UPHE’s legislative concerns & things you can do!
| Your Voice is Needed—Tell Lawmakers to Protect Public Health & Transparency!We are facing a critical moment in Utah’s legislative session. Several dangerous bills threaten our right to government transparency, clean air, and a healthy environment. But there’s good news: your voice can make a difference! Legislators are already taking notice of public opposition, and we need to keep up the momentum. |
| 📢 SB277: Hiding Government Records from the Public What: This bill would make it harder for Utahns to access vital government records, including how tax dollars are spent and whether officials are acting ethically. It eliminates the independent committee that ensures transparency, leaving decisions to a single judge appointed by the governor. Worse, it removes a key rule allowing records to be released when it serves the public’s best interest—rules that have exposed corruption and police misconduct in the past. Why: This is a direct attack on transparency. Without public oversight, it becomes easier for officials to hide information and act without accountability. Who: Call your state senator TODAY and urge them to vote NO on SB277! The bill already passed a Senate Committee, will be voted on by the full Senate soon, then go to a House Committee and full House vote. Please call your state Senators first This is a direct attack on transparency. Call your state senator TODAY and urge them to vote NO on SB277!  📢 HB355: Unchecked Expansion of Gravel Pits & Industrial Sites What: This bill allows gravel pits and similar industrial operations to expand onto adjacent land with little oversight. That means more dust, pollution, and environmental destruction in communities already struggling with poor air quality. Why: More industrial expansion without regulation means more harm to Utah’s air quality and public health, increasing the burden on communities already affected by pollution. Who: The bill passed the House Committee, but legislators have admitted they are hearing the public’s outcry! We need even more voices. Contact your legislators today! We’ve made it easy with this form—please personalize your message. Calling at this stage of the game is most effective though! UPDATE! (March 3rd 2025) – HB 355 passed the House. It’s been assigned to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. FIND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND REACH OUT HERE.  📢 SB203 & SB204: Silencing Legal Challenges to Protect Public Health For years, UPHE has used litigation to stop illegal pollution and hold the state accountable. But these bills would make that nearly impossible What: These bills would make it significantly harder to challenge illegal pollution and hold the state accountable: SB203 would severely limit our ability to represent Utahns harmed by bad policies, making it harder to challenge destructive projects like the inland port and Great Salt Lake mismanagement. SB204 would allow the state to continue breaking environmental laws until the Utah Supreme Court intervenes—meaning illegal pollution could persist for years, harming public health. Why: These bills remove critical tools used to protect Utahns from environmental harm, allowing polluters and harmful policies to go unchecked for years. Who: Both bills have already passed the Senate so please launch a full court press to your House Representatives. This is a direct attack on Utahns’ right to clean air, water, and a livable future. Tell your legislators to vote NO on SB203 & SB204!  📢 SB239: Reducing Transparency for the Utah Inland Port Authority What: This bill would allow the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) to keep business proposals for UIPA-sponsored development hidden from public view until UIPA itself decides to approve them. It also allows UIPA to spend property tax differential from a project area anywhere, as long as they create some kind of connection between the two. Why: Lack of transparency at UIPA is already a serious issue, with much of what the public knows coming through GRAMA requests. If this provision were in place, projects like the Zenith Bolinder development—set to devastate the Tooele Valley’s water supply—would remain secret until it was too late for public input. Additionally, allowing tax funds to be used outside project areas could lead to taxpayer money subsidizing harmful and speculative projects with no oversight or accountability. Who: Call your representatives and demand they vote NO on SB239! This bill will next be heard by the Utah Senate. Ask them: How does it serve the public interest to keep these proposals secret when they could have huge impacts on local communities?  Photo courtesy of E P Kosmicki. 📢 SB311: A Threat to Utah’s Water & Air What: HB 311 expands government authority to negotiate secret water diversion projects without public oversight. It paves the way for the Bear River Development, a $3+ billion project to divert the Great Salt Lake’s largest water source—deepening the water crisis and worsening Utah’s air quality. Why: Draining the Great Salt Lake = More Toxic Dust & Worse Air. Climate change is already shrinking our rivers—we can’t afford more diversions. Who: Your Utah Senator! The bill passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee Thursday, Feb 27. Your state senator is the next step in the process. Together, We Can Make a Difference! Your voice is powerful. We have seen lawmakers acknowledge public pressure, and now is the time to amplify it. Call and email your representatives today! Every message matters. |