Dear Friend,

Today was the third day of the 2025 General Session of the Utah State Legislature.

There’s only 42 days left!

Best,

Chase

LABOR UNIONS: A union-busting bill aimed primarily at public educators was advanced by a House committee today. 

HB 267 Public Sector Labor Union Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, would prohibit public employers, such as school districts, fire and police departments, and libraries, from entering into collective bargaining contracts with public employee labor unions. Labor professionals and members of the public came out to testify in force against the proposed bill, filling not only the committee room but also three overflow rooms, though public comment was limited to under an hour and split equally between those in support and those opposed in the name of “fairness.” 

The bill passed the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee by a 11-4 vote, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. See the action alert below to voice your opposition to this harmful bill. 

More from The Salt Lake Tribune.

YET ANOTHER YEAR OF TRANSGENDER BILLS: Republican lawmakers continued their ongoing marginalization of the transgender community by moving forward a bill focused on higher education dormitory assignments. 

HB 269 Privacy Protections in Sex-Designated Areas, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, would prohibit transgender students from living in sex-designated housing that’s aligned with their gender identity unless they have both legally amended their birth certificate and undergone primary sex characteristic surgery. While everyone can agree that all Utahns deserve the right to privacy, this bill and the ongoing attacks against transgender Utahns unfairly assumes that they’re trying to violate someone else’s privacy, which isn’t the case. Transgender Utahns also should enjoy their right to privacy, along with their rights to pursue an education, have a safe place to live, and to live a happy and fulfilling life in this state.  

This bill also passed the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee by a vote of 13-2. It also heads to the House Floor for further debate and I’d ask you to consider contacting your lawmakers on this piece of legislation as well.

FIREARM EDUCATION: A bill that would require firearm safety instruction in public schools met a bit of a road bump in the Legislature today, though it could come back after some reworking. HB 104 Firearm Safety in Schools Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Rex Shipp, would require the State Board of Education to establish standards for firearm safety instruction every year in K-6 schools, once in middle school, and once in high school.

The bill was held by the House Education Committee by a vote of 11-2, giving the sponsor more time to work on its implementation. 

STATE OF THE STATE: Governor Spencer Cox gave his annual State of the State address before a combined session of the House and Senate tonight, focusing his remarks on the need to continue building here in Utah. Lamenting on the state of national affairs and the lack of building things and people across the country, the Governor said Utah is not done dreaming, not done doing big things, and not done building. He focused specifically on the need to build attainable housing, build more abundant energy, build infrastructure, build safe communities, and build family strength.

You can find Governor Cox’s full remarks here. More from The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13.

MINORITY RESPONSE: Sen. Luz Escamilla and Rep. Angela Romero gave the Democratic response to the Governor’s address, exhorting Utahns to engage in the challenging legislative session that’s ahead of us. They rehearsed a litany of Democratic priorities in their pre-recorded response, from promoting the rule of law, investing in renewable energy, addressing the cost of living and housing crises, investing in child care and schools, and differentiating between public safety and immigration. 

OTHER NEWS:

• Here’s the loophole allowing Utah lawmakers to become lobbyists without ‘cooling off’ (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• Lawmakers are about to vote on how you can vote. Here’s what to expect. (Deseret News)
• Lawmakers debate the value of liberal studies amid possible cuts to higher ed (Deseret News)
• It’s been 10 years. These lawmakers are ready for another primary election overhaul (Deseret News)
• Utah lawmakers ready to make another run at ‘spaceport’ idea 50 years later (Deseret News)
• Utah could kick daylight saving time to the curb. But what time is the best time? (KUER)

HB 267 Public Sector Labor Union Amendments would limit the ability of public employee unions to advocate for their members and professions. Aimed primarily at the Utah Education Association, the bill prohibits collective bargaining by all public employee unions, including public school teachers, public library employees, and other types of public employee unions. This bill would harm our public employees, our state and local governments, and all Utahns.

Use this tool from the Utah Education Association to email your House Representative directly. 

