Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We kicked off the 2020 General Legislative Session on Monday, January 27th. During the opening day ceremony we were fortunate to have Elder Ulisses Soares from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offer the invocation, the Utah Air National Guard present the colors, and the Utah Symphony perform the national anthem.
While the first week is filled with a lot of ceremonial proceedings, we were able to get down to business and work on legislation as well. Here are some highlights from week 1:
My Bills
S.B. 67 Disposition of Fetal Remains
This bill seeks to give women the choice on the final disposition of fetal remains following an abortion or miscarriage and requires the hospital or clinic to handle those remains in a respectful manner. There is a misconception circulating that this bill would require women to bury the aborted or lost child, but this bill simply gives women a choice. Nothing is required of parents if they wish for the healthcare facility to handle the final disposal. This bill passed in the Senate Health and Human Services Standing Committee and will be debated on the Senate floor next week.
Budget
Passing a balanced budget each year is always a top priority. We spend the first few weeks of the session meeting in appropriations subcommittees to consider how we spend money in each area–for example, public education, social services and transportation. Within the first few weeks, we pass base budgets, which allow the government to continue functioning on a basic level. This prevents the state government from shutting down. Once the base budgets are passed, the Executive Appropriations Committee continues to meet and negotiate the “bill of bills,” a complete and comprehensive line-item budget including new one-time and ongoing funding.
You can learn more about the state’s budget here.
Tax Reform Repeal
One of the first bills we passed this session was H.B. 185 Tax Restructuring Revisions – Repeal which, as the name suggests, repealed all parts of the tax reform package we passed in December. I voiced concerns about the original tax reform bill and the process in many of the meetings leading up to the special session in December. I believe repealing this legislation was the right decision. H.B. 185 passed unanimously in the Senate, and with only one dissenting vote in the House. We do not plan to pass major tax reform legislation during this session.
You can read the press release announcing the decision here.
Vaping
Proposed vaping legislation became an immediate priority during the first week of the session. Legislators and industry experts are teaming up to combat the dangers of vaping among youth. From taxing vape products to implementing strict policies on vape prevention, all proposals are being considered. In the Senate, some bills include S.B. 37 Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments and S.B. 40 Youth Electric Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Program. As more vaping-related legislation comes through, I will continue to inform you.
In the News: KSL | KJZZ | Salt Lake Tribune
Daylight Saving Time
Each year in the spring and fall, I receive emails from constituents on daylight saving time. Many have stressed the inconvenience of the change in time twice a year twice-a-year time changes for young children, and others suggest it may not be necessary anymore. This year, S.B. 59 Daylight Saving Time Amendments seeks to end Utah clock changes. The bill proposes Utah stay on Mountain Daylight Time year-round, pending congressional approval and at least four other western states passing similar legislation.
Currently, the federal government allows states the option to either participate in or abstain from daylight saving time changes. For those who choose to abstain from daylight saving time, the federal government only permits the use of standard time. If this bill passes, Utah will be one step closer to year-round Mountain Daylight Time–spring forward and stay forward.
You can listen to the committee presentation here.
What do you think?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!
Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16
