Chase Thomas

Welcome to the 10th day on the Hill. Lawmakers spent almost $31 billion this morning. And then they continued passing bills through the House and Senate floors and in afternoon committee hearings. There’s only 35 days left! Observations from the Hill BASE BUDGET BILLS: Both chambers spent a good chunk of their floor time advancing […]

Welcome to the 9th day on the Hill.  The Utah Courts continue to be under pressure from a Legislature intent on having its way. A huge elections bill started moving its way through the Senate. And tax cuts may be on the agenda for a sixth year in a row, cutting funds for essential services. 

Welcome to the 8th day on the Hill.  Today was long and heavy as lawmakers in a House Committee considered legislation targeting the transgender community for yet another year. There’s only 37 days left! Observations from the Hill LEGISLATURE MOVES TO MAKE BAN ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE PERMANENT: The most consequential action of the day came

Welcome to the 7th day on the Hill.  Priority bills from Republican legislative leadership continue to move quickly through the process, while other bills aren’t so lucky and are being held up behind the various procedural hurdles in the legislative process. There’s only 38 days left! Observations from the Hill CRISIS RESPONSE WITHOUT LANGUAGE BARRIERS:

Welcome to the fourth day on the Hill.  Lawmakers have been ordered to slash state budgets by 5%, including public education. What programs will make the cut?   There’s only 41 days left! Observations from the Hill PUBLIC EDUCATION CUTS: The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee began grappling with legislative directives to identify a 5% reduction in

Welcome to the third day on the Hill.  What’s the state of the State? Governor Cox would like you to believe it’s better than ever before, but lawmakers believe they need to make a few fixes, including packing the Supreme Court and facilitating ICE enforcement in our communities.  There’s only 42 days left! Observations from

Welcome to the second day on the Hill. Appropriations subcommittees started meeting this morning and lawmakers are already facing budget cuts. This afternoon, lawmakers on standing committees started advancing bills. And just in case you think that Utah might somehow be tied up in international deep state conspiracies, Rep. Chevrier got up on the House

It felt like the first day of school up on Capitol Hill today. Lawmakers were back in the building and finding their seats, lobbyists and reporters were milling about the hallways, and legislative leadership tried setting expectations. The pace was slow, the speeches were long, and the hard decisions are still ahead, with the real