| The legislative session has come and gone for another | | | | corn mazes, dude ranches, pumpkin patches, etc. |
| year and, overall the 2008 General Session has been | | | | HB 177, a consensus bill with the development |
| a busy, but successful one. Several important issues | | | | community and the League of Cities and Towns, |
| have been addressed included substantive progress in | | | | strikes a balance with geologically or environmentally |
| the three main areas of focus as determined by | | | | sensitive areas and establishes an appeal process |
| constituent surveys: illegal immigration, transportation | | | | HB 184, a tweak to the State Construction Registry |
| and education. | | | | which was established 5 years ago to add |
| The House passed several bills that were not adopted | | | | transparency to the mechanic's lien process |
| by the Senate, but ultimately both passed SB 81 which | | | | HB 269, the Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors' Tuition |
| requires accountability on the part of employers as | | | | Waiver bill which provides higher education tuition |
| well as cutting off some benefits to illegal immigrants. | | | | waivers for dependents of active duty military |
| Due to a decrease in projected revenues for the 2009 | | | | personnel killed in action. |
| fiscal year, the proposed expansion of I-15 through | | | | HB 315 provides a narrow definition of exposure, but |
| Utah County has been scaled back at both ends of | | | | allows prosecution of any adult who intentionally |
| the proposed route, but the central corridor between | | | | exposes children and vulnerable adults to drugs and |
| American Fork and Spanish Fork is still on track, as is | | | | drug paraphernalia |
| commuter rail. This system required an unprecedented | | | | HB 384 resolves a recent court case by clarifying that |
| commitment from the state to resolve the I-15 corridor | | | | wage benefits need not be paid to workers who are |
| and handle other transportation issues. Largest road | | | | able to return to work except for criminal activity such |
| construction undertaken by the state. As those of us | | | | as being in jail. |
| who travel the corridor know, it's needed. | | | | HCR 2 - a concurrent resolution declaring February 6 |
| SB 2 and other education bills heard earlier in the | | | | as Ronald Reagan Day |
| session extended raises and bonuses to a wider | | | | HCR 6 - a concurrent resolution honoring the life and |
| range of educators, increased per-pupil spending, and | | | | contributions of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley |
| funded many important programs. I spent considerable | | | | HB 83 which deals with securities fraud |
| time working on the equalization formula to provide a | | | | HB 158 which allows a tax credit for military retirement |
| more fair mix for the capital outlay levy giving credit | | | | pay |
| for effort to those areas with the highest burden. Nebo | | | | HB 256, also known as Jessica's Law |
| School District, as the 3rd most highly levied district in | | | | I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and |
| the state, were unfairly treated under the old formula, | | | | for the great people I have been elected to represent. |
| but with a new, more equitable formula received a | | | | Thank you for the hundreds of emails and phone calls I |
| significant windfall. | | | | have received helping me to understand how issues |
| I sponsored or co-sponsored several good bills this | | | | affect you, my friends and neighbors. I appreciate the |
| session including: | | | | trust you have placed in me and look forward to |
| HB 32 which established an affirmative defense for | | | | serving you in the future. |
| insurance purposes for agri-tourism ventures such as | | | | |