It's Day 24 of 45. Up today: Om's law, clergy reporting, eyelash technicians and a bill making the old flag the new flag | 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 | Feb. 8, 2024 It's Thursday and Laugh and Get Rich Day. Hahahahaha! Four things to watch today: HB272, Child Custody Amendments, also known as Omâs Law, is being run in honor of 16-year-old Om Moses Gandhi who was killed by his father last year in a custody dispute. This bill will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee at 8 a.m. HB432 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Amendments by Rep. Anthony Loubet would allow but not mandate clergy to report the abuse or neglect of a child, even if the clergy member found out via a confession from the perpetrator. Major religious organizations in Utah do not oppose this bill. It will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee at 8 a.m. SB112 Eyelash Technician Licensure by Sen. David Hinkins creates separate state licenses for eyelash and eyebrow technicians.The new licenses would require 200 hours of training, rather than the 1600 currently required to receive a full cosmetology license. This bill will be heard in Senate Business and Labor at 8 a.m. HB436 Utah Flag Amendments by Rep. Phil Lyman would repeal the new state flag and re-establish the old flag as the new flag. If passed by two-thirds of each body, the bill would take effect immediately. This bill will be heard in the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee at 2 p.m. On the Hill Today, Day 24 of 45 8:00 am: House Government Operations; House Judiciary; House Political Subdivisions; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education; Senate Health and Human Services 10:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 10:00-11:50 am: House floor time 2:00 pm: House Business and Labor; House Economic Development and Workforce Services; 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 | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session âUnderwear and socks?â Why Utahâs state budget may resemble an austere Christmas (Deseret News) Send Utah guard to Texas-Mexico border, Senate leader urges Gov. Cox (Salt Lake Tribune) Business and Labor Training for Utahâs eyelash techs could take month, not years, with this bill (KSL Newsradio) Economic Development and Workforce Services Opinion: What would Utahâs version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act look like? (Deseret News) House OKs bill to enhance homelessness data reporting, reinstate 'code blue' camping mitigation (KSL) Government Operations Does Utah need a new âindependentâ state agency to oversee elections? Hereâs what happened to a bill taking that job away from the lieutenant governor (Deseret News) Health and Human Services Will Utah lawmakers help patients win insurance battle? (Fox13) Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Bill would consider victimsâ needs when student offenders go back to school (Deseret News) How Utah politicians in Salt Lake and D.C. lead out on pornography laws (Deseret News) âWe need to be colorblindâ: Utahâs revised interracial marriage bill passes House (St. George News) In the wake of tragedy, Omâs Law aims to reform Utahâs family court system (KUER) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Could a new $100 million pipeline help the Great Salt Lake and birds? (Deseret News) Other Utah News Political news Editorial Board: Washington canât afford to retreat on immigration (Deseret News) Utah school board member Natalie Cline questions high school athleteâs gender, causing social media uproar and requiring extra security for the student (Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Cox, civil rights organizations rebuke state school board member over targeting student athlete (Deseret News) 'Embarrassed the state': Cox denounces school board member for post about student-athlete (KSL) Parents of female student-athlete at the center of controversy call on school board member to resign (KSL TV) Utah news Fire breaks out at old Wagonmaster Steak Company building near Murray City Cemetery (KUTV) Business/tech How a no-frills carrier became one of America's best airlines (Wall Street Journal) Crime School bus driver arrested for enticing underage girl who was actually undercover FBI agent (KSL TV) Culture âThey can feel like lepers.â Ministering to the most marginalized (Deseret News) How to âsubvert the cultureâ with love, according to happiness expert Arthur Brooks (Deseret News) Education From panic to potential: How SchoolAI is aiming to change the classroom game (Deseret News) Environment Utah DWR seeking to restore stream habitat with beaver dam analogs (Standard-Examiner) Family BYU study illuminates gender difference in vigilance at night Women scan constantly, men plow straight ahead when walking in the dark (Deseret News) Health A death sentence: Native Americans have least access to liver transplant system despite having the highest rate of death from liver disease (Washington Post) | |
National Headlines General Mexico overtakes China as the leading source of goods imported by US (AP) âPuppy Bowlâ celebrates 20 years of adorable counter-programming (AP) America has never had so many 65-year-olds. They're redefining the milestone (Wall Street Journal) Political news The most controversial question before the Supreme Court â insurrection (Deseret News) The Supreme Court hears landmark election case seeking to kick Trump off ballot over Capitol attack (AP) Oregon pioneered a radical drug policy. Now it's reconsidering. (NPR) Republican Rep. Chip Roy knocks Trump over border claim: âThat didnât happenâ (The Hill) Republicans knock House GOP leadership after 2 failed votes (Politico) Speaker Johnson amid criticism: âMessâ in House not âa reflection on the leaderâ (The Hill) Election news Republican parents, Democratic daughters and what they mean for the GOP (Deseret News) AI fakes raise election risks as lawmakers and tech companies scramble to catch up (NPR) Loyalty is a one-way street in Donald Trumpâs GOP. Just ask Ronna McDaniel (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukraine needs more troops fighting Russia. Hardened professionals from Colombia are helping (AP) Front-line Ukrainian infantry units report acute shortage of soldiers (Washington Post) Taken by Russia, then rescued, young Ukrainians speak out (NPR) Israel ð®ð± Blinken leaves Israel after talks; Netanyahu rebuffs Hamas terms on Gaza deal (Washington Post) In Gaza, anger grows at Hamas along with fury at Israel (NPR) The shaky US-Israel alliance (New York Times) World news U.S. drone strike kills Iraq militia leader behind deadly attack on American base (Wall Street Journal) January was world's warmest on record, EU scientists say (Reuters) Iceland volcano erupts again, spewing huge lava fountains into air (Reuters) Shocker. Russia bars antiwar candidate from challenging Putin in March election. (Washington Post) | |
| News Releases Gov. Spencer Cox, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson denounce behavior of Utah School Board Member Natalie Cline Gov. Spencer J. Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson released the following joint statement about comments made by Utah School Board Member Natalie Cline: âWe were stunned to learn of the unconscionable behavior of board member Cline and others toward a high school student today. The last thing our children need is an elected official harassing them on social media. Sadly, this is not the first time that board member Cline has embarrassed the state of Utah and State Board of Education. We urge the State Board of Education to hold her accountable and we commend Granite School District for taking swift action to protect this studentâs safety and well-being.â UASSP announces 2024 secondary school principals of the year The Utah Association of Secondary School Principals (UASSP), whose mission is to recognize, promote, and enhance the leadership of Utahâs secondary school administrators, has selected Utahâs high school and middle level school principals of the year for 2024. The three winners were notified and presented with their awards by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson at the UASSP Mid-Winter Conference held last week. The 2024 secondary school principals of the year are: Principal Roger Arbabi of Park City High School, Principal Brian Stevenson of Crimson Cliffs Middle School, Assistant Principal Melody Apezteguia of American Fork High School. (Read More) Curtis introduces state border reimbursement plan Yesterday, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Border Security State Reimbursement Act to reimburse states for expenses associated with securing the United States borders. This legislation was introduced in conjunction with Congressman Curtis trip to the southern border to monitor the situation first-hand. The Border Security State Reimbursement Act would reimburse states for funds used to send law enforcement to secure the border. It ensures costs incurred due to federal government inaction donât cut into other necessary services. (Read More) | |
Upcoming 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 Feb. 22 â Understanding Utahâs Caucus-Convention System, with GOP Chair Rob Axson and Dem. Chair Diane Lewis, sponsored by Utah Women Run, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Register here Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends Mar. 5 â Caucus night Mar. 20 â Utah Foundation Annual Lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm; Grand America, Purchase tickets here Apr. 20 â United Utah Partyconvention Apr. 27 â State GOP and Democratic Conventions | |
On This Day In History 1587 - Mary, Queen of Scots, is beheaded for treason. 1725 - Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, dies. 1894 - Congress repeals the Enforcement Act which makes it easier for some states to disenfranchise Black voters. 1910 - The Boy Scouts are founded. 1915 - âThe Birth of a Nation,â opens, glorifying the KKK. 1943 - Americans secure Guadalcanal. 1944 - Harry S. McAlphin becomes the first Black journalist accredited to attend White House press conferences. 1968 - Officers kill 3 Black students protesting segregation of a bowling alley. 1986 - Oprah Winfrey becomes the first Black woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show. 2002 - The U.S. Winter Olympics open in Salt Lake City. 2013 - A massive blizzard begins in the US and Canada that resulted in 15 deaths, 5,300 canceled flights, and loss of power for 900,000 people Quote of the Day "Every right move Iâve made has come from listening deeply and following that still, small voice, aligning myself with its power." âOprah Winfrey, 2023 commencement address On the Punny Side My mom has forbidden me from making any more breakfast puns. She says if I do, l'm toast. My dad keeps egging me on, though. He's such a ham. | |
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