A Recap of our 2021 Legislative Session

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

The purpose of sending everyone these emails is to give you more insight into the decisions that we are making in the Utah Legislature. Our 2021 General Legislative Session is concluded and over 500 bills were passed this year. We also passed a budget, which is the most important work that we do every year. This newsletter is a summary of some of the legislation that passed. It is impossible to include everything here, so go to the legislative website, le.utah.gov, for more information.
Budget

It is our Constitutional responsibility to pass a balanced budget each year. Early in the session, we pass smaller, bare bones base budgets to ensure our state continues running even if there is a breakdown during negotiations. Near the end of the session, the Legislature passes what is referred to as the “Bill of Bills,” which allows us to supplement the base budgets with expanded appropriations based on the latest revenue estimates shared mid-way through the session.

Our total state budget this year was a remarkable $23.4 billion, including both state and federal funding. In this recent session, the “Bill of Bills” was more specifically known as S.B. 3 Appropriations Adjustments.

Education

This year, the budget provided historic levels of education funding, with over half our state funds appropriated solely for public and higher education. This funding included providing $121 million for teacher and staff COVID-19 stipends, restoring a 6 percent (WPU) increase in per student funding and allocating $127 million for future education spending to ensure we keep our commitment to fund public education enrollment growth and inflation. After all is said and done, we will have put aside nearly half a billion dollars for public education ongoing funds. That’s half a billion dollars each year, every year, from now on.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The Legislature appropriated $1.1 billion for transportation infrastructure to be spent over the next several years to fund infrastructure projects in every corner and region of the state. Investing in roads and transit over several years will help limit new debt while reducing overall debt over time.

Medicaid

During the 2021 General Session, the Legislature fully funded Medicaid growth and inflation. At the same time, we fixed a $56 million structural imbalance in Medicaid expansion.

The images below show a high-level summary of the budget and where the money is going. You can learn more about the budget at budget.utah.gov.

Regulatory Sandbox
In an effort to help our Utah businesses thrive and allow for more innovation, we passed H.B. 217 Regulatory Sandbox Program Amendments, which creates a “sandbox” program where companies can suspend certain regulations for a limited period of time while they test new ideas. This allows companies to see if their ideas work before enacting regulations. It is important to note that H.B. 217 does not suspend regulations pertaining to public health and safety measures.

Electronic Free Speech
Over the past year, there have been concerns regarding the unfair censorship of individuals online. The Utah Senate sees the dangers of these practices within Big Tech and took action by passing S.B. 228 Electronic Free Speech Amendments, which increases transparency within social media corporations to protect users from unequal censorship. Under this bill, social media organizations must notify users anytime their content is censored. Once notified, users can appeal the moderation and provide evidence in opposition to the censorship. Additionally, this bill requires social media companies to release a complete list of moderation practices, allowing individuals to make informed decisions and holding organizations accountable for unfair practices.

Economic Development

Strategic Planning
H.B. 348 Economic Development Amendments, reworks the state’s economic development strategy by creating the Utah Economic Opportunity Commission. A decade ago, the sole priority of the state was to attract jobs. While this proved successful, we now have additional needs due to the growth in our state. The goal is to shift our focus from economic development to economic opportunity, which includes ensuring that Utah citizens can acquire housing, college graduates can find work, families can have financial stability and stay-at-home parents can enter back into the workplace when they desire. This bill also reorganizes the Governor’s Office of Economic Development into the new GO Utah Office, putting them in charge of coordinating economic development tasks among local and private development entities. Finally, this bill creates a grant program designed to enhance broadband services in rural Utah. This is an important step forward in our long-term economic development and opportunity planning.

Film Incentives
S.B. 167 Utah Film Economic Incentives, provides tax credit certificates for productions, films and series when they film in Utah. These incentives are not disbursed until post-production, when the film projects have met the requirements. The film industry has generated more than 7,600 jobs and $147 million in salaries in our state in 2019. This bill will strengthen rural communities by investing in local jobs, stimulating the economy and increasing Utah’s profile as a filming destination.

Education 

Funding
As I mentioned earlier, the Legislature passed historic state funding for education during the 2021 General Session. In addition, we passed S.B. 142 Public Education Funding Amendments, which seeks to ensure Utah students receive equal funding by assessing our public education revenue and current funding structure. S.B. 142 would allow the legislative Public Education Appropriations Committee to make recommendations to better distribute funds throughout the state.

Teachers and Counselors
Utah is currently experiencing a shortage of teachers and school counselors in public schools. Several school districts are working on innovative approaches to meet teacher needs. H.B. 381 Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program, creates a grant program to assist Utah paraprofessionals, school counselor assistants and school counselor interns in obtaining licenses to become teachers or school counselors and provides a scholarship to certain school employees.

Parents and Students
The pandemic forced students across the country out of their in-person classrooms and into virtual learning environments. The shift to online learning, resulted in a record number of students failing. S.B. 107 In-person Instruction Prioritization, ensures students have the opportunity to learn in the classroom once again. Parents will be given the ability to determine what is best for their child, whether that be in-person or virtual learning. The primary objectives of the bill are to keep all Utah schools open at least four days a week, implement the “test to stay” program for schools that reach the two percent positivity rate to prevent soft closures and require higher education institutions to provide a certain amount of courses in-person.

In a continued effort to address learning losses due to the pandemic, the Legislature passed S.B. 148 Public Education Modifications, providing transparency for parents and educators to address any learning loss students may have experienced during the pandemic. Schools will allow students to access information regarding performance reports and standards. This bill will facilitate a positive relationship between parents and teachers as they work to address learning losses.

S.B. 226 Online Education Program Revisions, allows online course providers authorized by the Board of Education to offer classes for students through the Statewide Online Education Program. In 2011, Utah was recognized for allowing students access to free and online courses. This bill will ensure students have additional options to courses that best fit their needs and learning styles.

Elections and Government 
Every year, the Utah Legislature works to ensure Utahns can engage in government processes. During this session, we passed legislation that continues to provide accurate and secure elections.

Voting
Last year, while many states scrambled to put together their mail-in-ballot elections, Utah was already well prepared and was a standard for other states to follow. While we are proud of how well we handled the elections, there is always room for improvement. For example, we found that ballots occasionally are mailed to deceased voters. H.B. 12 Deceased Voter Amendments, creates a more uniform process to rectify this issue. When a Utahn passes away, the bill requires that the death certificate be sent from the state registrar to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office within five business days of the certificate’s registration. The certificate will then be sent to the county clerk’s office, where the deceased name can be removed from the voter rolls. Before each election cycle, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office will crosscheck each name against the United States Social Security Administration data.

The Legislature also worked to improve transparency for voters in regard to where their ballot is in the process. H.B. 70 Ballot Tracking Amendments allows you to sign up for email or text message notifications when your ballot has been mailed, received or counted.

Conceal Carry Firearm Amendments
H.B.60 Conceal Carry Firearms Amendments, allows anyone who is over 21 and legally allowed to possess a firearm, to carry a concealed weapon in public without a concealed carry permit. This bill also establishes a Suicide Prevention and Education Fund in which a portion of funds collected from the concealed carry permit class will go toward firearm safety and suicide prevention efforts.

Energy & Air Quality

Emissions
Three years ago, the Legislature passed a pilot program for counties along the Wasatch Front to conduct emissions inspections of diesel vehicles. Through this program, Utah was able to eliminate 1,250 tons of pollutants from the air. S.B. 146 Emissions Testing Amendments, made this a permanent program due to its tremendous success.

Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments
In the first few months of the pandemic, we experienced less traffic and improved air quality as a result of an increase in people working remotely. S.B. 15 Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments, allows more state employees to work remotely during bad air quality days to decrease the number of cars on the roadways. The bill also requires the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to notify state agencies of mandatory air quality action days and special circumstance days so those agencies can encourage teleworking for their eligible employees.

Energy Data
We strive to make data-driven decisions in the Legislature. To help better understand the state’s energy efficiency, we passed H.B. 131 State Facility Energy Efficiency Amendments. This bill requires state facilities to submit utility efficiency information to be used by the State Building Energy Efficiency Program, enabling us to make the best decisions regarding conserving energy in Utah.

Health 
The well-being of Utahns continues to be a priority for the Utah Legislature as we work to expand Medicaid resources and affordable healthcare.

Accessibility
Utah is currently experiencing a shortage of doctors. Care providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PA) are used to meet healthcare needs throughout the state, particularly in rural communities. This session, the Utah Legislature considered various bills to expand physician assistants’ scope of practice, including S.B. 27 Physician Assistant Act Amendments, which expands a PA’s range of practice to allow a pathway for PAs to operate without a supervising physician once they receive sufficient training. Another bill, S.B. 28 Physician Assistant Mental Health Practice, focuses specifically on our psychiatric healthcare shortage in Utah by allowing a PA who specializes in psychiatric mental health to engage in the practice of mental health therapy if they meet specific training requirements.

We also expanded the scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners through H.B. 287 Nurse Practice Act Amendments, allowing nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances without a letter of authorization from a practitioner in some instances.

Affordability
This session, we passed several bills to further efforts in support of healthcare affordability for Utahns. We passed H.B. 206 Epinephrine Auto-Injector Access, which allows patients to purchase EpiPen medication at a discounted price. The Legislature also passed HB 262 Children’s Health Insurance Amendments, which seeks to expand the coverage of uninsured children throughout the state by creating the Children’s Health Care Coverage Program. In addition, we passed H.B. 202 Health Care Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits a health care provider from misrepresenting that the provider is a contracted provider under a health benefit plan.

Mental Health
Expanding mental health services to all Utahns and decreasing suicide rates continues to be a priority for us. Below are just a few of the bills passed that create additional services and further enhance these efforts.

●       S.B. 161 Mental Health Systems Amendments, ensures funds for mental health services keep pace with inflation by requiring consensus estimates to factor in cost increases for mental health within the Medicaid program. This bill also prohibits revoking the license for medical providers who seek mental health help.
●       Last year, Congress established 988 as the national mental health crisis hotline number. S.B. 155 988 Mental Health Crisis Assistance, helps Utah get ready for the launch of the new hotline number by applying for Medicaid waivers to help pay for treatment, creating an account for crisis response funds to pay for the call center, developing mobile teams and follow up treatment and increasing additional members to existing commissions to assist in the rollout of 988.
●       H.B. 336 Suicide Prevention Amendments, creates a reporting process for the Utah Medical Examiner to obtain youth suicide data for the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to study. The Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will also be required to provide training to healthcare organizations. Additionally, the bill changes a coupon program to a rebate program that incentivizes individuals to obtain a biometric gun safe.

Youth Services
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10 to 24. In an effort to target services to our youth, we passed H.B. 81 Mental Health Days for Students, adding mental health as a valid excuse for a school absence. Other states that implemented this attendance policy have seen a decrease in youth suicide rates. Additionally, we passed H.B. 93 Youth Suicide Prevention Programs Amendments, which expands the education of suicide prevention to elementary and secondary grades and requires the language of the programs to reflect the specific age group.

Higher Education

Student’s Rights
In some cases, students in higher education institutions with religious beliefs are expected to participate in activities that interfere with their beliefs and may infringe on their fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. S.B. 244 Student Religious Accommodations Amendments, requires the Utah System of Higher Education to reasonably accommodate student absences from exams or other academic requirements due to a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs.

Another area of concern is broad and ambiguous anti-harassment policies that lead universities to censor free speech. While higher education institutions are responsible for addressing harassment on campus, they also have a constitutional obligation to do it without infringing on students’ free speech rights. H.B. 159 Higher Education Speech, sets a standard all state universities can follow to protect free speech on campus.

Access to Higher Education
Data shows that education can reduce the odds that incarcerated people will reoffend once they are released. H.B. 279 Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth, provides students in custody with concurrent enrollment credits through a virtual learning program administered by Dixie State University.

In another effort to expand higher education accessibility in Utah, the Legislature passed S.B. 45 Higher Education Classes for Veterans, allowing veterans to audit courses offered at state institutions of higher education for a nominal fee.

Homelessness and Housing Affordability
Homelessness and housing affordability are priorities for Utah lawmakers. In fact, housing prices are rising at a rate of 12 percent annually, and economists estimate that Utah has a gap of over 53,000 affordable housing units for individuals with average or low incomes. S.B. 164 Utah Housing Affordability Amendments, is designed to stimulate growth in affordable housing without interfering with the free market. The bill provides support and funding for low-income renters at risk of eviction. It also encourages political subdivisions to inventory surplus government land for possible future affordable housing developments.

Currently, some types of residential housing units are off-limits due to burdensome municipal regulations, preventing homeowners from creating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). This prevents individuals with extra space in their homes from converting the area into a rentable apartment. H.B. 82 Single-family Housing Modifications, removes some of the obstacles that keep homeowners from having ADUs within the walls of their homes.

The state has put immense effort into getting people off the streets and into homes. H.B. 347 Homeless Services Amendments, enhances coordination efforts between agencies by creating the Office of Homeless Services within the Department of Workforce Services and establishes the state homeless coordinator within the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

Pandemic
With the onset of COVID-19, Utahns watched the Emergency Management Act take effect for an extended period for the first time in our state’s history. It became clear the Emergency Management Act is not structured for long-term emergencies such as a pandemic. After listening to Utahns’ concerns, the Legislature began working with the Governor’s Office to create checks on broad executive emergency powers.

• S.B. 195 Emergency Response Amendments, limits extensive executive emergency powers during long-term emergencies without hindering rapid response. It does not disrupt the executive branch’s or health department’s ability to respond to short-term emergencies, such as natural disasters.

•  H.B. 294 Pandemic Emergency Powers Amendments, provides for the termination of emergency powers and certain public health orders–including mask mandates–related to COVID-19, upon reaching certain thresholds of positivity rates, vaccinations and other criteria.
• H.B. 43 Emergency Procurement Declaration Modifications, modifies reporting requirements related to an emergency procurement and limits the term length of a contract for emergency procurement.

• S.B. 86 Amendments to the Price Controls During Emergency Acts, amends the standard of evidence required to cite a person for a violation of the Price Controls During Emergencies Act (PCDE) and amends provisions regarding when a price is excessive. This bill also requires the Division of Consumer Protection to consider certain factors in determining whether to investigate, contact or request information from a seller for a violation of the PCDE Act.

Public Safety, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Training
Over the last year, the state has had substantial conversations regarding police reform. One of the conversations has been about the importance of de-escalation training for law enforcement officers. H.B. 162 Peace Officer Training Amendments, requires 16 hours of additional training for law enforcement, including mental health, crisis intervention and de-escalation control courses. S.B. 38, K-9 Policy Requirements requires that police dogs and handlers in the state of Utah undergo an annual certification process. It also amends Utah law to provide liability protection for officers and agencies if the dog acts in a way contrary to the officer’s commands.

