Author: Nikaela Penrod

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This month, Utah launched a ‘Harms of Social Media’ public awareness campaign to help educate and empower parents about the potential dangers social media poses to our children.

Studies show a correlation between social media use and increased mental health issues in youth. With 76% of Utah children using social media, it’s crucial to recognize that it cannot replace real-world interactions.

Research shows 88% of Utah parents acknowledge the detrimental impact of social media on their children’s well-being. This campaign seeks to help equip parents with the knowledge and tools to take action.

Tips for parents regarding social media activity:

• Create a family media plan with expectations of how and when to use technology and social media.
• Learn about social media platforms and how they work.
• Have open and honest discussions with your child about the harms of social media and spending time online.
• Model responsible online behavior for your child.
• Reconsider allowing your child to have social media.
• Free up time to connect with your child device-free.
• Create tech-free zones & find opportunities to connect in person with your child.

Property Taxes

I have heard from many constituents who were surprised to see a drastic increase in their property taxes this year. While the Legislature did stop a property tax increase of $146 million, most property taxes are not decided at the state level. The increase in property taxes is occurring at the local level with school, city, county and water conservancy districts.

However, the Legislature has been looking at ways for the state to help address concerns surrounding property tax increases. The Revenue and Taxation Committee spent its entire interim committee meeting discussing this issue. Committee staff provided a helpful overview regarding how property taxes work in our state. The committee also heard from county assessors about a statewide shift between residential property and commercial property owners, influencing the rise in the property tax burden. 

I will continue to work with my colleagues to review this issue as we prepare for the 2024 General Session.

School Security Task Force Update

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. 

Special Session Update

Special sessions serve as a chance for the Legislature to address urgent matters between regular sessions. This month, we convened for the second special session of the 65th Legislature to allocate funds for the special election of Congressional District 2, following Rep. Chris Stewart’s resignation. Ensuring Utah maintains representation with minimal delay is of utmost importance, and we took steps to expedite the process to fill the vacant seat.

We passed H.B. 2001 Election Amendments, which makes temporary amendments to current election law, including changing the dates of the 2023 municipal primary and general elections and appropriating money to cover the costs associated with those changes.

To minimize the amount of time the congressional seat will be vacant and to accommodate this year’s municipal elections, primary elections throughout the state will be held on September 5, 2023, and the general election on November 21, 2023.

H.B. 2001 also modifies deadlines for changing party affiliation status in relation to the special congressional election date and provides for a one-time appropriation of $2.5 million to cover costs.

Congressman Stewart has been a dedicated public servant and good friend. He will be missed as a leader in Utah, and I thank him for his service to our state and nation. We keenly anticipate welcoming a new individual to Utah’s congressional delegation.

Advice and Consent

The Senate convened for advice and consent to confirm the governor’s appointments to several public positions, including eight new members to the Utah Board of Higher Education, Brian Steed as the new Great Salt Lake commissioner and Brian Redd as the new executive director of the Department of Corrections.

Sensitive Materials in Schools 

Last year, the Legislature passed H.B. 374 Sensitive Materials in Schools to prohibit pornographic or inappropriate books in school libraries. Since the law passed, school districts created policies and processes to review books with public input. With the new law in place, an individual challenged the Bible’s content for school-aged children in Davis School District. After the Bible was reviewed by a committee, it was deemed inappropriate for younger children in elementary or middle school but appropriate for high school students. The Davis School District recently completed a review on the matter and overturned the committee’s decision, making the Bible available in elementary, middle and high school libraries.

However, the potential removal of the Bible in Davis School District was concerning and, as a result, caused the Legislature to review the processes that led to this point. During this month’s interim meetings, the Administrative Rules and General Oversight Committee, as well as the Education Interim Committee, heard from Davis School Board representatives regarding the Bible being deemed not age-appropriate for elementary and middle school libraries. A bill file was opened during both committees to remedy this type of situation in the future. The bill will be worked on over the next few months and vetted during the 2024 General Session. 

Appropriations Subcommittee & Interim Committee Highlights

During this month’s interim meetings, the Legislature’s appropriation subcommittees met for the first time since the end of the general session. Appropriation subcommittees perform an important function in the development of the state’s budget. Each of the eight appropriations subcommittees considers a specific portion of the budget and makes recommendations to the Executive Appropriations Committee regarding which requests should receive state funds. Appropriations subcommittees examine at least 20% of the budget within their purview, guaranteeing the entire state budget is thoroughly vetted every five years.

In addition to appropriations subcommittees, we held meetings to discuss potential legislation and review study items. Following the approval of specific study items, our committees began discussing potential policies in more depth, considering the key subjects and issues facing our state.

Highlights from appropriation and interim meetings are below.

