Utah Legislature wraps up after bills on taxes, nuclear power, flags, labor law
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Utah Legislature stopped collective bargaining for public workers, added to its string of yearly tax cuts, put restrictions on Pride Flags at government buildings, and launched Utah’s nascent steps toward nuclear energy — and after 45 days, is closing business for the session.
It snowed on the last day, a big swing after temps climbed above 60 degrees for part of the session, and the weather was a metaphor, perhaps, for the swings on legislation that drew some of the biggest attention.
The labor bill was signed by the governor, but organized labor — including teachers — said they’re launching a petition drive for a referendum to overturn it. The application for that effort is expected to be filed electronically with the Lt. Governor’s Office on Saturday.
“We’ve done a lot of things that we think were positive,” said Senate President Stuart Adams. “We’re proud of that.”
He noted earmarking money for education that should give teachers 4% pay hikes, plus bonuses. State workers will get pay raises of 2.5%, even as the Legislature cut the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.5%, exempted more Social Security income from state taxes and increased tax credits for childcare expenses.
Outside the Capitol on Friday, several hundred people protested HB 77which prevents Pride Flags from being prominently displayed in schools and government buildings. Dozens unfurled a huge Pride Flag, holding it along the edges.
The Utah ACLU has written a letter to Governor Spencer Cox urging a veto, saying the plan “threatens free speech for everyone.” Supporters said the flags and political banners do not belong in schools and government property.
Lawmakers created a state nuclear energy consortium that could set the stage for Utah’s entrance into nuclear power, a move that years ago was strongly resisted but had little opposition at the Capitol this time.
Cox said nuclear energy safety is far advanced from what it had been, and Speaker of the House Mike Schultz said the state needs much more energy to power artificial intelligence companies which are interested in moving here.
Rocky Mountain Power officials said its requests for energy would more than double the power Utah is using now.
Adams said moves by the Legislature this session have better positioned Utah for AI.
He would not predict whether legislative action on flags and labor would stand, given a challenge to the latter, and potential challenge to the former.
Some cast the session as a case of lawmakers trying to exert control over cities and judges, but those efforts seemed to fade, perhaps for another day.
At one point, Republicans planned to have state agencies police Salt Lake City, saying the city police department was “ineffective.” In the middle of the session, Mayor Erin Mendenhall — who opposed state intervention — forced Chief Mike Brown out and appointed a man beloved by lawmakers, former Corrections Director Brian Redd.
Lawmakers said they’ve poured more funds into education, but numbers from the state treasurer showed school districts in Utah seem to have lots of money — more than $4 billion in investment accounts.
2News has been asking state leaders if that’s too much money for districts to hold, given education needs, and teachers who have bought classroom supplies out of their own pockets.
In all, more than 900 bills were proposed and more than 500 passed during the session, many on the last day.
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