Law enforcement officers are usually the first to respond to 911 calls, regardless of the reason for the call. Quite often, people who call 911 are trying to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis, which most police officers aren’t trained to resolve. S.B. 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments, makes additional mental health crisis training available for emergency service professionals. Agencies throughout Utah can create teams of appropriately trained professionals to respond specifically to mental health emergencies. These professionals will be licensed to treat individuals and provide them with proper resources.

S.B. 102 Peace Officer Training Qualifications Amendments, changes Utah law to allow lawful permanent residents who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years to serve as police officers. This change will help create police departments that more closely resemble the diverse communities they serve.

Use of Force
In Utah, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been involved in conversations with various law enforcement organizations, including Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and the Utah Department of Public Safety. These groups worked towards a common goal of addressing law enforcement use-of-force standards in the state of Utah. S.B. 106 Use of Force Amendments, requires that POST establish statewide use-of-force standards and conduct an annual review of those standards.

Criminal Justice
For law enforcement who were involved in maintaining order during protests last year, it became clear that most protesters were peaceful and law-abiding citizens. A very small percentage of participants were violent or destructive. H.B. 58 Riot Amendments more clearly defines rioting in Utah code and makes it harder for those charged with rioting to be quickly released from jail to return to rioting behavior.

Releasing individuals from police custody too quickly is also the subject of H.B. 47 DUI Revisions, nicknamed Sarah’s Bill, which allows a judge to deny bail to drunk drivers who have injured or killed someone if the court has sufficient evidence to support the charge. In some cases, drunk drivers pay bail and are released while still legally drunk. These individuals would be held in custody until their trial.

Taxes
We passed legislation that will provide $100 million in tax cuts to aid families, veterans and elderly citizens and will further boost Utah’s economic success.

Individuals and Families
The Utah Legislature passed three pieces of legislation that will provide approximately $100 million in tax relief to Utah citizens.

• S.B. 153 Utah Personal Exemption Amendments, restores part of the dependent tax exemption, which was reduced in the 2017 federal tax reform and increased taxes for many Utah families. In 2018, the Utah Legislature brought back a portion of the exemption and is now seeking to restore even more of the exemption to further reduce taxes for families.
• S.B. 11 Retirement Income Tax Amendments, targets men and women who served in the armed forces by eliminating individual income tax on military retirement pay.
• H.B. 86 Social Security Tax Amendments, eliminates income tax on some social security income, benefitting many Utah seniors living on a fixed income.

Businesses
Many businesses were hit hard by the pandemic and we have worked hard over the last year to provide targeted economic support to businesses throughout Utah with the CARES. This session we passed S.B. 25 Corporate Tax Amendments, which provide targeted relief to businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19. This bill allows businesses to carry back, for up to three years, a Utah net loss realized during 2020. The idea is if a business was profitable in the three years leading up to 2020, but then suffered a loss in 2020, it is likely due to the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic.

Transportation

Infrastructure
In an effort to better meet the needs of our growing state, H.B. 433 Amendments Related to Infrastructure Funding, establishes $264 million in bonding for public transportation and transit. This funding will go towards projects like double tracking the front runner. The bill also creates a dedicated revenue stream to fund transit solutions in cottonwood canyons.

Vehicle Renewal Notice
Last year, the Utah Tax Commission discontinued postcard mailers reminding vehicle owners when their vehicle registration renewal was due. Since this practice was discontinued in September, Utahns have asked for these mailers to be sent again. H.B. 170 Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice Requirements, officially requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to resume the use of mailers to remind owners when their vehicles are due for registration renewal.

Driving Changes
While we know that we should signal when we merge into a lane, unfortunately, many don’t, which may result in accidents. H.B. 69 Traffic Code Amendments, changes the traffic code to clarify that a driver must signal when merging into another lane. This bill also prohibits a driver from operating a vehicle if there is an object, device, or build-up on the windshield that obstructs the driver’s view. This device/object must be less than 25 square inches in size.
We also updated the requirements for youth to receive their driver’s license. H.B. 18 Driver Education Amendments, extends the term of a learner permit from one year to 18 months. This change does not prevent youth from getting their license upon turning 16. In addition, this bill removes the required six observation hours for driver education observation for 15-17-year-olds.

Water
As the second driest state in the nation, water conservation and the Colorado River are priorities to Utah lawmakers. H.B. 297 Colorado River Amendments has been created to preserve, conserve and protect Utah’s legal share of the Colorado River that was guaranteed in the Colorado River Compact nearly 100 years ago.

Approximately 60 percent of Utah’s population relies on the Colorado River for their drinking water, but despite being the most reliable water source in the western United States, Utah currently uses only 54 percent of what was allocated to the state in the Colorado River Compact. H.B. 151 State Infrastructure Bank Amendments, allows the state infrastructure bank fund to be used for public water and sewer infrastructure projects.

Along with Utah’s management of big water projects, it is important that individuals do what they can to conserve the water we’ve been allocated for household use and irrigation. S.B. 199 Water Amendments, creates a grant program to help small secondary water retailers install secondary water meters and directs the Legislative Water Development Commission to support the development of a unified, statewide water strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency.

Covid-19 Data
State Data (as of March 15th)
Total Cases:                            378,600
Total People Tested:               2,293,096
Total Hospitalizations:            15,129
Total Deaths:                          2,027
Estimated Recovered:             364,676
Vaccines Administered:          1,010,700

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:       20,277
Box Elder:            4,933
Cache:                 15,208
Rich:                    136
Recovered:         19,801
Box Elder:            4,807
Cache:                 14,858
Rich:                    136
Deaths:               86
Box Elder:            47
Cache:                 39
Rich:                     0
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     36,288
2^nd Dose:    20,384
Total:         55,986

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                    6,045
Hospitalizations:                                                              204
Deaths:                                                                            38
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                            12.46
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases            19
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     12,141
2^nd Dose:    6,466
Total:         18,462

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.
Until next time,

Week Seven of Our Legislative Session

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Week 7 of our legislative session is finished. Many bills were passed and hundreds more didn’t make it through the process to becoming a law. That’s okay. Most good bills take years of work before they reach the Governor’s desk. Of course, the process doesn’t stop when the bill becomes a law. We consult with state agencies to find out if the law is working as it’s intended. It can be a humbling experience to come back the next year and change something we did the year before. Thankfully, I get lots of feedback and I’m always amazed at your knowledge and passion. Utah is the best run state in the nation because Utahns care about their communities and they hold us accountable for our actions. Stay involved in the process. We need your support and input. I appreciate this opportunity to serve.

Budget
Of all the work we do here every year, passing a balanced budget is the most important responsibility we face as a Legislature during the session. This week we passed our “Bill of Bills”, which is a nickname we use for our full budget bill. The actual title of the bill is “Appropriations Adjustments”. This year our budget came to roughly $23.5 billion for fiscal year 2022. With this healthy budget we allocated $100 million for tax cuts, appropriated historic levels of funding for education with nearly half a billion dollars in on-going money going to public education and replenished our Rainy-Day funds that were utilized during the pandemic. We also invested in roads and transit – to the tune of $1.1 billion spread over a number of years – while limiting new debt issuances so that overall debt will decline with time.

Here is a link to my Week 7 Video

Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth 
Access to education in prison can lower the odds of an individual committing additional offenses. H.B. 279 Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth, provides students in custody with concurrent enrollment credits through a virtual learning program administered by Dixie State University. These credits can help individuals obtain certificates, associates or bachelor’s degrees. Creating an educational pathway for incarcerated youth will help them succeed and reintegrate into society. Educational opportunities are proven to reduce the risk of re-offending and provide safer environments in juvenile facilities. H.B. 279 passed in the Senate and will now be sent to the governor.

