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 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.
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. 152Social 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. 152Social 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.
Week three is done, and the Legislature has passed 50 total bills. We’ve seen some great bills that are the culmination of years of work and negotiation. The great thing about the Utah Legislature is that almost everyone up here tries hard to be open, respectful, and collaborative. Even though we’ve heard a lot about unity in the last few weeks I think that many people get it wrong. Unity is not about getting people to think the way that you do. It is all about people with many different perspectives united in purpose to work toward common goals. Even with all our differences, we all still share some common goals. We all want Utah to have a booming economy, a first-rate education for our kids, clean air, affordable and accessible healthcare, recreational opportunities, and safe communities.
I appreciate all of you who have taken the time and effort to share your viewpoints so far. Please, keep it up and stay involved.
Watch my Week 3 Video Update
Parole Amendments
Occasionally, the work we do in the legislature directly impacts the lives of our friends and loved ones. 26 years ago, we lost someone dear in our community. Her remains have never been recovered. This is tragic and the pain continues for those impacted.
My bill, S.B. 124, Parole Amendments provides that someone who has been convicted of homicide in the State of Utah will not be released on parole if the victim’s remains have not been found or if the offender can’t show by a preponderance of evidence a good-faith effort to cooperate with the recovery of the victim’s remains. So far, S.B. 124 passed unanimously in committee and on its second reading in the full Senate.
Deceased Voters
Although Utah works hard to have accurate and secure elections, ballots occasionally are mailed to deceased voters. This session, I’m the floor sponsor of H.B. 12Deceased Voter Amendments, which creates a more uniform process to rectify this issue. When a Utahn passes away, the bill requires that the death certificate be sent from the state registrar to the Lieutenant Governor’s office within five business days of the certificate’s registration. The certificate will then be sent to the County Clerk’s office where the deceased name will be removed from the voter rolls. Before each election cycle, the Lieutenant Governor’s office will also cross-check each name against United States Social Security Administration data. H.B. 12 passed the Senate and House and will be sent to the governor. To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.
Honoring Officer Nathan Lyday
The Utah Legislature paid tribute and honored the exemplary life of Officer Nathan Lyday from the Ogden City Police Department. On May 28, 2020, Officer Nathan Lyday made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down his life for the protection of others. That day will remain a date of significance and honor for the city of Ogden and the state of Utah. May we remember and thank our law enforcement officers for protecting our communities. Listen to the floor time presentation here. Read the full citation here.
Law Enforcement Weapons Amendments
Equipping our law enforcement officers with the latest resources to address incidents is critical to protecting the public. S.B. 68 Law Enforcement Weapons Amendments, would create a pilot program that would help the Utah Highway Patrol in purchasing technology to assist law enforcement agencies in police incidents where firearms are involved. This technology would allow firearms to record the number of shots fired and indicate when it was fired. This simple modification would improve the effectiveness of police investigations where firearms are used. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. Listen to the bill’s presentation on the Senate floor here.
Conceal Carry Firearm Amendments
Utah currently has an “open carry” law that allows individuals who are legally able to possess a firearm to open carry in public. H.B.60 Conceal Carry Firearms Amendments, would allow anyone over 21, who is legally allowed to possess a firearm, to carry a concealed weapon in public without a concealed carry permit. Additionally, this bill would establish a Suicide Prevention and Education Fund and a portion of funds collected from the concealed carry permit class will go toward suicide prevention efforts and firearm safety. This bill will not discontinue the concealed carry permit class or change specifications on how firearms can be carried in public. H.B. 60 passed the Senate and will be sent to the House for their consideration. Listen to the bill’s presentation on the Senate floor here.
Driver License Changes
This week, we considered legislation that would make changes to the driver’s license requirements for new drivers. H.B. 18Driver Education Amendments, would extend the term of a learner permit from one year to 18 months. This change does not prevent youth from getting their license upon turning 16. In addition, this bill would remove the required six observation hours for driver education observation for 15-17-year-olds. This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate. To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.
Holocaust Education
Many adults learned about the Holocaust during their K-12 years; however, it seems this important, historic lesson is slowly diminishing in our children’s education. S.C.R. 1Concurrent Resolution on Holocaust Education, highlights the importance of Holocaust and genocide education for students and encourages the State Board of Education and local education agencies to provide Holocaust and genocide content for schools. This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate and will now be considered by the House. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.
Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts
The last year has been hard on everyone as we’ve learned to live life during a pandemic. Many have been sick or lost loved ones. Thousands lost jobs and some lost businesses. Students, teachers and families had to adapt to a new style of teaching. During this challenging time, many individuals in our state and local health departments worked tirelessly to produce, publish and promote accurate information to help us navigate this pandemic. This week, the Senate passed H.C.R. 6Concurrent Resolution Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts, to recognize and express our appreciation for these individuals. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.
Financial Relief for Businesses Harmed by COVID-19
Over the last year, we made significant efforts to provide economic support to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. S.B. 25Corporate Tax Amendments, provides more targeted relief to businesses by allowing them to carry back a Utah net loss realized during 2020 for up to three years. The idea is if a business was profitable in the three years leading up to 2020, but then suffered a loss in 2020, the loss is very likely to have been caused by the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.
Covid Data State Data (as of February 5th) Total Cases: 352,489 Total People Tested: 2,061,926 Total Hospitalizations: 13,755 Total Deaths: 1,728 Estimated Recovered: 318,034 Vaccines Administered: 382,881
Utah County Dept of Health Total Cases: 85,826 Current Cases 3,697 Total Tested: 411,054 Deaths: 295 Vaccinations: 1st Dose: 48,849 2nd Dose: 12,102 Total: 60,951
After two weeks of session, we’re hitting our stride and getting a lot done. One comment I hear quite often from constituents is that we are just passing way too many laws. There is some truth to that. What Utahns may not know, is that many, if not most bills make very small changes to Utah law. In fact, quite often, bills repeal laws that were passed years ago. So, it is not all about adding more laws, it’s also about fixing what is already on the books. The last few years have seen more of a push to remove burdensome regulations that don’t improve the lives of Utahns or make us any safer.
Occasionally, a law is passed and months later, it is found that there are unintended consequences to that law. It can be something as simple as replacing the word “shall” for the word “may.” It is important that we fix mistakes and do everything we can to get government out of people’s lives while also protecting their rights. Of course, we’re all imperfect and we need your help to get things done. For years, Utah has been ranked the most well-run state in the nation because we have an intelligent, educated, hard-working citizenry that are engaged in the process. Please, continue to be involved in this process. We can’t do it without you.
Watch my Video Recap
As always, I’ve provided some summaries of bills that we are considering. You’ll find links to the bill text, to video of debates, and occasionally, news coverage of the issues involved.
Free Speech
I am working on a bill that protects the free speech rights of Utahns from threats made by private corporations or people who may want to restrict free expression. I’ll let you know when this legislation is available and ready for consideration.
Human Services Oversight
Some of you may have seen recent media attention about residential treatment centers for youths in Utah. This industry and other similar human services businesses have operated in Utah for years without much oversight. Unfortunately, I’ve seen some examples of questionable practices in my work as an attorney. Teenagers can be drugged, physically held down, locked in rooms for hours on end and quite often these punishments are not a part of any record or documentation.
My bill, S.B. 127, Human Services Program Amendments has the support of stakeholders in the industry and has been in the works for some time. It’s designed to limit the punishments allowed under law and increase reporting, inspections and general oversight, especially the use of physical restraints and seclusion. S.B. 127 was introduced in the Senate this week and will be considered in a Senate standing committee soon. Read more about it here: Salt Lake Tribune
Mental Health Treatment
The nationwide push for a mental health crisis hotline began here in Utah. It has become increasingly clear that mental health services need to be improved, and first responders are often not trained to help people experiencing a mental health crisis. This session, more is being done to put trained professionals in positions to help people in crisis.
S.B. 53Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments, make additional mental health crisis training available for emergency services professionals. Agencies throughout Utah can create teams of appropriately trained professionals to respond specifically to mental health emergencies. These professionals will be licensed to triage people and get them the resources they need. S.B. 47 Mental Health Crisis, Intervention Council creates a council of stakeholders from various agencies to design the statewide training offered to these emergency services professionals.
Additionally, S.B. 41Mental Health Access Amendments, require health benefit plans to cover telehealth services for mental health treatment if the plan also covers in-person treatment of the same mental health conditions. All three bills passed in the Senate and are now in the House for consideration.
To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 41, S.B. 47 and S.B. 53.
Criminal Penalties
The Utah Sentencing Commission is responsible for advising the Legislature, governor and judicial council regarding sentencing and releasing policies for those who have committed crimes. Last year, the Commission reviewed S.B. 50Juvenile Offender Penalty Amendments and recommended its passage in the Legislature. The bill came from an issue where a young adult was charged as an adult for a crime committed as a 14-year-old. As a result, they served 10 years in state prison and were put on the sex offender registry. The bill would help ensure that if individuals commit a crime, they face the appropriate level of punishment based on their age when the crime was committed. Currently, if a crime report is delayed until after the perpetrator is an adult, they are tried as an adult.
