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Checking In At The Legislature:
2021 Legislative Session Final Week
Friends and Neighbors,
 
The 2021 Utah legislature has come to an end until January 2022. The most touching experience of the seven weeks was seeing and hearing from Rep John Hawkins, who has been in the ICU for 9 weeks with COVID-19. You can see his address to the House here. On the final day of the session, we had Representative Kay Christofferson join us for the first time. He has been recovering from 3 weeks in the ICU and has been on oxygen ever since. It’s times like this we realize the seriousness of this pandemic as we still have other neighbors who are in the ICU with COVID-19 or friends who have it in their homes. The Governor announced his hope in having vaccines available to all Utahns starting on April 1st. 
 
To mitigate the effects of COVID-19, the legislature funded more than $250 million in economic development assistance, testing, and vaccine distribution. We passed HB294 and SB195, limiting the governor and local health departments' emergency powers during a pandemic, creating a better balance of power and authority over how long and how far-reaching statewide orders can be given.

We gave $100 million in new tax cuts. We gave raises to government workers, front-line workers in social service agencies, public safety, and corrections. We’ve committed nearly half a billion dollars to public education yearly in ongoing funds and put $127 million in an education rainy day fund. Funding 2 new state parks (Utahraptor State Park and Lost Creek State Park) and $1.1 billion in transportation projects, the Utah legislature is looking far into the future for what we want our state to look like for our children.
 
Thanks for trusting me to be your legislator. I will continue working hard for us and our families.
 
-Melissa
With my husband Craig on the House floor, last night of the session, and with Rep Kay Christofferson and his wife Suzanne.

Helpful Links

  • A short video summarizing what was accomplished in the 2021 session:
  • House Majority Priorities
  • Summary of bills that passed this legislative session Selected Highlights of the Utah Legislature
  • Budget quick facts click here

Helpful links summarizing the bills that passed or failed:

In This Issue

  • 8 of my bills passed this session!
  • Links for recent town halls with Sen Weiler, Rep Ward, and with the Mighty 8 Women Republican legislators of the Utah House
  • 125th Statehood Anniversary Flag
  • Thanking our front-line workers
  • Intern Corner
  • Bills passed this week

8 of my bills passed and are ready for the governor to sign! 

  • HB326S02 Performance Reporting and Efficiency Requirements for more transparency and optimization of tax dollars
  • HB223S04 Alternative Fuel Incentives Amendments Budget to encourage zero-emission applications powered by hydrogen.
  • As the Chair of the Utah Marriage Commission, HB55S02 Marriage Commission Amendments and HB406 Marriage Revisions were crucial for promoting stronger marriage and relationships in our state.
  • I worked with NSL neighbor Commissioner David Woolstenhulme for HB318 Higher Education Amendments to streamline institution roles.
  • HB18S01 Driver Education Amendments eliminated 6 hrs of observation for 16-17 yr olds.
  • HB226S01 Long-term Care Patient and Consumer Rights requires facilities to disclose if they restrict providers from treating patients.
  • HCR16 Honored the 125th Anniversary of the 1st legislative session and the many legislators since who have helped to make this a great state.

Town Hall Links

Town Hall with Senator Todd Weiler and Rep Ray Ward every Saturday during the session is recorded on my legislative Facebook page. Here’s a link to the last one we did.
 
Mighty 8 Republican Women legislators in the Utah House of Representatives have been gathering for legislative updates. Enjoy watching the three videos here:
The Mighty 8 Republican Women of the Utah House. Me, Representatives Karianne Lisonbee, Christine Watkins, Susan Pulsipher, Kera Birkeland, Candice Pierucci, Marsha Judkins, Cheryl Acton.

125th Anniversary Commemorative Utah Flag

The legislature passed SB48 approving the Statehood 125th Anniversary Commemorative Flag for 2021, and a task force to consider a new Utah flag.
Senator Dan McCay and Representative Stephen Handy holding the Utah 125th Anniversary of Statehood flag

Thanking Front-Line Healthcare Workers

During this session, we gave special thanks to our front-line workers. We at the legislature were fortunate enough to have great healthcare workers provide us with COVID-19 testing regularly so we could conduct the people's works as safely as possible. We also gave special thanks to the highway patrol for keeping us at the Capitol safe as well as our communities. 

