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Utah Grassroots 2019 Legislative Report GrassRoots Committed to Promoting the Principles of Limited Government, Constitution, Representative Government, Participatory Republic, Free Market Economy, Family, and Separation of Powers UtahGrassRoots.org Annual Report on Utah’s Legislature May 2019 Growing Government Robertson Leads House; McKay Leads With the cost of building the Utah State prison going up Senate and up, it was disappointing to watch so many bills which increased government spending be passed during this Adam Robertson (R-UT) received the top score on this legislative session. As the cost of government increases, year’s GrassRoots report. Other top House members were the pressure to increase taxes will as well. Travis Seegmiller (R-WA), Kim Coleman (R-SL), Marc Roberts (R-UT), Mark Strong (R-SL), Brad Daw (R-UT), While an effort to increase taxes died under citizen John Knotwell (R-UT), Phil Lyman (R-SJ) pressure, it will be resurrected again whether during a special legislative session or next year’s session. Tax Senate Summary: Dan McKay (R-SL) received the top increases to balance the budget becomes more necessary as score in the Senate. the government continues to increase the number of programs it provides. This past session, programs were Governor: Governor Herbert received a 40% compared initiated to help citizens buy cars (H.B. 295) and wood to his lifetime average of 42%. Herbert’s previous scores stoves (H.B. 357) and for train companies to buy freight were: 71% (2010); 73% (2011); 75% (2012); 28% (2013); switchers (H.B. 98). Several new mandates were put on 29% (2014); 41% (2015), 24% (2016), 27% (2017), 21% school districts as new education initiatives were launched. (2018) Unfunded mandates were put on communities in the name of affordable housing and $20 million of taxpayer dollars Averages: The House received an average score of 45% were given to the initiative with $4 million committed compared to the lifetime score of 43%. The Senate thereafter (S.B. 34). averaged a 38% which is below the Senators average of 46% Another bill of concern is S.B. 103 which creates inequality on how different individuals are treated when a What is GrassRoots? crime is committed against them instead of treating all crime equally. GrassRoots has been issuing an annual legislative report card since 1992. The Constitutions of the nation and state The legislature should be commended for passing bills are the guides which GrassRoots uses in picking issues for which protected life. Bills outlawing abortion after 18 its legislative report card. Bills are picked without regard weeks (H.B. 136) and outlawing abortion if the only to any individual. GrassRoots has no paid staff. reason was for Downs Syndrome passed (H.B. 166). Bills which protected citizens right to self-defense also passed Contents (HB 114 & HB 243). Bills Summary…………………….………..…….……2-3 House…………………………………………......…….4-5 Part of the concern is the limited amount of time bills Senate & Governor………………………..……....…….6 receive in deliberation. The median bill enacted in 2018 Rankings…………………...……..………………….…..7 received a total of only seven minutes of House and Senate floor debate before passage according to Utah Data Points. GrassRoots concealed firearm without a permit do not apply to a victim of Bills are listed by number with house bills listed first. The domestic violence or dating violence who otherwise would not be sponsor(s) of the bill is in parentheses with the primary prohibited from possessing a firearm. While GrassRoots would sponsor listed first. The tally on bills from each house is allow all citizens to exercise their second amendment rights listed by Yeas, Nays and those Absent or Not Voting. Text of without a permit, this bill is a step in the right direction. all bills can be found at http://le.utah.gov. GrassRoots approves of a YES vote. Passed the House (58-16- 1), Senate (20-6-3) and was signed into law by the Governor. A) H.B. 13 (C. Moss, D. Ipson) Criminalizes holding handheld wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle H) H.B. 260 (D. Owens, E Vickers) Allocates $2 million to and subjects the offender to up to 90 days imprisonment for the create the Utah Promise Scholarship Program. If the government first offense. Individuals should be held responsible (civil liable) is going to fund higher education, it should treat all student’s for damages caused by their careless or negligent acts, but we equally. Instead of allocating money that will be aimed at helping would lean against criminalizing holding a cellphone. only a few students, the government should look at reducing GrassRoots approves of a NO vote. Failed in the House (32- taxes which will allow more Utahns to achieve their