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We have made it through Week Two of the Utah Legislative Session and our Republican legislators are doing the good work that they promised to do when they campaigned for office last year. The highlight of the week for me has to be the return of Utah National Guard Troops that went to Washington, DC to help with the inauguration. We are so thankful for their willingness to serve and happy to have them back.

Have you wondered how you can participate in the legislative session during this pandemic? All meetings are open to the public through le.utah.gov. You can watch and even participate through the various Zoom links listed on the agenda. Senator Jake Anderegg put together a tutorial on how to do just that. You can watch the video here.

The first bill is H.B. 127, sponsored by Representative Mike Winder. This bill would require Ranked Choice Voting in Primary Elections when there are more than 2 candidates for that party’s nomination for a statewide or county election. This would not apply to the General Election - only the Primary. Because candidates can get on the Republican Primary Ballot through signatures or convention, we are starting to see situations where the primary winner does not have a majority of support.

The second Bill is H.B. 197, Voter Affiliation Amendments sponsored by Representative Jordan Teuscher. This bill would prohibit anyone from changing their party affiliation in an election year from January 1 until after the Primary has ended. 

Thank you for your feedback and your participation. This is YOUR Republican Party and I am honored to serve you.

A word from Senate President Adams: "A balanced budget is a top priority and constitutionally required by the Legislature. On Thursday, we passed base budgets, which prevents the state government from shutting down. Traditionally, the base budget reflects last year's ongoing appropriations as a starting point. This year, we included over half a billion dollars in new state spending for high priority items such as Medicaid and COVID-19 response. Additionally, we're one of the few states in the nation able to increase education funding and provide bonuses for school teachers and staff, an unprecedented move, which was only possible because the state took a holistic approach to manage the pandemic."

H.B. 86, Social Security Tax Amendments passed out of Committee and will ease the tax burden for Social Security recipients.

H.B. 217, Which will create the Office Of Regulatory Relief will be in Committee on Friday. Once established, this office will exist to examine and reduce the regulatory burden on Utahns.

H.B. 60, which allows for anyone over 21 and legally able to own firearms

Utah State Auditor’s office has updated the Transparent Utah website. Transparency and accountability have been hallmarks of Auditor John Dougall’s public service. Check it out: https://transparent.utah.gov.

We are excited to announce Congressman Blake Moore has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Of his appointment to HASC, Representative Moore has said, “I made a promise to get appointed to this important committee as a freshman member, and I am thrilled to be able to deliver on this commitment for my constituents. The First District’s representation on the Committee is key to ensuring that the tens of thousands of constituents who work at Hill Air Force Base and its several assets have the necessary resources to make vital contributions to our national defense. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support those in the First District who wake up every day to serve our nation and advocate for our national security interests at large, prioritizing pressing issues such as readiness, funding allocations, and modernization efforts.”

Congressman Burgess Owens has been selected to be on the House Education and Labor Committee as well as the House Judiciary Committee. Of his appointments, Representative Owens said, "It's an honor to be selected for these committees, and I look forward to getting to work. From early learning to higher education, every student deserves access to a high-quality education - regardless of race, income, or zip code. I will work alongside my colleagues to deliver that and further strengthen health care, job training, and retirement security. On the House Judiciary Committee, I will work hard to combat human trafficking, address the dangers of censorship, and protect the civil liberties of all Americans."