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, 3rd Reading Calendar
- H.B. 97: Local Food Advisory Council Amendments (Rep. Handy/Sen. Davis)
- 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 House & Senate, Draft of enrolled bill prepared
- 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 failed to recommend
- 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 failed to recommend
- H.B. 148: Tax Revisions (Rep. Quinn/Sen. Escamilla)
- 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: Sent to Senate Standing Committee
- H.B. 276: Social Security Tax Credit (Rep. Westwood/Sen. Ipson)
- Provides a tax credit for lower-income Social Security recipients. Utah is one of only 13 states that taxes Social Security benefits.
- Status: Senate, 2nd Reading Calendar
Bills that UAH Opposes:
- H.B. 472: Medicaid Expansion Revisions (Rep. Spendlove)
- Amends the state Medicaid program to permit an expansion of Medicaid eligibility under certain conditions-including work requirements and an enrollment cap.
- Why we oppose it: While the bill would expand Medicaid, it still falls well short of the Medicaid coverage threshold established under ACA and would have strict work requirements and an enrollment cap-so some eligible people won't get coverage. Also, it would hurt a ballot initiative for full Medicaid expansion that will likely pass. This is really a way to try to slow Medicaid expansion.
- Status: House Fiscal Note received 3/2
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