financial 41-2). goals by returning more of their hard-earned money to their pockets. GrassRoots approves of a NO vote. Passed the House B) H.B. 98 (S. Handy, T. Weiler) Just as Obama (68-2-5), Senate (20-0-9) and was signed into law by the administration’s “Cash for Clunkers” program was a misuse of Governor. taxpayer dollars and violated Constitutional principles, this bill is Utah’s version but for the locomotive industry. Designated over I) H.B. 290 (L. Perry, L. Hillyard) Violates a citizen’s right to $2 million to assist train companies in purchasing new freight privacy by allowing driver’s license information to be shared switchers. GrassRoots approves of a NO vote. Passed the with the State Tax Commission, the University of Utah for data House (38-35-2) but did not come up for a vote in the Senate. collection in relation to genetic and epidemiologic research or to a government entity in the interest of public safety. Personal C) H.B. 114 (C. Maloy, D. Hinkins) Protects a citizen’s right to information should only be shared for the purpose the citizen self-defense by providing that an individual is not required to provided the information for. GrassRoots approves of a NO retreat from an aggressor. GrassRoots approves of a YES vote. vote. Passed the House (73-2-0), Senate (25-0-4) and was Passed the House (54-16-5), the Senate (18-8-3) and was signed into law by the Governor. signed into law by the Governor. J) H.B. 295 (J. Stenquist, C. Bramble) Would cost the D) H.B.136 (C. Acton, D. Henderson) The first duty of Department of Environmental Quality up to $6.5 million. Would government is to protect life. Bill protects life by restricting assist “qualified vehicle owners” to purchase a new vehicle if abortions after 18 weeks. Previously abortions could be their old vehicle failed an emissions test and is a model 2003 or performed up to 22 weeks. GrassRoots approves of a YES older. As previously noted, the Obama administration’s “Cash for vote. Passed the House (57-15-3), Senate (23-6-0) and was Clunkers” was an improper use of tax dollars and a violation of signed into law by the Governor. principles of limited government. This bill does the same. GrassRoots approves of a NO vote. Passed the House (40-28- E) H.B. 158 (K. Coleman, T. Weiler) Students across the 7) but did not come up for a vote in the Senate. country have been penalized on college campuses for expressing their political views. Bill protected a college student’s first K) H.B. 357 (T. Hawkes, T. Weiler) Cash for Clunkers for amendment rights by prohibiting an institution of higher learning Wood Stoves. Bill appropriates $5 million to assist those at a from punishing certain acts of speech that do not constitute certain poverty level to purchase new wood stoves. As with trains discriminatory harassment. Requires an institution to publish its and cars, government giveaways to purchase wood stoves are not free expression policies in the student handbook and website. a proper function of government. GrassRoots approves of a NO GrassRoots approves of a YES vote. Passed the House (44-25- vote. Passed the House (53-21-1), Senate (21-2-6) and was 6) but failed in the Senate (8-19-2). signed into law by the Governor. F) H.B. 166 (K. Lisonbee, C. Bramble) Bill protects the right to L) H.B. 386 (J. Briscoe, T. Weiler) Bill allocates $3 million to life by prohibiting abortions that will be performed because the create the Affordable Housing Preservation Fund. This fetus may have Down syndrome. Government has a duty to reallocation of wealth moves government into areas it does not protect all its citizens particularly those who cannot defend belong. If the government wants to give charity, it should allow themselves. A government that ignores its most innocent citizens individuals to voluntarily donate towards charity. GrassRoots cannot be expected to protect the lives of all citizens. GrassRoots approves of a NO vote. Passed the House (47-26-2) but did not approves of a YES vote. Passed the House (54-15-6), Senate come up for a vote in the Senate. (20-6-3) and was signed into law by the Governor. M) H.J.R. 18 (J. Moss, D. Hemmert) Requires legislative G) H.B. 243 (C. Watkins, D. Hinkins) Protects the right to self- appropriations subcommittees to create an accountable budget defense by providing that certain criminal penalties for carrying a process for approximately 20% of their budget each year. 2 GrassRoots Committees would be required to review a line item or program forfeiture); b) providing for release of property held for forfeiture in a simple base budget to determine whether or the extent to when the seizing agency fails to timely “serve a notice of intent to which to recommend the line item or program be continued.
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