Religious Accommodations in Higher Education 
S.B. 244 Student Religious Accommodations Amendments, allows the Utah System of Higher Education to provide religious accommodation policy to all institutions. For instance, if a student has a firmly held religious belief that conflicts with an exam or academic assignment, then a written notice will allow for the exam or assignment to be done before or after the original due date. The board will also be required to create a list of dates of religious holidays and ensure that the accommodation will not adversely affect students’ academic opportunities. S.B. 244 passed in the Senate and will now be sent to the governor for consideration.

Suicide Prevention 
The fight against suicide continues to be a priority in the Legislature as suicide is the leading cause of death for Utah children ages 10-24. H.B. 336 Suicide Prevention Amendments, creates a reporting process for the Utah Medical Examiner to obtain youth suicide data for the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to study. The Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will also be required to provide training to healthcare organizations. It also changes a coupon program to a rebate program that incentivizes individuals to obtain a biometric gun safe. Another bill, H.B. 93 Youth Suicide Prevention Programs Amendments, expands the education of suicide prevention to elementary and secondary grades and requires the language of the programs to reflect ages. Both bills passed in the Senate and will now be sent to the governor for consideration.

Housing Affordability 
Housing prices are rising at a rate of 12 percent annually, and economists estimate that Utah has a gap of over 53,000 affordable housing units for individuals with average or low incomes. This looming crisis has led the Housing Affordability Commission to try to stimulate growth in affordable housing without interfering with the free market. S.B. 164 Utah Housing Affordability Amendments, creates a program that permits political subdivisions to take an inventory of surplus government properties throughout the state that cities could grant for future affordable housing developments. The bill also provides funding and support for low-income renters who may be at risk of eviction.

In the News: Salt Lake Tribune

Accessory Dwelling Units 
Utah is known for having large families who live in homes designed to comfortably house six to eight people. Often, parents continue to live in these large homes even after their children leave home, resulting in available space that can be converted into apartments. Unfortunately, many cities have ordinances that restrict Utahns from renting out their vacant space. H.B. 82 Single-family Housing Modifications, removes some of the obstacles that keep homeowners from creating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) within the walls of their owner-occupied homes. H.B. 82 also requires the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund to establish a 2-year pilot program to provide loan guarantees for some loans related to ADU’s.

In the News: Deseret News

Free Speech 
Recently, there have been numerous accusations of censorship leveled against social media companies. It has become apparent that social media platforms are not transparent in the way they moderated content, and more specifically, that the platforms are harsher in moderating certain political and religious beliefs. S.B. 228 Electronic Free Speech Amendments, requires social media companies to clearly state their moderation practices and policies, as well as give users advance notice of their policies before they limit speech. If the company removes a user’s content, they need to tell the user why it was removed and provide an opportunity for appeal. S.B. 228 also requires each social media company to have an independent review panel. The bill passed in the Senate and House and will go to the governor for his consideration.

In the News: Fox 13

Homeless Services 
Stakeholders involved in homelessness services in Utah have described the existing programs as inefficient and confusing and most recognize that the problem has eclipsed the current structure in place. H.B. 347 Homeless Services Amendments enhances coordination efforts between agencies by creating the Office of Homeless Services within the Department of Workforce Services and establishes the state homeless coordinator within the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. This coordinator will be an advisor to the governor on homelessness issues and will report to the Senate and House twice a year. H.B. 347 passed in both the House and Senate and will now go to the governor for his consideration.

In the News: Salt Lake Tribune

Dixie State University Name Change Process
When a university chooses to undergo a name change, it must ultimately bring the decision to the Legislature for final approval. Over the last few months, Dixie State University (DSU) made steps toward changing the name to reflect their mission better. H.B. 278 Name Change Process for Dixie State University, establishes a timeline that includes local public input in the decision-making process. If the DSU Board of Trustees and the Utah Board of Higher Education recommend a name change later this year, then $500,000 will be appropriated to the Heritage Committee to preserve the regional heritage, culture and history on DSU’s campus.

Voter Affiliation 
Last year, approximately 21,000 registered democrat voters switched their party affiliation just days before the Republican primary. While we support the freedom to switch party affiliation, this type of coordinated, temporary switching of parties to influence the outcome of a primary election is unfair to the members of that party. H.B. 197 Voter Affiliation Amendments, amends the rules of party affiliation. Those who are changing parties must do so by March 31 of even-numbered years to participate in the primary election. If an individual changes parties after March 31, the change will not become effective until after the primary election. This bill poses no restrictions on those who go from unaffiliated to affiliated. Unaffiliated voters may affiliate at any time and still participate in the primary. This bill passed in both the Senate and House and will now be sent to the governor.

Language Amendments 
During the pandemic, several state agencies translated communications into languages other than English to communicate critical information to all Utahns. Much to our surprise, government agencies learned that sharing documentation in any language other than English is prohibited in our state code. S.B. 214 Official Language Amendments, preserves English as the official language of Utah and revises the law to allow governments to translate important communications into other languages. This bill passed in both chambers and will now be sent to the governor.

Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program 
Utah is currently experiencing a shortage of teachers and school counselors in public schools. Several school districts are working on innovative approaches to meet teacher needs. This week, the Senate passed H.B. 381 Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program, which supports school districts by creating a three-year pilot program to provide scholarships for paraprofessionals working toward becoming licensed teachers or licensed school counselors.  This allows school districts to work with individuals they already know will be excellent teachers and counselors to become licensed professionals.  This bill passed in both the Senate and House and will now go to the governor for his signature.

Covid-19 Data 

State Data (as of March 10th)
Total Cases:                            376,327
Total People Tested:               2,265,344
Total Hospitalizations:            14,986
Total Deaths:                          1,992
Estimated Recovered:             360,891
Vaccines Administered:          902,391

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:      19,957
Box Elder:           4,871
Cache:                14,951
Rich:                    135
Recovered:        19,428
Box Elder:           4,728
Cache:                 14,577
Rich:                    123
Deaths:                82
Box Elder:            45
Cache:                  37
Rich:                     0
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     32,472
2^nd Dose:    19,275
Total:          51,094

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                  5,902
Hospitalizations:                                                           199
Deaths:                                                                         33
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                         30.44
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases         43
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     11,842
2^nd Dose:    5,714
Total:         17,457

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Tax Cuts 
Last week, we announced the state will provide approximately $100 million in tax relief to Utah citizens. Though Utah’s economy is in an advantageous position compared to other states, many Utahns are still struggling, and the Senate wants to provide tax relief to those who need it most. The tax relief package targets families, veterans and elderly Utahns and will be accomplished by three bills: S.B. 153, S.B. 11 and  H.B. 86.

S.B. 153 Utah Personal Exemption Amendments, restores part of the dependent tax exemption, which was reduced in the 2017 federal tax reform, increasing taxes for many Utah families. In 2018, the Utah Legislature brought back a portion of the exemption and is now seeking to restore even more of the exemption to further reduce taxes for families in our great state.

S.B. 11 Retirement Income Tax Amendments, targets men and women who served in the armed forces by eliminating individual income tax on military retirement pay.

H.B. 86 Social Security Tax Amendments, eliminates income tax on some social security income, benefitting many Utah seniors living on a fixed income.

These tailor-made policies will provide a significant benefit to Utah families, veterans and senior citizens and will ensure that Utah continues to thrive.

