As the first week of the 2012 legislative session comes to a close, legislators in both the Utah House and the Senate don’t quite know what will stir debate and what will never make it out of committee. For Utah’s lawmakers, it’s too early to start placing bets.
“It’s too soon to tell,” said Utah Sen. Kevin Van Tassell (R-Vernal), who is also a member of the Business and Labor Committee.
Of the six proposed pieces of legislation discussed in the Business and Labor Committee meetings Wednesday, four were postponed to allow sponsors to make last-minute changes and give the bills a better chance of gaining support.
“There’s still a lot of bills I haven’t seen yet,” Van Tassell said. “Until I get them in committee, I have enough to do without looking at bills that will never make it to committee. When they do make it, that’s when we’re ready.”
While subcommittees, standing committees and appropriations committees are getting acquainted with the bills on the docket, Park City is tuning in to what’s being looked at and what to watch out for. Issues ranging from state oversight of historic districts, to liquor laws, to the budget surplus are already catching local attention.
Park City Chamber/Bureau President Bill Malone said he is focusing on issues more than individual bills at this point.
“It’s still very early,” Malone said. “There’s a lot we don’t know about.”
But that doesn’t mean he has his head in the sand. Malone and his office are already figuring out how to get an increase in proposed tourism spending that would at least match last year’s funding. The governor has recommended $6 million for next year, which would be a $1 million decrease from the current year.
“We’re working with destination organizations around state looking for how to get that increase,” Malone said.
Because lawmakers are expecting a surplus, Malone said he believes the cuts to tourism are unnecessary. Official numbers regarding how much money Utah collected in taxes over the last year will be released in February, when more concrete budgets will be decided on.
Alongside tourism spending, Malone said Utah’s liquor laws and in particular the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will be sure to draw a lot of attention.
“With all the mismanagement issues over the last year, we’ll be keeping a watchful eye on what a bill will look like,” he added.
There has yet to be a piece of serious legislation submitted to the Senate addressing last year’s scandal involving the director allegedly giving state contracts to his son’s business. But legislators are still waiting for something to surface that would change alcohol regulation in the state.
“There will be alcohol reform and it’s going to come through this committee,” Van Tassell said, “but it’s still being worked on. I do know for a fact the structure of the DABC will be changed.”
Malone said businesses should also keep an eye on immigration issues, since several measures were passed last year dealing with enforcement and employee verifications.
“Those are the big ones right now,” Malone said, “the bills business people are going to keep their eye on. And every week we’ll learn more, whether that means a positive or negative impact on business or not.”
Michael Kovacs, the outgoing assistant city manager in Park City, said there are a few key items the city will be watching this year. In particular, Kovacs said, the city will be tracking a bill that would give state control over how historic districts in cities are managed, areas like Park City’s Main Street.
“With anything in respect to how cities are allowed to run their historic areas, the city believes that is something the state should leave that to the cities,” Kovacs said. “We’ll be watching that issue closely.” One thing House and Senate Republicans and Governor Gary Herbert agree on for this year is no new taxes, not for businesses, not on property, not for individuals. It was a commitment legislators made during caucus meetings last year.
“There was a bill I wanted to bring forward but couldn’t,” said Dixon Pitcher, the vice chair of the House Business and Labor Committee. “The bill dealt with beverages. It would have put a three-cent tax on any carbonated drink. But in caucus we all decided we would not have any revenue tax bill, so I backed off.”
“We all decided not put forth a bill that created any more taxation,” he added.
The Double or Nothing Issues:
No New Taxes
Legislators decided in caucus meetings to support Gov. Herbert’s long-standing position of balancing the budget without tax increases. With an expected surplus this year in state spending, legislators are steering away from new taxes and toward adding or cutting funding to certain programs.
Alcohol
While bills from the House pushing privatization have been on the docket, there has been a lack of support from the Senate. Sen. John Valentine (R-Orem) is heading Senate efforts in creating a bill on DABC reform.
Historic Main Street
S.B. 115, entitled “Historical District Creation Requirements,” describes what actions a city must take under state law to preserve a historic district site. Park City officials oppose this legislation, which would limit the city’s ability to designate a historic site.
Tourism Spending
Gov. Herbert has proposed cutting spending for tourism promotion this year. Last year, tourism received $7M to advertise and draw people into the state. Herbert is recommending cutting that budget by $1M.