Lowry Reports on Legislative Session

TODAY IN ROTARY the members of SGR heard from Lowry Snow, who recently completed his 5^th legislative session in his 4½ years as a Utah Representative (District 74) where more than 1000 bills were introduced and 400 were passed.  His 45 days in the state capitol also included a special session to “get a handle on fixed funding for information technology in schools.” 

Lowry also discussed the designation of the 1.9 million acre Bear’s Ears National Monument noting, “nothing is likely to stop Obama, but we need to be concerned about this designation which is going to have an impact on Utah.”

Lowry indicated the most important assignment legislators have in “handling the state budget, particularly relating to education.”  Utah has long had the lowest per pupil expenditure, and the legislative body in this session, voted to increase the budget by 3%, with $11 million for early learning programs, including an enhanced kindergarten program introduced by Representative Snow.

Other topics discussed:

·               medical marijuana for fairly limited use.  There is a growing movement to make marijuana in all its forms legal in the state

·               a survey shows 64% of Utahns are against the death penalty.  Currently there are 9 men on Death Row – 2 for more than 30 years!!!  According to Lowry, about 4% of all prisoners are actually innocent of the crime for which they have been incarcerated.  A bill has passed to remove “without possibility of parole” for juvenile criminals sentenced to life imprisonment. 

·               taxes on internet sales are already in place in Utah, but are not being collected.  Improving collections will increase state revenue by $1.8 million.

·               1/16 of 1% increase is assessed for water projects.

·               the non-compete clause in contracts is now limited to 1 year.

Thanks, Lowry for your efforts on behalf of the citizens of Washington County.