It's Day 44 of 45. 103 bills were passed yesterday. Also, Pres. Trump plans to revoke legal status for Ukrainian war refugees. | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | Mar. 6, 2025 It's Thursday and National Oreo Day. Happy birthday to Rep. Doug Fiefia! ðð ð There are 958 bills available. Three things today: The Utah legislature passed 103 bills yesterday, bringing the session total to 325, with today and tomorrow still to go. A "Code Red" bill that would require the Dept. of Health and Human Services to issue an alert during extremely hot weather, failed in the House yesterday, after passing the Senate unanimously. Sponsored by Republicans Sen. Todd Weiler and Rep. Tyler Clancy, the bill was called "frivolous" by Rep. Troy Shelley. Democratic Rep. Sandra Hollins, a trained social worker, spoke passionately about the bill. "We are dealing with human beings," she said. Pres. Trump is planning to revoke the humanitarian parole (legal immigration) status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, according to a senior official. The move would put them on the fast-track to deportation. On the Hill Today - Day 44 of 45 9:00 am - 11:50 am: Senate Floor Time 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: House Floor Time 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Senate and House floor time 4:10 pm: Executive Appropriations Committee 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Senate and House floor time | | |
| | Wildlife Crossings Save Moneyâand Lives Utah sees around 7,000 deer-vehicle collisions annually, costing taxpayers nearly $138 million in vehicle damage and injury each year.
Luckily, research shows that overpasses and underpasses with associated fencing can reduce those collisions by up to 90%. But first, they have to be funded. While wildlife crossings are sometimes included in larger road projects, Utah needs dedicated fundingâfunding that would accelerate the construction of projects when and where they are needed. Learn More. | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Weâre officially Utahns now! (Deseret News) Senate stopped bill to get rid of daylight saving time, even as most Utahns support the legislation (Deseret News) Business & Labor Labor unions file referendum against public sector collective bargaining bill (KSL) Utahâs big liquor bill is back â after lawmakers reject push to let cities decide where to put bars (Salt Lake Tribune) Criminal Justice Sen. Brady Brammer labels fentanyl a âmurder weaponâ in Utah. HB87 would strengthen penalties related to its use (Deseret News) Proposed bill helps rehome abused pets, reduce shelter overcrowding (KSL Newsradio) Utah lawmakers to cut sexual assault prevention funding, advocates asking for community outreach (ABC4) Education Divisive higher education âcuts/reallocationâ bill now in front of governor (Deseret News) Energy Utah Senate powers nuclear energy plan forward (KUTV) Environment Group calls foul after Great Salt Lake dust monitoring fails to land in Utah budget (KSL) Health and Human Services Firefighters gather for the passage of legislation to provide them with regular cancer screenings (Deseret News) 'A miracle': Lawmakers approve covering IVF treatment for state employees after tearful debate (KSL) Targeting age gaps, Utah passes stricter regulations on minor marriages (St. George News) Judiciary Parental custody bill would prioritize Motherâs and Fatherâs Day (KSL Newsradio) Revenue & Taxation Two tax cuts advance in state legislature, but relief may be modest for most residents (KUTV) Technology Bill targeting app store accountability passes through Utah legislature (ABC4) Transportation Salt Lake City says last-second tweak to Utah transportation study is 'concerning' (KSL) Utah House and Senate divided over churches paying transportation fees (KSL Newsradio) Utah House amends SLC traffic-calming bill, widening UDOT veto power to all streets (Salt Lake Tribune) Other Utah News Politics Mitt Romney weighs in on Ukraine strategy in first post-Senate statement (Deseret News) Utah Republicans say Trumpâs address marks the beginning of Americaâs âGolden Ageâ (Deseret News) Former Veterans Affairs official: VA job cuts wonât help veterans (KSL Newsradio) Utah NAACP leader calls out Gov. Cox for siding with Trump (Fox13) The constitutional clash over Trumpâs birthright citizenship order. Utah AG Derek Brown supported Trumpâs executive order that would eliminate birthright citizenship (Deseret News) Utah Utahâs new Olympic CEO Brad Wilson details his 2034 Winter Games role (Deseret News) Newly placed tariffs could cost Utahns more for produce in groceries, dining out (KUTV) Biz/Tech The uncertainty of federal workforce cuts is leaving northern Utah feeling anxious (KUER) Culture Photo gallery: Celebrating Ash Wednesday (Deseret News) Education Davis School District meets terms of federal accord to address 'severe, pervasive' race issues (KSL) Environment Long lines and dirty bathrooms: How Trumpâs firings will affect Utahâs national parks (Salt Lake Tribune) Health What RFK Jr. says about vaccines amid growing measles outbreak (Deseret News) Housing Homeless Outreach Court: Meeting the community where they are (KSL Newsradio) | | |
National Headlines General Pokémon-shaped Cheeto, 'Cheetozard,' sells at auction for $87,840 (AP) What ketamine does to the human brain. Excessive use of the drug can make anyone feel like they rule the world. (The Atlantic) Political news US plans to fire 80,000 Veterans Affairs workers as part of Trump cuts, sparking backlash (Reuters) âRead this e-mail immediately': CDC tells about 180 fired employees to come back to work (AP) Trump exempts some automakers from Canada, Mexico tariffs for one month (Reuters) Hundreds of US diplomats join letter to Rubio to protest dismantling of USAID (Reuters) Exclusive: Judges face rise in threats as Musk blasts them over rulings (Reuters) A group funded by Elon Musk is behind deceptive ads in crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court race (AP) Draft of Trump executive order aims to eliminate Education Department (Wall Street Journal) Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner dies following Trump speech (Wall Street Journal) How 443 federal properties were targeted for sale, then suddenly werenât (Washington Post) Frustration grows inside the White House over pace of deportations (New York Times) How Trumpâs whipsaw trade agenda is threatening economic growth (Politico) Ukraine and Russia U.S. suspends intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Pause is expected to cripple Kyivâs ability to target Russian forces (Wall Street Journal) Macron says heâll confer with allies on protecting Europe with French nuclear deterrence (AP) Vance ignites outrage in Britain with ârandom countryâ comment (New York Times) Russian missile kills four, wounds dozens in Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih (Reuters) Israel, Gaza, Syria Trump issues âlast warningâ to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza (AP) World news Greenland PM rebuffs Trump: We do not want to be Americans (Reuters) Canadaâs Liberals were heading into a crushing defeat. Then came Trump. (Washington Post) Exclusive: Bangladesh election this year may be difficult due to unrest, says head of youth-led party (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Governor and lawmakers expand cancer screening for firefighters Today, the Legislature and Gov. Cox stood side by side with dedicated firefighters from across the state to mark the passage of groundbreaking legislation that will enhance firefighter health and safety, ensuring they receive the medical support, cancer screenings and training they deserve for the sacrifices they make in protecting Utahâs communities. (Read More) Utah Senate Democrats oppose H.B. 106, Income Tax Revisions The Utah Senate Democrats released the following statement regarding the passage of H.B. 106, Income Tax Revisions: "We are deeply disappointed by the passage of H.B. 106 Income Tax Revisions. While the bill includes much-needed efforts to expand access to child care, it irresponsibly ties these critical measures to yet another income tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest Utahns while draining resources from essential services. This is the fifth income tax cut in recent years, costing the state $165 million annually; money that could instead strengthen schools, expand services, and improve health care." (Read More) Utah consumer sentiment down in February Utahâs consumer sentiment decreased 3.5% to 88.1 in February from 91.3 in January, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan measured a more significant decline in sentiment among Americans as a whole during the same time (from 71.7 to 64.7, or a 9.8 % decline). (Read More) Curtis, colleagues, introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to make child care more affordable U.S. Senator John Curtis joined Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), as well as U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) in introducing the Child Care Availability and Affordability Actâbipartisan, bicameral legislation to help working families by reducing the financial burden of child care and incentivizing businesses to invest in child care benefits for employees. The bill expands the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit, increases the excludable amount for dependent care assistance programs, and increases the maximum expenses eligible for the Dependent Care Tax Credit. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Mar 7 â UVU Autism Conference, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Register here Mar 7 â Utah legislative session ends at midnight Mar 15 â Utah Women Run annual training, 8:00 am - 2:30 pm, Hinckley Institute of Politics, Register here Mar 22 â MWEG annual conference with plenary speaker Sharon Eubank, UVU, Register here Apr 24 â Giant in Our City with the Salt Lake Chamber, 6:00-9:00 pm, Register here May 1 â High school writing contest deadline with The Rostra: Applying the wisdom of the past to the problems of today. More info here Aug 7 â Titan of Public Service, Sen. Tom Cotton, with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, Grand America Hotel | | |
On This Day In History 1475 - Michelangelo is born in Italy. 1521 - Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan discovers Guam. 1836 - The Battle of the Alamo comes to a gruesome end. 1857 - The US Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case that Black Americans were not US citizens. 1888 - Louisa May Alcott dies of a stroke at age 55. 1899 - Bayer patents aspirin, aka acetylsalicylic acid, originally found in the bark of willow trees. . 1951 - The trial of Julius Rosenberg and his wife Ethel Rosenberg, accused Soviet spies, begins 1957 - Ghana declares its independence from Great Britain, the first sub-Saharan nation to do so 1978 - Hustler publisher Larry Flynt shot & crippled by a sniper in Georgia. 1981 - Walter Cronkite signs off as the anchorman of CBS Evening News. 2006 - Dana Reeve (widow of Christopher Reeve) dies of lung cancer at age 44. 2016 - Nancy Reagan dies at age 94. Quote of the Day "I gave Ronnie my best advice â whenever he asked for it, and sometimes when he didn't. But that doesn't mean he always took it. Ronald Reagan has a mind of his own." âNancy Reagan On the Punny Side Today I learned if you turn a canoe over you can wear it as a hat.... Because it's cap-sized. | | |
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