• During the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, legislators heard an update from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) on double-tracking the FrontRunner. Double-tracking the FrontRunner system will increase service frequency with a train coming every 30 minutes for all-day service and every 15 minutes during peak commuting hours. Currently, trains only come every hour for all-day service and every 30 minutes during peak hours. Under UDOT’s plan, 50% of the current system will be double-tracked and 10 additional trains will be added. The project completion date for double-tracking the FrontRunner is set for 2029. 
• Legislators discussed artificial intelligence (AI) policies for state agencies during the Government Operations Interim Committee. Utah’s Chief Information Officer shared the opportunities and dangers of AI in state government. Though AI is already providing strong productivity gains for the workforce, the Legislature is cautious about the new technology and created a working group to examine the benefits and pitfalls. 
• The Natural Resources, Agricultural and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee heard from the Utah Geological Survey about the need for geologic hazard mapping to mitigate landslides and other hazards in metropolitan, rapid development and high recreational use areas. The need for landslide mapping and geotechnical reports would give researchers a better understanding of Utah’s geological makeup and provide Utahns with safety information about the location of their homes and businesses. 
• The Transportation Interim Committee heard from legislative staff on reckless driving and road rage. Utah Highway Patrol also presented data regarding increasing road rage violence in Utah and shared that over the last five years, an average of 770 crashes yearly were due to aggressive driving and road rage, with fatalities steadily increasing in the last three years due to these behaviors. Life-endangering aggressive driving behaviors include:
  • Following too closely
  • Excessive speed
  • Weaving through traffic
  • Running stop lights/stop signs
  • Improper passing (passing on the right or shoulder, failure to signal)
  • Unnecessary honking

These behaviors can escalate to gesturing, yelling, confrontation, assault and murder. Learn de-escalation techniques here and review the presentation here.

• The Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee viewed presentations from the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), the Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL) and Office of Professional Licensure Review (OPLR) regarding workforce expansion. DWS shared how their programs are effectively connecting job seekers to open jobs through labor exchange services, individualized case management and career exploration, coaching and education funding. The committee was also informed roughly 35% of the Utah workforce interacts with DWS and of those, 21.5% successfully find a job. 

First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program

During the 2023 General Session, the Utah Legislature worked to combat the state’s housing crisis. One of the solutions was S.B. 240 First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program, which allocates $50 million to aid first-time homebuyers. S.B. 240 is anticipated to help approximately 2,500 Utahns get out of apartments and into homes. With the program, qualifying applicants can receive up to $20,000 to use for down payments, closing costs, or buying down a permanent interest rate.

To qualify for the loan, buyers must purchase a home that is either a new build or has never been lived in and has a final purchase price of up to $450,000. The funds will be made available this summer and qualifying Utahns will receive assistance on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Bryce Canyon Celebrates 100 Years

This month, Bryce Canyon National Park celebrates 100 years. President Warren G. Harding first deemed Bryce Canyon as a national monument on June 8, 1923. Five years later, Bryce Canyon National Park was officially established.

Bryce Canyon is a national and state treasure offering unparalleled views and experiences for over a million people each year. The national park’s rich landscape is home to the world’s most extensive collection of hoodoos, a specific rock formation. It also has more than 70 miles of trails and more than 60 million visitors from around the world have come to this unique national park. I join the rest of Utah and the U.S. in celebrating its centennial anniversary!

March 23, 2023 – Today, Gov. Cox signed S.B. 152 Social Media Regulation Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell. The bill places restrictions on social media companies and provides parents with additional tools to protect teens from the harmful effects of social media.

In February, the CDC released data showing that nearly three in five (57%) of U.S. teen girls persistently felt sad or hopeless in 2021, doubling that of boys. Additionally, the data showed that nearly one in three girls seriously contemplated suicide. Since 2010, rates of depression and mental health crises in American teens have nearly doubled, where before, rates remained stagnant. Social media creation and use have been linked to these increased rates.

“In Utah, we care deeply about our teen’s mental health,” said Sen. McKell. “Since 2009, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation has drastically increased among minors in Utah and across the United States. After reviewing the data and talking with teens and parents, I decided to run S.B. 152 Social Media Regulation Amendments. Utah is leading the way to fight back against the harms of social media and providing parents with more resources and controls. As a lawmaker and parent, I believe we are helping prevent our children from succumbing to social media’s negative and sometimes life-threatening effects.”

S.B. 152 enacts a strict age verification process and allows parents or legal guardians to set time restrictions on social media use. The bill also blocks direct messages to minors without being “friends” on the platform and prevents social media companies from collecting and selling data on minors.

Gov. Spencer J. Cox held a ceremonial signing for S.B. 127 Human Services Program Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell on April 6, 2021. S.B. 127 increases transparency in Utah’s congregate care facilities.

“It’s been 15 years since the state last reformed standards for licensed youth facilities,” said Gov. Cox. “While these facilities provide critical services and resources to families, we must always ensure the safety of participants and hold bad actors accountable. I am grateful to the bill sponsors, industry leaders and individuals that came together to support this legislation.”

“Signing S.B. 127 into law is a great first step towards creating safe environments in residential treatment centers,” said Sen. McKell. “Working with survivors to craft this legislation has been a privilege. Their stories revealed the need for positive reform in the industry, and guided us toward regulations that will protect youth. I am grateful for their bravery and courage in sharing their personal experiences and the opportunity I had to be part of such impactful change.”

Paris Hilton and Caroline Lorson, advocates for Breaking Code Silence, attended the ceremonial signing along with other individuals who experienced mistreatment in Utah congregate care facilities. Breaking Code Silence is an organization that seeks to raise awareness and end abuse in the troubled teen industry.

“I’m grateful for Utah leaders, who not only gave me the space to share my personal experience, but took the necessary action to prevent further mistreatment,” said Paris Hilton. “Listening to the stories of other survivors and returning to Utah has been empowering. I hope moving forward Utah stands as an example to other states as we continue to push for congregate care reform throughout the country and at the federal level.”

Lawmakers worked directly with the Utah Office of Licensing on S.B. 127 to enhance guardrails in congregate care programs. Treatment centers will be regulated and monitored by the Office of Licensing.