
2019 Utah Legislature - Week 4 Summary!
2019 Utah Legislative Session
Extremely busy week! Thanks to everyone for reaching out over the last few weeks, letting me know how you feel about the issues. Less than three weeks left!
- Bipartisan Clean Air Caucus
- Clean Air Caucus Rolls Out Legislative Plan
- Utah Lawmakers Plowing Through Air Pollution Solutions
- What is the Utah Legislature Doing About Air Quality?

- Local School Parents and Teachers Visit the Capitol

- Visit with the AFL-CIO

2019 Legislation
This last week we continued the process of voting on non-budget bills. Of course, you can always watch the new reports. But the best way to track any legislation is at the Legislature's website at http://le.utah.gov. Here are a few of the more interesting bills that were discussed this last week:
- A bill that would increase Utah’s age limit for the legal purchase of tobacco to 21 has encountered a surprising opponent: the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. [Trib] [DNews]
- After a multi-session attempt to give Utah’s hate crimes law some teeth, a bill that would do so has cleared a legislative committee. But its sponsor says it’s “not a done deal” and that the measure could still face hurdles in the full Senate. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]
- A bill is on its way to the Senate would help cities enforce their anti idling ordinances by allowing citations to be issued after a single warning instead of three. [Trib]
- Conversion therapy, a discredited practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, could be banned in Utah under a new bill that would make the practice illegal when used on minors. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said it won’t oppose the measure. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]
- Utah lawmakers want to increase education spending per student by $128 million this year. [Trib]
- Lawmakers gave unanimous approval in a House committee on Wednesday to a proposal that would require the renewal of a Utah Driver’s License once every eight years rather than every five. [Trib]
- A move to legalize driverless autonomous cars on Utah roads is on its way to the Senate after passing through the House. The bill’s sponsor said its aim is to move testing on the new vehicles from private tracks. [Trib] [DNews]
Rep. Hall's Legislation
I have several bills this session, here are a few:
- HB129 - Campaign Amendments - PASSED! - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. This bill passed the floor of the House 72-1. Passed the Senate this week 27-0. Came back to the House on Concurrent and passed 66-4. This bill has now passed and is waiting for the Governor's signature.
See story here.
- HB57 - Electronic Information or Data Privacy - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. This bill passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the House floor 71-0.
- HB52 - Remote Notarization Standards - PASSED! - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. Passed 68-0 on the House floor. Passed 28-0 on the Senate floor.
- HB163 - Offenses Against the Administration of Government - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. Passed unanimously in the House Government Operations Committee. Passed the House 63-10. Awaiting action in the Senate.
- HJR4 - Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution -- Legislator Qualifications - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. Passed the House 73-0. Passed a Senate committee 4-0. Passed the Senate floor 25-1. Awaiting one last vote from the full Senate.
- HB168 - School Bus Safety Amendments - I am the chief sponsor of this bill. Passed the House Transportation Committee 7-4. Awaiting action from the full House.
Here are some stories on this issue: DNews ABC4 SLTrib

- HB399 - Prohibition of the Practice of Conversion Therapy Upon Minors - I am the chief sponsor of this bill.
Conversion therapy is a medical practice or treatment meant to change sexual orientation. It has been rejected by major medical groups including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association, among many others. Study after study has shown that such a practice is ineffective and very harmful. A recent study showed how LGBT youth subjected to conversion therapy were two times more likely to experience depression and nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide.
15 states have already prohibited this practice. Hopefully Utah will be the 16th. I greatly appreciate all who have reached out, thanking me for running this bill. I am cautiously optimistic we will be able to pass this bill this Session.
Town Hall Meetings!
I've held three Town Hall since the session began. Thanks to those who attended!. Great comments and questions. Thank you!!!


Medicaid
As you may have heard over the last few weeks, much discussion at the Capitol was focused on Medicaid. In November, the voters passed Proposition 3 which expanded the number of Utahns that are eligible for Medicaid. In District 33, Proposition 3 prevailed by almost 30 percentage points. There has been been some effort this session to modify what was passed by the voters.
After a lot of study, thought and public input, I ended up voting NO on the bill that will modify Prop 3. Thanks to everyone who reached out to me over the last few weeks regarding their thoughts on the issue. I greatly appreciate it.
Visits to the Capitol!
Ways to Contact Representative Hall
I make a concerted effort to reach out to all of my constituents. For that reason, I use as many different forms of communication as possible. Most of you have received mail from me. I also have frequent town hall meetings (more on that above). You can follow me online at www.votecraighall.com. For even more frequent updates, you can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/votecraighall and/or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hcraighall. You are also welcome to call my cell phone anytime. (801) 573-1774. I will be in many meetings throughout the legislative session, so if I don't answer right away, feel free to leave me a message and I'll try to call back as soon as possible. I will also be sending out regular updates via email. Probably the quickest way to get ahold of me is by email. My legislative email address is chall@le.utah.gov.
Thanks for your support. Contact me anytime.
Read all previous email newsletters here: http://bit.ly/YJCYy1
Representative Craig Hall
Legislative email: chall@le.utah.gov
Personal email: hcraighall@yahoo.com
Website: www.votecraighall.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/votecraighall
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hcraighall
Cell phone: (801) 573-1774