Economic and Community Development Appropriations Subcommittee

Room 120 Senate Building | Agenda

• Inland Port Authority
• Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
• Point of the Mountain Land Authority
• State Fair Park Authority
• Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Redevelopment District
• Utah Sports Commission
• LFA Selected Reports

General Government Appropriations Subcommittee

Room 30 House Building | Agenda

• Utah Insurance Department
• Request for Proposal: Proposal to Amend Constitution - Statewide Initiatives (Sen. Fillmore)
• Utah State Tax Commission
• Property Tax Review
• Public Service Commission
• Department of Government Operations

Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Room 110 Senate Building | Agenda

• Line-Item Reviews:
  • School and Institutional Trust Fund Office
  • Minimum School Program—Property Tax Equalization
  • Minimum School Program—Related to Basic
  • MSP Categorical Program Administration

Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee

Room 210 Senate Building | Agenda

• Utah Education and Telehealth Network
• Department of Transportation
• Request for Appropriation: 6200 South Sidewalk and Wall Project (Rep. Matthews)

House Floor Time

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House Judiciary Committee

Room 110 Senate Building | Agenda

• HB252 Transgender State Custody Amendments (Rep. Lisonbee)
• HB33 Child Welfare Reporting Amendments (Rep. Watkins)
• HB17 Limitations on the Use of Polygraphs (Rep. Romero)
• HB24 Limitations on Liability Amendments (Rep. Abbott)
• HB154 Punitive Damages Amendments (Rep. Stoddard)

House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee

Room 30 House Building | Agenda

• HB82 Law Enforcement Modifications (Rep. Gwynn)
• HB105 Criminal Code Modifications (Rep. Gwynn)
• HB197 Criminal Conduct Amendments (Rep. Defay)
• HB167 Re-Entry Modifications (Rep. Clancy)
• HB127 Sexual Crime Amendments (Rep. Strong)
• HB66 Ritual Abuse Amendments (Rep. Ivory)
• HB133 Dangerous Weapons Amendments (Rep. Lisonbee)

House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee

Room 120 Senate Building | Agenda

• HB45 Irrigation Amendments (Rep. Shipp)
• HB46 Water Rights Applications Amendments (Rep. Owens)
• HB47 Public Lands Watering Rights Amendments (Rep. Albrecht)
• HB41 State Water Policy Amendments (Rep. Albrecht)
• HB54 Hemp Amendments (Rep. Dailey-Provost)
• HB85 Environmental Permitting Modifications (Rep. Clancy)
• HB89 Water Transfer Amendments (Rep. Bennion)

House Transportation Committee

Room 445 Capitol Building | Agenda

• HB53 Unsecured Load Amendments (Rep. Ivory)
• HB80 Disorderly Conduct Amendments (Rep. Brooks)
• HB112 Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Modifications (Rep. Lisonbee)
• HB161 School Bus Route Amendments (Rep. Matthews)
• HB164 Vehicle Accident Liability Amendments (Rep. Stoddard)
• HB196 Vehicle Traction Amendments (Rep. Bennion)

Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee

Room 215 Senate Building | Agenda

• SB31 Refugee Services Amendments (Sen. Winterton)
• SB101 Dog Related Liability Amendments (Sen. Kwan)
• SB114 Veteran Access to State Parks (Sen. Kwan)
• SB117 Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act (Sen. McKell)
• SB147 Youth Service Organizations Amendments (Sen. Grover)
• HB11 Native American Remains Review Committee Amendments (Rep. C. Moss)

Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee

Room 220 Senate Building | Agenda

• SB11 Ballot Distribution Revisions (Sen. Thatcher)
• SB54 Appearance of Candidate Name on Ballot (Sen. Pitcher)
• SB124 Landscaping Procurement Amendments (Sen. Pitcher)
• SB56 Municipal Governance Modifications (Sen. Grover)
• SB79 Technical Code Amendments (Sen. Kwan)
• SB95 Truth in Taxation Amendments (Sen. Balderee)
• SB97 Emergency Shelter Amendments (Sen. Plumb)
• SB145 Technical Senate District Boundary Adjustment (Sen. Sandall)
• SB50 Limited Purpose Local Government Entities Board of Trustees Compensation Amendments (Sen. Musselman)