August 2025 with Rep. Melissa Ballard

CHECKING IN AT THE LEGISLATURE:
AUGUST 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy Back-to-School season! As students, parents, and teachers prepare for a new year, I’m grateful for the opportunity to support policies that strengthen our classrooms and families. One of those efforts, HB192 (2024), was recently highlighted by KSL. I had the opportunity to explain why this legislation is important for education, and I invite you to check out the coverage, which was first aired on Tuesday night at 10 PM, featured on KSL Radio on Wednesday. I will include an extended story airing this Saturday at 9 AM.
I want to thank Wendy Halloran at KUTV News and Deanie Wimmer at KSL
for recognizing the importance of HB192 to Utah families and educators.

QUICK LINKS

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Paid Parental Leave for Teachers for First Time in Utah History
2. 2025 Legislative Education Funding Highlights
3. NCSL in Boston, MA
4. Interim Highlights
5. SB74 Closes a Blind Spot in Utah Law
6. Katherine Garff Confirmed to U of U Board of Trustees
7. Benefiting Boys and Girls Club of Salt Lake City
8. Thanks, AFP
Paid Parental Leave for Teachers for First Time in Utah History!
I want to thank Deanie Wimmer at KSL for highlighting my 2024 bill, HB192 Local Education Agency Employee Paid Leave. This bill now requires public schools to provide 3 weeks of paid parental leave plus an additional 3 weeks of maternity leave for all teachers and staff for the first time in Utah history.

Click here to read the full story.

You can also watch the full news story on Sunday, 9am, on Channel 5. 
2023-2025 Legislative Education Funding Highlights
Over the past three years, the Legislature has worked hard for Utah education. We are proud to share the accomplishments made for Utah's teachers, public education, and student safety. We increased funding for classroom supplies, increased teacher salaries, and invested in professional development. 
I will always work towards supporting Utah's teachers.
NCSL in Boston, MA

In August, I attended NSCL, the National Conference of State Legislators, where I have served as the President of the Women’s Legislative Network, as Vice Chair of the Children, Family and Human Services Standing Committee, and on the Nominating Committee for the Executive Advisory Board. It’s a great way to collaborate on best practices across the nation and strengthen relationships with state and national leaders. 
Interim Highlights

Thanks to the efforts of the Fentanyl Task Force, as well as HB87, the state of Utah has seized 4.3 million units of fentanyl already in 2025. Deaths from drug overdoses are down compared to last year. It's great and encouraging to see our bipartisan efforts are making a real impact to save Utah lives. 

This year, Utah once again showed its ability to lead the nation. Our state was ranked third in the country for AI preparedness, proving that innovation and consumer privacy can thrive together.

This month, I presented two resolutions, passed unanimously by all state legislators, to call on Congress to prohibit cell phones in Correctional facilities and to make it illegal for drones to fly over correctional facilities.

You can read all the highlights from our interim meetings here.
SB74 Closes a Blind Spot in Utah Law
Thanks to the three-year investigation by 2News, the Utah Legislature has closed a deadly blind spot that contributed to the deaths of two toddlers. 

I was proud to help Sen. Owens as the House sponsor on SB74, which now requires treatment centers to alert parole officers when someone on supervision skips or fails a drug test. 
Katherine Garff Confirmed to U of U Board of Trustees
I was proud to see my mom, Kathi Garff, confirmed as a member of the University of Utah Board of Trustees this year.

The board’s responsibilities include consulting with the Utah Board of Higher Education; overseeing the university president’s enumerated and delegated powers; and other duties, responsibilities and functions as delegated and authorized by the Utah Board of Higher Education or through rules and regulations of the university.

Learn more about the Board of Trustees and their duties here. 
Benefiting Boys and Girls Club of Salt Lake City

I loved getting to spend time with my fellow legislators at the new Bees stadium, and raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Salt Lake.
Thanks, AFP!

Thanks to Americans for Prosperity for awarding me with this fun caricature plaque as their 2025 Legislative Champion. An award like this is a first for me! 😉
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Paid for by the Committee to Elect Melissa Garff Ballard

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