A contribution to Melva’s citizen report.
Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your loved ones have been safe during the unexpected storms and flooding our area experienced this week.
As we prepare for the cooler fall season and celebrate the start of the school year, I want to express my gratitude to all the parents and teachers who dedicate time and effort to educating Utah’s next generation of leaders. We have outstanding educators in our state who provide and help prepare our students with the necessary tools to succeed in life. This past legislative session, we appropriated historic funding for education, and I look forward to seeing how the additional funds help our students thrive.
This month, we returned to the Capitol for our August interim meetings. Below you will find a few updates about the items we discussed during our committee meetings, in addition to other state updates. As always, please reach out with your comments or concerns.
September Interim in St. George
I am excited that the Utah Legislature will be holding September interim meetings in St. George. This is the first time in the history of the state that the Legislature will convene for interim meetings anywhere other than Salt Lake City. Participating in interim meetings will be easier than ever for Southern Utah residents as we bring our meetings closer to you. I encourage you to join us for discussions regarding many important statewide issues.
As our September meetings get closer, you can find additional details about the time and location of our interim meetings on the legislative website (le.utah.gov). I look forward to showing my legislative colleagues our beautiful area of the state.
Back to School
Funding education has been and will continue to be a top priority for me and the Utah Legislature. This year, $15 billion went to public education and education programs, more than half of the state budget, and increased the WPU by 13% in ongoing funds and 18.5% in one-time funds. The funding included teacher salary raises, all-day kindergarten, educator preparation, school safety, teen centers and online education programs.
I want to express my appreciation for the teachers and school staff. You have and will continue to help model countless kids throughout the years, preparing and championing them to achieve more and reach for greater success. I wish parents, students, teachers and faculty a successful school year of fun, memorable and educational moments.
I also wanted to share some 2023 education session highlights as the new school year begins.
Budget Highlights for Public Education
$440.6 million – Public Education Stabilization Account Available
$239.4 million – Funding for Teacher Salaries and Optional Education Opportunities (H.B. 215)
$236 million – 6% WPU increase (includes base budget increase of $132 million)
$64 million – Educator Preparation and Collaboration Time
$17.9 million – Educator Salary Amendments (S.B. 183)
Budget Highlights for Education Programs
$75 million – School Safety Requirements (H.B. 61)
$64 million – Educator Preparation and Collaboration Time
$25 million – Optional Full-day Kindergarten Expansion
$15 million – Teen Centers for Students Experiencing Homelessness
$7.1 million – Grow Your Own Teacher and Counselor Pipeline
$6 million – Pupil Transportation
H.B. 215 Funding for Teacher Salaries and Optional Education Opportunities Update created the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, which empowers parents to create a personalized education for their child. The scholarship prioritizes students from low and middle-income families and funds up to $8,000 each year to pay for the child’s private or alternative education. Additionally, H.B. 215 doubled the funding in the Educator Salary Adjustment Program and increases teacher compensation directly by about $6,000 ($4,200 direct salary increase plus employer-paid benefits).
S.B. 183 Educator Salary Amendments is a companion bill to H.B. 215 that appropriates funding and ties the teacher salary supplement and educator salary adjustment raises to increase yearly with the WPU value instead of remaining stagnant. Additionally, it made all teachers eligible for these benefits until they have received three unsatisfactory ratings instead of one.
H.B. 477 Full-day Kindergarten Amendments expanded access to optional full-day kindergarten statewide and funds kindergarten students as a full-weighted pupil unit.
H.B. 348 Participation Waiver Amendments gives parents greater ability to remove their children from school instruction or activities that they feel violate their right of conscience or religious beliefs.
Utah Fits All Scholarship: Pre-Application Launch
The past couple of years have highlighted that a one-size for all approach to education does not work for every child. During the 2023 session, the Legislature passed the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program. Enabling parents to create a personalized education for their child. The scholarship prioritizes students from low and middle-income families and funds up to $8,000 each year to pay for the child’s private or alternative education.
