Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Legislators have their first committee hearings today, meeting from 9:00 to 9:50 this morning and from 2:00 to 4:00 this afternoon. House and Senate floor debate will be from 10 to noon. Democrats and Republicans meet for lunch in separate caucuses at noon. And this evening at 6:30, all will gather in the House chamber to hear Governor Gary Herbert’s State of the State address.

IN MORNING COMMITTEES

In House Government Operations, Rep Marie Poulson will present HB 79, which would make Medicare cards valid voter identification at the polls. Last year a bill passed to require either photo ID, or two forms of non-photo ID showing a voter’s name and address. Senior citizens who no longer drive or work are more likely to lack ID.

The committee will also consider HB 56, Amended Financial Statements. It would more strictly regulate candidates who file amended reports after an election is over of their campaign contributions and expenditures. The purpose is to give voters accurate information before they go to the polls, not after.

The Senate Education Committee will look at SB 87, School Property Tax Equalization Revisions, sponsored by Senator Gene Davis. SB 87 eliminates provisions for a countywide pool of capital outlay property tax revenue, shared by all school districts in Salt Lake County. Revenue to each school district could increase or decrease by $11 million in FY 2011. Property taxes could also either increase or decrease.

IN AFTERNOON COMMITTEES

HB 81, by Representative Sheryl Allen, before the House Education Committee this afternoon, stiffens criminal background check requirements for employees and volunteers at school districts, charter schools and private schools.

HB 12, Abortion Amendments, by Representative Carl Wimmer will be in the House Health and Human Services. It would describe the difference between abortion and criminal homicide of an unborn child and allow prosecution of a woman for the killing or criminal homicide of an unborn child.

SENATE JUDICIARY will address SB 81, by Senator Lyle Hillyard, which requires a person exercising the right of eminent domain to bear the burden of proof in an eminent domain action and requires a court to award a defendant to an eminent domain action costs if the defendant prevails in the action

They’ll also look at SB 89, Legal Notice Amendments, by Senator Urquhart, which requires legal notices of some public meetings, adoption of land use ordinances and Department of Transportation bids to be published on a Utah Public Meetings Website as well as in some newspapers.

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT will hear SB 36, Wolf Management in Utah, by Senator Christensen, and SB 97, Farmland Assessment Amendments by Senator Hinkins, which deals with the taxing of greenbelt agricultural land and land under forest stewardship plans.

You can join the League at the Legislature by watching, listening in, or contacting your legislator on line at Utah’s award-winning legislative website le.utah.gov

Call your House member at 801.538.1029 or your Senator at 801.538.1035

Sandy Peck