Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the State address to cap off the third day of the 2020 legislative session.
It’ll be his final report to both chambers when they gather for the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday talk at the Capitol as he is not seeking reelection this fall. He will take the podium a day after lawmakers repealed the tax reform package that was developed in 2019 after months of hearings.
With the repeal in place, lawmakers begin diving into bills that will be presented in numerous committee meetings as they work through their 45-day session.
Of note on Wednesday:
- Members of the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee will discuss Water Banking Amendments in SB26, which would create the Water Banking Act outlining the objectives of a water right banking system. Last year, Senate Minority Assistant Whip Jani Iwamoto, D-Holladay, pushed for exploration of water banking in the agricultural community as an option when water is in short supply. If drought, for example, precludes a farmer from irrigating his entire farm, the water banking option would allow him to lease a portion of his water right without fear of permanently giving that right up.
- Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee will consider HB87, titled Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program Amendments. It would permit help with repaying education loans for geriatric or health care professionals who locate or continue to practice in underserved areas of the state.
- The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee will debate SB46, which increases the penalty for committing domestic violence in the presence of a child, moving it to a class A misdemeanor instead of a class B.
Floor time for both the Senate and the House begins at 11 a.m.
