Dozens of advocates and religious leaders gathered at the state capitol yesterday afternoon, urging House Speaker Becky Lockhart and her colleagues not to increase the food tax. And as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, Lockhart isn’t fond of the idea herself.
A bill that would shift charter school funding to local school districts won the approval of the House Education Committee this morning. Republican Representative Merlynn Newbold’s bill requires school districts to gradually pay for more and more students attending charter schools over the next 13 years.
A proposed constitutional amendment to cap state spending narrowly cleared a House Committee yesterday. The measure, sponsored by Republican Representative Carl Wimmer, would limit what the state can spend each year to the amount the state spent the previous year, but allow adjustments for inflation, deflation and population growth. It also requires surplus money to go into a rainy day fund and a modest refund to taxpayers. Wimmer says if a spending cap were implemented years ago, the state wouldn’t have to slash the budget today.
Some call it civil disobedience, others call it breaking the law. This week, a jury will finally decide the fate of Tim DeChristopher, who disrupted a controversial oil and gas lease auction more than two years ago. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports.
A statewide ban on flavored nicotine candy failed in House Business and Labor Committee on Friday. Representative Paul Ray’s bill would have banned stores from selling gum, dissolving strips and other candy-like products that have not been approved by the FDA for helping someone quit smoking. A frustrated Ray addressed his supporters in the hallway after his bill was voted down.
The Senate Education Committee approved a bill this morning that makes it easier to fire under-performing teachers. It requires school boards to consider performance over seniority when there are layoffs. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, educators favor seniority, because it rules out personal attacks.
The Utah House of Representatives revamped a bill Thursday that would repeal in-state tuition waivers for Utah college students who are in the country illegally. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the bill’s sponsor says he won’t support it.
Concealed weapons permits would become optional, under a bill debated by Utah lawmakers this morning. Republican Representative Carl Wimmer’s bill allows anyone who can legally purchase a handgun to conceal it.
The legislature’s House Education Committee rejected a divisive bill Wednesday that would have banned academic tenure at Utah’s public colleges and universities. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, opponents worried the move would cost the state more money than it was intended to save.
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted down proposed regulations to stave off puppy mills in Utah this morning. Democratic Representative Jackie Biskupski’s bill would have required breeders selling at least six dogs or cats at a time to obtain a local business license and land use approval.
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