The 2019 legislative session began Monday, and after nearly a fifth of legislators chose not to run for reelection last year, a new Speaker of the House has taken the reigns, setting the pace for the state House of Representatives. KPCW’s Emily Means has more.
The annual meeting of lawmakers opened with bells, a prayer by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Apostle M. Russell Ballard and a high school chamber choir singing the national anthem.
Outgoing House Speaker Greg Hughes, a Republican from Draper, presided over the ceremony, including the swearing in of both re-elected and newly elected legislators, before passing on the proverbial torch to new House Speaker Brad Wilson. Hughes presented Wilson with an extra-large gavel, made of Utah mahogany and Kennecott copper.
“I thought it appropriate for a new speaker to have, what I think for the weight of the job and the man that’s going to assume this responsibility, a new gavel," Hughes said. "It’s bigger than my gavel, which I don’t know if was planned or not, but it ends up being bigger than mine. I thought I wanted it the exact same size—it’s bigger.”
All theatrics aside, Wilson, a Republican from Kaysville, then laid out his priorities for the session, mentioning school safety, air quality and suicide prevention. Wilson also said Heber Republican Rep. Tim Quinn and Sandy Republican Robert Spendlove will take on tax reform, which Gov. Gary Herbert requested in the leadup to the session. Wilson says people are now spending more on services and less on goods, resulting in depleted funds for government services.
“Representatives Quinn and Spendlove are working with our colleagues in the Senate to develop a proposal that would broaden the sales-tax base while reducing rates, thereby improving parity across economic sectors," Wilson said. "Without this restructuring, Utah’s general fund will simply be gobbled up, and we will be unable to fund roads, public safety and basic government programs within just a few years. This work will not be easy, but it must be done.”
Wilson said he’s looking for a tax cut to the tune of $225 million this session.
At the end of his remarks, Wilson outlined what he wants to have accomplished by the end of the session.
“It’s my hope that at the conclusion of our service, we will have made health care more affordable and innovative; our education system more nimble and forward-looking; our infrastructure better suited to meet the opportunities of tomorrow; and our unparalleled natural resources preserved for the enjoyment of current and future generations.”
The general session concludes Thursday, March 14.
