Legislation

Please visit my BLOG for some updates on the 2020 Legislative session. I’ll be updating this page in the coming weeks.

LINK to bills on the Utah Legislative Website:

“ABLE Account Alliance Office” seeks to ensure that Utah has a local office to help the parents of children with disabilities plan for their child’s ongoing needs after their own death. It is a tax advantaged savings account to be used to fund expenses for people with disabilities. Held by Sponsor

“Abortion Amendments” removes the statutory requirement that in order to access abortion due to rape, victims must first report to police. While I support and encourage any victim in their efforts to report crime to police, there are a myriad of situations when reporting is not desirable or feasible for an individual who has been raped. – Tabled in Committee

“Contraception for Women Inmates” seeks to ensure that women involved with the criminal justice system have adequate access to contraception, with the desired outcome of reducing unintended pregnancies for this population. – Passed the House, did not make it through the Senate before the end of Session

“Controlled Substances Amendments” ensures that proper and appropriate prescribing guidelines are in place, protecting post-surgical patients from the risks of opioid addiction. Abandoned

“Criminal Code Changes Impact Statement” addresses the fact that many times, changes in the criminal code has a disproportionately negative effect on marginalized communities, including (but not limited to) people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people. This would allow for a Representative or Senator to request that legislative staff provide a statement of impact for laws that change the criminal code, to determine, preemptively, if there is a chance that implementation would have relatively greater negative impact on any marginalized community. – Held in Committee

“Digital Opportunity Access Amendments” will seek to ensure comprehensive access to internet service, closing the digital divide for marginalized communities. – Held for Interim Study

“Disability Act Compliance Requirements” ensures that certain ADA requirements are equally enforced in all private and religious institutions, closing access disparities between individuals with disabilities and their peers. – Passed: The creation of a state Ombudsman Office will commence in the coming months

“End of Life Prescription Provisions” provides a legal mechanism for terminally ill patients to access a medication cocktail to forego end-of-life pain and suffering. – Held in Rules

“Insurance Coverage for Autism” intended to ensure that adults with autism received coverage for testing; the bill has been abandoned because these services became available with the passage of 2019 SB95.

“Joint Resolution Encouraging Local Health Departments to Set Licensing Rules” makes clear the legislative priority supporting the local control of health departments in responsible oversight of tobacco shop licensing. – Failed to pass the House

“Juvenile Incarceration Services Amendments” makes statutory changes affecting the instances and methods under which county jails may collect child support for minors in incarceration. – Held in Rules

“Property Tax Accessibility and Stabilization Amendments” has been abandoned. The intent was to ensure that individuals on fixed incomes would not be priced out of their homes due to increases in property tax assessments. However, such protections already exist in state code.

“Rent Control Jurisdiction Amendments” transfers the authority to make decisions about rent control policies from the state to individual municipalities. – Held in Rules

“Retail Tobacco Shop Specialty Business Amendments” requires that all flavored e-cigarette and flavored tobacco products only be sold in properly licensed, age-restricted entry stores. – Failed in Senate Committee

“Safe Consumption Facilities” provides a legal framework for an advocacy organization to create a reduced-harm facility that seeks to reduce risk of opioid overdose and death. – Held in Rules

“Tax Credit for Medical Instructors” allows medical professionals who volunteer their professional time to mentor and precept students to file for a modest income tax credit. – Failed on the House Floor

“Traumatic Brain Injury Coverage Gap Amendments” seeks to ensure that individuals with severe TBIs have equal access to the intensive treatment facilities and services as individuals with severe mental health disorders. Abandoned

“Unemployment Insurance Amendments” changes state law to require that companies who file for exemption from unemployment insurance be required to disclose this information at the time of hire. – Passed the House but did not pass the Senate before the end of Session