Utah Legislature

Utah Lawmakers Consider Partnership to Encourage Long-Term Care Insurance

Andrea Smardon — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:24:19 +0000

Utah lawmakers are considering a bill that would encourage citizens to buy private long-term care insurance. More than 35 states already have this type of public-private partnership.

Utah insurance broker Craig Oberle told the state Health and Human Services committee that people don’t like to think about long term care, and how much it might cost.

“We all know the baby boom generation and what’s happening, it’s an absolute tsunami that’s coming,” Oberle said.

Utah House Not Yet Discussing Impeachment of Attorney General

Brian Grimmett — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:48:48 +0000

The Utah legislature is meeting this week for their monthly interim meetings but they don’t plan on discussing the fate or potential impeachment of Attorney General John Swallow.

Speaker of the House Rebecca Lockhart says she’s concerned about the recent allegations brought against Attorney General John Swallow and that they’re looking into how the legislature might address them.

Governor Herbert Vetoes Constitutional Carry Bill

Whittney Evans — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:44:14 +0000

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has vetoed HB 76, a bill that would allow any Utahn over the age of 21 to carry a concealed firearm without a permit unless the weapon has a round in the chamber. Now it’s up to Utah lawmakers to decide if they want to overrule the governor’s decision.

Governor Herbert says he vetoed HB 76 because Utah’s current gun laws have served the state well and have become a model for the nation.

Quick Action on Election Law Bill

Dan Bammes — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:49:54 +0000

Current Utah law would have required Utah’s Attorney General to investigate a complaint against himself of violating Utah’s election rules. But the Utah State Senate passed a bill Thursday afternoon to give that job to an independent lawyer.

Ban on Medicaid Expansion Passes House

Whittney Evans — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:45:00 +0000

The Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act permits states to opt out of the law's Medicaid expansion, and that’s what Utah House lawmakers aim to do with House Bill 391. The bill would ban Utah’s governor and the Department of Health from expanding the Medicaid program. It passed the Utah House of Representatives this morning and now heads to the Senate where it faces opposition from leadership.

Medicaid Battle Looming

Dan Bammes — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:25:55 +0000

A battle could be shaping up in the Utah House of Representatives over a bill that would stop the state from expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Bill Advances to Stop Medicaid Expansion

Dan Bammes — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:28:00 +0000

A bill that would stop the state of Utah from expanding its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act passed a committee vote Wednesday evening.

Herbert: Medicaid Decision Delayed

Dan Bammes — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:12:22 +0000

Utah Governor Gary Herbert says a decision on expanding Utah's Medicaid program may have to wait until this summer. Herbert told his monthly news conference on KUED Thursday morning that Utah won't follow the lead of any other state on the issue.

Clearing the Air: What the Legislature Proposes

Terry Gildea — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:59:07 +0000

As Utahns persist through one of the worst winter inversion seasons in a decade, many have focused their frustration and anger over dirty air on elected officials in the Utah legislature. In part two of our series Clearing the Air, KUER News explores the short and long term solutions lawmakers are proposing.

House Okays Protections for Dating Violence Victims

Whittney Evans — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:03:32 +0000

A bill extending protection to victims of dating violence advanced in the Utah house today. HB 50, sponsored by Minority Leader Jennifer Seelig was met with heated opposition on the house floor.

Chief Justice: Utah Courts Stronger, More Efficient

Whittney Evans — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:22:59 +0000

Utah courts are becoming stronger, more efficient and more transparent according to newly-appointed Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. Durrant gave the annual State of the Judiciary to lawmakers this afternoon on day one of the 2013 legislative session.

New Legislators Ready for Session

Dan Bammes — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:40:00 +0000

The Utah legislature opens its general session on Monday with a lot of new faces. 21 out of 75 members of the Utah House of Representatives are serving their first terms, along with 4 out of the 29 members of the state Senate. Republicans still far outnumber Democrats. In fact, there are only 14 Democrats left in the House. But among those new Republican members, there could be a few more moderate voices. KUER's Dan Bammes spoke to a couple of new members of the House from Utah County.

Hinckley Forums: Lobbying at the Utah State Legislature

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:05:30 +0000

Monday, January 14, 2013

Lobbying at the Utah State Legislature
David Spatafore, Spatafore Consulting Group

Click here for more information about the Hinckley Institute of Politics Forums at the University of Utah.

Past Hinckley forums can be found here.

Utah's New Auditor Promises Closer Scrutiny

Dan Bammes — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:17:05 +0000

John Dougall will be sworn in this morning as Utah's new state auditor as business opens for the day. He won't be on the platform with Governor Gary Herbert or the other state officials during Monday's inauguration ceremony. Dougall is a former Republican state legislator from northern Utah County who won the auditor's job after defeating the incumbent, Austen Johnson, in a primary election last summer. He's promising to bring some fresh energy to the job.

Hinckley Institute: A Reporter’s Perspective of the Utah State Legislature: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:29:14 +0000

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Paul Rolly, Columnist, The Salt Lake Tribune

Click here for more information about the Hinckley Institute of Politics Forums at the University of Utah.

Past Hinckley forums can be found here.

Lawmakers Postpone Decision on Redistricting Records: Documents Remain Hidden in Boxes

Andrea Smardon — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 23:15:47 +0000

Two bins of documents related to Utah’s controversial redistricting process remain hidden from the public. That’s mainly because Utah’s Democratic Party is refusing to pay thousands of dollars to let them go. The legislature’s Records Committee put off a decision Monday on whether to waive the fee for the records request. The committee decided it needs more information to determine whether the request primarily serves the public or the Democratic party.

Utah Lawmakers Undecided on Medicaid Expansion

Andrea Smardon — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:05:40 +0000

Since the Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, governors in four states have declared they will not expand Medicaid. Utah is currently undecided. State lawmakers met Tuesday to review the Supreme Court’s decision - and Utah’s options.

Republican Representative James Dunnigan of Taylorsville is chair of the state’s Health System Reform Task Force. He says the expansion of Medicaid is a big policy decision for Utah, and lawmakers are still gathering information.

Utah Legislature Approves 90 New Liquor Licenses

Andrea Smardon — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:19:46 +0000

State lawmakers have given the green light to 90 new liquor licenses for restaurants in Utah. It was one of the issues decided in a special session Wednesday called by Governor Gary Herbert.

State Lawmakers Revise Education Budget in Special Session

Whittney Evans — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:01:08 +0000

Utah Lawmakers were able to find the funds necessary to fill a $25 million gap in Utah’s education budget that officials failed to catch during the 2012 legislative session. The House and Senate voted unanimously, during a special session of the legislature Wednesday to approve adjustments to next year’s budget.

Governor Herbert Calls a Special Legislative Session

Whittney Evans — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:42:05 +0000

Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced on Monday that he’s calling a special legislative session to begin Wednesday. He plans to tackle a number of issues that include education funding and the shortage of liquor licenses available in the state.