Utah State Legislative Update 2/9

Bills that UAH Supports:

• H.B. 57: Utah Inter-generational Poverty Work and Self-sufficiency Tax Credit (Rep. Westwood, Sen Vickers)
  • Will create a state earned income tax credit for certain families who are experiencing inter-generational poverty. This extra cash helps families pay off debt, buy homes, and save for emergencies. 
  • Status: Senate, 1st Reading Calendar
• H.B. 97: Local Food Advisory Council Amendments (Rep. Handy)Local Food Advisory Council Amendments (Rep. Handy)
  • Lets the Local Food Advisory Council create subcommitees (governemnt, amiright). UAH's very own Marti Woolford worked on the bill last year that created the Local Food Advisory Council and lobbied for it to include an anti-hunger advocate. She currently fills that position. 
  • Status: Passed out of the House 70-0, introduced in Senate
• H.B. 117: Hourly Wage Increase Amendments (Rep. King)
  • This bill will increase the minimum wage to $10.25/hr until 2022, when it will then bump it up again to $12/hr. Good news for hourly employees.
  • Status: House Business and Labor Committee
• H.B. 118: Cash Wage Obligation Minimum for Tipped Employees (Rep. King)
  • Similar to H.B. 117, except it increases the minimum wage for tipped employee to $3.25/hour.
  • Status: House Business and Labor Committee
• H.B. 148: Tax Revisions (Rep. Quinn)
  • Gets rid of the sales tax on food (Utah is one of only 13 states that still tax groceries). This is great for low and moderate income families, because they spend a bigger proportion of their income on groceries.
  • Status: Passed out of committee, House 3rd Reading Calendar 

Bills that UAH Opposes:

• H.B. 132: Juvenile Justice Modifications (Rep. Snow)
  • Follow up to last year's successful H.B. 239 and clarifies a few roles within the juvenile justice system. School districts have lobbied for a substitute where schools can again refer truant students to court, 1) if they have a plan in place for phasing out this approach and 2) until 2020. 
  • Why we oppose it: We opose the substitute, not the bill.  We appreciate all of Rep. Snow’s great work and are thankful for the reforms he has initiated. We understand and agree that schools may need help with funding and technical assistance if they are struggling with these new expectations, but schools must do better than relying on ineffective, expensive tools that produce terrible long-term outcomes for kids. 
  • Status: House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee

Bills that UAH is Watching:

• Nutrition Assistance Amendments (Rep. Spendlove)
  • No text at this time, but could possibly implicate SNAP or WIC. Mysterious.
  • Status: In process

Appropriations:

• UAH testified in support of $550,000 for ongoing funding for Meals on Wheels, this funding was granted in full.