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We’re officially halfway through the general session! I am excited to continue to work with my colleagues over the next three weeks to make a meaningful difference for Utah. You can follow along with us and stay up to date on legislation at le.utah.gov.
- Working to protect domestic violence victims
- Social media decisions: protecting children and empowering parents
- Contacting me
- Town Hall information
- Tax cut decisions
- Housing affordability
- Safe, reliable, and affordable energy
- Week in pictures
- Passed bills
- Helpful links
After Amanda "Mandy" Mayne was killed by her ex-husband, Utah has increased focus on efforts to protect domestic violence victims. Utah Advocacy Day on the Hill hosted several different domestic violence victim advocacy groups, including the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, where they presented their cases and needs.
The same day, the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee passed Senator Todd Weiler's bill, SB117, which would require a law enforcement officer to conduct a lethality assessment when responding to a report of domestic violence between intimate partners--an assessment that would've saved Mandy's life. Listen to his audio testimony here.
I thoroughly support SB117 and am grateful to Senator Weiler's and the Lt. Governor's for their efforts. I'm also thankful to all the advocacy groups working to make Utah a better and safer place, and I intend to help as much as I can.
 In committee last week, I presented my bill, HB199: Voluntary Firearm Safekeeping Amendments. I believe that this, while very narrow in scope, has the potential to save the lives of domestic violence victims. Here is what the bill will do:
1. Currently, the “Safe Harbor” provision in state code allows that if a person feels unsafe, they can voluntarily submit a family member’s firearms to law enforcement for temporary safekeeping. This bill closes a perceived ”gap” in the state code that currently allows someone arrested for a serious domestic violence offense, who has been booked into jail and whose case has been reviewed by a judge, but who has later been released on bail (usually because of a lack of jail space) to immediately retrieve that firearm.
2. The bill also creates a pamphlet detailing domestic violence victims' rights, which can be left with a victim after a police visit, so that they can review their rights and options after the emotion and urgency of the police visit has passed.
We are currently working closely with domestic violence victim advocacy groups and 2nd Amendment rights groups to adjust some of the language and provisions to ensure rights of both sides are protected. I believe that we can both protect gun rights for law abiding citizens AND improve safety for domestic violence victims. I look forward to moving this bill further through the lawmaking process!
 Here is a link to a KSL interview about SB177 and my bill HB199. I appreciate KSL for covering these important bills.
On Thursday, I voted "yes" to H.B. 311: Social Media Usage Amendments. I'm in favor of how it empowers parents, protects children, and will overall lead to a better mental health situation for our young adults and growing families. If you would like to learn more about this bill, click on the flyer below.
Housing prices have skyrocketed in recent years, making the reality of buying a home out of reach for many Utahns. With help from the Utah Housing Affordability Commission, we’ve identified policies that reduce regulatory barriers at the local level, identify tools that facilitate market-based solutions to our housing shortage, and support options to increase housing in rural Utah. Learn more about these policies below.
Utah’s all-of-the-above energy policy has powered decades of prosperity by providing some of the most reliable and affordable energy in the country. I’m committed to pushing back on federal regulatory overreach that threatens our ability to provide power to our state. I look forward to voting for the following bills, which strive to safeguard Utah’s ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power.
 Today the House had the absolute privilege of acknowledging the families of first responders who had passed away in the line of duty. It was deeply moving to hear about the difficulties the families have gone through, as well as the heroic efforts of our nation's public servants. We also passed HB332, a bill that will give scholarship opportunities to children of first responder parents that had passed away in the line of duty. I'm grateful for the chance we had to thank them today.
 Friday was Outdoor Recreation Day on the hill. Like many Utahns, I love outdoor recreation, and I’m working closely with other lawmakers to prioritize building the proposed statewide network of trails, improving forest management, and building a new fish hatchery.
 This week in committee, I presented a bill, HB164: Law Enforcement Training Amendments, to encourage more officers to join the profession, and better protect taxpayers investment in training local law enforcement officers.
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I’m grateful for Bi-Partisan efforts in the Clean Air Caucus to improve air quality. I spoke at this week’s press conference about efforts to better align coordination of the State’s internal operations (HB338) to improve air quality. To learn more about it, click here. |
 This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to have my nieces visit me on the floor. I loved introducing my family to my work and showing them the legislative process.
H.B. 60 Juvenile Justice Modifications
H.B. 61 School Safety Requirements
H.B. 86 Firearm Reporting Requirements
H.B. 107 Concealed Weapons Permit Fee Amendments
H.B. 140 Standard Response Protocol to Active Threats in Schools
H.B. 165 Firearm Discharge on Private Property Amendments
H.B. 180 Child Welfare Placement Review Amendments
H.B. 207 Compact Commission Amendments
H.B. 243 Public Transit Employee Collective Bargaining Amendments
H.B. 244 Utah Victim Services Commission and Victim Services
H.B. 245 Uninsured Motorist Amendments
H.B. 248 Mental Health Services for Adults
H.B. 278 First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program
H.B. 289 Blockchain Provider Registration
H.B. 300 Voluntary Firearm Restrictions Amendments
H.B. 304 Juvenile Justice Revisions
H.B. 307 Utah Water Ways
H.B. 319 Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project Amendments
H.J.R. 3 Joint Resolution Recognizing School Teachers
H.J.R. 10 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Election of County Sheriffs
S.J.R. 4 Joint Rules Resolution - Fiscal Note Deadlines
S.B. 11 Retirement Fiscal Note Requirements
S.B. 19 Medicaid Dental Waiver Amendments
S.B. 44 Reading Software Amendments
- Follow the daily legislative agenda
- See the bills I'm working to pass
- View the Town Hall livestream via the South Davis Community's Facebook page
- Participate in committees online
- Stay updated on bills and policies through the House Majority podcast, especially this week's episode: what’s being done in the legislature to protect our children.
- Learn how we're committing to make schools and homes safer for our children here.
- Utah can remain a great place to live, but only if we plan for our future. Help guide Utah's growth by sharing your opinions at guidingourgrowth.utah.gov.
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