Over the last year, the state has had substantial conversations regarding police reform. One of the conversations has been about the importance of de-escalation training for law enforcement officers. H.B. 162 Peace Officer Training Amendments, requires 16 hours of additional training for law enforcement, including mental health, crisis intervention and de-escalation control courses. Providing officers with the latest resources and training will help them perform their job and build trust with individuals in their communities. Law enforcement and the community have been closely involved in the creation of this bill and have shown full support. H.B. 162 passed the Senate and House and will be sent to the governor.
Educational Deadline and Fiscal Responsibility 

School districts across Utah worked tirelessly to respond to the needs and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. S.B. 178 Educational Deadline and Fiscal Responsibility, provides school districts with flexibility regarding deadlines and spending restrictions in response to the pandemic. For instance, any money originally meant to be spent during the pandemic will be extended for the following year to allow flexibility as more students return to the classroom and participate in extracurricular activities. S.B. 178 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

Local Education Agency Policies Amendments 

Last year, we heard that some schools with smaller student populations in rural communities did not have the same opportunity to provide input to find the best strategies for their students and district during the COVID-19 pandemic. S.B. 187 Local Education Agency Policies Amendments, gives local control back to schools and communities regarding public health orders. If this bill passes, the governor, Department of Health or the local health department agency would be required to consult with local school districts to understand and respond to needs during public health orders. This will not eliminate input from local health boards and is not meant to support or oppose any COVID-19 measure. S.B. 187 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

988 Mental Health Crisis Assistance

When people experience a medical emergency, the default solution is to dial 911. For decades, that option has worked well for most people. However, for those experiencing a mental health crisis, that solution hasn’t been as effective. As well intentioned as our first responders are, they are not equipped to assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis. For people who do reach the proper Utah mental health crisis line, 90 percent of the time, they are stabilized over the phone at the cost of about $40. This prevents police or EMS from being dispatched and eliminates potential hospital or ambulance bills for the individual in need.

Last year, Congress established 988 as the national mental health crisis hotline number. S.B. 155 988 Mental Health Crisis Assistance, helps Utah get ready for the launch of the new hotline number, which begins in July 2022. S.B. 155 does three things:

·        Applies for Medicaid waivers to help pay for treatment.

·         Creates an account for crisis response funds to pay for the call center, mobile teams and follow-up treatment.

·        Adds additional members to existing commissions to assist in the rollout of 988.

S.B. 155 passed the Senate. Listen to the bill presentation here.

The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and the White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator visited Utah in November and encouraged state leaders to resume in-person learning. Recent reports found that several schools throughout Utah have closed for 40 percent of the academic year, leading to a 600 percent increase in students failing all classes. After extensive conversations with the school board and the superintendent, parents who wanted their children in the classroom felt they had nowhere else to turn except the Legislature.

S.B. 107 In-person Instruction Prioritization, ensures students have the opportunity to learn in the classroom. With this bill, parents will once again have the ability to determine what is best for their child, whether that be in-person or virtual learning.  As it stands, the bill has two objectives:

1.     Keep all Utah schools open at least four days a week.

2.     Implement the “test to stay” program for schools that reach the 2 percent positivity rate to prevent soft closures.

Parental permission is required for testing students under the age of 18. S.B. 107 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. Listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

In the News: Deseret News

Higher Education Speech 

Currently, broad and ambiguous anti-harassment policies are one of the most common ways universities censor free speech. The federal law addressing this issue comes from a U.S. Supreme Court case that defines when speech crosses the line to criminal conduct. While higher education institutions are legally and morally responsible for addressing student harassment, they also have a constitutional obligation to do so without infringing on students’ free speech rights. H.B. 159 Higher Education Speech, sets a standard all state universities can all follow to ensure free speech is respected on campus. H.B. 159 passed in both the Senate and House and will now go to Governor Cox for his consideration. Listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

In the News: KCPW

Vehicle Registration Renewal Notices 

Last year, the Utah Tax Commission discontinued postcard mailers reminding vehicle owners when their vehicle registration renewal is due. Since this practice was discontinued in September, Utahns have asked for these mailers to be sent again. H.B. 170 Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice Requirements, officially requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to resume the use of mailers to remind owners when their vehicles are due for registration renewal. This bill passed on second reading with unanimous support in the Senate.

Grant Program for Small Businesses  

Many businesses felt the impact of COVID-19 this year. Small businesses in particular were hit hard by financial losses. S.B. 202 Grant Program for Small Businesses, creates a grant program that will be administered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development for small businesses that experienced significant loss due to the pandemic. The grant will open in phases to ensure businesses that experienced the greatest losses will have the first opportunity to apply for the grant. The grant covers three months of fixed costs, including payroll, rent, utilities and insurance. The first phase will open to businesses that experienced a 90 percent loss or greater in 2020. The grant will then open to businesses that experienced an 80 percent loss and continue in that pattern until the fund is fully utilized. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

Budget Revenue Estimates  

The Senate, House and Governor’s Office released updated revenue numbers for state fiscal years 2021 and 2022. The revenue estimates show the longstanding strength of Utah’s economy, despite unprecedented financial challenges due to COVID-19. The new consensus revenue estimates identify $112 million in additional ongoing money and $315 million in one-time money. This year, a historic $400 million increase will go toward public education, and a significant portion of ongoing funds will be dedicated to increased enrollment in Medicaid expansion. The Legislature will also give a significant tax cut to certain Utahns, including families, veterans and seniors. Read the full press release here.

Online Impersonation Prohibition  

Last year, an individual created a fake account pretending to be the wife of a law enforcement official in Utah. The statements made on this fake account were inflammatory and resulted in the officer being placed on leave. Ultimately, he and his wife had to move after receiving threatening messages based on the fake account’s statements. Law enforcement has since been able to identify the individual who created this fake account; however, no action could be taken as it was not illegal to impersonate an individual online. H.B. 239 Online Impersonation Prohibition, makes it a criminal offense to impersonate an individual online with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten any individual. This bill passed with unanimous support in both the Senate and House and will now go to the governor.

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                 5,902
Hospitalizations:                                                           199
Deaths:                                                                         33
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                         30.44
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases         43
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:      8,688
2^nd Dose:     4,574
Total:          13,262

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.

I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.

I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.

I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Until next time,

Week Five of Our Legislative Session

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Week five of our legislative session is finished and we have passed 144 bills. Every year, the legislature passes bills, and the content of those bills will be justifiably debated over the next year. Every session, we have the privilege of taking part in some things that are undeniably good. On Thursday the 18^th, we had the special honor of recognizing Utah’s fallen soldiers. This was a truly sobering experience as the families of these fallen soldiers joined us in the Senate gallery. Many women and men from Utah have laid down their lives in the service of our great nation. We are humbled by their sacrifice and share our heartfelt sympathies and appreciation to their families. You can watch the recognition here.

Here is a link to my Week 5 Video

Confinement of Egg-laying Hens

Large-scale egg producers in Utah have taken notice of ballot initiatives in surrounding states that prohibit farm owners from confining egg-laying hens in enclosures that are not considered cage-free housings. Working with some animal advocacy organizations, these egg producers proposed a self-imposed date to achieve cage-free hen environments. This also allowed them to communicate with their lenders the costs associated with making these changes in their operations. My bill, S.B. 147, Confinement of Egg-laying Hens sets this deadline as January 1, 2025. The bill also designates the Department of Agriculture and Food as the enforcer of the provisions in the bill. S.B. 147 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.

Emergency Response

Throughout the last year, the Legislature and Utahns watched as the Emergency Management Act went into effect with the onset of COVID-19. What was originally intended to address a crisis for a short period, such as 30, 60 or 90-days, was enacted for nearly a year. S.B. 195 Emergency Response Amendments, creates checks on executive powers during long-term emergencies without hindering rapid emergency response.

