Saved legislator-communications app text; not the original newsletter image. View the web page here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UTHOUSER/bulletins/35dc24c Pressing Issues Impacting Utah's Social Services Budget Unsustainable federal funds comprise 65% of Utah's Social Services budget to cover services for the most vulnerable Utahns. During our Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting that I chair, David Walker, former head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and Admiral Bill Owens, Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed serious concerns about global and national risks federal finances due to perpetual deficit spending, escalating national debt, and the rising threat of dedollarization led by China and other nations displeased with Washington’s fiscal recklessness. A reduction in federal funds raises crucial questions for sustaining vital services for the most vulnerable Utahns. We are leading the nation in preparing for these and related to prioritize how we protect and serve the citizens of our state, in spite of federal financial folly. Capitol Protecting our Children I have been actively engaged with the Jordan School District, meeting with board members to encourage them to fully implement my HB374 Sensitive Materials policy from 2022. There are still dozens and dozens of obscene and indecent materials in JSD schools. The JSD policy that requires parents to challenge in every single school materials that have already been found to violate the obscene materials standard has to be eliminated immediately. You’re your JSD School Board Member and demand they follow HB374 and get obscene materials out of JSD Schools now! #SafeNOTSexualizedSchools Find out which obscene materials are still in JSD at RatedBooks.org or http://booklooks.org/ Children Legislator of the Year Recently, I was honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from the Utah Council on Victims of Crime. I believe protecting the innocent is among the first priorities of government. Having worked with so many tireless survivors, victim advocates and government and private victim services providers, this award is dedicated to all of them for the service to our community and state. It's with heartfelt gratitude to UCASA (Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault) for their amazing work that I was honored with their Sexual Assault Awareness Award. I’m committed to remain vigilant in supporting survivors and advocating for victims of crime. Awards Important Bill Signings We recently celebrated the signing of two important bills. HB244 established the Utah Commission for Victims of Crime, enhancing our commitment to support and protect victims of crime in Utah, as we continue to see federal dollars diminish. Additionally, HB247 Alcohol Amendments enacts crucial updates to alcohol regulations, to protect innocent bystanders like Eli Mitchell, and his grieving family, from the very real and inestimable damages of drunk driving. The Mitchell family turned their tragedy in triumph by channeling their grief to pass this law to protect other teenagers and families from restaurants and bars continuing to serve alcohol to patrons long after they are already intoxicated. According to law enforcement and prosecutors, HB247 will save lives! Bill signing Sustainable, Reliable Energy I’d like to highlight our efforts in advancing energy technology. I recently had a site visit to Pennsylvania to investigate an energy technology that has the promise of turning Utah’s abundant coal resources into clean burning hydrogen and high tech graphene and graphite. HB425 addresses the challenges our energy sector faces from unilateral federal mandates to shut off our affordable and reliable energy infrastructure, in the unproven and unrealistic hope that wind, solar and battery storage will provide entire state energy demands in three years. I have a bill file open for 2024 to continue to protect and advance Utah’s affordable, reliable and secure energy production, despite the federal energy mandates that are producing the same energy poverty that Germany, California and others that have mandated net zero long before the market and materials are ready, if they ever will be… Energy Special Session This past month, the Legislature convened in a special session to address the needs of the state by extending the current state of emergency and allocating funds to help mitigate the ongoing statewide flooding. You can watch the recording of this special session here. Bills passed during the special session: H.B. 1001 Emergency Response Funding H.B. 1002 Restricted Persons Amendments H.B. 1003 Firefighter Death Benefit Amendments H.J.R. 101 Joint Resolution Extending Emergency Powers for Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure Rehabilitation Special Session May Interim May interim was a success! It is always a pleasure to serve with my colleagues on our interim committees and to hear from the public about issues they care about. You can read the highlights here. June interim will be held on the 13th and 14th of this month. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov. Interim Memorial Day Memorial Day is a time to honor all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I am grateful for all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces. Thank you for your dedication and service. Memorial Day Congrats Graduates! Congratulations to the class of 2023! Whether you finished your senior year of high school or college, I commend you for your achievement and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you. Thank You For Your Support I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support and engagement. We have big challenges ahead for our State and our Nation. Together, we can overcome these challenges and create a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved. Ken Ivory I would love to hear from you! kivory@le.utah.gov 801-694-8380 @Ken Ivory Twitter @KenIvoryUT