Legislative Bills

SB0133S02 | Food Security Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses food security in the state.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill addresses food security in Utah. It creates the State Nutrition Action Coalition at USU to coordinate state efforts in addressing food security

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0133S02

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 21, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$75,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to Utah State University -- Cooperative Extension, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $75,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will strengthen Utah PTA's efforts to ensure that all children have better access to healthy food. Food insecurity is linked to lower reading and math scores, falling behind peers academically and socially, and may lead to increased risk of behavioral issues such as anxiety, hyperactivity and aggression.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a child’s health, well-being and balance. Unfortunately, in many cases, if a student arrives late for school, they do not have an opportunity to participate in breakfast after the bell, which can lead to lack of focus and attention. Food insecurity is linked to lower reading and math scores, falling behind peers academically and socially, and may lead to increased risk of behavioral issues, such as anxiety, hyperactivity and aggression. National PTA is keenly aware that food insecurity, faced by 14 million children, is exacerbated by meal debt policies that shame and stigmatize.

SB0133 | Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies provisions relating to the retail sale of electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires the State Tax Commission to report suspected sales of illegal electronic cigarette products or nicotine products to the local health department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Safety; It also requires the local health department to investigate whether the sale is illegal; and requires the State Tax Commission to maintain and publish a list of all persons licensed to distribute an electronic cigarette product or a nicotine product in the state. It requires an electronic cigarette product or a nicotine product retailer to purchase the products from a distributor that is licensed in the state; and requires the State Tax Commission to impose a penalty upon a retailer that purchases an electronic cigarette product or nicotine product from a person other than a licensed distributor;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0133

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$1,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations - CITS State Bureau of Investigation as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $750,000 to Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations - CITS State Bureau of Investigation as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $250,000

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth

Impact on Children:

These requirements further protect Utah's youth from purchasing E-cigarettes and nicotine products that may contain an unlawful amount of nicotine.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA seek and support legislation that would include ENDS in the Utah Code Annotated definition of tobacco products and treat them as such –including the need for licensing, sales restrictions, tax parity, and marketing.

SB0134S01 | Tobacco Regulation Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions relating to the regulation of electronic cigarettes.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸ provides that a regulation on nicotine content in electronic cigarette products may not be more restrictive than a certain level; and
▸ limits the Department of Health's authority to regulate certain electronic cigarette products that have been authorized for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Substitute 1

▸lower the nicotine level slightly, but not really. Most products could still stay at the higher levels.

▸takes a lot of the positive aspects and wording from SB 189 and puts them in this bill - strengthening of penalties, etc.

▸raises the tax on e-cigarettes

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0134S01

Year:

2021

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

SB 134 Sub 1 attempts to placate the crowd who is against this bill by raising the tax, and upping the penalties for retailers who break the rules, in turn, then it would be ok for them to up the levels of nicotine in these products. "See, we are doing something to take them out of the hands of kids, and you don't really care about everyone else being hooked on nicotine, and in case you still are concerned, here's some money..."

Senator Bramble has framed this legislation as the case of the Health Dept trying to put in place rules and regulations, but that it should be the legislature who does that. HB 23 had the same wording as HB 415 from 2015, that Senator Bramble was a sponsor of, and he didn't seem to mind that for the past 5 years, but he is upset now since the DOH came back with answers that someone doesn't like. The DOH has come out in opposition to this bill as well, and you don't usually see a department of the government coming out like that. If the senators were listening to this more as a health issue, their responses might be different, but this did get sent to the Senate Business & Labor Commission, so that tells you something about how they are approaching this bill (and most of the vaping legilation over the years).

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth

Impact on Children:

Flavors and nicotine are the 1-2 punch that gets our children hooked on e-cigarettes. Allowing tobacco companies to triple the amount of nicotine which will be very harmful to anyone who tries e-cigarettes and becomes addicted.

It also increases the Preemption Expansion that was started in HB 23 last year - Removes local power to regulate products - at all - makes it so tobacco companies just need to lobby the state legislature, which may be unfairly influenced by conflicts of interest or special interest money.

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA will participate with other organizations in educating the public about the dangers of tobacco products, their effects, and the cost of the use of tobacco products to society as a whole.

SB0134S04 | Special Education Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the delivery of special education services in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill amends provisions related to the delivery of special education services in public schools. This bill requires a local education agency (LEA) to provide special education in the least restrictive environment" and permits an LEA to provide special education to a student with disabilities regardless of whether the other students in the class or setting are students without a disability.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0134S04

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Unnecessary

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2017-1 | High Expectations for Students with Disabilities (retired)

Impact on Children:

Using restricted special education funds for purposes other than to specifically benefit students with disabilities will negatively impact the education of students with disabilities by decreasing the resources available for these students. Also, this bill seems to imply that the least restrictive environment is the general education classroom and the most restrictive environment is the special education classroom. This is not true. LEAs are already required to serve special education students in the LRE for each student according to their Individualized Education Program. The LRE is not a place; it's where a student is least restricted in accessing their curriculum. LRE could be different for every student. It is based on their individual IEPs.

Commission:

Education

Special Needs Specialist

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support funding for ongoing pre-service training and professional development for all teachers regarding adapting instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the general education classroom; accommodations that improve access to the general curriculum; and high expectations for all students with regards to both behavior and academics; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support schools in implementing best practices in meeting the needs of diverse students through such practices as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and inclusion to support instruction from a Core content expert, and access to accommodations including assistive technology for students with disabilities;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation: Equity in the form of equal justice, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities in every phase of life for all children and youth, while recognizing that each child is unique with individual needs and talents.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Support expedited state special education funding to support and implement IEPs for public school students with disabilities.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA firmly believes that all students—including students from historically marginalized populations—have the right to a quality, equitable education in a safe, supportive and inclusive school.

SB0137S04 | Course Choice Empowerment

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes a private online course choice program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill establishes a private and home school online course choice program.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0137S04

Year:

2025

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 27, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

This bill takes approximately $8 million to create an online course program for homeschool and private school students. This will decrease available funding for public schools, when private or homeschool students can already access public school online options.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations will always oppose funding methods that divert funds away from public education system if the accountability methods are not equal to or greater than those of public education system.

Legislative Bills

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