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SALT LAKE — Monday's Legislation had four big news releases including a bill to rename a portion of I-15. Here are the highlights for the House's meeting.
A bill naming a portion of I-15 for the late House speaker, Becky Lockhart, was approved unanimously Monday by the House.
Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, the sponsor of HB385, said Lockhart would "be embarrassed" by the designation of the freeway from Lehi to Spanish Fork as the "Rebecca D. Lockhart" section.
The bill is intended to not only honor the contributions made by Lockhart, but also those of all of the "great women we have all been blessed by," Stratton said.
Utah drivers would pay an extra nickel per gallon in gas tax starting this summer under a bill the Senate passed Monday.
In addition, SB160 would raise the tax one cent each year over the next four years, bringing the total tax on a gallon of gas to 33.5 cents. The state hasn't increased the 24.5-cent-per-gallon tax since 1997.
Bill sponsor Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal, said Utah needs to bring in more money to repair roads and bridges across the state.
The Senate approved the bill 20-5. It now goes to the House.
The House Business and Labor Committee unanimously endorsed HB48, which would make it illegal for people or retailers to possess, use or sell powdered alcohol. The bill now goes to the House floor.
"This is simply trying to get ahead of what Time magazine called a public health nightmare," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy.
Lawmakers recommended a bill Monday to clarify parents' right to opt their children out of statewide tests in school.
While that right remains in statute, lawmakers and educators worry how opting too many children out of standardized testing can skew accountability metrics and impact federal education dollars, among other consequences.
"That's the balance we're trying to achieve," Sen. Aaron Osmond, R-South Jordan, said. "We want to balance for parental rights, and we also have the state accountability system. It's really tough."
Lawmakers took another step Monday toward deciding on a method to select members of the Utah State Board of Education.
The House Education Committee voted in favor of SB195, which would require State School Board candidates to be vetted through a partisan election. The committee, however, declined to take action on SJR5, a resolution accompanying the bill, asking voters whether board members should be appointed by the governor with Senate approval.
SB195 is now a remaining contender with HB186, which would allow board members to be placed on the ballot in a nonpartisan election if they collect enough signatures. HB186 has already passed the House, but House Education Committee chairman Bradley Last, R-Hurricane, said the bill "may not have legs in the Senate," which has favored bills for partisan elections.
Utah lawmakers unanimously approved a bill Monday that would link new money for higher education to each institution's performance in metrics focused on student success.
The initiative was backed last week by a final budget proposal, which will likely devote $16 million in new money to performance-based compensation increases for college instructors, as well as $8 million to be split among Utah System of Higher Education institutions that meet their goals.
SB232, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, would distribute the $8 million according to the number of degrees and certificates granted, services provided to traditionally underserved populations, responsiveness to workforce needs, the number of degrees awarded per full-time equivalent student, and graduate research metrics.
