ST. GEORGE — The Utah Legislature passed over 500 bills during this year’s general session that covered a wide range of issues from tax cuts to “magic mushrooms” and water conservation to vaccine passports. In all, 515 bills passed Legislature with many yet to be signed by the governor.
Lawmakers passed a record-breaking $25 billion budget that boasts $1 billion in infrastructure funding and a $193 million tax cut.
The 45-day session also started with a focus on COVID-19 as legislation moved forward that rescinded Salt Lake County’s mask mandate and ended the state’s test-to-stay program in schools. This focus soon shifted elsewhere as COVID-19 cases began to drop and the threat of the virus moved out of the main focus of the general population.
What follows are highlights of bills reported on by St. George News that either passed or failed during the Legislature’s 2022 general session:
Taxes
The Utah Legislature passed a $193 million tax cut that drops the income tax rate from 4.95% to 4.85%. This equates to a savings of some $100 a year for a family of four making $72,000. Elements of the bill include an earned income tax credit and a Social Security tax credit.
Attempts to repeal the state’s food tax failed this year, but are likely to be revisited in 2023. A portion of the income tax that goes to education may also come under review. However, any action on this matter would require a constitutional amendment.
Qualifying Utah adults 65 and older will be able to defer property taxes on their homes thanks to the passage of SB 35. The bill allows this age group who may be “land rich yet cash poor” to ditch worrying about property taxes for the remainder of their time there. Once their estate is transferred into new hands, however, the bill for the deferred taxes comes due with interest.
Limiting access to police statements
A bill restricting access to certain police statements through Utah’s Government Records and Access Management Act (commonly called GRAMA) passed the Legislature. This includes statements given during internal investigations into shootings and other high-profile incidents and are known as “Garrity statements.” The governor said he will sign the bill into law while the Utah Media Coalition opposes the bill.
Rural Utah
A bill providing incentives for film and television production in rural Utah passed the Legislature. A part of the bill requires production crews to hire local help. Actor Kevin Costner has pushed for the bill as he plans to produce movies in Utah.
The Legislature also passed a bill that lays the groundwork for expanded broadband internet access in the state, particularly the rural parts.
Tax incentives for companies relocating to rural Utah were also passed.
COVID-19
Though the Legislature passed a bill rolling back mask mandates in Salt Lake and Summit counties soon after the legislative session started, another COVID-related bill, sponsored by Rep. Walt Brooks, R-St. George, wasn’t heard until the session was already half-over. Brooks’ bill would have banned businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. While it advanced through the Legislature, it did not get a final vote on the House floor.
However, a bill allowing for vaccine exemptions for employees who present a doctor’s note to their employer noting they’ve already had COVID was passed by lawmakers.
Education
Students who are members of indigenous tribes are now free to wear their tribal regalia at their high school graduation with the passing of HB 30. Qualifying students are those who belong to a Native American tribe, band, nation or Alaskan Native village that is recognized by federal law or that is acknowledged by a state.
A bill requiring school districts to collect data on bullying, including bullied students’ race, gender, age and disability status, was passed by the Legislature. The bill also requires school districts to create anti-bullying and harassment plans. The legislation comes after the death of Izzy Tichenor, a 10-year-old who committed suicide in 2021 after being continually bullied.
A bill that would raise the pay of school athletic directors if they got certified failed to be heard in the Legislature. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Micheal McKell, said the measure was meant to help curb athletic director burnout and turnover. McKell added that doing this could also help improve student safety.
The Keys to Success program, which allows high school students and adults to pursue internships and apprenticeships in the field of tourism and hospitality, will continue with the passing of HB 43.
Wildlife, Environment and state monuments
Hunters can now donate game meat to local food banks provided it meets certain conditions listed under HB 142. Meat from roadkill does not qualify.
The Legislature passed a bill consolidating funds gained from the sale of hunting permits, hunting expos and related events into a singular fund managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Lawmakers considered this a necessary move in order to generate transparency and accountability following the results of a 2020 audit.
A bill requiring local legislators to be consulted about the potential creation of a new state monument “in their back yard” was also passed.
Utah lawmakers also passed a bill expanding the state’s Disabilities Honor Pass to all Utah veterans, which will allow disabled veterans to enter the state parks for free.
The golden eagle was designated as the state’s official bird of prey with the passing of SB 116.
Elections
A bill proposed by Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, to replace Utah’s universal mail-in ballot system with in-person voting and create a third-party audit requirement for close elections, failed to pass committee. Among the bill’s biggest opponents was Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson.
A bill advancing candidate filing dates was passed by the Legislature, as were some election security-related bills. Photo IDs will be required by first-time voters while ballot drop boxes will now be under the eye of surveillance cameras.
A bill allowing for electronic signatures on ballot initiatives also was passed.
