Utah Legislature: 2016 Bills

When you write a letter to a public official, referencing a bill by number will help to
clarify your position and give your representative clear information. This list has
been compiled to help you explore current legislative issues. The list is not
comprehensive. For a complete list of bills and their current status, go to
http://le.utah.gov/~2016/2016.htm
You can also search bills by topic or sponsor:
http://le.utah.gov/asp/billsintro/index.asp?year=2016GS
NOTE: Many non-profit and advocacy organizations provide legislative summaries
on issues of concern. If you have a specific issue you are interested in, contact an
interested organization for information and guidance.

Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana is being addressed through two bills: SB 73 & SB 89

SB 73 Medical Cannabis Act

Will permit the state-licensed cultivation of cannabis, including strains with higher
THC content, for the manufacturing of medicinal products and/or herbal
preparations
Patients prescribed medical cannabis would receive a medical cannabis card from
the Department of Health and could only purchase cannabis from a licensed
cannabis dispensary.

SB 89 Medical Cannabidiol Amendments

Will permit 5-10,000 patients to have access to CBD (cannabidiol). The CBD would
be dispensed in medicinal dosage forms, i.e. capsule, tablet, concentrated liquid,
trans-dermal or sub-lingual.

Air Quality
Multiple bills and appropriation requests are being proposed by the bipartisan Air
Quality Caucus.

HB 87 Clean Fuel Conversion Amendments

Extends tax credits for energy efficient vehicles and authorizes the Dept. of
Environmental Quality to make grants to a person who installs conversion
equipment on eligible vehicles.

HB 237 Income Tax Contribution for Clean Air

Creates the Clean Air Fund and allows an individual who files to designate a
contribution to the fund on individual income tax returns.

HB 250 Air Quality Amendments

Requires the Air Quality Board to make rules regulating the nitrogen oxide limits for
some natural gas-fired water heaters and prohibits the sale/ installation of gas-fired
water heaters that exceed limits set by Air Quality Board.

SB 49 Statute of Limitations on Environmental Code

Extends the statute of limitations for a violation of Environmental Code

SB 66 Environmental Code Fines

Increases civil penalties against a person who violates the Air Conservation Act.

Gun-related Bills
SB 43 Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention in Public Schools.
Creates a pilot program to provide instruction to public school students in grade 8
on firearm safety and violence prevention

HB 67 Weapons on Public Transportation

Eliminates the prohibition of carrying a gun on a bus with no criminal intent.

Smoking-related Bills
SB 61 Smoking in Public Places Amendments
Removes smoking prohibition exceptions for international airport passenger
terminal (i.e., no enclosed smoking areas at Salt Lake international airport)

HB 157 Age Limit for Tobacco and Related Products

HB 157 increases the age limit for the purchase, possession, and use of tobacco and
related prodcuts from 19 to 21 years.

Medicaid Expansion
HB 18 Medicaid Preferred Drug List Amendments
Authorizes the Department of Health to include additional drugs on the Medicaid
programs preferred drug list, including all psychotropic drugs.

HB 247 Medicaid Vision Amendments

Expands eligibility for Medicaid vision services.

SB 39 Medicaid Coverage for Adult Dental Services

Supports dental services to blind or disabled adults already eligible for Medicaid.

SB 77 Medicaid Expansion Proposal

Expands Medicaid eligibility to optional populations under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.

SB 28

Water System Conservation Pricing

SB 28 would require all of the states water districts to come up with a plan that
would assess water fees based on an increasing tier of use and time of usage. For
example, if you water your lawn in mid-day and use a lot of water, you would fall
into a higher fee assessment tier, paying more for each cubic feet used.

HB 188 Paid Family Leave

The legislation requires executive agencies to provide an eligible employee paid
parental leave upon the birth or adoption of said employees child.

SB 107 Hate Crimes Amendments

More clearly defines a hate crime as an offense against a person or person's
property based on a belief or perception about their ancestry, disability, ethnicity,
gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation. It
provides for enhanced penalties where those beliefs motivated the crime.

SB 59 Antidiscrimination Act Revisions

Provides for reasonable accommodations for an employee for the known limitations
related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related conditions unless it
creates an undue hardship for the employer