Editors Note: This article was originally published in the Jan. 31, 2024 issue of the Chronicle Progress. Some information may be outdated.
Sen. Evan Vickers
Utah Legislature
With legislative session in full swing, one of the highlights of this week was getting to recognize the Utah Association of Counties (UAC).
When considering legislation, the UAC helps advocate for county governments, who consistently address and meet the needs and requests of the public. Their voice is essential to the legislative process.
I was honored to sponsor a resolution in the Senate to mark the 100th anniversary of the UAC. I was joined on the floor by county officials, include Commissioners Paul Cozzens and Mike Bleak from Iron County, and Iron County Treasurer Nicole Rosenberg; Commissioners Adam Snow, Gil Almquist, and Victor Iverson from Washington County; and Commissioners Wade Hollingshead, Tammy Pearson, and Brandon Yardley from Beaver County. I am grateful for the service of our local leaders.
The Senate acknowledged the benefits of a potential Major League Baseball team in Utah by passing a resolution (S.C.R. 3). Having an MLB team in Utah will bring significant economic benefits to the whole state. Utah is an ideal location to host an MLB team because of our advantageous geographic position, our proven track record in hosting successful sporting events, our community-centered values, and our robust economy. I will keep you updated on the status of this project.
The Senate considered several other important pieces of legislation this week. Last year, we passed legislation to increase teacher compensation by $6,000. A small subset of teachers was unintentionally excluded from this pay increase, due to the definitions used in last year’s bill. This year, I am sponsoring a bill to expand the teacher salary increase to include that subset. I presented the bill in committee this week, and I expect it will be heard on the Senate floor early next week. I am grateful for the hard work of our educators, who do so much to help our children prepare for their futures.
To address concerns regarding privacy and safety in bathrooms and locker rooms, the Senate passed H.B. 257, which provides privacy and peace of mind by ensuring people in government facilities use multiple-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms or showers that correspond with their sex. It also strengthens criminal charges for those who commit offensive behavior in a bathroom. The bill will now be reconsidered by the House.
We also passed H.B. 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives, which removes barriers to ensure all students are given the same opportunities to succeed. Receiving a high-quality education is important and we want to support all students who have a higher likelihood of not completing college. It puts common-sense policies in place for government agencies and universities by not requiring job applicants to pass an ideological litmus test or demanding that students or faculty in Utah’s universities adhere to a particular ideology to graduate or be hired.
Next week, a significant focus of our work surrounds the state budget. The Legislature has a constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget before the close of the general legislative session. This responsibility is one that we take seriously. We spent the first few weeks of the session meeting in appropriations subcommittees to allocate money in areas such as public education, social services, transportation, and more. Appropriations subcommittees prepare base budgets for their assigned subject area during the first couple of weeks of the session. By passing subcommittee base budgets, the state can continue functioning at a basic level, preventing the state government from shutting down. Then, typically during the final week of the session, we pass what is known as the “Bill of Bills,” which is the comprehensive budget bill that includes additional appropriations not included in the base budgets.
As we examine budget requests in appropriation committees and in the “Bill of Bills,” I will continue to work very hard to represent the needs of our area of the state, ensuring we receive the necessary funding for our growing population and infrastructure needs. The Legislature will also consider cutting taxes for the fourth year in a row. Your hard-earned money belongs in your pocket.
Thank you for staying involved and informed about the legislative process.