LGBTQ
A bill that had been tailored through compromise to create a commission that would evaluate a transgender athlete’s eligibility to play certain school sports was replaced at the last minute by an all-out ban on transgender athletes. While Gov. Spencer Cox lent support to the commission bill, he has threatened to veto the all-out ban.
Alcohol
About half of the “hard seltzers” on grocery and convenience store shelves in Utah will be removed due to not meeting the state’s definition of what beer is supposed to be. This is due to the drinks’ flavors and how they are made. As a result, these alcoholic beverages will only be sold in state-run liquor stores.
Cannabis and psychedelics
Public employees – namely first responders – who have medical cannabis cards became the subject of a bill after one Utah city suspended a handful of firefighters. The bill, SB 46, closes the previous loophole and reiterates that someone who holds a state-approved medical cannabis card is protected from employment discrimination under state laws.
A bill creating a task force to review the potential benefits of psychedelics – or “magic mushrooms” – for certain mental health ailments was passed by both the House and Senate with little opposition. While the task force will not create new government policies, it will make recommendations for policy to the Legislature, dependent on research findings.
Food Security
The Legislature passed a bill creating a permanent working group at Utah State University focused on finding ways to reduce statewide food insecurity, which has increased over the last two years.
Water
Water conservation was the subject of many bills this year, including one that proposed to block cities and HOAs from requiring residents to have a predetermined amount of lawn on their property. The bill failed to be heard on the House floor.
Bills incentivizing people to ditch unneeded (sometimes call nonfunctional) grass and blocking cities and HOAs from banning xeriscaping or other water-efficient landscaping were passed by the Legislature.
A bill requiring secondary water sources to be metered by 2030 also passed. Lawmakers say that the move should help save a reservoir’s equivalent of water. Thus far, secondary water use has gone unmetered in many parts of the state.
The Legislature is also putting up to $40 million to move more water to the Great Salt Lake, which is at its lowest point in recorded history.
A bill related to watershed habitat conservation was passed also by the Legislature.
Criminal justice
A proposal to end the state’s death penalty pushed by Rep. Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara, failed to pass a House Committee. It is the latest in a growing number of attempts made in recent years to repeal the death penalty in Utah.
The use of so-called “no knock” warrants by law enforcement will now be limited with the passing of HB 124. The bill bans the use of no-knock warrants in cases involving misdemeanor charges, requires police to wear clothing identifying themselves as law enforcement and dictates that warrants be carried out before 10 p.m., among other measures.
Utah lawmakers also passed a bill allowing domestic violence victims to add their pets to protective orders. Nearly 50% of domestic violence victims reported having delayed leaving their abusers out of fear of harm to their pets, according to the Humane Society of Utah. Abusers often use violence or threats of violence against a victim’s pet as a psychological tool to manipulate and further control the victim.
The Legislature also passed a bill addressing the massive increase in catalytic converter thefts across the state. The bill aims to create a tracking system using serial numbers that will help law enforcement locate the stolen property.
The Legislature also passed a bill barring law enforcement from lying to children during interviews conducted while in police custody.
Firearms
Utah lawmakers passed a bill reiterating that only the Legislature can pass firearms regulation, not counties or municipalities. This bill came in response to a Salt Lake County ordinance requiring that the sale of firearms – whether public or private – be subject to a background check if done on county property. While the sale of firearms at gun shows is already subject to background checks, the private sale of guns between Utah residents does not require the same.
A bill proposed by Minority Leader Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, that would have expanded background checks to include private sales and transfers died in committee.
Transportation
The Road-User Charge program and registration for electric vehicles in Utah will be modified starting in 2023 with the passing of HB 186. Lawmakers said they see the fee adjustments as a way to get electric and hybrid vehicle owners to “pay their fair share” for using Utah roads as they do not pay as much for gas – the state tax on that goes to road maintenance.
Penalties for driving over 100 miles per hour are now enhanced under a bill sponsored by Sen. Jani Iwamoto. Under the bill, which lawmakers passed, someone driving 105 mph or more can be charged with a class B misdemeanor related to reckless driving.
The Legislature also passed other bills that outlaw taking “selfies” or filming oneself or traffic while driving. Penalties have also been enhanced for individuals caught driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
Pet stores
A bill that would have prohibited cities and counties from forcing pet stores to sell only rescued or sheltered animals was pulled by the bill’s author, Rep. Rex Shipp, R-Cedar City, after concerns over so-called “puppy mills” arose.
Resolutions of note
A resolution making Feb. 19 a day commemorating the Japanese-American internment in the United State during World War II was passed by the Legislature and has been signed by the governor. One of these camps was set up in Utah near Delta and housed over 8,100 Japanese-Americans relocated from California’s Bay Area.
Utah lawmakers voted to limit where members of the press could interview lawmakers. Reporters must now ask for permission to interview lawmakers while on the House and Senate floor or while in other non-public areas of the Utah Capitol.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Check out all of St. George News’ coverage of the 2022 Utah Legislature here.
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