 2021. Clarkâs business accomplishments, leadership acumen, community spirit, and family focus distinguish him as a prominent business leader, philanthropist, statesperson, husband and father. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 24 â Davis County Safe Child Community Training, Syracuse High School, 7:00 pm, Register here 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 1778 - Captain Cook reaches Hawaii. 1788 - The First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from England to Australia arrives at Botany Bay to set up a penal colony. 1803 - President Thomas Jefferson requests $2500 from Congress to fund the Lewis and Clark expedition. 1827 - Joseph Smith and Emma Hale are married 1911 - The first landing of an aircraft on the deck of a ship takes place in San Francisco Harbor. 1912 - Robert Scott reaches the South Pole only to find that Roald Amundsen had beat him by a month. Scott and his team all died on their way back to base camp. 1943 - The US bans pre-sliced bread to reduce bakery demand for metal 1966 - Robert C. Weaver, confirmed as the first Black presidential cabinet member (Housing and Urban Development - HUD) 2000 - Margarete Schutte-Lihotzky dies, just shy of her 103rd birthday. She was a renowned Austrian architect who created a standardized kitchen designed to maximize workflow. She was active in the Nazi resistance movement and was arrested and jailed until the war was over. Quote of the Day âThereâs no data to back up that diversity, equity and inclusion is being divisive. Just because I have a different opinion doesnât mean Iâm divisive.â âRep. Angela Romero On the Punny Side A hacker got into my bank account and left me a note: "Please save more money, this was a complete waste of my time". | | |
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