In Utah criminal law, gang enhancement provisions were applied to help alleviate issues with street gangs or organized criminal enterprises. Since the provisions were originally created, the requirements for applying the enhancements have been considerably loosened. The enhancement was recently used against protesters who committed acts of vandalism. The broad nature of the provisions allowed vandalism to be raised to the level of a first-degree felony, punishable by a maximum life sentence. S.B. 51 Group Gang Enhancement Amendments, raises the bar so that the enhancements are only used in violent offenses and increases the requirement for the number of assailants involved.
S.B. 64 Domestic Violence Amendments, proposes to change Utah law to make domestic violence a third-degree felony in certain situations. If it is a third-time offense in a 10-year window, it will be charged as a third-degree felony. All these bills passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.
To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 50, S.B. 51 and S.B. 64.
Double taxation is an issue brought forth by the Utah Tax Commission in which a tax is being paid twice on the same source of income. S.B. 95Sales Tax Revisions, creates a one-time tax collection for services, a tax break that already exists for retail. Currently, when a business owner needs to purchase items in order to provide a service, the business owner is taxed for the items needed and then the consumer is taxed again for the cost of the service. This bill makes retail and service tax equal by taxing goods and services only once. S.B. 95 passed in Senate Revenue and Taxation committee and is currently placed on the second reading calendar.
Price Controls
Since 2005, the Price Controls During Emergencies Act was not used or modified until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. S.B. 86 Amendments to the Price Controls During Emergencies Act, makes necessary changes to the act to ensure consumers are not price gouged and protects Utahns from false claims during an emergency. S.B. 86 targets four changes to the act, including checkpoints before an investigation, transparency in changes to the cost of items, privacy protection for those accused until after adjudication and higher evidentiary standards. This bill passed in Senate Business and Labor committee.
Budget
This week we passed our base budget bills. These bills traditionally use the previous year’s ongoing appropriations as a starting point. This was the first year we included $95 million in new money for education growth and inflation in the base budgets, making it the first year we have included these items in our base budgets. In addition, we also included an increase in per-pupil spending to restore last year’s 6 percent WPU increase. Overall, our base budgets we passed this week they also include over half a billion dollars in new state spending for high priority items such as education, Medicaid and COVID-19 response.
I Look Forward to Hearing From You!
I can be reached by email at mmckell@le.utah.gov. My mobile phone number is 801-210-1495.
Thank you for all you do to make Utah the best state in the nation – and thanks for paying attention.
Thank you for your service to the Party as a delegate. I am running for the Utah State Senate and feel I am worthy of your support.
Due to concerns with COVID-19, the State Party has decided that all delegates from the previous caucus will continue to serve as your term has not expired. This means that you will be a county delegate and participate in the restructured online Utah County Convention on April 18th. The Party will provide further information on how you will be able to participate and vote for our nominees. Please let me know if you have moved or are unable to participate in the restructured online Utah County Convention by calling me at (801) 210-1495 or emailing me at mike@mikemckell.wpengine.com. Thank you for your continued service.
Our state is facing challenging times ahead due to economic uncertainty, and we will need a strong, steady hand to help guide us. Many of the pressing issues will be firmly placed around the budget and making sure that essential government services are funded. In addition, our residents may struggle with financial difficulties as a result of these economic and social uncertainties. Given my extensive experience in the legislature, I have the skills necessary to keep our state government open and moving forward. I have the ideas and the abilities that will best help my constituents in these difficult times.
My voting history in the State House of Representatives shows that I stand for conservative values. I have repeatedly voted for a balanced budget, for less burdensome government regulations, protection of second amendment rights, and pro-life legislation.
Utah is the best place in the world to live. We look out for each other. We care for each other. We serve each other. We will weather this uncertainty together and with dignity. It is an honor to serve you in the state legislature, and I would love to earn your support to serve you in the Utah State Senate. I will continue to stand for conservative values and for the rights of my constituents.
Over the next few weeks, I intend call each of you delegates to discuss how I can earn your vote at the Utah County Convention. I look forward to our conversation. If you would like to reach out to me, you are welcome to call me on my personal cell phone at (801) 210-1495.
Please take extra precautions to keep your family safe. I look forward to connecting with you.
