It’s been a crazy week since the 2020 legislative session wrapped up last Thursday, and an even crazier last 24 hours here in Utah. We put together a list of resources for help and information during these uncertain times – find them on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.To give yourself a break from the overwhelming news cycle, catch up on what happened during the 2020 legislative session right here in this email!
Our efforts this year were continually met with the response “there’s no money for that,” but we still saw good bills pass and bad bills fail.
This was all able to happen because of our supporters – you! – who raised their voice in support and in opposition to bills. In the last 45 days, we had over 20 citizens come up and lobby their legislators and over 850 emails sent to Representatives, Senators, and the Governor by supporters.
In other news, HEAL, like many other organizations, have decided to cancel our recently announced Capitol Brunch. Every year we host a spring fundraiser that gathers a few hundred of our supporters together for a meal and a special speaker. In light of recent events, we believe it best to cancel such a gathering.
We know things are overwhelming right now, so we featured some special guests in the final 2020 Capitol Report video that our staff filmed from home (watch by clicking the video below)!
Click above to watch our 2020 Capitol Report video
Creates a new board focused on open spaces, habitat, and species. Originally this bill funded this board through a tax on depleted uranium so we opposed it, but thanks to your outcry, the sponsor tookout all of the depleted uranium language and the board is now funded by appropriations and grants!
Clean Air
SB0150 | Transportation Governance Amendments | Sen. Wayne Harper | Support
Expands the Utah Transit Authority’s ability to enter into joint ventures with communities to develop around existing transit hubs, opening up smart growth strategies that can help improve air quality by giving people the ability to live, work, and play near transit
HB0259 | Electric Vehicle Charging Network | Rep. Robert Spendlove | Support
Requires the Department of Transportation to lead in the creation of a statewide electric vehicle charging network plan
HB0059 | Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Heavy Duty Vehicles | Rep. Andrew Stoddard | Support
Extends the income tax credit to 2029 for to certain alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles, including electric
HB0396 | Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure | Rep. Lowry Snow | Support
Requires the Public Service Commission to authorize a large-scale utility to establish an electric vehicle charging infrastructure program, specifically focused on Rocky Mountain Power’s $50 million investment
Creates an exemption for electric vehicles from emissions compliance fees.
Energy and Climate
HB0235 | Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program | Rep. Patrice Arent | Support
Creates a committee to create rules and guidelines for a Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program that will educate homeowners and sellers on home energy use
Includes $50,000 in one-time funding
SB0050 | Clean Energy Act Amendments | Sen. Jake Anderegg | Support
Clarifies and makes technical changes to definitions in the state’s pre-existing commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) program.
Creates the Outdoor Adventure Commission which will lead strategic planning and recommendations on the state’s outdoor recreation opportunitie
SB0154 | Taxed Interlocal Entity Amendments | Sen. David Hinkins | Oppose
Allows interlocal industries to apply for hydrogen, hydrogen energy storage, and nuclear projects to apply for and be funded by federal grants
SB0131 | Small Mining Operations | Rep. David Hinkins | Oppose
Changes the definition of small mining operations to allow larger operations to be reclassified as “small,” potentially allowing some larger operations to avoid reporting requirements and impact and mitigation assessments
SB0148 | Oil and Gas Modifications | Rep. Ralph Okerlund | Neutral; Concern that this bill doesn’t go far enough to address violations
Creates an account to collect penalties from oil and gas industry violations and uses money from the account to address related remediations.
This year, the legislature appropriated almost $10 million to air quality programs.
The name of the game this year was electric vehicles, with multiple pieces of funding for our state’s EV infrastructure, including a private investment from Rocky Mountain Power allowed through Representative Snow’s HB0396 Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for electric vehicle infrastructure to the tune of $50 million.
So, with Rocky Mountain Power’s investment, it brings the total investment to air quality programs this year up to almost $60 million!
