For Better or Worse: It's Over

It lasted up until the final seconds, the last bill in the House being voted on 27 seconds before midnight. Here's what lived, what died, and how it will effect you.

What will go into effect on July 1st:

• Your children will have to be in child restraint devices until the age of 8 (HB 140)
• The $1,000 Scholarships for every high school student meeting certain requirements passed, but was underfunded. Instead of $7.5 million, it was provided with only $900,000 (SB 180). How do you think that will work?
• The speed limit between Nephi and Parowan has the okay to be raised to 80 mph (HB 406).
• All teachers get that $1700 raise and the WPU will increase 2.5 %. Math and Science teachers will see larger raises.
• Every child eligible for CHIPs can now enroll. The cap on enrollment has been dissolved.
• A few more restrictions have been placed on direct entry midwives, though not as many as originally proposed.

What didn't make it through:

• The bill allowing home school students and private school students to play sports at their local public school died on the House calendar at midnight (SB 37).
• A bill giving schools grants to reduce sizes in grades K-3 failed, even after another attempt last night to amend the education omnibus bill to include it instead of an at-home software program for preschoolers.
• In-state tuition will still be available for illegal immigrant students who attended at least 3 years of public school here (HB 241).
• Smoking in the car with your kids is a dumb thing to do, but is not against the law (SB 14)

Overall it was a productive session. I have enjoyed writing this blog during the session, and look forward to providing you now with election information. Thanks for all your input and participation!