Governor Takes Action on 59 Bills Including Investments in Transportation, Education Equalization

Press Release

Gov. Gary R. Herbert signed an additional 59 bills today, bringing the total number of bills the governor has taken action on from the 2015 General Legislative Session to 311. The Legislature passed 528 bills this session, 495 of which require action by the governor.

Among the bills signed is HB 362, Transportation Infrastructure Funding. In his State of the State address, Gov. Herbert called on state legislative leaders to address the state's long term transportation funding needs. HB 362 ensures appropriate funding will be in place to meet the growth needs and increased use of the state's transportation infrastructure. The Legislature last addressed transportation funding 17 years ago and due to inflation, the motor fuel tax had lost significant purchasing power.

With passage of HB 362, additional state funds will now be available to increase funding for the governor's top budget priority, public education. Gov. Herbert expects the Legislature will limit the growth in the current earmark for transportation funding and devote more general fund revenue to public education, a state priority that needs additional funding now.

"A strong transportation infrastructure has played a critical role in our economic growth and it will continue to do so thanks to this bill," said Gov. Herbert. "This session we took the necessary steps to address the discrepancy between the funds we have set aside for transportation and the funds we will need to support our growing population and keep commerce flowing through our state for decades to come."

The governor also signed SB97, Property Tax Equalization Amendments. This bill makes changes related to school property taxes and funding as part of the state's commitment to ensure students receive the same high-quality education regardless of where they live.

"Education is the key to our long-term economic strength," said Gov. Herbert. "For Utah to remain among the strongest economies in the nation we need all of our students to succeed, whether they live in a metro or rural area"

The full list of bills signed today is as follows:

Bill Number Bill Name Bill Sponsor

HB 8 State Agency and Higher Education Compensation Appropriations Sanpei, D.
HB 12 Utah Retirement System Amendments Powell, K.
HB 24 Insurance Modifications Dunnigan, J.
HB 25 Water Law - Application Revisions Snow, V.L.
HB 28 Medicaid Management of Emergency Department Utilization Kennedy, M.
HB 32 Local Government Disclosure and Campaign Finance Amendments Draxler, J.
HB 38 Supplemental Savings Plan Amendments Cunningham, R.
HB 43 Water Rights - Change Application Amendments McIff, K.
HB 53 Local Government Residential Reimbursement Authority Anderson, Johnny
HB 58 Change Application Modifications Grover, K.
HB 112 Hearing Instrument Specialist Amendments Froerer, G.
HB 128 Maintenance of Student Records Froerer, G.
HB 133 Firefighter Retirement Amendments Ipson, D.
HB 145 Vulnerable Adult Worker Amendments Sanpei, D.
HB 151 Affiliated Emergency Service Worker Postretirement Employment Amendments Sagers, D.
HB 152 Infertility Insurance Coverage Amendments Christensen, L.
HB 155 Revisor's - Technical Corrections Dunnigan, J.
HB 168 Unclaimed Life Insurance and Annuity Benefits Dunnigan, J.
HB 206 Local District Service Amendments Perry, L.
HB 211 Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption Amendments Oda, C.
HB 227 Real Estate Amendments Froerer, G.
HB 232 Veteran Employment Protection Act McKell, M.
HB 234 Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation Act Modifications McKell, M.
HB 251 Amendments to the Interlocal Act Anderson, Johnny
HB 279 Prescription Notification Amendments Gibson, F.
HB 289 Highway Special Event Permitting Froerer, G.
HB 290 New Car Dealership Franchise Amendments McKell, M.
HB 296 Government Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - Amendments Sandall, S.
HB 302 Traffic Safety Lights on Vehicles Perry, L.
HB 319 Jail Contracting Treatment Rate Amendments Noel, M.
HB 334 Child and Family Amendments Christensen, L.
HB 337 Career and Technical Education Comprehensive Study Cunningham, R.
HB 356 Parent and Child Amendments Christensen, L.
HB 362 Transportation Infrastructure Funding Anderson, Johnny
HB 363 School Land Trust Program Amendments Cunningham, R.
HB 373 Connected Vehicle Testing Knotwell, J.
HB 414 Utah Broadband Outreach Center Handy, S.
SB 4 Current School Year Supplemental Public Education Budget Adjustments Hillyard, L.
SB 8 State Agency Fees and Internal Service Fund Rate Authorization and Appropriations Stevenson, J.
SB 9 Revenue Bond and Capital Facilities Amendments Harper, W.
SB 15 Water Law - Forfeiture Exemptions Dayton, M.
SB 18 Governor's Office of Economic Development Revisions Osmond, A.
SB 24 Department of Financial Institutions Amendments Bramble, C.
SB 40 Water Law - Application Withdrawal Dayton, M.
SB 58 Municipal and County Officials Attendance At School District Board Meetings Harper, W.
SB 97 Property Tax Equalization Amendments Osmond, A.
SB 98 Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations Adams, J.S.
SB 114 Board of Education Compensation Amendments Osmond, A.
SB 120 Regulation of Reverse Mortgages Harper, W.
SB 123 Motion Picture Licensing Amendments Shiozawa, B.
SB 145 Physics Education Proposal Stephenson, H.
SB 169 Contact Lens Consumer Protection Act Amendments Henderson, D.
SB 182 Amendments to Sales and Use Tax Exemptions Bramble, C.
SB 187 Development of Lands Around Bear Lake Jenkins, S.
SB 207 Political Activity Amendments Bramble, C.
SB 217 Capital Improvement and Development Project Amendments Harper, W.
SB 225 Irrigation Service Water Rights Amendments Van Tassell, K.
SB 227 Charter School Revisions Henderson, D.
SB 240 School Districts - Transportation Policies Adams, J.S.

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