Week 5 (of 7) Newsletter for 2022 General Session

Week 5

Utah House of Representatives sent this bulletin at 02/27/2022 10:20 PM MST

BEHIND-THE-SCENES CAPITOL TOUR WITH REP. CHERYL ACTON

Please join me for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Capitol (the People's House) this Monday, Feb. 28th at 6pm!
Meet me on the first floor near the east doors.
We'll see the historic Supreme Court, the Senate, the great view from my office, and the House area before enjoying a brownie and conversation in the Majority Caucus Room.
People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend! (But if you can't come Monday night, I will give you a tour another time at your convenience. It's one of my favorite activities as a legislator.)

LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER

District 43 / New District 38

Representative Cheryl Acton

I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

cacton@le.utah.gov

801-809-3571

@votecherylacton

Week 5 of the General Session

It was another interesting week in the legislature, beginning with Valentine's Day and ending with Washington and Lincoln Day and a much needed 3-day weekend. That was just the rest I needed before heading into a two-week sprint.

I met with several groups and podcasts this week to discuss my bill, HB431 Social Credit Score Amendments, which would prohibit the use of social credit scores when making business decisions. Financial credit scores and background checks are fine and necessary in many circumstances, but it's unAmerican to judge a person's worthiness to participate in society based upon his/her private affiliations, carbon footprint, social media posts, etc. Three states actually encourage the use of social credit scores. This bill would prevent their use in Utah. I will be doing a deep-dive study of this over interim with other legislators as well.

I met with the board of the Jordan School District for an informal lunch this week and attended an awards lunch for the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Governor Herbert and Governor Cox both spoke at the event, where the Foundation honored some of Utah's great heroes. (In April, I will be chaperoning a group of Utah high school students to Valley Forge and other historic sites to learn more about U.S. Civics and History. Can't wait!)

I also met with the High School Art Awards students this week (two from our district!) and gave a Capitol tour to a group of homeschool students and their parents.

My bills progressed this week through committees in both houses. Three have made it to the governor's desk, while more are on their way.

Thank you for your engagement in the political process. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely yours,

Cheryl

Expanding Transit in our State

Transit options can be inconvenient from parts of our district, but the closer you live to a Trax line, the more convenient transit is. That's why the House passed (and I co-sponsored) HB322 this week. It encourages coordinating high density development with mass transit, which will prevent traffic congestion.The bill passed unanimously in the House and is awaiting a floor vote in the Senate. Click here to read more about the bill.

Tour of the Great Salt Lake

Many legislators took an aerial tour of the Great Salt Lake this week to see the effect of the draught for themselves. Low lake levels could jeopardize air quality along the Wasatch Front as dangerous minerals become airborne. This has already happened at Owens Lake in California and the Aral Sea in Central Asia. Many of our bills this year are designed to replenish the Lake by a wide variety of means. Those bills have met with almost no opposition. It's all hands on deck to alleviate this potential crisis.

2022 Revenue Numbers

The Governor’s Office, Utah Senate, and House of Representatives released revenue numbers for state fiscal year (FY) 2022-23. Utah is leading the nation in economic performance and continues to exceed expectations. Though Utah’s economy is strong, there are significant factors, including federal stimulus wind down, that may dampen revenue gains. Click here to see the full report.

Utah Highway Patrol

I’m grateful for the Utah Highway Patrol and all they do to keep the state and Capitol safe! This week the House recognized these officers for their dedication, time, and commitment to keeping Utahns safe.

Inflation

Many people are concerned about the amount of federal spending we’ve seen over the past couple of years and the impact it has on inflation. The Legislature, however, is working hard to minimize the impacts of inflation and ensure that the excess in revenue is carefully spent. Watch this short video to learn more.

Juneteenth

Utah may soon have a new state holiday: Juneteenth, which would be celebrated on June 19th, commemorating the date the last American slaves learned they had been freed from bondage soon after the end of the Civil War. As one legislator said on the House floor, the holiday celebrates America striving to live up to its ideals. In many ways, Juneteenth is a second Independence Day, the day the remaining enslaved Americans received their independence. That bill is called HB238. It passed the House and is making its way through the Senate.

Mayors

Salt Lake County representatives stand behind a few of their mayors.

Visitor

CHHS SBO Aidan Sullivan visited me on the floor. What a great young man! I really enjoyed talking to him and showing him around between votes

Podcast

Representative Mike Schultz, House Majority Leader, joins us to discuss some of the upcoming transportation projects Utahns can look forward to seeing across the state in the coming years. Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!