It's Day 43 of 45 and it's all floor time from now until Friday at midnight | | | 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. 5, 2025 It's Wednesday and Ash Wednesday. Happy belated birthday to Auditor Tina Cannon! ð ð ð There are 958 bills now available Three things today: President Trump says he is "just getting started" and declares "America is back" in historically long address to Congress. He promised "swift and unrelenting action" to return to the "golden age of America," while acknowledging there could be "a little disturbance, but we're OK with that." 242 bills have passed through both bodies of the Utah legislature in the first 41 days of the session. In the next three days, around the same number will pass and make their way to the governor's desk. Follow along at le.utah.gov The BYU men's basketball team (ranked #23) defeated #10 Iowa in double overtime. Wow. On the Hill Today - Day 42 of 45 9:00 am - 11:50 am: Senate Floor Time 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: House Floor Time 2:00 pm - as needed: 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 Criminal Justice Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault among programs to get state funding slashed (KUTV) Budget proposal leaves out key funding for domestic violence program thatâs running out of money (St. George News) Economic Development Kids learn about key women in Utahâs history, and lawmakers join in the fun (Deseret News) Lawmaker abandons bill prohibiting companies from buying homes in Utah (KSL) Gov. Cox signs Utah Inland Port Authority bill, making it law (KSL Newsradio) A powerful, new development agency was a top priority for Gov. Cox. Did the Utah Senate just kill the bill? (Salt Lake Tribune) Education Thereâs a push to overhaul college general ed classes, starting with Utah State (KUER) Utahâs school voucher overhaul: Homeschoolers could get less money next year, and more changes (Salt Lake Tribune) Energy Building data centers to support AI and how it could impact your electricity bill (Deseret News) Government Operations Will Utah become one of 9 states with primary runoff elections? (Deseret News) Health and Human Services Bid to repeal Utahâs flavored vape ban fails in House vote (KUER) Immigration New poll: Utahns believe illegal immigration threatens safety, economy. Are lawmakers responding? (Deseret News) Transportation Utah House and Senate divided over churches paying transportation fees (KSL TV) Other Utah News Politics Sen. John Curtis joins proposal to encourage businesses to make child care more affordable (Deseret News) 'Rage in my heart': Hundreds rally in support of Ukraine, federal workers at state Capitol (KSL) 'I'm excited': Salt Lake City has a new police chief in town (KSL) Trump administration says these three federal buildings are âdesignated for disposalâ in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah West Valley City US citizenship program at risk due to federal funding freeze (KSL) Utah Avalanche Center launches new mobile app focused on backcountry safety (KSL) Biz/Tech World Trade Center Utah says tariffs impact will ripple throughout our state (KSL TV) Crime/Courts Former church leader accused of sexually abusing teen girl in his congregation (KSL) Education No. 23 BYU beats No. 10 Iowa State 88-85 in intense double overtime thriller (AP) Utah Athletics receives anonymous $14 million donation for use with womenâs sports programs (Deseret News) Report: Want to pocket more cash â and stay healthy and happy? Earn a college degree (Deseret News) Environment State Department halts global monitoring of air pollution (Washington Post) Family âMarry or be firedâ and other global efforts to boost fertility (Deseret News) Health 𤬠Swearing is linked with increased pain tolerance and strength (Washington Post) | | |
National Headlines General World's largest iceberg runs aground (Deseret News) Opinion: Religious Americans should be concerned about immigration raids in places of worship (Deseret News) Scientists genetically engineer mice with thick hair like the extinct woolly mammoth (AP) Consumers are already tired of inflation. Tariffs are sending prices higher. (Washington Post) Political news Trump receives praise from Republicans, disdain from Democrats after longest joint congressional address in history (Deseret News) Al Green kicked out of Trumpâs speech as Democrats bring signs, heckle (Washington Post) Trump says he is 'just getting started,' as he faces vocal protests from Democrats (NPR) Greenlandâs leader says the island âis oursâ as Trump vows to acquire the territory (AP) Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin says more unites Americans than divides after Trump's speech (NPR) US House speaker urges lawmakers to avoid town hall meetings (Reuters) Trumpâs trade war draws swift retaliation with new tariffs from Mexico, Canada and China (AP) Veterans are speaking out on the Trump administrationâs plans to cut the VAâs budget (AP) US Supreme Court denies Trump administration request to cancel $2 billion in foreign aid (The Hill) Ukraine and Russia JD Vance sparks British fury as he mocks Ukraine peacekeeping plan (Politico) U.S. pauses sharing intelligence Ukraine uses for strikes on Russia (Washington Post) Zelenskyy: âMy team and I stand ready to work under President Trumpâs strong leadershipâ (Deseret News) Israel, Gaza, Syria Arab states adopt Egyptian alternative to Trump's 'Gaza Riviera' (Reuters) Israelâs cutoff of supplies to Gaza sends prices soaring as aid stockpiles dwindle (AP) World news Smoke grenades tossed in Serbian parliament, lawmaker suffers stroke (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases New data summary on federal debt and deficit âStates and the federal government both employ sovereign fiscal powers to tax, spend, and borrow, although their fiscal approaches differ starkly,â said Phil Dean, chief economist at the Gardner Institute. âTypical federal budget practices include regular annual deficit spending and debt as a primary contingency management tool. Understanding these debt and deficit policies can help state decision-makers better prepare for future policy changes or cost-cutting measures in Washington, D.C.â (Read More) Utah Foundation: College governance more important now than ever Each state has a unique college governing structure. Utahâs is perhaps one of the most unique. The Utah Foundationâs newest report, A Primer on Utahâs Post-Secondary Education Governance System, may be used as a guide to better understand post-secondary education governance. (Read More) Owens statement on McMahon confirmation âCongratulations to President Trumpâs Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, on her Senate confirmation,â said Rep. Owens. âThe days of unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. driving down standards, sidelining parents, and putting special interests ahead of our kids are over. I look forward to working with Secretary McMahon to put parents and students back in the driverâs seat, restore merit, and ensure every childâno matter their zip codeâhas access to a world-class education.â Curtis responds to Pres. Trumpâs address to Congress In a video message, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) shared his thoughts on President Trumpâs address to a joint session of Congress this evening. (Read/Watch More) Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at UVU announces its annual autism conference Utah Valley University (UVU) will host its annual Autism Conference on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Orem Campus providing autistic individuals, educators, families, and professionals access to evidence-based strategies and tools that support individuals with autism in personal and professional settings. (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 1770 - The Boston Massacre occurred when British troops fired on protestors at the Customs House. Five colonists died: Crispus Attucks, a Black man, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick and James Caldwell. 1836 - Samuel Colt manufactures first pistol, 34-caliber "Texas" model. 1846 - Emma McVicker is born. She was an advocate for early childhood education and was the first woman appointed to statewide office in Utah when she became the superintendent of schools in 1900. 1868 - The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson begins, the first in US history. 1931 - Geraldyn Cobb is born. An aviation pioneer, she became the first woman to pass qualifying exams for astronaut training in 1959. However, she was denied entrance into the program because she lacked military jet experience. 1933 - Germany's Nazi Party wins majority in parliament - 43.9%. 1946 - Winston Churchill delivers his famous Iron Curtain speech in Fulton, Missouri. 1953 - Joseph Stalin dies. He is remembered as the man who helped save his nation from Nazi domination and the mass murderer who oversaw the death of between 8 million and 20 million Russians. 1995 - Graves of Tsar Nicholas II and family found in St Petersburg. Quote of the Day "It is a solemn moment for the American Democracy. For with primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future."
â Winston Churchill, "The Sinews of Peace" ('Iron Curtain' Speech) On the Punny Side Where should we keep the charred remains of a dead satellite? In Saturn. | | |
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