Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Happy Presidents’ Day! Today, we celebrate and remember Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Their leadership during two monumental periods in our nation’s history will never be forgotten. I am grateful for their examples and courage in the face of adversity.
I am excited to invite you to the second Bills and Bagels in South County! It will be held this Saturday from 7:30-9:00 a.m. at the Nebo School District Office in Spanish Fork. I will be joined by other state legislators to discuss the 2024 General Session. Breakfast will be provided starting at 7:15 a.m. I look forward to answering your questions and seeing you all there!
Each Friday, I post a video update about the session on my Facebook page.
Water Conservation and Optimization
The Legislature celebrated Water Week, a week where we focus on legislation aimed at water conservation, agricultural water optimization and water security. One of my bills, S.B. 118, creates a grant program to offset the cost difference between traditional and xeriscape landscaping in new home construction. It is a step toward promoting water conservation and sustainable development. Xeriscaping not only conserves water but also minimizes maintenance requirements and supports biodiversity, offering long-term cost savings for homeowners and developers.
Another water bill we passed this week is S.B. 18, which recognizes the critical role of agriculture in our state. The bill acknowledges the necessity of ensuring farmers have access to the water required for successful cultivation and encourages them to use it in the most efficient manner possible. This bill allows the agricultural community to save, monetize and sell their excess water while maintaining their water rights.
Protecting Youth from the Harms of Social Media
Social media is an extremely harmful product for our youth. Last week, I presented my social media bill to the Senate Business and Labor Committee. During the presentation, we heard from leading experts around the world and Utahns who have had first-hand experiences with the detrimental effects of social media.
My goal is to help protect our youth and give parents additional resources. S.B. 194 works to protect minors by creating default privacy settings, disabling addictive design features, and adding supervisory tools for parents.
S.B. 194 passed committee and will now be heard on the Senate floor.
Celebrating Olympic Marathon Runners
Last week, I had the honor of hosting Conner Mantz and Clayton Young at the Capitol. Both Conner and Clayton qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic marathon by taking 1st and 2nd place in the U.S. Olympic trials earlier this month. Their remarkable finish and astounding display of sportsmanship have inspired many athletes and Americans. Conner and Clayton represent the best of Utah and the United States. I am proud of what they have accomplished and can’t wait to watch them compete in the Olympics this summer.
You can watch them crossing the finish line at the Olympic trials here and the recognition on the Senate floor here.