This bill is a direct result of the concerns we heard from Utahns across the state and does not disrupt the executive branch’s, Utah Department of Health’s or local health agencies’ ability to respond to day-to-day emergencies, such as natural disasters. S.B. 195 creates checks and balances between the different branches of government as well as between state and local governments, including health departments during long-term emergencies. It also increases transparency and allows for public input.

The Senate and House of Representatives and the Governor’s office have all been involved in the process and are supportive of the updates. The pandemic showed that adjustments, including increased public input, were needed in order to adequately face our next extended emergency.

This week, Gov. Cox announced that Utahns 65 and older now qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine. By vaccinating those 65 and older, we will drastically reduce our state’s COVID-19 fatalities. Learn more about Utah’s vaccine distribution plan here.

In the News: KUTV | KSL | ABC 4 | Fox 13 |

Canine Caused Injury

There isn’t a clear procedure or law clarifying liability when a dog that is wandering is injured or killed when encountering another dog in an enclosed or fenced area on private property. H.B. 213 Canine Injury Amendments, clarifies liability that the dog owner that attacks is not liable for any injury or death of a wandering dog on enclosed property. This bill passed in the Senate with an amendment that clarified the immunity only applies in situations where the attacking dog is inside an enclosed or fenced area. The bill will now return to the House for concurrence to the changes made while in the Senate. You can watch the floor presentation here.

Pharmacy Benefit Amendments

Utah has several health clinics that federally qualify for 340B drugs, a program that provides discounted medication. These small clinics across the state support diverse populations, low-income families and underserved areas. S.B. 140 Pharmacy Benefit Amendments, clarifies that clinics that qualify for 340B medications may bill the insurance company for the full price of 340B medication and capture the additional profit to improve their healthcare systems. S.B. 140 passed in the Senate with unanimous support. You can watch the floor presentation here.

Mental Health Day for Students

This week, the Senate heard H.B. 81 Mental Health Days for Students, which adds mental health as a valid excuse for a school absence. Other states that implemented this attendance policy have seen a decrease in youth suicide rates. H.B. 81 passed in the Senate and was sent to the governor for consideration.

Honoring the Life of William E. Christoffersen 

William E. Christofferson, a Cache Valley Native and local hero, was honored in the Legislature this week. William Christofferson served in World War II and dedicated his life to helping veterans. He advocated for veterans across Utah and helped create the first veterans nursing home in Salt Lake City. Read the full resolution here.

To all our Veterans who put their lives on the line of defense, we thank you wholeheartedly.

Utah Film Economic Incentives

Did you know Footloose, The Sandlot and The Lone Ranger were filmed right here in Utah? Such films have led to other production opportunities to showcase Utah’s desert beauty and high alpine mountains. The film industry has generated more than 7,600 jobs and $147 million in salaries in our state in 2019. We are considering S.B. 167 Utah Film Economic Incentives, which would provide tax credit certificates for productions, films and series when they film in Utah. This bill would strengthen rural communities by investing in local jobs, stimulating the economy and increasing Utah’s profile as a filming destination. S.B. 167 passed in the Senate on its second reading. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.

Sex Offender Revisions

S.B. 165 Offender Registry Revisions, permits an individual who has served their full sentence on the Sex Offender Registry to apply for removal. This bill aims to prevent instances where individuals are kept on the registry past their original sentencing time due to reporting errors. S.B. 165 passed in the Senate on its second reading. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.

Citizen Advisory Boards

S.B. 157 Citizen Advisory Boards, directs the Department of Public Safety to implement resources to assist cities and counties that would like to have citizen advisory boards. The department would provide counsel and support for these agencies, but would not require cities or counties to adopt these advisory boards. S.B. 157 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.

Designated Vehicle Routes Amendments

Several years ago, a law was passed that made some off-road vehicles street legal. One resort community, Moab, felt the impact as tourists in off-road vehicles created loud noises and disturbed residential communities. S.B. 168 Designated Vehicle Routes Amendments, aims to alleviate these issues without affecting tourism or the local economies by allowing resort communities to pass ordinances that restrict the use of a street-legal all-terrain vehicle on certain city-owned roads between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.

Covid-19 Data
State Data (as of February 21st)
Total Cases:                            367,789
Total People Tested:               2,172,963
Total Hospitalizations:            14,520
Total Deaths:                          1,865
Estimated Recovered:             346,157
Vaccines Administered:          623,876

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:      19,610
Box Elder:           4,787
Cache:                14,700
Rich:                   123
Recovered:       18,884
Box Elder:           4,599
Cache:                14,166
Rich:                   119
Deaths:               76
Box Elder:           42
Cache:                 34
Rich:                     0
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     22,960
2^nd Dose:    11,745
Total:          34,705

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                     5,752
Hospitalizations:                                                               193
Deaths:                                                                             30
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                             30.87
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases             48
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     7,748
2^nd Dose:    3,874
Total:         11,622

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Until next time,

Week three is done, and the legislature has passed 50 total bills. We’ve seen some great bills that are the culmination of years of work. The great thing about the Utah Legislature is that almost everyone up here tries hard to be open, respectful, and collaborative. Even though we’ve heard a lot about unity in the last few weeks I think that many people get it wrong. Unity is not about getting people to think the way that you do. It is all about people with many different perspectives united in purpose to work toward common goals. Even with all our differences, we all still share some common goals. We all want Utah to have a booming economy, a first-rate education for our kids, clean air, affordable and accessible healthcare, recreational opportunities, and safe communities.

I appreciate all of you who have taken the time and effort to share your viewpoints so far. Please, keep it up and stay involved.

Here is a link to my Week 3 Video

Senate Art Contest
This week, the Senate honored the finalists in the Senate Visual Arts Scholarship Competition. Every year, amazing artists from high schools all over Utah enter their artwork and we are always blown away by the amount of talent and skill that we have in the state. Here is a link to a gallery with all of the finalist’s artwork.

I am proud to say that three of the finalists receiving scholarships are in my Senate District.

Here is their art:

Utah State Flag
Some people believe Utah’s current flag falls short when it comes to representing the state in a simple and purposeful way. S.B. 48 State Flag Task Force, creates a State Flag Taskforce to assess whether a new state flag should be created. Though some may think that such an undertaking is not important, a state flag can be compared to the logo and branding of a state. Most people quickly recognize the bear seen on the California state flag or the star of Arizona. An iconic state flag can be a rallying point and marketing tool for the state of Utah. S.B. 48 passed on the Senate and is headed to the House. To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

In the News: Daily Herald | ABC4

Driver License Changes 
This week, we considered legislation that would make changes to the driver’s license requirements for new drivers. H.B. 18 Driver Education Amendments, would extend the term of a learner permit from one year to 18 months. This change does not prevent youth from getting their license upon turning 16. In addition, this bill would remove the required six observation hours for driver education observation for 15-17-year-olds. This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate. To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

Holocaust Education
Many adults learned about the Holocaust during their K-12 years; however, it seems this important, historic lesson is slowly diminishing in our children’s education. S.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution on Holocaust Education, highlights the importance of Holocaust and genocide education for students and encourages the State Board of Education and local education agencies to provide Holocaust and genocide content for schools. This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate and will now be considered by the House. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts
The last year has been hard on everyone as we’ve learned to live life during a pandemic. Many have been sick or lost loved ones. Thousands lost jobs and some lost businesses. Students, teachers and families had to adapt to a new style of teaching. During this challenging time, many individuals in our state and local health departments worked tirelessly to produce, publish and promote accurate information to help us navigate this pandemic. This week, the Senate passed H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts, to recognize and express our appreciation for these individuals. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

