A controversial animal cruelty bill that would have allowed Utahns to kill animals they believed to be feral is moving on to the Utah House of Representatives, but not the way the bill was originally drafted. It’s sponsored by Republican Representative Curt Oda.
Some in the LGBT community are furious over Democratic Senator Pat Jones’ vote against a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to share parental rights for the biological child of one partner. PRIDE in Utah blogger and activist Eric Ethington calls Jones a “traitor,” saying the Senator has turned her back on her constituents.
A new analysis from the Utah Legislature estimates a bill aimed at catching undocumented immigrants would cost local cities and counties in Utah between $5 and $11 million per year. KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen about his concerns.
A proposed constitutional amendment would leave one Utah lawmaker without a seat on Capitol Hill. Republican Representative Paul Ray wants to ban lobbyists from serving in the Utah Legislature.
The Utah Senate gave the thumbs-up this morning to a bill that makes it a crime to leave a child alone in a car under dangerous conditions. But some lawmakers say it needs more work. Although Republican Senator Lyle Hillyard voted for the bill, he said it’s too subjective.
The Utah House of Representatives delivered good news today for unincorporated Salt Lake County residents who are sick of paying a fee for police services. Lawmakers approved a bill that would prevent the Unified Police District from imposing that fee. Taylorsville Representative Jim Dunnigan said about half his district is in unincorporated Salt Lake County.
Utah teens would be doing a lot less talking on the road, under a bill that cleared a Senate committee yesterday. Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero wants all drivers under 18 to put down their cell phones while behind the wheel.
While the federal health reform law’s mandate to purchase health insurance may be getting the most attention, some Utah lawmakers are focusing on another aspect of it: expanding eligibility for Medicaid, the government-funded health program for low-income Americans. Hoping to get ahead of this, Republican State Senator Dan Liljenquist, who spearheaded major reforms to Utah’s public pension system last year, is proposing changes to how Medicaid providers are compensated.
The hopes of gay and lesbian couples wanting to adopt children in Utah were quickly dashed Monday, after a bill that would have allowed second-parent adoptions for unmarried couples stalled after a long debate. But as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, the bill’s sponsor isn’t giving up.
Utah Senate lawmakers voted today to limit the role of two independent state commissions tasked with reviewing tax policy and constitutional revisions. Republican Senator Margaret Dayton’s bill requires the legislature or Governor to formally request reviews from the Constitutional Revision and Tax Review commissions.
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