Hello All! Representative Wilde here. It’s been a crazy forty-five days, and I want to share a few of the highlights with the voters of District 53. There was a little bit of drama, wheeling and dealing, and of course, some unexpected highs and lows thrown in just for fun. Without further ado, here is the good, the bad, and the ugly of this session:
 
The Good

• Taxpayers

With a decrease in our income tax rate to 4.95%, taxpayers will save around $20 million. Add in $84 million in early payoffs on current building debts, and our wallets should be celebrating.

• Education System

The Legislature has upped the game on education, showing we are serious about our children’s future and opportunities for learning and growth. We increased the education budget by $300 million and increased the Weighted Pupil Unit as well. This will allow us to increase teacher salaries and provide more funding for teacher aides. This is a win for our students, teachers and parents.

• Suicide Prevention

Teen suicide is on the rise in Utah, and we are worried about our youth. The governor created a community task force to help combat this epidemic. To support those who may be struggling, the legislature approved the creation of a Statewide Suicide Hotline and passed a Medicaid Waiver for Mental Health issues to help those who are at risk who may not have the resources to get the help they so desperately need.

• Martha Hughes Cannon

A joint resolution to send Martha’s likeness to the US Capitol sailed through both the House and Senate. The first woman in the nation to be elected to the State Senate, Martha was an advocate for Women’s Rights and one of the first women to practice medicine in Utah. It was a privilege to honor her this legislative session.

• Winter Olympics

The House and Senate passed a concurrent resolution to explore the possibility of once again hosting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in the future. This opportunity will bring growth and tourism to our state, I was happy to support this venture.
 
The Bad

• Property Tax

The Legislature passed an increase in property tax. This will be accomplished by freezing the current tax rate for the next five years. I am not in favor of this measure, I feel that it is unfair to property owners in our state.

• The Plastic Bag Bill (aka The Bill Against Park City)

This bill would have prohibited municipalities and counties from creating legislation on the disposal of auxiliary containers (plastic bags, bottles or containers). I spoke against this bill on the Floor. I feel that we should let the municipalities and counties handle their own trash, in the way that works best for them. This bill didn’t pass, cities and counties can sleep easier, knowing their garbage is still in their own hands.

• Private Attorney General Doctrine

This bill would have allowed individuals to be compensated for attorney fees when they bring litigation against the state government. I voted against this one. I think it has the potential to bring about many frivolous lawsuits.

• Utah Lake Amendments

This bill allows for the creation of land peninsulas in Utah Lake that could then be used for more housing and building in that area. Two words: Algae Bloom.  This one passed the House and Senate, but not with my vote.
 
The Ugly

• Donald J Trump Highway

President Trump has done a lot of good things for our state in the short time that he has been president. I am grateful for the reduction of both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments. I just don’t think it’s time to name a highway after him.

• Election Laws

What a mess! With the Count My Vote and Keep My Voice Ballot Initiatives, the SCC’s new by-laws, and legislation aimed at fixing SB54 or making preemptive strikes against whatever happens next, candidates and voters alike are frustrated and confused. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the November Election.
 
There you have it folks, the ups and downs of the legislative session. Of course, this is just a tiny bit of what happened on the Hill. If you have questions on a bill I didn’t cover, or just want to know where I stand on any of the issues that face us every day, please contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov. I will get back to you as soon as I can. As always, my family and I are so very thankful for your continued support. Thank you for trusting me with your vote. I hope to see many of you at your upcoming county conventions. 

​We’ve had an exciting week on the Hill, with visits from both Mitt Romney and Mia Love. Mitt called for fair trade between the US and other countries. Congresswoman Love spoke to the House Majority Caucus, asking us to work on tax reform. There are several bills this session addressing this very issue.
As the session winds up, the bills are coming in fast and furious, and our Floor time has increased as we try to hear as many as possible before the closing bell rings on Thursday night. Here are just a few of interest this week:

