There were many issues that received a lot of attention during the 2015 legislative session. How did the legislature’s actions affect your business? We can help you understand the session’s impacts.
What are the legislature’s plans for 2016? How can you protect your business during the upcoming legislative study sessions and the 2016 legislative session?
2015 Utah Legislative Session, What Happened and What's Next
1. 2015 UTAH LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT’S NEXT
Mike Bailey
Shelly Cordon Teuscher
Salt Lake City
April 9, 2015
4829-1971-5619 parsonsbehle.com
2. 2
Inform you
Alert you to issues that may affect your
business
Scare you…just a bit
This presentation is a source of general information for clients and friends of Parsons Behle &
Latimer. Its content should not be construed as legal advice and attendees should not act upon
the information in the presentation without consulting legal counsel.
Goals of Today’s Presentation
3. 3
I. Utah Legislature by the Numbers
II. 2015 Session Review (using themes)
III. Protecting Your Business by Playing an
Active Role
Please ask questions throughout
Outline of Presentation
5. 5
Some things stayed exactly the same
(Senate Majority Leadership)
Some things changed drastically (House)
2015 Legislative Session
2014 2015
Speaker Lockhart Hughes
Majority Leader Dee Dunnigan
Majority Whip Hughes Gibson
Majority Asst. Whip Ipson Wilson
Appropriations Chair Brown Sanpei
Appropriations Vice-Chair Wilson Dee
Rules Chair Sanpei Noel
6. 6
New Speaker added intrigue, and battled
Senate President
Many bills were not heard; hearings in both
houses
Serious mood; not many “weird” issues
As usual, the media focused on the “easy”
issues
A “quiet” $500M went to schools
2015 Legislative Session
7. 7
It was a Record Setting Session
5 bills were vetoed
HB 385 (Renaming Veterans’ Highway)
SB 249 (Railroad crossings)
SB 278 (Motion pictures)
HB 197 (State Board of Education)
SB 94 (Overpayment of corporate
franchise or income taxes)
831 bills were introduced (record)
528 bills passed (record)
9. 9
478
524
484
528
235
260 276 277
Many Bills Passed
in the Final Week
Bills
Passed
Bills
Passed
Last Week
(50%)
Last Week
(49%)
2012 2013
Bills
Passed
Last Week
(57%)
2014 2015
Bills
Passed
Last Week
(52%)
10. 10
2015 Bill Passage By The Numbers
Republican -
sponsored
bills that
passed
(487)
Democrat -
sponsored
bills that
passed
(41)
2013:
94% Republican
6% Democrat
2014:
89% Republican
11% Democrat
2015:
92% Republican
8% Democrat
11. 11
65%
of the bills
introduced by
Republicans
passed
52%
of the bills
introduced by
Democrats
passed
Effectiveness of Legislators by Party
Republicans Democrats
2012:
64% Republicans
55% Democrats
2013:
73% Republicans
43% Democrats
2014:
64% Republicans
49% Democrats
12. 12
Most Prolific Legislators By Party
Republican
– Sen. Curt Bramble (28 for 32)
88% pass rate
Democrat
– Sen. Karen Mayne (9 for 12)
75% pass rate
2015 Bill Passage By The Numbers
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The Session’s Broad Themes
The Boutique
Issues
The Really
Big Issues
Heavily debated & usually
received media attention
The Ordinary
Issues
Expected,
not surprising
15. 15
The Really Big Issues
These bills were heavily debated and
usually received media attention
19. 19
Healthy Utah – Dead Man Walking
No deal
And the talk goes on until July 31
Special session in August?
Even if you lead the House to water, they
may not drink
21. 21
So, Let’s Move the Prison!
PRADA 1.0, PRADA 2.0, PRC = PDC
$80M in funding plus process
Pick a site
Special session?
22. 22
And Air Quality Did OK
Legislators put their money where their
mouth was:
– Enhanced funding
– Replacing dirty diesel school buses (almost)
Not everything passed:
– Increase in fines and lengthening of statute of
limitations (SB 208 failed by a 12-14 vote)
Some went backwards:
– Wood-burning stoves
23. 23
“No more stringent” became
“May be different”
Utah law said environmental regulations can be
no more stringent than corresponding federal
regulations (except if a certain finding is made)
– David Bird drafted
Protects business and industry
Environmentalists: “Chills” new ideas
Two bills in play:
– Bill to eliminate protection – DIED
– Bill to modify restriction – PASSED
25. 25
Nothing Big on Liquor
Wasn’t for lack of effort
Unless you count Palchohol
– Utah’s prohibition passed the day after the federal
government approved it
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Commerce & Regulation
Uber-regulation
– Taxis are freed too!
– Better negotiate before you get in
Zenefits legalized too
Tesla’s bill did not pass
30. 30
Just talk to Dallin Jensen, David Bird or Wendy
Crowther
It was a tale of two bills that passed
– HB 25 sponsored by Rep. Lowry Snow ( Sen. Dayton –
Senate Sponsor)
– 3 HB 43 sponsored by Rep. Kay McIff
HB 25 restored the power of the state water
engineer to evaluate non-use in a change
application
3 HB 43 modified the procedure for filing a change
application by a shareholder of an irrigation
company
Water
31. 31
And Weird Stuff, as Always
Medical Marijuana? In Utah?
Cow share – Who knew?
Cockfighting
State Domestic Animal
Death Penalty
Seatbelts
32. 32
And Weird Stuff, as Always
Constitutional Convention
High School Civics Test
Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination in the
Workplace
35. 35
Health Insurance
Automobile Franchise Laws
Medicaid Expansion
Minimum Wage
Daylight Savings Time
Medical Marijuana
Air Quality
Master Study Resolution
36. 36
Safety Inspection Repeal
Bear Lake
Tire Fees
Property Taxes
E-Cigarettes
State Inheritance Tax
Historic Districts
Master Study Resolution
37. 37
Ways to Succeed
We’re from the legislature and we’re here
to help
– Change the rules in midstream
– Allow a new business product
First, do no harm
– Permission is easier than forgiveness
– Defense, defense, defense
38. 38
How We Succeed
Relationships with legislators
Relationships with other lobbyists
Strategic alliances
Work with trade associations
Take reasonable positions
Be ever-vigilant
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We strategize
We monitor the Legislative Session
We draft legislation
We help get bills passed
We help get bills killed
We seek appropriations
We help with incentive packages
We help you get whatever you need to
protect your businesses (no request is too
difficult)
How We Succeed
41. 41
Get in the Game
– Stay apprised of any developments
– As we saw this session, reading the
newspaper is not enough
– If you see an issue of concern, what can you
do about it?
– Contact us. We can help
Protecting Your Business
42. 42
Legislature has study committees that
meet monthly
Master study list gives some idea of issues
to be studied
Protecting Your Business
43. 43
Be vigilant – stay informed
Think of ways that legislation can help your
business
– No request is too crazy / it is almost never
too late
We’re here to help – feel free to call
– regarding business issues…
– or even medical marijuana
Takeaways