Robert Celt
New Member
Debate: Medical marijuana bills
After 90 minutes of debate and discussion, SB73 (sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs) made it past the second reading and will get a final Senate hearing. Madsen made seven amendments to the bill to resolve concerns, prompting a new statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it was an improvement, but concerns were still there.
The final outcome of SB73 is still very much in the balance, while SB89 (sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City), which limits medical marijuana use to the non-psychoactive cannabis extract called cannabinoid or hemp oil, has had much more support, with a vote of 26-3.
Friday Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, weighed in to the conversation, saying he wasn't familiar with the Utah legislature bills, but started working on a proposal to remove federal prohibitions on medical use of hemp oil six months ago.
Budget breakdown: State revenue growth estimates down $10 million
When lawmakers got the budget numbers Monday, they found out that they had $10 million less than expected.
House members were warned of the possible drop earlier in the session, but will still be working with a larger budget than last year.
"It's not necessarily great, but it could have been worse," House Budget Chairman Dean Sanpei, R-Provo said in the Deseret News article, adding that lawmakers will have $550 million more available than last year.
Press conference: State senator defends hate crimes bill, but others say balance needed
Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, lashed out against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for expressing concern about Urquhart's SB107, which would more clearly define hate crimes.
The bill specifically mentions crimes against people or property based on ancestry, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation, but the LDS Church and other legislators have mentioned worries that it would upset the balance of last year's compromise legislation.
"Any claim that my bill needs to go away because of a lack of balance, that's a false flag," Urquhart said at a Capitol news conference, according to the Deseret News. "That mischaracterization must be corrected."
Floor time: Rep. Love tells Legislature she looks to Utah to guide work in Congress
In her annual address to the Utah legislature, Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, talked about how the Utah Constitution is her guide in Congress.
It's time to bring Utah to Washington and bring the common, simple way of just putting legislation on the table so the American people can make a choice or decision where they stand on these bills," she said according to the Deseret News article.
Awaiting the governor's signature:
HB84 (sponsored by Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork) which would allow 12-year-olds to apply for specialty hunting permits passed the Legislature.
HB21 (sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy) which would require clerks to update votes counts between Election Day and the official canvass in an attempt to cut down the waiting time for results passed the Legislature.
In committee:
SB94 (sponsored by Sen. Dan Thatcher, R-West Valley City) which would develop minimum standards for the use of police body cameras passed committee.
HB223 (sponsored by Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville) which would tighten the requirements for citizen-driven historic districts advanced through committee.
SB169 (sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross) which would give the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund board flexibility to award grants for homeless and low-income housing initiatives passed to the Senate floor.
HB281 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab) which would revive Utah's ban on plural marriage but would reduce the offense from a felony to a class A misdemeanor passed the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
HB276 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab) which would establish a new state division to manage federal lands transferred to Utah passed committee.
Two education bills – HB42 (sponsored by Rep. Lowry Snow, R- Santa Clara) which would offer extended-day kindergarten to more schools and SB163 (sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper) which would extend the kindergarten start deadline to Dec. 31 – passed the Senate Education Committee.
HB332 (sponsored by Rep. Edward Redd, R-Logan) which would offer a $20 discount on marriage licenses to couples who complete counseling passed committee and will be heard by the full House.
HB87 (sponsored by Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton) which would allow motorists to apply for a grant so vehicle owners can convert their cars to burn natural gas passed committee and will be heard by the full Senate.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Utah PolitiLinks: Medical Marijuana Bills Take Center Stage; Budget Numbers Released
Author: Ginny Romney
Photo Credit: UrosPoteko
Website: Deseret News
After 90 minutes of debate and discussion, SB73 (sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs) made it past the second reading and will get a final Senate hearing. Madsen made seven amendments to the bill to resolve concerns, prompting a new statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it was an improvement, but concerns were still there.
The final outcome of SB73 is still very much in the balance, while SB89 (sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City), which limits medical marijuana use to the non-psychoactive cannabis extract called cannabinoid or hemp oil, has had much more support, with a vote of 26-3.
Friday Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, weighed in to the conversation, saying he wasn't familiar with the Utah legislature bills, but started working on a proposal to remove federal prohibitions on medical use of hemp oil six months ago.
Budget breakdown: State revenue growth estimates down $10 million
When lawmakers got the budget numbers Monday, they found out that they had $10 million less than expected.
House members were warned of the possible drop earlier in the session, but will still be working with a larger budget than last year.
"It's not necessarily great, but it could have been worse," House Budget Chairman Dean Sanpei, R-Provo said in the Deseret News article, adding that lawmakers will have $550 million more available than last year.
Press conference: State senator defends hate crimes bill, but others say balance needed
Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, lashed out against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for expressing concern about Urquhart's SB107, which would more clearly define hate crimes.
The bill specifically mentions crimes against people or property based on ancestry, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation, but the LDS Church and other legislators have mentioned worries that it would upset the balance of last year's compromise legislation.
"Any claim that my bill needs to go away because of a lack of balance, that's a false flag," Urquhart said at a Capitol news conference, according to the Deseret News. "That mischaracterization must be corrected."
Floor time: Rep. Love tells Legislature she looks to Utah to guide work in Congress
In her annual address to the Utah legislature, Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, talked about how the Utah Constitution is her guide in Congress.
It's time to bring Utah to Washington and bring the common, simple way of just putting legislation on the table so the American people can make a choice or decision where they stand on these bills," she said according to the Deseret News article.
Awaiting the governor's signature:
HB84 (sponsored by Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork) which would allow 12-year-olds to apply for specialty hunting permits passed the Legislature.
HB21 (sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy) which would require clerks to update votes counts between Election Day and the official canvass in an attempt to cut down the waiting time for results passed the Legislature.
In committee:
SB94 (sponsored by Sen. Dan Thatcher, R-West Valley City) which would develop minimum standards for the use of police body cameras passed committee.
HB223 (sponsored by Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville) which would tighten the requirements for citizen-driven historic districts advanced through committee.
SB169 (sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross) which would give the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund board flexibility to award grants for homeless and low-income housing initiatives passed to the Senate floor.
HB281 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab) which would revive Utah's ban on plural marriage but would reduce the offense from a felony to a class A misdemeanor passed the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
HB276 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab) which would establish a new state division to manage federal lands transferred to Utah passed committee.
Two education bills – HB42 (sponsored by Rep. Lowry Snow, R- Santa Clara) which would offer extended-day kindergarten to more schools and SB163 (sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper) which would extend the kindergarten start deadline to Dec. 31 – passed the Senate Education Committee.
HB332 (sponsored by Rep. Edward Redd, R-Logan) which would offer a $20 discount on marriage licenses to couples who complete counseling passed committee and will be heard by the full House.
HB87 (sponsored by Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton) which would allow motorists to apply for a grant so vehicle owners can convert their cars to burn natural gas passed committee and will be heard by the full Senate.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Utah PolitiLinks: Medical Marijuana Bills Take Center Stage; Budget Numbers Released
Author: Ginny Romney
Photo Credit: UrosPoteko
Website: Deseret News