Financial Relief for Businesses Harmed by COVID-19
Over the last year, we made significant efforts to provide economic support to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. S.B. 25 Corporate Tax Amendments, provides more targeted relief to businesses by allowing them to carry back a Utah net loss realized during 2020 for up to three years. The idea is if a business was profitable in the three years leading up to 2020, but then suffered a loss in 2020, the loss is very likely to have been caused by the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

Asset Forfeiture
In 2018, the Utah Supreme Court ruled in Savely v. Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) that a state district court has jurisdiction over property held in civil asset forfeiture cases. The ruling stems from an incident in 2016 where a motorist had $500,000 seized by a UHP trooper without being charged with a crime. Though the money was initially seized by UHP, a federal magistrate filed a warrant to seize the money for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). S.B. 98 Asset Forfeiture Amendments, clarifies the process for seizing property. Property seized by local law enforcement is to be handled in a state district court. If the local agency wants to turn property over to a federal agency, the reasons need to be explained first in a state district court. S.B. 98 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

Covid Data

State Data (as of February 5th)
Total Cases:                            352,489
Total People Tested:               2,061,926
Total Hospitalizations:            13,755
Total Deaths:                          1,728
Estimated Recovered:             318,034
Vaccines Administered:          382,881

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                  5,410
Vaccines Given:                                                            7,209
Hospitalizations:                                                            178
Deaths:                                                                          23
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                          37.39
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases          56

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:     18,808
Box Elder:          4,619
Cache:               14,072
Rich:                  117
Recovered:       17,713
Box Elder:          4,382
Cache:               13,241
Rich:                  90
Deaths:             66
Box Elder:          38
Cache:               28
Rich:                  0
Vaccines Given:   1^st Dose:     16,507
2^nd Dose:    4,620
Total:          21,127

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Until next time,

After two weeks of session, we’re hitting our stride and getting a lot done. One comment I hear quite often from constituents is that we are just passing way too many laws. There is some truth to that. What Utahns may not know, is that many, if not most bills make very small changes to Utah law. In fact, quite often, bills repeal laws that were passed years ago. So, it is not all about adding more laws, it’s also about fixing what is already on the books. The last few years have seen more of a push to remove burdensome regulations that don’t improve the lives of Utahns or make us any safer.

Occasionally, a law is passed and months later, it is found that there are unintended consequences to that law. It can be something as simple as replacing the word “shall” for the word “may.” It is important that we fix mistakes and do everything we can to get government out of people’s lives while also protecting their rights. Of course, we’re all imperfect and we need your help to get things done. For years, Utah has been ranked the most well-run state in the nation because we have an intelligent, educated, hard-working citizenry that are engaged in the process. Please, continue to be involved in this process. We can’t do it without you.

As always, I’ve provided some summaries of bills that we are considering. You’ll find links to the bill text, to video of debates, and occasionally, news coverage of the issues involved.

Here’s a link to my Week 2 Video

Utah continues to have more and more people moving into the state. That population growth puts pressure on the relationship between new residents, current residents, and production agriculture. In the last few years there has been contention in county commission meetings about the placement of concentrated animal feeding operations.

My bill, S.B. 130, Regulation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, is designed to help counties create plans that are completely transparent in their requirements. It will also allow a county to consider petitions for new concentrated animal feeding operations using distinct criteria outlined in the bill. The bill was considered in the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee and passed with a favorable recommendation. It will now be considered on the Senate floor. To listen to my presentation in the committee, click here.

Mental Health Treatment

The nationwide push for a mental health crisis hotline began here in Utah. It has become increasingly clear that mental health services need to be improved, and first responders are often not trained to help people experiencing a mental health crisis. This session, more is being done to put trained professionals in positions to help people in crisis. S.B. 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments, make additional mental health crisis training available for emergency services professionals. Agencies throughout Utah can create teams of appropriately trained professionals to respond specifically to mental health emergencies. These professionals will be licensed to triage people and get them the resources they need. S.B. 47 Mental Health Crisis, Intervention Council creates a council of stakeholders from various agencies to design the statewide training offered to these emergency services professionals.

Additionally, S.B. 41 Mental Health Access Amendments, require health benefit plans to cover telehealth services for mental health treatment if the plan also covers in-person treatment of the same mental health conditions. All three bills passed in the Senate and are now in the House for consideration.

To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 41, S.B. 47 and S.B. 53.

In the News: Deseret News | KCPW

Criminal Penalties

The Utah Sentencing Commission is responsible for advising the Legislature, governor and judicial council regarding sentencing and releasing policies for those who have committed crimes. Last year, the Commission reviewed S.B. 50 Juvenile Offender Penalty Amendments and recommended its passage in the Legislature. The bill came from an issue where a young adult was charged as an adult for a crime committed as a 14-year-old. As a result, they served 10 years in state prison and were put on the sex offender registry. The bill would help ensure that if individuals commit a crime, they face the appropriate level of punishment based on their age when the crime was committed. Currently, if a crime report is delayed until after the perpetrator is an adult, they are tried as an adult.

In Utah criminal law, gang enhancement provisions were applied to help alleviate issues with street gangs or organized criminal enterprises. Since the provisions were originally created, the requirements for applying the enhancements have been considerably loosened. The enhancement was recently used against protesters who committed acts of vandalism. The broad nature of the provisions allowed vandalism to be raised to the level of a first-degree felony, punishable by a maximum life sentence. S.B. 51 Group Gang Enhancement Amendments, raises the bar so that the enhancements are only used in violent offenses and increases the requirement for the number of assailants involved.

S.B. 64 Domestic Violence Amendments, proposes to change Utah law to make domestic violence a third-degree felony in certain situations. If it is a third-time offense in a 10-year window, it will be charged as a third-degree felony.
All these bills passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 50, S.B. 51 and S.B. 64.

In the News: KUTV | Salt Lake Tribune

Sales Tax

Double taxation is an issue brought forth by the Utah Tax Commission in which a tax is being paid twice on the same source of income. S.B. 95 Sales Tax Revisions, creates a one-time tax collection for services, a tax break that already exists for retail. Currently, when a business owner needs to purchase items in order to provide a service, the business owner is taxed for the items needed and then the consumer is taxed again for the cost of the service. This bill makes retail and service tax equal by taxing goods and services only once. S.B. 95 passed in Senate Revenue and Taxation committee and is currently placed on the second reading calendar.

Emission Test 

According to Utah Highway Patrol, there were 1,633 accidents due to car malfunctions related to headlights, taillights, brakes and bad tires in the period of one year. Of those accidents, there were seven fatalities and 734 injured. S.B. 93 Emissions Test Amendments, sets a requirement for emissions inspectors to inform car owners if their car lights and lamps are functioning; however, no mandatory repair or official enforcement will be put in place. Emission inspectors will have the opportunity to make additional revenue if they wish to sell bulbs at the time of inspection. This bill aims to increase safety measures to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused on Utah roads. This bill passed in committee and is currently on the second reading calendar.

In the News: Salt Lake Tribune

Price Controls

Since 2005, the Price Controls During Emergencies Act was not used or modified until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. S.B. 86 Amendments to the Price Controls During Emergencies Act, makes necessary changes to the act to ensure consumers are not price gouged and protects Utahns from false claims during an emergency. S.B. 86 targets four changes to the act, including checkpoints before an investigation, transparency in changes to the cost of items, privacy protection for those accused until after adjudication and higher evidentiary standards. This bill passed in Senate Business and Labor committee.