Intern Corner: Leah Roberts, Orem

“Working for Representative Ballard has been awesome! It’s really exciting having a front seat to the legislative process, and I’ve learned a lot listening to committee meetings, floor time, private appointments, fellow interns, and Representative Ballard herself. I’ve been impressed by her open-mindedness, and her willingness to work with others. District 20 is lucky to have her!”
With intern Leah Roberts

Bills Passed Week 7 (As of Thursday at 5 pm)

H.B. 2 Public Education Budget Amendments
H.B. 3 Current Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations
H.B. 146 Overdose Harm Reduction Working Group
H.B. 154 Use of Force Revisions
H.B. 218 Reporting Requirement Amendments
H.B. 251 Electronic Location Amendments
H.B. 294 Pandemic Emergency Powers Amendments
H.B. 314 Motorboat Agreements Act
H.B. 345 School Resource Officers Amendments
H.B. 353 Barber Licensing Amendments
H.B. 375 Agriculture Amendments
H.B. 378 Education Standards Review Committee Amendments
H.B. 380 Medical Examiner Revisions
H.B. 389 Medicaid Recovery Amendments
H.B. 394 Collection Agency Amendments
H.B. 402 School Transportation Funding Amendments
H.B. 404 Utah Immigration Assistance Center
H.B. 406 Marriage Revisions
H.B. 409 Municipal and County Land Use and Development Revisions
H.B. 410 Juvenile Justice Amendments
H.B. 415 Executive Order Review Process Amendments
H.B. 416 Local Tax Sales Amendments
H.B. 421 Intensive Services Pilot Program
H.B. 422 Political Subdivision Civil Liability Amendments
H.B. 425 Education Monitoring and Funds Management Amendments
H.B. 426 Therapy Animals Amendments
H.B. 433 Amendments Related to Infrastructure Funding
H.C.R. 21 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing the 100th Year Anniversary of the Department of Agriculture and Food
H.C.R. 22 Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the Contributions of Multilingual and Multicultural Families to Utah Schools
H.C.R. 23 Concurrent Resolution in Support of Criminal Justice Restoration and Reform
H.J.R. 16 Joint Resolution Honoring Helen Foster Snow
H.J.R. 17 Joint Rules Resolution -- Procedural Amendments
H.R. 7 Resolution Honoring Legislative Staff
H.R. 8 Resolution to Protect Utah's Institutions of Higher Education from Chinese Communist Party Influence
S.B. 2 New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations Act
S.B. 11 Military Retirement Income Tax Amendments
S.B. 12 Reauthorization of Administrative Rules
S.B. 15 Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments
S.B. 17 Criminal Code Evaluation Task Force Extension
S.B. 19 Expanded Infertility Treatment Coverage Pilot Program Amendments
S.B. 27 Physician Assistant Act Amendments
S.B. 34 Governmental Use of Facial Recognition Technology
S.B. 37 Public Infrastructure District Revisions
S.B. 40 Storage Tanks Amendments
S.B. 42 Tax Commission Collection Amendments
S.B. 47 Mental Health Crisis Intervention Council
S.B. 48 State Flag Amendments
S.B. 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments
S.B. 63 Caregiver Compensation Amendments
S.B. 68 Law Enforcement Weapons Amendments
S.B. 73 Vehicle Registration Checkoff and Fee Amendments
S.B. 86 Amendments to the Price Controls During Emergencies Act
S.B. 92 Elections Amendments
S.B. 98 Asset Forfeiture Amendments
S.B. 103 Dental Hygienist Amendments
S.B. 104 Tax Levy for Animal Control
S.B. 107 In-person Instruction Prioritization
S.B. 117 Human Smuggling Amendments
S.B. 127 Human Services Program Amendments
S.B. 137 Alcoholic Beverage Control Retail Store Amendments
S.B. 140 Pharmacy Benefit Amendments
S.B. 142 Public Education Funding Amendments
S.B. 143 Revenue Bond and Capital Facilities Amendments
S.B. 153 Utah Personal Exemption Amendments
S.B. 154 Teacher Salary Supplement Program Amendments
S.B. 155 988 Mental Health Crisis Assistance
S.B. 156 Criminal Offense Amendments
S.B. 159 Law Enforcement Data Management Requirements
S.B. 161 Mental Health Systems Amendments
S.B. 164 Utah Housing Affordability Amendments
S.B. 167 Utah Film Economic Incentives
S.B. 181 Department of Government Operations
S.B. 188 Procurement Code Revisions
S.B. 193 Higher Education Performance Funding
S.B. 194 Utah Main Street Program
S.B. 199 Water Amendments
S.B. 215 Sex Offender Registry Amendments
S.B. 218 Aviation Amendments
S.B. 222 Public Official and State Capitol Protection Amendments
S.B. 228 Electronic Free Speech Amendments
S.B. 234 Statewide Online Education Program Amendments
S.B. 246 Child and Family Services Investigative Amendments
S.B. 249 County Jails Amendments
S.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing Utah's Important Relationship with Western Governors University
S.J.R. 3 Joint Resolution Dissolving Smithfield City Justice Court
 
 

 
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