• HB 457 Consumer Ticket Protection was presented by Representative Brad Wilson.  This bill enables you to sell a ticket that you have purchased from a vendor in the event you cannot attend the event. I voted in favor of this one, it passed the House, and is headed to the Senate.
• HB 416 Traffic Flow Amendment was presented by Representative Ken Ivory. This amendment would allow a person to run a red light in certain instances. It is meant to address intersections whose traffic lights do not have sensors to detect a car stopped at the light. The scope of this bill is very narrow, you would have to be stopped at a red light for a full 90 seconds, and there cannot be any visible cars or traffic in the area. This one is still being debated in the House, I am cautiously in favor.
• HB 241 Post Employment Restrictions presented by Representative Mike Schultz. This bill would not allow the media to require non-compete contracts for employees who earn less than $47,000/yearly. Currently, many employees of the news industry must leave the area when their contract ends, or they must find a new field of work to stay in Utah. I voted yes on this bill, which passed the House and on to the Senate.
• HCR 19 and HB 157 were presented by Representative Ken Ivory. This legislation speaks to the need for the Federal Government to pay its fair share on taxable land value in Utah. It will allow the state to ask for lost property taxes to be paid on public lands. I missed the vote for HCR19, but I voted in favor of HB157.
• HJR 18 Special Session of Legislators was presented by Representative Brad Wilson. This resolution asks that the legislature be given the power to call themselves into session in certain special circumstances. I voted in favor, and it passed the House.

Just four more days in the session! As always, I appreciate this opportunity you have given me. If you have questions, comments, or needs, please don’t hesitate to contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov. Thanks!

It’s been a good week. The session is winding down, or gearing up for the last two weeks, depending on your point of view. Really quick, here are the highlights from week five:

• SCR13-presented by Senator Curt Bramble gave us the opportunity to honor Senator Orrin Hatch for all that he has accomplished serving as our US Senator for the past 40 years. The resolution passed both the Senate and the House unanimously.
• HB357-Evaluating Tax Revenue Foregone from Federally Controlled Lands was presented by Representative Ken Ivory. This bill will enable the state to evaluate federally controlled lands and help us to understand the tax loss associated with federal lands. Senator Mike Lee spoke in favor of this bill on the house floor. It passed the house unanimously. Although I missed the floor vote, I am in favor of this one.
• HB259-Moderate Income Housing was presented in the Political Subdivisions. I finally had the opportunity to introduce one of my bills this week. It passed through committee with broad support from both sides of the aisle. I’ll have the opportunity to present it on the House Floor sometime next week. Fingers crossed that it passes through the House and Senate with no troubles. For more info on HB259, see my first post of the session.
• HB379-Death Penalty Amendments is one to watch this session. It is being presented by Representative Gage Froerer, and will eliminate the death penalty in the State of Utah. I have received many emails and phone calls about this bill. Currently, I feel that the public is not ready to eliminate the death penalty. However, I feel the costs that are borne carrying out the death penalty are significant enough that we should examine the need for the death penalty.

I had the opportunity to arrange the prayer and pledge Thursday morning. We were honored to have Morgan County Veteran Colonel Steve Smith lead the pledge, and North Summit Seminary Council member Kyler Kershaw give the opening prayer.
I met with constituents from Summit County Tuesday evening for a quick legislative update. As always, it is so good to meet with you and hear your comments, questions, and concerns. I’m hoping to get out to Duchesne County this week. In the meantime, I thank you for your continued support, it means so much to my family. Please contact me at loganwilde@le.ut.gov with any concerns.

 I can’t believe we’re past the halfway point of the 2018 legislative session. It’s been a busy week on the Hill. Here’s a little of what went down the fourth week.

• HB175-comes to us from Representative Stratton. It has stalled in committee, but he is still working to bring it to the House Floor. This bill creates a regulatory committee that will oversee county, municipal and state administrative rules. I oppose this bill in it’s current form, because we already have this authority in our legislative committees. I do not believe we need to create more bureaucracy to offset work which should be done in our committees.
• SCR1-The resolution to send Martha Hughes Cannon to Washington has passed the Senate and House. A new statue will be commissioned and sent to the Hall of Statues in the US Capitol Building in 2020. I was proud to vote in favor of this amazing woman and all that she stands for.

​HB181-presented by Representative Marc Roberts, this bill allows for zero regulation on foods that are produced and sold from home-based businesses. Although I am in favor of less regulation on home-based businesses, I had to vote against this bill. I didn’t feel it accomplished what the sponsor intended, and it created gray areas. Without this bill, a person can already sell raw produce, baked goods and certain processed foods which are made at home or produced in a garden without any state regulation.

​

• HB164-Early Childhood Task Force was presented to the Floor by Representative Cutler. It was defeated. This bill created additional bureaucracy to look at ways to improve early childhood development. I believe we have enough oversight when it comes to early education, so I voted nay.

• HB195 and 197-The Medical Cannabis Policy were presented by Representative Brad Daw. I voted in favor of both of these bills. This legislation will provide clear guidelines for who can produce and prescribe medical cannabis if the ballot initiative passes in November.

HB258-Womens’ Cancer Screening Notification ammendments presented by Representative LaVar Christensen. This bill will require physicians to notify women who may have dense breast tissue that additional screening may be necessary. I voted in favor, because I think women should be informed and have the right to choose whether or not they want additional screening. It passed the house, just barely.

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with high schoolers from Manila, who made the long trek to the Capitol for a field trip. I was able to meet with a homeschool group from Morgan. We talked about constitutionality and the important role it plays in legislation. My daughter Madi and her friend Michael came to visit Thursday. On Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with teachers and school board members from District 53. All in all, it was a pretty great week. 
​ As always, I am thankful for the opportunity to represent you on the Hill. Please contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov with any questions or concerns. Thank you for supporting my family and I in this adventure.

What a rollercoaster this one was! In spite of all the drama, a lot has been accomplished in this third week of the session. A few noteworthy items:

• HB357 will be presented by Representative Ken Ivory and Senator Jim Dabakis. This bill calls on the Federal Government to pay its fair share. Currently, public lands are not taxed for the services other government agencies provide; such as search and rescue, police, fire, and ambulance. This bill would allow the state to calculate the cost of these services and bill the Federal Government for the services provided. I am in favor of this bill, and will be keeping a close eye on it during the session.

​Thursday, the Utah Association of Counties hosted their day on the Hill. It was great to meet with friends and colleagues from all of our District 53 counties.
It’s been a good week, and I’m looking forward to next week’s adventures. As always, you may contact me at loganwilde@le.ut.gov with any questions or concerns. Thanks for trusting me with your vote. 

​​

​








​It’s been an eventful week, and I’m getting in to the swing of things up on the Hill. Here’s a quick recap of the second week of the session.

• The Senate passed SCJ1. This is a joint resolution to replace the Philo T. Farnsworth statue in the US Capitol Building with a statue of Martha Hughes Cannon. Martha was the first woman in the nation elected to the State Senate. She was elected on November 3, 1896, in a race with eight other candidates, one of which was her husband. She was also one of the first female physicians in Utah, and she fought for women’s right to vote here in Utah. I am looking forward to the opportunity to send Martha to Washington, DC.
• One bill to keep your eye on in the upcoming weeks is HB19 from Representative Norm Thurston. HB19, the Health Insurance Right to Shop Amendment will allow individuals to ask for the cost of surgery up front from providers. This will make it possible for patients to look for cheaper avenues when surgery is necessary. I am in favor of this bill, and will keep you updated on its progress.
• Another Bill from Rep Thurston, HB163 Drug Importation, will allow companies to import drugs from Canada, saving consumers money. This bill passed the House, I voted in favor. Norm is all about saving our health care dollars this session.
• One more bill that constituents have asked about, HB 175, was heard in Government Ops Committee this week. HB175 would have created more government oversight of administrative rules within the state. This bill was defeated in committee.
• On the Transportation Committee, Representative Ray Ward presented bill HB184, Driver’s License Form Amendment. This bill simplifies the medical form that drivers and medical personnel use to apply for a Driver’s License. It would also allow doctors to suggest a person with a medical condition could renew their license every five years instead of every year.

 

​I had the opportunity to meet with students from Morgan Elementary, Park City Junior High, and Ecker Middle School. The fourth graders from Morgan really had some hard-hitting questions for their legislator: Do you know my mom/dad/grandma/grandpa? Do you like to play basketball? Do you get motion sickness? Who is taking care of the sheep while you are here? Nothing quite like being grilled by your youngest constituents.



​We also had the chance to honor fellow Morgan County resident Fred Thurston this week. Fred is the recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award for 2017. Fred is a personal friend, I was blessed to serve on the Morgan County Conservation District with him. He is also the father of Representative Norm Thurston. 

​​We finished out the week with a Legislative Update in Morgan County on Saturday morning. Thanks to those who attended and shared their concerns and questions with me. I’ll be holding a few more in the upcoming weeks, so look for me in your neck of the woods. As always, I am glad to hear from you. Please contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov with any questions, needs or concerns.

The first week of the session has been very eventful.  We started Monday morning with a beautiful musical number performed by former members of the House.  Then we quickly got down to business, passing four education codification bills that removed old language and clarified existing education codes.
This year I am serving on the Executive Office and Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee. We spent time this week looking at budgets, hoping to find areas we can cut costs and eliminate wasteful spending. The hope is that we can save tax payers several million dollars in the coming years.

I am serving on the Political Subdivisions Committee again this year. A few of the bills that came before us this week include:

• One that would change financial reporting requirements for local volunteer fire departments. Instead of reporting quarterly, departments would report financials yearly to the state.
• A proposal for a statewide registry of local government entities and special service districts. This would make it easier to keep track of these types of groups and the fees they may be charging.

I am excited for the chance to serve as vice chair of the Transportation Committee this year. Our first week saw a LOT of bills on seat belt laws, I’m sure there will be more to come before the session ends.
​
There were a few bills worth noting that passed the house this week:

• HB 38-presented by Jim Dunnigan-Fire Restrictions-this bill allows cities and counties more control over firework exemptions and restrictions. I voted yes on this bill.
• HB 41-Hannah’s Bill-presented by Steve Eliason-this bill will implement and fund the creation of a statewide suicide help line. It passed the house unanimously.

​

Now for the fun stuff. I had the opportunity to visit with students from Ecker Middle School on Wednesday morning. One of my favorite parts of this gig is getting to know students and people from our district. I love the opportunity to visit and answer any questions they may have. If you’re ever at the Capitol, please stop and see me.

As always, I am so grateful to the voters of District 53 for giving me the opportunity to serve as their representative. I hope in November, you will give me the chance to serve once again. If you have questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov
 

​The Legislative session starts tomorrow! I am so excited to get back to work for you! Since the 2017 session ended, I have been busy trying to meet the needs of District 53.  Here’s just a little of what I have accomplished as your legislator:

• I have been to many meetings in Manila to try and help mitigate the closure of the Daggett County Jail. We have discussed the financial outlook of the county, and are working hard to increase job opportunities there.
• I have been to the Bear Lake area several times to discuss at length the possible creation of a new State Park along the southwest portion of the lake. I have met with the Rich County school board and Conservation District to discuss their needs and issues. 
• I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the county and city officials in the Duchesne area many times this year. We have talked about road access, county projects, and job growth needed in the county. I was honored to attend the Uintah Basin Technical College Recognition Dinner and to participate in their legislative update meeting in Roosevelt.
•   I have met with many of the dining clubs in the Park City area, to discuss the impact of the new liquor laws on their businesses.  We are working to create a plan to help mitigate their issues. I also met with residents in Jeremy Ranch, who are concerned about a cement wall being built along I-80.  I have met with county, city and school leaders in Summit to discuss the needs within their communities.    
• I am working with Morgan County to address the transportation needs of our rapidly growing community.  I am working with county and state officials to find solutions to issues on the Weber River.

In the upcoming session, I have two bills that I will be presenting. One of them is an amendment to Moderate Income Housing, the other is an amendment to Greenbelt.

•  The Moderate-Income Housing Amendment will remove a requirement for counties and cities have to biennially review their Moderate-Income Housing Plan. It also removes the requirement to report to the Department of Workforce Services what they are doing to mitigate costs. This will ease the burden and cost that cities and counties have to pass on to property owners. The Bill also helps protect property rights.
•  The Greenbelt Amendment is a bill that the county assessors have requested. It will clarify when a bona fide range management plan can be asked for by a property owner.

I have been keeping an eye on bills of interest to the constituents of district 53.  Many of them have not been numbered or made public. Areas that I am concerned about include:

• Tax reform is all over the board. Some want to raise property taxes, others want to do away with the sales tax on food.  However you may feel about tax reform, know that we will tackle it during this session.

• UTA reform. The time has come to discuss the benefits and downsides to having such a large board of directors. Can this large board, who only meets once a month, comprehensively manage a budget with a 2-Billion-dollar debt? Or is it time to elect 3 full-time commissioners?
• Ballot Initiatives.  There will be much discussion and ideas on the proposed ballot initiatives for the coming 2018 election.

 
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent you.  If you have concerns during the session you can contact me at loganwilde@le.utah.gov.  I will be updating my blog weekly and look forward to hearing from you.  
 
Thank you, Logan Wilde