Delay travel if you can, some schools delayed or virtual today; Utah Minority caucus weighs in on anti-DEI bill, transgender bathroom bill | | | 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 | Jan. 17, 2024 It's Wednesday and Kid Inventors' Day If you're commuting today, consider delaying your travel, says UDOT. It's dicey out there. Also, Ogden School District has announced a 2-hour delay, as well as Ascent Academy in Farmington. Box Elder schools are having a virtual day. Top of Mind Today Three bills to watch today: All are in committee meetings beginning at 2:00 pm. HB261: Equal Opportunity Initiatives sponsored by Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Keith Grover would eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion offices, statements and training in Utahâs public universities, K-12 schools and Utahâs governmental offices. HB257: Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying, and Women's Opportunities. This bill is being run by Rep. Kera Birkeland and would prohibit people from using a multi-stall public restroom if their gender at birth does not correspond to the gender designation of the restroom. The bill would also require public facilities to expand the number of single-occupancy bathrooms. SB57: Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act. This bill by Sen. Scott Sandall would allow the state to ignore federal orders if the legislature determines the federal directive violates the principles of state sovereignty. On the Hill Today 8:00 am: Business, Economic Development and Labor Appropriations, Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations, Public Education Appropriations, Social Services Appropriations 11:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 11:00 am-12:00 pm: House floor time 12:30 pm: Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Confirmation Committee 1:30-1:50 pm: Senate floor time 1:30-1:50 pm: House floor time 2:00 pm: House Business and Labor; House Education; House Health and Human Services; Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice; Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment; Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology | | |
| | Construction Underway, Scheduled Operation: 2025 The Intermountain Power Project's transformational âIPP Renewedâ project is under construction and on track for mid-2025 start-up. The project includes new natural gas-fueled electricity generating units that will also utilize "green" hydrogen for long-term, dispatchable storage of renewable energy. There are currently 600 workers on site in Millard County, with 1200 expected during peak construction. Click here to watch construction unfold. For more information, visit www.ipprenewed.com | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Utah chief justice expresses concerns over national political polarization and institutional distrust (Deseret News) Utah Democratic lawmakers respond to DEI ban, transgender bathroom bill (Deseret News) On first day of Utah Legislature, Speaker Schultz says, âThis isnât going to be business as usualâ (Deseret News) Education, conservation, taxes top priorities as Utah's legislative session begins (KUTV) Multiple controversial bills open the 2024 Utah legislative session (KSL TV) Utahâs GOP leaders zero in on diversity, education and energy on day 1 (KUER) Dems worry about the fallout as Utahâs GOP supermajority tees up culture war bills (KUER) President J. Stuart Adams 2024 General Session opening day speech (Utah Policy) Speaker Mike Schultz opening day speech (Utah Policy) Business and Labor Utah Legislature to revise social media limits for youth as it navigates multiple lawsuits (KUTV) Utahâs new social media regulation may âcompletely changeâ this year on heels of second lawsuit (Salt Lake Tribune) Criminal Justice âSwattingâ directed at Utah public schools could result in 2nd degree felony charge under bill passed by Utah House (Deseret News) Education Lawmakers propose bill to eliminate diversity statements (KSL Newsradio) How much is spent on DEI administration at Utahâs public colleges and universities? Hereâs a look. (Salt Lake Tribune) Diversity, equity and inclusion bill enters the Utah Legislature (UPR) Should the Ten Commandments hang in Utahâs public schools? Thus saith this lawmaker: yes. (Salt Lake Tribune) Ute student test scores continue to worsen, and Utah lawmakers say they have no plans to help (Salt Lake Tribune) Resolution seeks to condemn abusive coaching practices in Utah (KUTV) Government Operations On the first day of the Utah legislative session, talk of changes to mail-in ballots (KSL Newsradio) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment How state leaders are using Utahâs roads to oppose âfederal overreachâ (Salt Lake Tribune)
Politics In Utah, Jill Biden focuses on teacher wellness post-COVID (Deseret News) In Utah, first lady Jill Biden tells donors âdemocracy is on the lineâ (Salt Lake Tribune) Election news Why Utahâs Supreme Court Chief Justice thinks judges should not be elected to the bench (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah news Salt Lake City church shelter in dire need of volunteers with second location opening (KSL) Business/Tech Utah ranked as the nationâs prime spot for budding entrepreneurs (Deseret News) Overdraft fees could drop to as low as $3 under new Biden proposal (AP) Crime/Courts FIRE files suit challenging Utahâs Social Media Regulation Act (Deseret News) Man extradited from Scotland continues to dispute his identity in Salt Lake court (KSL) âImpossible to calculateâ: Prospector accused of damaging 1,000-year-old historical site in southern Utah (ABC4) Environment 'Like winning the lottery': Here's where 2023 landed in Utah's climate record book (KSL) Utah has a first strategic plan aimed at getting the GSL to good health (Deseret News) Utah national parks and the towns around them are getting busier. Hereâs how theyâre trying to adapt. (Salt Lake Tribune) Housing Millions of dollars still available through Utah's first-time homebuyer assistance program (KUTV) | | |
