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Checking In At The Legislature:
2022 Legislative Session Week 3

Friends and Neighbors,
 
Each year we honor many people on the House floor. This week we honored Utah Olympic Women McKayla Skinner, Grace McCallum, Kara Eaker, Amelie Morgan, and Rhyan White. Friday we honored the families of Utah’s fallen police officers who died while serving their state and community. We express the utmost gratitude to the five fallen officers and their families for their service and sacrifices. 
 
I enjoy representing House District 20. Thank you for having confidence in me to work hard and support good policy. You are welcome to reach out to me anytime at mballard@le.utah.gov.

Upcoming Events:

Helpful Links:

In this issue

  • Bill Highlight of the Week HB194, HCR7, and HB162
  • Economic Update
  • The Period Project
  • Photos from this week

Update on two of my bills: HB194 and HCR7

My Bill HB194 Department of Corrections Education Services passed unanimously out of committee and the House. Here are some provisions in the bill:

It ensures equitable education opportunities for men and women in prison (currently, men can get education certificates for welding and auto mechanics, whereas women can only get culinary and secretarial skills). It requires that inmates have help when applying for federal and state financial assistance for school (currently, they must pay 50% upfront). They will have access to education early in their sentence instead of just before getting out. They will have expanded options for digital learning in their cells and across correction facilities instead of classroom only. Chris Hughes, a former inmate, spoke to the legislative Law Enforcement Committee when I presented the bill. He was in and out of prison for 20 years until he had the opportunity in prison to get a welding certificate. He has been clean for four years and just got a job at Kennecott Copper. His life has a purpose and direction as he can provide for his family for the first time in his life. This bill will save Utah taxpayer dollars, give hope for the future, and align inmates with workforce development needs in our community. Speaker Brad Wilson sent me a copy of my bill with a handwritten note, “This is a good bill. – Brad.”

Top picture from left to right: Director of Corrections Brian Nelson, Ut Chief of Police Tom Ross, DATC President David Brush, Prison Education Director Daniel Powers, and Chris Hughes

Bottom picture: My daughter Eliza, Melissa Freigang, Executive Director, Weber Prosperity Center of Excellence and Anna Davidson, Homeless Services Advocate, Ogden Police Department
HCR7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Improving Air Quality Through Enhanced Zero Emission Rail. This resolution passed the committee unanimously. It strongly encourages short-haul and industrial rail in Utah to change out old locomotives emitting 9% of our NOx emissions in the Wasatch front to zero-emission locomotives by 2050. It also calls for passenger rail and long-haul rail to consider the change. This would not be possible without the cooperation of many locomotive manufacturers and rail companies. It’s great to have them wanting to improve our air! You can read about the resolution here.
Rob Thrall Patriot Rail, Todd Bingham Ut Manufacturers Association, Thom Carter Governor’s Director of Energy, Brian Somers Utah Mining Association, and Steve Styler Union Pacific

Economic Update

Utah continues to be one of the nation’s best-performing economies! Only four states have more jobs now than before the pandemic and Utah tops the chart.

The Period Project

I co-sponsored HB162, Period Products In School, which passed the House unanimously. It provides free menstrual products in Utah public schools for girls. Here’s a YouTube video discussing why this is important.
Utah House and Senate women in support of HB162 The Period Project

Photos from this week

This week was Utah History Day at the Capitol. Students from all over Utah displayed their wonderful history projects.
This award was from Emily Larsen with Springville Museum and Utah’s cultural industry for being a Cultural Champion.
With my daughter Eliza on the House Floor.
My 2nd grandson was born this week! He is my mother’s 5th great grandchild, and my father in-law’s 100th great grandchild. Welcome to the world baby Charles!
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