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Checking In At The Legislature: 2023
Legislative Session Week Two

With only 45 days to debate and pass hundreds of bills, every day is important and full of meaningful deliberation. I’ve been working hard all year to prepare legislation that matters. As the Chair of Higher Education Appropriations, and a member of the Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Committees, this year, I’ve focused efforts on education bills and improving education access in our prisons. I’ve included a list of my legislation below. Note that many have minor changes still to be made, but it will give you an idea of upcoming committees that I am running. 

Thanks for being voters.  
Melissa

Upcoming Events:

  • Town Hall Saturday Mornings, click here to watch it and post questions.

  • Water Week - Jan 30- Feb 3. Next week is #WaterWeek, and we’ll be talking about preserving, conserving, and optimizing Utah’s water all week long.  

Helpful Links:

  •  Stay up-to-date and watch committee meetings or floor time at le.utah.gov. 
  • For a list of bills that have passed through the Utah House during the 2023 Legislative Session, click here. 

IN THIS ISSUE

  • Base Budget process 
  • Podcast on legislative work on Natural Resources  
  • My legislation 
  • Highlighting influential people from NSL on the Hill 

Base Budget  

Balancing the state budget is one of lawmakers' most important constitutional responsibilities. Utah is the ONLY state in the nation that allows all lawmakers to participate in the budgeting process.  All 104 lawmakers sit on an appropriation subcommittee, and this week, the House and Senate passed the base budget, which will help fund key areas in our state. My colleagues and I will continue to adjust the state budget over the next several weeks. Here's a link to base budget bills: click on HB1-7, and SB1-7 bills, then read the first summary paragraph for the highlights. https://le.utah.gov/DynaBill/BillList?session=2023GS 

Stewardship: Safeguarding our Natural Resources 

The House podcast is a great way to learn more about specific issues that are being debated during this session! In the latest episode, Rep. Walt Brooks discusses Stewardship of our natural resources and what that means for Utah.  

My bills  

Cosponsored Bills 

Influential People On The Hill From NSL

NSL residents Robyn and Gene Chidester have been tireless advocates on Capitol Hill for those with disabilities. Their son, Matthew, is a friend to everyone he went to school with at Woods Cross High School! Thanks to Robyn, students at Orchard Elementary and other schools have had students with disabilities in their classrooms to befriend and love. They are advocating SB106 Caregiver Compensation Amendments allowing parents to receive compensation for their children with disabilities. The current law only allows the funds to employ others to come into the home. This bill has great support. Utahns would rather have parents be the primary caretaker of those with disabilities! Thanks for being great examples of dedicated and loving parents with a child who has disabilities.  
NSL resident Andy Anderson is a valued employee who works at the Disability Assisted Living Centers, helping those with disabilities have productive activities and social experiences during the day. In addition, he is advocating for more housing to be dedicated for those with disabilities who would like to live on their own. Thanks for your tireless efforts, Andy! 
North Salt Lake resident Mike Curtis, Managing Associate General Counsel in Legislative Research and General Counsel of Utah. He is the drafter of 9 of my bills! Thanks to Mike for his hard work and years of dedication to writing Utah education policy. Mike is also an avid Tour de France fan.
Ben Winslow is a great source for updates during the session. He works for Fox13 and gives minute-by-minute updates on Twitter when committees, House, and Senate are in session. If you want to follow Ben Winslow for updates, his Twitter is @BenWinslow.

This week I met with the young republicans to discuss issues they feel are important. If you know young adults who want to be involved in the Young Republicans or young college republicans, they can contact them on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/utyoungrepublicans/?hl=en# or on Twitter https://www.instagram.com/utyoungrepublicans/?hl=en#
Learn More About Melissa
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PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT
MELISSA GARFF BALLARD






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