National Headlines General 5 quotes from Church leaders in honor of U.S. National Religious Freedom Day (Church News) Gen Z is skeptical of religious institutions, but supports people of faith, survey shows (Deseret News) It's so cold, Teslas are struggling to charge in Chicago (NPR) Blinken says US in demand as he mourns 'gutwrenching' scenes in Gaza (Reuters) Cocaine residue was found on Hunter Bidenâs gun pouch in 2018 case, prosecutors say (Politico) Political news Senators reject Bernie Sandersâ effort to curb Israel-Hamas war but the vote signals rising unease (AP) Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, oldest member of Senate, hospitalized with infection (NPR) Assassination attempts are on the rise worldwide â is the US next? (The Hill) Election news Turnout tactics and confident challengers: How Donald Trump won Iowa (Deseret News) Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson ends his 2024 campaign after sixth-place finish in Iowa caucuses (AP) ABC cancels New Hampshire debate after Haley, Trump decline to participate (Washington Post) Ukraine ðºð¦ Russia calls Ukraine peace meetings 'pointless', says plan can't succeed (Reuters) Putin says Ukraine's statehood at risk if pattern of war continues (Reuters) How one officer class offers a glimpse into Russiaâs military amid Ukraine war (Reuters) Israel ð®ð± Israel's war in Gaza enters its most perilous phase yet (Wall Street Journal) Qatar, France strike deal to supply medicine to Israeli hostages, Gazans (Washington Post) World news US to return Yemen's Houthi militia to terrorism list (New York Times) China's population drops for 2nd year, raises long-term growth concerns (Reuters) France to reform parental leave after births hit post-war low (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Rep. Moore and colleagues introduce legislation to enhance transparency into federal spending Congressman Blake Moore (R-Utah) introduced the Fiscal State of the Nation Act, bipartisan legislation requiring the Comptroller General to annually deliver a nonpartisan, objective, and public analysis of the nationâs finances to a Joint Meeting of Congress. (Read More) Région Sud of France brings delegation to Utah President Renaud Muselier of Provence-Alpes-Côte dâAzur (also known as Région Sud) led a French delegation to Utah to increase collaboration across education, film, tourism, and business. Région Sudâs visit was a direct result of the letter of intent that Gov. Cox signed with President Muselier last June in Paris. (Read More) Faith and community groups to gather at Utah Capitol to support proposals for reducing homelessness On Thursday, January 18, 2024, representatives from dozens of faith and community organizations will be gathering in the Board Room at the Utah Capitol Building for Faith, Hunger and Homelessness Day to express support for legislative proposals that would reduce homelessness. (Read More) Hatch Foundation releases 2023 policy review on conservative approaches to climate change Today, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation released its 2023 Policy Review, entitled âConservative Solutions to Climate Change.â This comprehensive report continues Senator Hatchâs legacy by focusing on innovative and conservative approaches to environmental stewardship and climate change... By bringing together different viewpoints and emphasizing bipartisan cooperation, this yearâs Policy Review aims to bridge partisan boundaries, aligning with Senator Hatchâs vision of a more civil, solution-oriented political discourse. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 16 â Legislative session begins Jan. 17 â Local Officials Day on the Hill Feb. 5 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Healthcare, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Register here Feb. 7 â Women in Leadership Executive Series: Finance, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Feb. 8 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Traditional Industries, 2:00-3:00 pm,Register here Feb. 21 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Women Focused Organizations, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends Mar. 5 â Caucus night | | |
On This Day In History 1706 - Benjamin Franklin is born. 1893 - Americans led by Sanford Dole overthrow Queen Liliuokalani and establish a new provincial government with - surprise - Dole as president. 1910 - Edith Green is born. She became the 2nd woman from Oregon to be elected to the U.S. House when she won in 1954. She served 10 terms and was instrumental in passing numerous bills, including the Higher Education Facilities Act, the National Defense Education Act and the 1972 Equal Opportunity in Education Act, aka Title IX. 1950 - 11 men steal more than $2 million from the Brinkâs Armored Car depot in Boston. Only a small part of the money was ever recovered. 1961 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower warns of the increasing power of the military-industrial complex in his farewell address. 1964 - Michelle Obama is born 1977 - Gary Gilmore is executed by firing squad in Utah. 1994 - The Northridge quake rocks Los Angeles. 1997 - Ireland grants a divorce for the first time in the countryâs history. 2004 - âNapoleon Dynamiteâ is shown for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival. 2015 - Rebecca D. Lockhart, first female Speaker of the Utah House, dies. Quote of the Day "I think I would like to be remembered as a person who loves the process and who trusts it, who's not afraid of ideas, who's not afraid of debate, who wants every voice to be heard, even if they're the smallest minority." âSpeaker Rebecca Lockart, Oct. 2014 On the Punny Side What does a baby computer call his dad? Data. | | |
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