Tag: Lauren Simpson

Press Release: A pandemic is no time for a power grab

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Starting Thursday, the Utah Legislature will convene in a special session to address the impact of the COVID-19 emergency. One bill the Legislature will address is H.B. 3005, Pandemic Response and Consultation Act. The bill, sponsored by Representative Gibson, would require the governor

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Better Utah in the News

Here’s what you need to know about the Legislature’s upcoming digital special session

This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. The Utah Legislature will meet beginning Thursday in its first-ever digital special session as lawmakers confront a range of issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the core functions of this special session will remain the same as ever — lawmakers will still debate and vote on bills — there are some key

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Digital special session

The Legislature will kick off a special session to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 this Thursday, and we want to be sure you have all the information you need to get involved. The session could go for up to 10 days, and will be held entirely online.  The historic nature of the special session

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underpass sign that says "Let's Love Our Community"

The breaking point of individualism

What a whirlwind the two weeks have been. (I say that figuratively. Mother Nature, if you are reading this, please do not get any ideas.) In the midst of a pandemic and the largest earthquake Utah has seen in decades, state and local leaders have responded in rapid and productive ways. They deserve a tremendous

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Better Utah op-ed

Lauren Simpson: Utah’s lawmakers are in election-year mode

This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. The Utah legislative session felt different this year. Between COVID-19, an instant repeal of the tax reform passed by the Legislature one month prior and an uncharacteristically slow release of bills, Capitol Hill veterans agreed it was a singularly unique session. And on top of all that, the cloud of the 2020 election loomed over every

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Press Release: Better Utah statement on abortion ban bill

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Following debate and passage of SB 174, Abortion Prohibition Amendments, in the Legislature, Lauren Simpson, policy director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement: “It was made clear today during debate that, should this bill go into effect, it would

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Better Utah in the News

Utah Legislature passes elective abortion ban but mandatory ultrasound bill stalls in House

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Several minutes after it was brought to the floor for final approval of Senate amendments, a bill requiring doctors to show a woman her ultrasound before performing an abortion was put on hold in the House. Sponsor Rep. Steve Christiansen, R-West Jordan, told the Deseret News that it

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Press Release: Better Utah statement on Prop 4 bill

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, S.B. 200, Redistricting Amendments, passed the House with only four nay votes. Lauren Simpson, policy director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:  “We always appreciate bipartisan collaboration on the Hill, and we are grateful for the efforts of

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Better Utah in the News

Utah Legislature approves Better Boundaries deal

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has officially signed off on a deal struck between lawmakers and backers of a voter-approved citizens initiative creating an independent redistricting commission to recommend new legislative, congressional and State School Board boundaries following the census every decade. The Utah House of Representatives on Wednesday voted

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