In the News: Salt Lake Tribune

Budget

This week we passed our base budget bills. These bills traditionally use the previous year’s ongoing appropriations as a starting point. This was the first year we included $95 million in new money for education growth and inflation in the base budgets, making it the first year we have included these items in our base budgets. In addition, we also included an increase in per-pupil spending to restore last year’s 6 percent WPU increase. Overall, our base budgets we passed this week they also include over half a billion dollars in new state spending for high priority items such as education, Medicaid and COVID-19 response.

As part of our base budget, we passed the following bills:

• S.B. 1 Public Education Base Budget Amendments
• S.B. 5 Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Base Budget
• S.B. 6 Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Base Budget
• S.B. 7 Social Services Base Budget
• S.B. 8 State Agency Fees and Internal Service Fund Rate Authorization and Appropriations
• H.B. 1 Higher Education Base Budget
• H.B. 4 Business, Economic Development and Labor Base Budget
• H.B. 6 Infrastructure and General Government Base Budget
• H.B. 7 National Guard, Veterans Affairs and Legislature Base Budget
• H.B. 8 State Agency and Higher Education Compensation Appropriations

Consumer Alcohol Purchasing

Last year, we passed a bill that would allow consumers more options when ordering alcohol through the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC). This included allowing participation in subscriptions like Wine of the Month. The bill required funding that was ultimately rescinded due to the pandemic. This year, we are revisiting the change through S.B. 59 Consumer Alcoholic Beverage Purchasing. This new bill addresses some deficiencies in the DABC’s special order program and create a Consumer Purchasing Division of the DABC to implement the changes. The Senate passed the bill with unanimous support and will now be considered by the House.

Cosmetology Services

Thousands of young women throughout the state visit hair salons or ask a friend to style their hair before prom. It might surprise you to learn that individuals who try to make a little extra money by styling their friend’s hair for prom do so illegally. To address this, S.B. 87 Professional Licensing Amendments, creates an exemption from licensure for individuals who only dry, style, curl, shampoo, condition or hot iron hair. Individuals who choose to offer these services without a license will need to display a prominent sign in their place of practice stating they are unlicensed. Additionally, they are subject to sanitization standards established by the Utah Department of Health and accountable to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing should they go beyond the exempted services. Stakeholders were engaged throughout the process of this bill to ensure the changes made do not diminish the credibility and stature of licensed cosmetologists. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

Covid-19 Data
State Data (as of February 1st)
Total Cases:                            347,208
Total People Tested:               2,028,163
Total Hospitalizations:            13,515
Total Deaths:                          1,668
Estimated Recovered:             307,848
Vaccines Administered:          311,785

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:       18,513
Box Elder:            4,575
Cache:                 13,824
Rich:                    114
Recovered:         17,290
Box Elder:            4,262
Cache:                 12,938
Rich:                     90
Deaths:                60
Box Elder:             34
Cache:                  26
Rich:                     0

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                 5,180
Vaccines Given:                                                            5,248
Hospitalizations:                                                           169
Deaths:                                                                         21
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                         38.41
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases         37

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Until next time,

Well, week one of our general session is in the books and, like everything right now, it has been different. For one thing, it’s much quieter. The Capitol is pretty much closed to the public, which could be problematic, doing the public’s work. Of course, we still need input, so changes have been made to follow Covid-19 guidelines while also giving you access as we discuss bills and budgets.

We also started session a week earlier this year, so we ended up starting the same week as the inauguration. With as crazy as things have been recently, I think it really drives home the point to us as legislators that we need to take our work seriously. I really hope that we as a legislature and you as constituents can work collaboratively together to make Utah a better place to live.

Thanks for this opportunity.

Here’s a link to a video intro to this year’s legislative session.

Public Access during the 2021 General Session
Due to public safety and COVID-19 concerns, adjustments have been made to ensure public participation options are available during the legislative session. Committee meetings now have audio and video, making it easier to view presentations and know who is speaking.  Here’s how you can be involved during the session.

• You can virtually attend committee meetings and provide public input. Learn how here.
• The Utah Senate holds daily press availability where the media can ask Senate leadership and bill sponsors questions. This takes place every weekday during the legislative session. You can watch media availability on the Senate’s Facebook, here.

In-person Instruction
In November, state leaders met with Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, and Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus task force coordinator. State leaders were told that the spread of the virus primarily occurs in communities rather than in schools and that schools should resume in-person learning. Out of the 41 public school districts in Utah, 40 are providing an in-person option for their students. Salt Lake School District is the only one that does not. During the first quarter of online instruction at Salt Lake School District, 364 secondary school students failed all their classes, an increase of 600 percent.
S.B. 107, In-person Instruction Prioritization, gives parents the option of taking their students out of online-only schools and moving them to another school that offers in-person instruction. Funding would then follow the student to the new school. The bill does not force any student to return to in-person learning, it simply gives parents options if their students are struggling under the online format. The bill passed its second reading in the Senate.
Listen to the debate on the Senate floor here.
In the News: KSL | ABC 4 | Senate Twitter | Fox 13

K-9 Policy in Law Enforcement
Last year, bodycam footage of an arrest in Salt Lake City prompted the Salt Lake City Police Department to launch an official review of its K-9 program. The review analyzed 27 instances where individuals were bitten by police dogs in 2018. Eighteen of those instances were investigated by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office for possible criminal charges, and the city’s K-9 program was suspended indefinitely.

S.B. 38, K-9 Policy Requirements requires that police dogs and handlers in the state of Utah undergo an annual certification process. It also amends Utah law to provide liability protection for officers and agencies if the dog acts in a way contrary to the officer’s commands. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and will now be considered by the House.
Listen to the discussion on the Senate floor here.
In the News: KUTV

College for Veterans
For years, senior citizens in Utah have been able to audit courses offered at state institutions of higher education. This means that seniors can attend and participate in classes for a small fee. They don’t have to take tests, write papers, or do any homework, and they won’t receive any college credit. S.B. 45, Higher Education Classes for Veterans, gives Utah veterans the same opportunity. The bill passed unanimously on its second reading in the Senate.
Listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

Covid-19 Data
State Data (as of January 25th)
Total Cases:                            337,264
Total People Tested:               1,969,659
Total Hospitalizations:            13,054
Total Deaths:                          1,597
Estimated Recovered:             285,852
Vaccines Administered:          229,575

Bear River Health Department
Total Cases:   17,955
Box Elder:          4,449
Cache:                 13,408
Rich:                   98
Recovered:     16,480
Box Elder:          4,055
Cache:                 12,342
Rich:                   83
Deaths:           56
Box Elder:          31
Cache:                 25
Rich:                   0

Tooele County Health Department
Total Cases:                                                                 5,042
Vaccines Given:                                                            2440
Hospitalizations:                                                          148
Deaths:                                                                         20
7 Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day                         44.34
Total Tooele County School District Active Cases              53

I Look Forward to Hearing from You!

Connect with the Utah Senate for updates wherever you live on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and all sorts of other sites. Feel free to visit our new website for updates, articles, and information: https://senate.utah.gov/.
I’ll try to continually keep you informed about my work on the Hill – likewise, please keep in touch – I’d love to hear your insights and opinions.
I can also be reached by email at ssandall@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is (435) 279-7551.
If you’d like to meet with me in person during the interim or the legislative session, you can reach Jason Gould at jgould@le.utah.gov. He’ll help us get in touch.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to serve in this capacity. We live in a unique and special place. Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.

Until next time,