Friends and Neighbors,
With the annual and joyful holiday season her again, now is a great time for self-reflection and expressions of gratitude for those who make our lives better, both in small ways and large. I have always loved the quote, “Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward.
We are one of the most prosperous states in the nation and are fortunate to live in a state that has been consistently ranked first in the U.S. for volunteerism. None of this is by chance. A strong correlation exists between giving and receiving with gratitude and prosperity in a virtuous cycle that strengthens and lifts society. Where governance of our society is concerned, we should not be defined solely by our political ideology but rather by the good we do for those around us. Let us choose to be grateful, choose to be gracious and choose to treat others with kindness and respect, especially in our political discussions.
Speaking of prosperity, we strive to make our state a flourishing home for our constituents through our work at the Legislature. This month’s interim meetings were evidence of that as we thoughtfully and meticulously considered essential issues in drafted legislation. A recap of notable policy issues is included below, along with the events and news from around the state. I hope you will find this information useful, and I look forward to writing again in December.
May you and your family have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Senator Wayne A. Harper
November Interim Meetings
Our interim committees convened in November for their final meetings of the year to review proposed legislation in preparation for the 2024 General Legislative Session. Throughout the year, substantial strides have been made addressing numerous challenging issues with a commitment to understanding and enacting positive change.
Below are some notable highlights from the month, and for a more in-depth overview of the November interim meetings, you can refer to the linked document provided here.
Draft Legislation Combining Carson Smith Scholarship and Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program
Several constituents throughout the years have reached out to me for information on special needs scholarship opportunities provided through state funding. Two of these opportunities often inquired about are the Carson Smith Scholarship (CSS) and the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship programs, overseen by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). I’m happy to inform you that the Education Interim Committee recommended a bill combining these two programs, ensuring consistent funding, better management and efficiency through the application and awarding process of these particular scholarships.
After years of evaluation and administration of these and similar programs, state education leaders have advised this combination as an appropriate measure to provide flexibility to special needs students, prevent work duplication for parents and administrators and ensure consistent funding for students with disabilities who apply for these scholarships. The state has developed a better understanding of how to administer choice scholarship programs efficiently. Additionally, this draft bill would help lead to more applicants and awardees receiving funding. The bill will still need to go through the legislative process in the 2024 General Session. You can watch the Education Interim Committee’s discussion of the bill here.
IPP
The Intermountain Power Plant (IPP) was created in 1970 as a way for various cities in Utah to combine their power production and sell the excess to California. As power policy changes, the nature of the relationship between the Utah cities and California has also changed. The Legislature has been considering some alterations that would make this partnership more economical and advantageous for the state. Lawmakers discussed such alterations in the Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee interim meetings, where IPP provided a report with their recommendations. Similarly, legislators considered a bill that would transfer control of IPP from the cities to the state. This transfer would allow for a more impartial, reliable and fluid relationship between Utah cities, California and Utah’s energy production industry. You can learn more and watch the committee hearing here.
Link: https://le.utah.gov/committee/committee.jsp?year=2023&com=INTPUT
Behavioral Health Licensing Amendments
There are approximately 200,000 adults in Utah who need expert care and treatment. Currently, all healthcare professionals must meet the same educational and experience requirements to receive licensing, even though varying levels of skill are required for certain positions. This leads to a shortage of caretakers in the mental and behavioral health industry. The Business and Labor Interim Committee discusses legislation to revamp behavioral health licensing. The proposed bill would create more licensing options and encourage more people to enter the field. As more professionals are able to receive a license, it will help reduce the strain on current healthcare workers and help ensure patients receive the care they need.
Advice and Consent
This month, the Senate convened for Advice and Consent to confirm appointments made by the governor. We confirmed several appointments, including a new judge Ryan Peters, as a Fourth District Juvenile Court Judge. His qualifications and commitment to public service are clear, and I believe he will serve Utahns well. I appreciate all our nominees’ readiness to serve the state in their new roles.
Other Events
Historic Election of Martha Hughes Cannon
This month, we celebrate the historic election of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon to the Utah Senate. Martha was a pioneer in the field of medicine and politics. Dr. Cannon received her medical degree at the age of 23, during a time when very few women even went to college. She went on to start a nurses’ training school in Utah and was the first woman to register to vote in Utah. After gaining statehood in 1896, Utah held an election for three state Senate seats. Martha was one of five candidates who ran for the open senate seats. Her husband was also a candidate. On November 3, 1896, Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon was elected to the state Senate. She was the first woman in the United States to be elected as a state senator. After her election, Dr. Cannon passed many influential pieces of legislation, including bills that provided education for children with disabilities and created the Utah Health Department. You can learn more about the rich history of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon here.
Link: https://utahwomenshistory.org/bios/marthahughescannon/
Utah’s First Lady of the Arts
This month, we recognized the incredible legacy of Alice Merrill Horne, which includes the establishment of the first state-sponsored art agency in the United States. Alice was the third female state representative elected to the Utah State Legislature and is remembered as “Utah’s First Lady of the Arts” due to her dedication to bettering the world around her through art. Several of Alice’s descendants have continued her legacy, opening an art gallery in downtown Salt Lake City focused on bringing the joy of art into homes and businesses across the state. After over 20 years of operation, Horne Fine Art closed at the end of October. I join the Senate in thanking the Horne family for helping inspire others to see art with the same admiration as Alice and for their passion that has continued to shape our community for over a century. You can read more of Alice’s history here.
Link: https://senate.utah.gov/utah-establishes-first-art-agency/
Senate Art Contest Information
I am always impressed by the creativity and skill of artists in our state. Starting in December, Utah’s young artists will have the opportunity to participate in this year’s Annual Utah All-State High School Art Show, run by the Springville Museum of Art. Qualifying students get to display their incredible work in the museum. The Senate has the privilege of selecting distinguished winners who receive scholarships. Winners are invited to spend a day at the Capitol during the legislative session, where the Senate recognizes them during floor time.
The contest is a fantastic platform to showcase Utah student’s artistic talents. I am looking forward to seeing what they create. Learn more about the art contest and apply here.
Link: https://www.smofa.org/52nd-annual-utah-high-school-art-show
School Report Cards
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) recently unveiled the latest School Report Card, a tool designed to shed light on the strengths of each school while pinpointing areas for potential growth. This comprehensive resource – encompassing state, district, charter and individual school report cards for the 2022-2023 academic year – is now accessible here.
The Utah School Report Card empowers parents by offering a detailed insight into key school performance indicators, including achievement and growth metrics. This tool provides parents an excellent opportunity to grasp a school’s accomplishments and the areas they’re working to improve. I encourage all parents of students to review this report card and see ways that they can help better the schools in their area.
Championing education is vitally important to Utahns because the excellence of our students impacts us for generations to come. These tools benefit us all by encouraging constant improvement. Learn more about the report card here. If you wish to access more information about Utah’s schools, please visit schools.utah.gov/.
