Utah Democrats Encourage Latino Participation
On Wednesday, Utah's four elected Latino legislators met with the public at the Utah State Capitol to outline and discuss pieces of legislation they are introducing and supporting during this...
View ArticleUtah Lawmakers Give Early Approval To Arestee DNA Sampling Proposal
A House committee unanimously approved a measure this week which would allow police to take DNA samples from people they arrest on suspicion of felony. Rep. Steve Eliason (R-Sandy), the major proponent...
View ArticleLegislator Wants To Double Amount Of Carbon Dioxide In Atmosphere
A Utah legislator is pushing to define things like carbon dioxide and nitrogen as natural components of the atmosphere, not as pollutants. The bill, HB 229 , was proposed on Tuesday to the House...
View ArticleHerbert Unveils Health Plan, Seeks Grant From Federal Government
Gov. Gary Herbert announced today a plan to fill the gap in Utah’s health care system without expanding Medicaid. “ Healthy Utah ” is the name of Herbert’s new plan to cover those living in poverty in...
View ArticleCaucus Bill Passes Committee After Compromise
State legislators have compromised with the Count My Vote initiative as it passed in the House Government Operations committee on Monday. A bill - SB54 - was amended to be inclusive to the Count My...
View ArticleThree Plans For Utah Medicaid Expansion Emerge
As state legislators try to decide what to do about the 60,000 Utahns who fall into the Medicaid gap, there remain plenty of unanswered questions regarding health care reform. There are currently three...
View ArticleUtah Legislature Looks To Extend Annual Session
With the Utah Legislative session now less than two months away, Utah lawmakers are being asked to consider adding a couple of weeks to the annual 45-day session. Because lawmakers don't meet on...
View ArticleProtestors Rally At State Capitol Against Firing Squad Bill
A proposal to reintroduce firing squads for Utah executions is stirring fresh debate on the death penalty. Lethal injection is currently the only permissible option for state executions, but there is...
View ArticleAir Quality Still To Be A Big Topic In 2015 Legislative Session, Lawmaker Says
Utah's air quality challenges are among the issues state lawmakers will consider during this year's legislative session. Rep. Patrice Arent is the co-chair and founder of the bipartisan Clean Air...
View ArticleCosts Of Oil: Less Oil Revenue Causes State Funding Hole
Oil revenues form a big part of the Utah government’s budget. The state receives funding from not only the state’s gas tax, but also from public trust lands. These funds pay for a variety of things...
View Article"Right To Try" Moves Past House
A “right to try” bill that would allow terminally ill patients to use experimental medication has taken another step forward in the Utah State Legislature. House bill 94 met the approval of the Senate...
View ArticleUtah Retirement Savings Plan Discussed
The Utah director of a national program for retired adults is working with lawmakers to study a state-sponsored program that will help residents save for their retirement. Alan Ormsby is Utah director...
View ArticleUtah Senate Committee Favors Anti-Discrimination Bill
A Utah proposal protecting gay and transgender individuals received unanimous approval from a Republican-controlled Senate committee Thursday morning. The bill, which has earned a rare stamp of...
View ArticleUtah Legislature Votes To Revive Firing Squad
Utah’s Republican-controlled state legislature voted Tuesday to bring back executions by firing squad. It is being called the most dramatic illustration yet of the nationwide frustration over botched...
View ArticleLegislators Push For Tougher Punishments For Cockfighting
A bill that would enact tougher punishments for cockfighting is on the verge of passing in the Utah Legislature. Currently in Utah, cockfighting-associated offenses are considered misdemeanors under...
View ArticlePrison Relocation Decision Expected Soon
With a decision on the Utah State Prison relocation looming, community opposition at all five sites under consideration is ramping up. However, State Legislators appear adamant that there is no turning...
View ArticleUtah Lawmakers Push To Take Federal Lands
Utah lawmakers are inching closer to a possible lawsuit in the state's push to seize control of federal lands. The Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands has voted to put two million dollars...
View ArticleLosing Solar Panel Tax Credit Could Hurt Utah Homeowners
Some Utah lawmakers want to phase out a $2,000 tax credit that homeowners can receive for installing rooftop solar panels. The credit costs the state budget under $1 million annually. By the end of...
View Article'Keeping The Brightest,' How Utah’s Leaders, Specialists Are Attempting To...
Facing a shortage of qualified teachers, Cache Valley lawmakers and state education specialists held a town hall in Logan on Wednesday about teacher retention.
View ArticleMedicaid, Education, Air Quality: Opening Day Of The 2019 Utah Legislature
New Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson says that if lawmakers don't fix the state's tax structure, the state general fund could run short within a few years, leaving it unable to fund roads, public safety...
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