2025 Legislative Session Week 5

What this episode covers

As the Utah Legislature prepares to pass a final budget, they will have less money to work with than originally estimated. Lawmakers received new estimates this week showing that projected revenue for the state is down about $112 million total. Our expert panel discusses what this means for state programs, and where cuts could be made. Plus, will there still be a tax cut? Governor Spencer Cox had been hoping to eliminate Utah's portion of the income tax on social security benefits, but that could be in limbo now. While legislative leaders say a cut is still possible, we evaluate the likelihood of one passing. Other bills moving forward on Utah's Capitol Hill include a proposal to disband the State Records Committee, and a change in how Utah school districts receive their funding. SB277, sponsored by Senator Mike McKell (R-Utah County), would replace the State Records Committee with an administrative law judge. Under current law, people requesting access to public records can appeal state decisions to a committee made up of volunteer community members. Sen. McKell believes that group takes too long to make decisions, and centralizing the process with a single political appointee would be better. Meanwhile, SB37 would funnel property tax revenue levied by local school district to the state general fund before that money is reallcoated back to the districts. The money could then also be used to pay for other state needs. A bill that would have kept Utah clocks from moving back and forth twice a year appears to be dead. The proposal from Rep. Joe Eliason (R-Washington County) would had Utah join Arizona and Hawaii on permanent standard time, unless Congress passed a law to move the nation to permanent Daylight Saving Time. HB120 had passed the Utah House of Representatives with bipartisan support, but a Senate committee voted to "table" the bill, meaning it likely won't move any further this year. But could it make another appearance in the future? Our panel discusses the possibility. Host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Doug Owens, a Democrat from Salt Lake County and Minority Caucus Manager in the Utah House of Representatives — Representative Ariel Defay, a Republican from Davis County — and Daniel Woodruff, a reporter with KSL 5 News. Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

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