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Working For Utah

We’re more than halfway through our 45-day Legislative session! The best thing about Week 4 for me personally was that two of my highest priority bills were heard in committee and passed unanimously. I’ve been working on HB272 Om’s law, which I discuss below, see section below, and HB 30 Road Rage, for nearly a year. I really appreciate my colleagues on the House Law Enforcement committee for moving this forward to the House Floor unanimously. Not everything this week was positive, as we also had to stop the important work of policy making to deal with the absolutely inexcusable behavior of an elected state school board member.

This week we also passed legislation to improve housing affordability, create a 30 year statewide energy plan, and invest in our outdoor recreation opportunities. These bills have a real, meaningful impact not only for our state but for our community.

Make sure you’re following along with the process over the next 3 weeks! I would love to see you at the Capitol, but you can also participate online at le.utah.gov.

Inappropriate Comments

I join my colleagues in the House Majority Caucus in condemning, as strongly as possible, recent statements made by a Utah State School Board member. It’s never OK for adults to target or harass a child via social media. The House has been consulting with our legal team on the options available and has opened a bill file to take action if necessary. In this case there has been a pattern of behavior that is inexcusable. The House has been consulting with our legal team on the options available and has opened a bill file for a new resolution. There are ongoing discussions on whether the Legislature should take direct action or whether to change the law to give the State Board of Education authority to take action (today they have no mechanism to remove an elected board member from office). While there is a desire to take immediate action, we are trying to be thoughtful about creating a new law for just one situation – and carefully consider how it could be used or mis-used in a future situation with different circumstances or political objectives.

Teacher of the Year

What a fun privilege to welcome 2024 Teacher of the Year Ms. Carly Maloney from Viewmont High School to the Legislature. We recognized her with a special citation, signed by the Speaker of the House. Her energy and passion are contagious. We are so lucky to have teachers like Carly Maloney in our schools.

HB 272 Om’s Law, Prioritizing Child Safety

On Thursday the House Judiciary Committee and a standing room only crowd carefully listened and considered presentation and testimony on HB272 for nearly 2 hours.

To overly simplify a number of incredibly complex family law issues, here is how I summarized the request to the committee: “The question before you today, as policy makers, is should the state of Utah change policy in our family courts system, to recognize and prevent violence and abuse — by taking extra steps and raising the bar, raising the standards in some areas — to protect children from abuse or manipulation by either parent.”

This quote may sum it up best: “I think the biggest change is the prioritization of child safety above all other elements,” said Rep. Paul Cutler, R-Davis County, the bill sponsor. “Yes we have parents who have arguments with one another, but let’s make sure that whatever we’re doing, we’re prioritizing the child’s safety above everything else in all child custody cases.“

For more details, I suggest the following articles:

https://www.ksl.com/article/50872582/mothers-and-teens-urge-utah-lawmakers-to-pass-family-court-reform

https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/justice-files-mother-testifies-at-the-utah-capitol-on-behalf-of-oms-law/

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2024-02-07/in-the-wake-of-tragedy-oms-law-aims-to-reform-utahs-family-court-system

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/after-teen-was-murdered-by-father-oms-law-advances-in-utah-legislature

https://kutv.com/news/politics/utah-mother-says-child-custody-bill-would-have-saved-son-in-murder-suicide#

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/2/6/24057203/om-moses-gandhi-oms-law-domestic-violence-hb272

https://www.ksl.com/article/50867540/domestic-violence-providers-ask-for-childrens-safety-to-be-prioritized-in-custody-battles

Capitol Visits

It was an absolute delight spending time with amazing students from Canyon Creek Elementary and Centerville Elementary at the Utah State Capitol. These kids are sharp! Witnessing these future leaders in action is inspiring. Our future is bright!

The rules of the legislature prevent members from wearing a hat in the house chamber, so my fellow VHS Mountain Bike Ride Leader Kris Pexton and I had to settle for this picture instead.

Helping Utah’s Homeless

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As a Legislature, we’re taking steps to prevent and reduce homelessness for Utah. This week, the House unanimously passed H.B. 298 Homeless Services Amendments. This bill will help in the collection of effective data to track both trends and solutions surrounding homelessness. It also requires the state strategic plan on homelessness to be frequently updated to reflect proven strategies to reduce homelessness. This will have real, meaningful impacts on the lives of Utahns and our communities. Learn more about the bill here. 

Paid Student Teachers

Our teachers are vital to our education system. We need to recruit high quality teachers and want to make sure they’re being set up for success from the start of their careers, which is why the House unanimously passed HB 221 Stipends for Future Educators. This bill creates a grant program for student teachers, many of whom are not currently paid for their work. This will allow them to focus on becoming the best educator they can be by easing their financial burdens. You can learn more here. 