The program is now accepting pre-applications, allowing parents to stay informed about important program developments, rule changes and essential milestones. Learn more and pre-apply your child for Utah Fits All Scholarship here.
Learn More
2″Disagree Better”
Gov. Cox launched a “Disagree Better” initiative to demonstrate how we can disagree in productive ways, not letting polarization stop us from having necessary discussions with those from different political parties.
I have constituents on both ends of the political spectrum who I have been elected to represent in the Utah Legislature. I appreciate hearing from all my constituents. While we may not always agree, receiving input from multiple perspectives helps me make well-educated votes. In the Legislature, I am grateful for the civility between my colleagues across the aisle. We strive to demonstrate how to disagree in a way that results in productive conversations and the best policy that benefits the entire state.
August Advice and Consent
Judge Charles Stormont was confirmed to the 3rd District Court
Judge Eric Gentry was confirmed to the 5th District Court
It is the Senate’s responsibility to provide advice and consent on appointments made by the governor. During August interim, senators we met to confirm several appointments, including two new judges – Judge Charles Stormont for the 3rd District Court and Judge Eric Gentry in the 5th District Court. These individuals have shown exceptional expertise and a strong dedication to public service. I am grateful for their willingness to serve our state in their new capacity.
School Security Task Force Update
I have the privilege of being a part of the School Security Task Force. The School Security Task Force focuses on recommending safety and security protocols for designing, constructing and reconstructing new and existing schools. This month the task force received presentations from state experts on best practices to better secure our school campuses statewide for emergencies and hazards. Increasing the overall safety of students and educators is a primary objective for the Legislature. The efforts of our task force and committees, in partnership with community leaders and stakeholders, will lead to great strides in campus protection.
Watch Here
Homeless Services Update
The Economic Development and Workforce Services interim committee received presentations from the State Homeless Coordinator, the Salt Lake County Office of Criminal Justice Initiatives, and First Step House. They discussed services the state government, county government and non-profit organizations provide and reviewed the state’s strategic plan to respond to homelessness in our state. The Office of Homeless Services correlated the cost of housing to the rate of homelessness and gave an overview on funding, grants and how these allocations are being spent. The committee also analyzed a successful model of Miami-Dade County’s approach to homelessness.
Watch Here
SITLA
The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) is a state government agency established in 1994 to manage and administer lands granted to the state by the federal government to support public schools and other institutions. These lands are held in trust, and SITLA’s primary responsibility is to generate revenue from these lands to fund public education.
The agency engages in various activities to maximize the value of these lands, including leasing for mineral and energy development, commercial real estate, agriculture and other uses. The revenue plays a crucial role in generating funds for education and other important state institutions while also ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of these trust lands. The agency’s management strategies involve balancing economic development and environmental stewardship to provide long-term benefits for Utah’s public education system.
A record $96 million was distributed directly to Utah’s schools from SITLA funds during the 2022-2023 school year. Our district, Senate District 29, received $3.5 million from SITLA last year.
Insurance Coverage for Ambulance Supplies and Medications
The Business and Labor interim committee met to discuss recent insurance provider changes that could require patients to pay out-of-pocket the cost of supplies, medications and the administration medications used while being transported by ambulance. The committee heard presentations and testimonies from different fire chiefs and paramedics across Utah about the impact these rising costs can have. Committee members discussed capping the prices of these supplies and medications and whether or not insurance companies should be required to provide benefits for ambulance transportation and supplies. Watch the committee meeting here.
Outdoor Recreation Update
The Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Appropriations Committee received an update from Jason Curry, the Director of Utah’s Division of Outdoor Recreation Program, who presented an overview of the program’s first year. The division’s comprehensive scope includes
Components of the parks and recreation program
Boating program
Trails management
Law enforcement in recreational settings
Last year outdoor recreation contributed $6.1 billion annually to Utah’s GDP, a 2.7 percent increase from the prior year, along with 66,000 jobs and $3.1 billion in wages. This year, other notable achievements include the addition of four new trail crews, streamlined online boating paperwork services with Spanish support and strategic attention to under-covered high-risk recreation areas.
