Editors Note: This article was originally published in the Feb. 21, 2024 issue of the Chronicle Progress. Some information may be outdated.
One of the many groups I had the opportunity of meeting with this past week included the Utah PTA (Parent Teacher Association).
I am grateful for the work and advocacy they do on behalf for the very best education of every child in our state.
We’ve just completed the fifth week of the legislative session, and as bills move through the process, we’re spending more time on the Senate floor with debate and voting. Be sure to follow the discussion and votes at le.utah.gov. If you’re able to come to the Capitol in person, please let me know and I would love to meet with you and hear your perspective on legislation.
Here are a few significant bills we examined this past week.
The first bill addresses the problems of nicotine possession in Utah. S.B. 61 Electronic Cigarettes Amendments proposes to ban flavored electronic cigarette products. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the sale of e-cigarette products the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not authorized for market use. An estimated 75% of youth who have tried tobacco first tried vaping products, and 90% of all kids start with flavored tobacco products.
Another bill to highlight is about artificial intelligence (AI). The expansive impact of AI in the coming years will change every factor of our lives. As such, Utah is looking for ways to prepare our state for the changes coming from this innovative technology. Utah’s legacy of taking a free market approach to innovation, allowing technology and business to thrive in our state, continues with S.B. 149 Artificial Intelligence Amendments, which will create an AI laboratory in Utah, where businesses enter mitigation agreements to practice using and developing best practices for AI.
Another highlight from the week was talking with small business owners who joined us on the Hill for a day. Small businesses are the backbone of America, and as a legislator, I seek to remove as many restrictions as possible to enable businesses to thrive in our state.
Utah’s economy has done very well, partially because we are very business-friendly. When my wife Chris and I opened our first business, we benefited from good business policies, and appreciate those in the community who both start and support small businesses.
With only two weeks left of the 2024 General Session, we will have many early mornings and late nights discussing legislative policies. As we examine policy on everything from water to education, I will keep the needs of Senate District 28 at the forefront of my work. As your senator, I take my responsibility to advocate for your needs very seriously, and will continue that advocacy throughout the session.
Thank you for your support. I welcome your feedback.