For Utah Lands

Over the past several decades, the federal government has regularly overstepped its constitutional role — imposing burdensome regulations, and acting against the best interests of Utah. We know what’s best for Utah and our lands – and we need the federal government to be a better partner, to work with us in good faith, not dictate unworkable solutions from Washington DC. This week, the House Natural Resource Committee passed H.J.R. 26 Joint Resolution Rejecting Exchange of School and Institutional Trust Lands to reject a proposed land exchange of school and institutional trust lands and mineral interest for federal lands and mineral interests. 

Social Media

This week we announced enhanced legislation to protect youth from the harms of social media and empower families with resources to keep children safe. Utah is leading the nation with landmark legislation that helps safeguard kids and teens from the growing mental health crisis tied to the rise in social media addiction. I am committed to protecting minors from the harmful impacts of social media. 

Upcoming Legislative Updates

Each Saturday 8:30-9:30AM a group of your Davis County Legislators will be holding updates via Facebook live on the South Davis Community Page. Please tune in for the latest updates.

Click Here to Join the Facebook Live!

Bills Passed by the House this Week

H.B. 346 Talent Ready Utah Program Amendments

H.C.R. 9 Concurrent Resolution Celebrating Utah's History of Welcoming Refugees

S.B. 36 Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority Sunset Amendments

S.B. 40 State Rehabilitation Advisory Council Amendments

H.B. 339 School Community Council Amendments

H.B. 200 Order for Life Sustaining Treatment Amendments

H.B. 387 Physician Workforce Amendments

H.J.R. 7 Joint Resolution Condemning Abusive Coaching Practices

H.C.R. 8 Concurrent Resolution Creating the Butch Cassidy State Monument

H.J.R. 19 Joint Resolution Encouraging Support for the Houses Act

H.B. 384 Utah Geological Survey Data Submission Amendments

H.B. 383 Vehicle Registration Modifications

H.B. 86 Public Safety Data Amendments

H.B. 140 Amendments to Custody and Parent-time

H.B. 147 Threat of Violence Amendments

H.B. 157 Child Custody Factor Amendments

H.B. 158 Criminal Defamation Amendments

H.B. 268 Punitive Damages Amendments

H.B. 271 Law Enforcement Employee Overtime Amendments

H.B. 228 Public Employee Leave Amendments

H.B. 270 Multicounty Appraisal Trust Modifications

H.B. 40 Division of Consumer Protection Amendments

H.B. 145 Veterinary Amendments

H.B. 118 Prohibition of Production of Private Keys

H.B. 170 Unemployment Insurance Amendments

H.B. 221 Stipends for Future Educators

H.B. 13 Infrastructure Financing Districts

H.B. 36 Open and Public Meetings Act Amendments

H.B. 52 Industrial Hemp Amendments

H.B. 298 Homelessness Services Amendments

S.J.R. 11 Joint Resolution Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Conference of State Legislatures

H.B. 286 State Aid for Scholarships

H.B. 296 Reading Disability Amendments

H.B. 198 Child Welfare Placement Review Amendments

H.B. 110 Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry Amendments

H.B. 177 Forcible Entry Warrant Amendments

H.B. 248 Inmate Amendments

H.B. 259 Juvenile Interrogation Modifications

H.B. 328 Victims of Sexual Offenses Amendments

H.B. 360 Outdoor Recreation Amendments

H.B. 90 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Amendments

H.B. 322 Sexual Assault Investigation Amendments

H.B. 363 Livestock Grazing Amendments

H.B. 48 Utah Energy Act Amendments

H.B. 191 Electrical Energy Amendments

H.B. 125 Procurement Code Amendments

S.B. 82 Public Accommodation Amendments

S.B. 51 Road Construction Bid Limit Amendments

S.B. 39 Water Shareholder Amendments

S.B. 77 Water Rights Restricted Account Amendments

S.B. 122 Youth Apprenticeship Governance Structure Amendments

S.B. 35 Infertility Treatment Coverage Amendments

S.B. 46 Health and Human Services Amendments

H.J.R. 18 Joint Resolution for Education That Encourages Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

H.B. 403 Body Art Facility Amendments

S.B. 72 Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Amendments

H.B. 374 State Energy Policy Amendment

H.C.R. 3 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Child Sexual Abuse Material

H.B. 204 Towing Requirements

H.B. 293 Accessible Parking Amendments

H.B. 311 Lane Filtering Amendments

H.B. 313 Motor Carrier Amendments

H.B. 245 Utah National Guard Amendments

H.B. 284 Initiative Amendments

H.J.R. 14 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives

During the session, given all the meetings, committee hearings and floor time, it’s sometimes a challenge for me to respond quickly. If I don’t respond quickly to you, or if you would like to schedule a call or meeting with me, please contact Brynn (bbennett@le.utah.gov, 385-420-3086) who is very capable and happy to help.