Some of the fully funded programs:
Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program | Rep. Patrice Arent | $50,000 one-time funding
Creates a committee to develop rules for a Voluntary Home Energy Information Pilot Program, which would educate homeowners and sellers on home energy use
Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure | Rep. Carl Albrecht | $2 million one-time funding
Provides matching grants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in rural Utah along highways, national and state parks, and other rural areas of the state
USU Electric Vehicle Research Grant Match | Rep. Buxton | $3 million one-time funding
Leverages external support to develop technologies related to electrified transportation at the Sustainable Electrified Transportation Center at Utah State University
Funds scientific research performed by Utah State University to understand the formation of ozone
Enhanced Mass Transit Strategic Business Plan | Rep. Mike Shultz | $1.6 million one-time funding
Provides funding to develop a strategic business plan to optimize investment in FrontRunner to expand and increase service
Clean Air
HB0176 | Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program | Rep. Jeffrey Stenquist | Support
Summary: Provides incentives to help Utahns replace certain vehicles that fail emissions tests.
Ended in: House Rules Committee
SB0092 | Statewide Comprehensive Rail Plan | Sen. Jake Anderreg | Support
Summary: Requires the Department of Transportation to lead in the development of an updated statewide comprehensive rail plan.
Ended in: Passed out of the Senate; House Rules Committee
HB0281 | Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicles | Rep. Suzanne Harrison | Support
Summary: Creates a 3-year nonrefundable corporate and individual income tax credit for certain alternative fuel vehicles
Ended in: House Rules Committee
SB0105 | Surgical Smoke Evacuation System Requirements | Sen. Kathleen Riebe | Support
Summary: A “micro-clean air bill” that requires surgical facilities to develop policies to evacuate surgical smoke.
Ended in: Held in Committee; Moved to be studied during Interim Session
HB0317 | Nonroad Engine Study | Rep. Stephen Handy | Support
Summary: Directs the Division of Air Quality to conduct a study into the number and type of nonroad engines in nonattainment areas of Utah, and asks for a $50,000 one-time appropriation for the study.
Ended in: House 3rd Reading Calendar
HB0133 | Trails Improvement Amendments | Rep. Mike Winder | Support
Summary: Allows eminent domain to be used to establish trails for alternative transportation.
Ended in: House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
HB0415 | Construction Code Amendments | Rep. Val Potter | Oppose
Summary: Amends current nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission limits for natural gas-fired water heaters by permitting the use of water heaters that exceed emission limits
Ended in: House Political Subdivisions Committee
Energy and Climate
SCR012 | Concurrent Resolution Concerning Climate Action | Sen. Kirk Cullimore | Support
Summary: Supports federal action to address climate change through solutions like a carbon dividend
Ended in: Senate Business and Labor Committee
HCR011 | Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Utah Roadmap for Positive Solutions and Leadership on Climate and Air Quality | Rep. Joel Briscoe | Support
Summary: Resolution for state support for the Utah Roadmap recommendations in order to encourage solutions for improving air quality and reducing emissions
Ended in: House Rules Committee
SB0077 | Electric Energy Storage Tax Credit | Sen. Derek Kitchen | Support
Summary: Creates an income tax incentives for utility and residential energy storage technologies.
Ended in: Passed out of the Senate; House Rules Committee
SB0078 | Energy Storage Innovation, Research, and Grant Program | Sen. Lincoln Fillmore | Support
Summary: Requests $5 million in one-time funding to create a grant program for people, companies, research organizations, or other entities who will advance the development and deployment of energy storage, facilitate the transition of energy storage into the marketplace, improve resiliency, or enhance job creation in the energy sector.
Ended in: House Rules Committee
HB0194 | Clean and Renewable Energy Requirement Amendments | Rep. Raymond Ward | Neutral (support with reservations)
Summary: Creates a standard for utilities: 50% of generation from renewables by a certain date, expands the definition of “renewables” to include things beyond solar and wind (including nuclear, which we have a problem with). We are also concerned that there aren’t any enforcement mechanisms right now.
Ended in: House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
SB0041 | Sales and Use Tax Modifications | Sen. Ronald Winterton | Oppose
Summary: Exempts oil and gas industry and electrical corporations from sales and use tax.
Ended in: Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
Thank you to all of our citizen lobbyists who came to the Capitol this session to speak directly with lawmakers! Your voice, your time, and your dedication truly helped move the needle on all the bills we followed this year.
We couldn’t have done it without you, our amazing citizen lobbyists:
