It's Day 38 of 45. In committee today: Speaker Schultz to present a bill on who drafts ballot questions, & a resolution on religious freedom | | | 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. | | |
| | Pass Senate Bill 142, The App Store Accountability Act, to Protect Kids Online! 78% of Utah parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval for children to download apps. Passing Senate Bill 142, the App Store Accountability Act, will put parents back in control. Tell your legislator today to VOTE YES on Senate Bill 142 to protect Utah kids online! | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Business and Labor Why Utah businesses lobbied against expanded immigration verification for employees (Deseret News) Jonathan Haidt: Utah families deserve choices for safer online experiences (Deseret News) Utah Senate panel rejects immigration bill, but GOP leaders insist theyâre still on board with Trumpâs mass deportations (Salt Lake Tribune) âDe facto deregulationâ: Barbers worry licensing reform will ruin profession â and harm clients (Salt Lake Tribune) Bill to keep public employee's harassment, discrimination accusations private to be pulled (KUTV) Education Opinion: âBack to the Future IIâ â restoring a classical core curriculum to higher education (Deseret News) Could Utah voters soon be able to overturn local school board decisions? This bill would make it possible. (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah is shaking up higher ed, even as a report says thereâs a solid return on it (KUER) Government Operations Tom Haraldsen: Utah Senate bill threatens public access to records (Deseret News) 'How easy do you want it to be for your neighbors to raise your taxes?' House Committee votes through SJR2 (Fox13) Health and Human Services Doulas would be eligible for Medicaid reimbursements under a bill heading for Utah House (KSL Newsradio) Housing Utah bill would add more housing options around transit lines (KSL Newsradio) Natural Resources Tiered water pricing, agriculture bills advance in Utah's legislature (Fox13) Revenue & Taxation Utah lawmakers vote to reroute education property tax dollars to the General Fund (KUER) Other Utah News Politics Sens. Mike Lee, John Curtis push to require age verification for pornography sites (Deseret News) Rep. Moore aims to help the mining industry, including Utah (Deseret News) Hereâs how Utahâs ICE detainment process works, and whatâs changed, immigration experts say (Salt Lake Tribune) Opinion: Trumpâs Gaza plan is reckless, inhumane and illegal (Deseret News) Utah Trayvon Martinâs mom speaks at Weber State on anniversary of his killing (Deseret News) 12-year-old Kearns Junior High student dies after being hit by a car (KSL) Flight from Salt Lake to Honolulu suffers engine failure, returns to Salt Lake (KSL TV) Crime/Courts Pleasant Grove Junior High teacher arrested for rape of a child (KSL) Education Utah students concerned with future prospects amid federal layoffs (Fox13) Environment Southern Utah's public lands face uncertain future as federal job cuts take hold (St. George News) Health Failing heart saves two more lives in medical first (Deseret News) Study shows mindfulness as effective treatment for patients prescribed buprenorphine (UPR) Measles is one of the worldâs most contagious viruses. Hereâs what to know and how to avoid it (AP) Housing EDCU research minute: Utah housing rentals became more affordable in 2024 (LinkedIn) | | |
National Headlines General Andrew Tate, charged with rape and trafficking in Romania, lands in the US (Reuters) Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time, warrant shows (AP) Political news Scare tactics or real threat? As Republicans hunt for spending cuts, Medicaid recipients worry (Deseret News) Ending USAID programs could undercut Trump's goal of slashing migration to the U.S., groups say (NBC News) USAID workers given 15 minutes to return to HQ to clear their desks, as Trump dismantles the agency (NPR) U.S. terminates funding for polio, H.I.V., malaria and nutrition programs around the world (New York Times) DOGE is now dramatically raising the potential for a government shutdown (Politico) DOGE work could 'cross extreme ethical and legal lines,' says former employee (NPR) Judge blocks Trump administrationâs mass firings of federal workers (Washington Post) Mexico transfers dozens of cartel operatives to U.S. custody (New York Times) Ukraine and Russia Trump on calling Zelensky a dictator: âDid I say that?â (The Hill) Israel and Gaza Israel's military lays out its Oct. 7 failures (New York Times) World News Services to millions of people collapse as USAID cuts contracts worldwide (Reuters) Exclusive: More than 1,000 Syrians died in airport prison under Assad, report says (Reuters) | | |
| | Guest opinion: Unfair tech monopolies by Rep. Trevor Lee Anyone who has stared at the spinning wheel of death while Microsoft Word crashes, or watched in horror as a crucial PowerPoint presentation freezes during a meeting, knows a frustrating truth: Microsoftâs software quality has deteriorated even as their market dominance has grown. This isnât coincidentalâitâs a direct consequence of monopolistic practices that shield the tech company from genuine competition... But the problem of bad software with spotty security demands action, even beyond the tools we use to make slides and write memos. The larger concern is that this software serves functions across governmentâfunctions much more sensitive than office bureaucracy. At installations like Hill Air Force Base, men and women work around the clock to keep us safe. Ensuring their tech tools work properly and remain secure isnât merely about convenience; it directly impacts national security.... A Department of Homeland Security investigation described Microsoftâs security as âshoddyâ and criticized the companyâs âlax corporate culture.â These failures donât happen despite Microsoftâs market dominanceâthey happen because of it. Without meaningful competition, Microsoft has little incentive to prioritize either quality or security.... Utah families and businesses deserve better than paying premium prices for substandard software. Our government agencies need the freedom to choose the best tools for their missions, not just the ones Microsoft allows them to afford. By restoring genuine competition to government technology procurement, we can improve quality, enhance security, and reduce costs for taxpayers. The connection remains clear: better competition means better software. (Read More) News Releases Utahâs higher education system: A catalyst for individual and societal success Utahâs investment in higher education pays significant dividends, according to a new policy brief from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report highlights the stateâs exceptionally well-trained workforce, robust economic performance, and strong social fabric, all directly linked to a long-standing educational commitment. This emphasis on higher education extends far beyond the economic impacts, contributing to social well-being, civic engagement, and innovation. (Read More) Utah businessman and philanthropist Amb. John Price honored for lifetime commitment to diplomacy In celebration of the second annual Utah Citizen Diplomacy Day, Utah Global Diplomacy proudly announces the recipients of the 2025 Utah Citizen Diplomacy Awards. These awards honor individuals for their outstanding dedication to fostering international relations and strengthening connections between Utahns and leaders across the globe. The 2025 honorees include Representative James Dunnigan, Mr. Leonard Bagalwa, Ruby Vejar, and Ambassador John Price. Each recipient was nominated by community members and selected from a distinguished pool of leaders dedicated to diplomacy and international engagement. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Mar 7 â Utah legislative session ends 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 1850 - The University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City. 1859 - The Arkansas legislature requires free Blacks to choose between exile and enslavement. 1909 - First National Womenâs Day is observed in the United States. 1953 - James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin discover the double-helix structure of DNA. Watson and Crick get the credit and win a Nobel prize. 1983 - The final episode of M*A*S*H airs, concluding an 11 season run. A whopping 77% of the television-viewing audience tuned in. I know I did. Did you? 1987 - Gorbachev calls for nuclear weapons treaty. 1993 - ATF raids the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. 2009 - Paul Harvey dies at age 90. And thatâs the rest of the story. 2012 - Discovery of the largest prehistoric penguin, Kairuku grebneffi, at nearly 5ft tall. Quote of the Day "War isn't Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse." âHawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H On the Punny Side What kind of classes do spiders attend? Webinars. | | |
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