Just two days after it was passed by the Utah House, the union-busting bill to take away public employees' collective bargaining rights is set for a Senate committee hearing tomorrow afternoon.
HB267 is on the agenda for Wednesday afternoon in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Lawmakers deny it, but the bill is widely seen as retaliation against the Utah Education Association for opposing Amendment A and their lawsuit over the state's private school voucher program.
If, as expected, the committee approves the bill, it could head to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk as early as Friday.
Bye bye Mormon Cricket!
Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, has introduced HB348, to require state colleges and universities and employees to refer to the insect by its scientific name, "Anabrus simplex."
Owens' bill also directs the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food to petition the Entomological Society of America to request a new common name for the large katydid because it's offensive to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What happened today?
The House passed HB269, which restricts access to public housing at state colleges and universities for transgender students who live on campus.
- Read: Utah House approves bill limiting transgender access to college dorm rooms. [KSL]
The Senate gave final approval to SB62, which establishes a committee to study the feasibility of building a spaceport in Utah.
The House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee approved HB230, which allows investing some state funds in cryptocurrency.
Afternoon headlines
"It's a shock": Utah leaders brace for Trump's federal funds freeze, but don't yet know full impact. [Utah News Dispatch]
"So tired of being scared": Utah's only openly LBGTQ lawmaker tearfully argues against transgender dorm bill. [Tribune]
Now that Utah has the 2034 Winter Games, here's what lawmakers want to do. [Deseret News]
Governor Cox signs agreement to bring electric aircraft to Utah. [Fox 13]
What's on Wednesday's agenda?
- The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee will consider SJR2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require any citizen-led ballot initiative that raises taxes to receive 60% at the ballot box instead of a simple majority.
- The House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment committee takes up HB81, which aims to remove fluoride from Utah's drinking water.
- SB127, which extends the pilot program that allows cities and towns to opt in to using ranked choice voting for municipal elections by 10 years, is up for debate in the Senate government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee.
New bills that caught my attention
- HB351 from Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, makes Election Day a state holiday.
- SB189, sponsored by Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, aims to increase child care by retrofitting state-owned buildings to include childcare facilities.
- Sen. Keith Grover, R-Provo, lays out the process for school districts to split in SB188.
- SB183 establishes an optional financial literacy program for inmates.
- SB180 directs law enforcement agencies to develop a policy for the use of generative AI.