Updates on your (least) favorite bills

There's still time to influence the political process. Here is where all the bills we've discussed thus far are down at the Dome.

SB 14 Smoking in the car with your kids (Sen. McCoy) - This bill made has made it all the way through the Senate, through a House committee and now sits on the House Calendar. The chances of it passing into law are still sketchy. It again begs the question, just because it is a bad idea, should it be against the law?

SB 35 More Pay for Science & Math Teachers (Sen. Stephenson) - Also has made it through the Senate and is currently assigned to a committee in the House. The UEA taken a position against the bill, not wanting to pit teachers against one another.

SB 36& 37 Extending Extra-curriculars to All Students (Sen. Madsen) - These two bills are still stuck in the Senate. You may want to make your voice heard to your own Senator if you want them to keep moving.

SB 41 Extending the School Year (Sen. Stephenson) - It made it through the Senate and is now starting the process in the House.

SB 145 State Family Day (Sen. Hickman) - Remember this bill, State Family Day to happen the Friday after Thanksgiving with of course then employees giving up their personal day. Turns out everyone down at the Senate thought the idea was as silly as we did. They had a few good laughs about it yesterday on the floor, and then shot the thing down for good.

SB 173 Energy Bill (Sen. McCoy) - The lovely Moms over at Utah Moms for Cleaner Air gave us a great summary of this bill. It is waiting on a fiscal note (this is an estimate of what the bill will cost). After that it will head to committee. A short note to your own Senator if you support this bill would still be relevant.

SB 180 $1,000 Scholarships (Sen. Hillyard) - It is off and moving now. I wrote about how I liked the idea of this bill, but wished that it went farther and covered Applied Tech Centers as well as 4 year universities. I sent those comments on to Sen. Hillyard, and maybe some of you did as well. The bill now includes the Utah College of Applied Technology. WA-HOO!

HB 75 & 76 Privatization of Government Owned Entitites, like Rec Centers (Rep. Frank) - It's just sitting in committee, let's hope it stays that way.

HB 133 Health Care Bill with CHIPs Provision (Rep. Clark) - They took the teeth out of this reform in the Health Care sytem. This bill now just creates a commission to decide how to move forward in the next few years. It is still being amended all over the place. Right now it's a confusing mess. I hope one of those amendments will address the provision disqualifying kids for CHIP whose parents are using UPP.

HB 241 Repeal of Instate Tuition for Illegal Immigants (Rep. Donnelson) - I'm holding my breath. It has stalled on the floor for now. It is going to be a close vote on the House floor. If this bill bugs you, like it bugs me, now is the time to shoot off an email.

HB 256 Jessica's Law (Rep. Wimmer) - The bill is clear through the House, and is sitting in a committee in the Senate.

HB 286 Revoking Licenses of Teacher's Who Molest (Rep. Wimmer) - Whizzed easily through the House and now makes it's way to the Senate.

HB 326 Expanding CHIP Enrollment (Rep. Curtis) - It's looking good, currently on the House floor to be debated.

HB 327 Sexting (Rep. Gibson) - Passed unanimously through a House committee, I expect it to do about the same when it arrives on the House floor.

HCR 2 Ronald Reagan Day (Rep. Morley) - Hmmmmm....it was yesterday. How did you celebrate?

WOW! We have covered a lot of stuff so far. If there is anything you've read in the paper, or heard about elsewhere that you wish we had covered, let me know. utahmomscare@gmail.com