State lawmakers decided this morning to shelve Democratic Senator Ben McAdams’ proposal to increase funding for Utah’s public schools. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, both Republicans and Democrats praised the lawmaker’s approach, but some argued the plan was a thinly veiled tax increase.
Legislation aimed at repealing Utah’s controversial guest worker law failed to pass out of a Senate committee this morning after nearly two hours of discussion from all sides of the illegal immigration issue. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, committee members unanimously decided to put the bill on ice and keep HB 116 on the books.
The Utah Senate rejected a proposal Wednesday to lower the age when a child can have a say in a custody battle regarding which parent they want to live with. Democratic Senator Luz Robles’ bill would have lowered the age from 16 to 14. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, opponents argued it would give parents and children an opportunity to manipulate an already tumultuous situation.
Residents and commuters in downtown Salt Lake City can take advantage of the Harmons City Creek store on the corner of 100 South and State Street, which opened its doors this morning. The local grocer now has 16 locations across Utah, from Ogden to St. George. Vice President Bob Harmon says as a downtown store, the basket size will be smaller, but the frequency of customers will be higher than many other markets.
State lawmakers gave the green light to one of three bills considered Tuesday that would revamp some of Utah’s liquor laws. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the House Government Operations Committee hit pause on a bill that ensures some members of the liquor commission drink alcohol, killed a measure to open liquor stores on holidays, and approved legislation to increase the number of restaurant liquor licenses.
The Utah Senate approved a bill this morning to exempt military personnel from paying state property taxes. Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Democratic Senator Luz Robles, would apply to a service member who has been called to active duty. Robles said men and women serving probably weren’t expecting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to go on so long, and they’re suffering.
Restaurants, hotels and resorts would have been able to sample the liquor they serve to their customers before purchasing it from packaging agencies or the DABC, under a bill that failed to pass out of a Senate committee yesterday. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, its supporters say they were caught off guard because of the positive feedback the bill had received earlier.
A bill that requires the state to pay for health insurance mandates that lawmakers pass onto other public agencies cleared the Senate floor this morning. Republican Senator Todd Weiler’s plan would require those mandates to be applied to local school districts, charters schools and Utah’s colleges and universities, but the statewould pick up the tab. He says 14 such mandates have been proposed during this legislative session alone.
DUI checkpoints could become a thing of the past in Utah. HB 140, sponsored by Republican Representative David Butterfield, repeals authorization for law enforcement to do police checkpoints for anything other than Amber Alerts, looking for fugitives and wildlife invasive species. Butterfield says officers should instead put their time and resources into saturation patrols, which he says are more effective at removing drunk drivers from highways. He adds that checkpoints subject citizens to suspicion-less searches.
A bill that bans Utah cities from enforcing anti-idling ordinances advanced in a House Committee Thursday. Last fall, Salt Lake City passed such an ordinance in an effort to improve air quality. And despite the city’s promise to change it, lawmakers passed the bill twelve to two. Salt Lake City resident Ingrid Griffinson told the committee she doesn’t feel the move is very democratic.
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