Week 5 Legislative Update: National Security & Water

Dear Constituents,

We are officially in the last two weeks of the session and with the shortest legislative session in the country, we are making every day count. Thank you to those of you who joined me for my town halls on Tuesday and Saturday; it was great to see so many of you and have a policy discussion. 

This week has been a big one and there’s a lot to report so buckle up!

Water Week 

As the second driest state in the nation, it is critical that we are planning for our water needs. Because water is a top priority, we designated this past week as Water Week at the Capitol. During the week, we heard and debated important bills that will help ensure our water future, here’s a highlight of some of the big ones:

• HB 280: Water Related Changes: Helps the state address the long-term stability of our water resources by creating a reliable funding system and process for infrastructure projects (reservoirs, dams, etc.) and a way to prioritize funds to address the most critical projects. 

• HB 453: Great Salt Lake Revisions: Protects the Great Salt Lake by establishing a framework to ensure the investments made in the lake, and conservation efforts by citizens, are safeguarded and dedicated to the lake. 

Click here to learn more about how we plan to protect our water resources.

HB 431: Teacher Retention

This week I presented HB 431: Teacher Retention on the House floor, the bill passed unanimously. This bill does three important things:



• Creates a teacher hotline for teachers to call at the State Board of Education to report red tape and administrative burden the teacher might be facing; ask about professional development opportunities and receive referrals for resources and support.

• Creates the MASTER Teacher program: So many of our best teachers end up working in administration for career advancement and the opportunity to make more money. This pilot program would allow a teacher to become a Master Teacher, where they could make more money to lead, mentor and train other teachers while still able to teach in the classroom. 

• Finally, this bill requires districts to provide a minimum of three-weeks maternity leave. Despite the fact that this is a largely female profession, not all districts provide paid maternity leave. 

National Security: HB 404 & HB 516

On Monday, we hosted a national security press conference and were fortunate enough to hear from Ambassador Robert O’Brian who served as the U.S. National Security Advisor from 2019 to 2021. During the conference we highlighted how Utah is doing their part to address national security concerns this legislative session.

I’m running HB 404 which prohibits state entities from purchasing technology products from companies headquartered in China, Russia, North Korea or Iran. Additionally, I’m running HB 516 to prohibit restricted foreign entities and companies headquartered in those countries from owning or purchasing land in Utah. These are the bills we highlighted at the press conference: 

• H.B. 117- Wind Energy Facility Siting Modifications (Burton)

• H.B. 256- Military Compatible Land Use Amendments (Peterson, V.)

• H.B. 404- Public Entity Restrictions (Pierucci)

• H.B. 516- State Land Purchase Amendments (Pierucci)

Honoring Fallen Heroes

This week we had the humbling opportunity of recognizing and honoring SSG Robert Blake and other fallen military members on the House floor. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet Ms. Blake and her granddaughter, Quincy from our district; their family is one of many who has lost a loved one and has had to pick up the pieces and move forward. I am forever grateful to our service members and their families who give so much and paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom.

Herriman High Cross Country Team

On Thursday, I had the chance to recognize the Herriman High Cross Country Team with a citation for their historic win, outstanding dedication and hard work. Their team became the first and only Utah high school cross country team to ever take home the first-place title at the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals!

As a reminder, if you would like to follow along as we discuss important issues or give public comment at a committee hearing, please visit le.utah.gov to join online or view committee schedules. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our district. Please feel free to email me with any concerns or questions you have at cpierucci@le.utah.gov. Be sure to include your home address so I know you live in my district!



Sincerely,



Candice B. Pierucci

State Representative for House District 49

Bills Passed by the House this Week:

• H.B. 38 Psychotropic Medication Oversight Pilot Program Amendments

• H.B. 41 Health Data Authority Amendments

• H.B. 51 Health and Human Services Funding Amendments

• H.B. 79 Initiatives and Referenda Amendments

• H.B. 84 School Safety Amendments

• H.B. 89 Tax Refund Amendments

• H.B. 100 Workforce Development Funding Amendments

• H.B. 102 Peace Officer Standards and Training Amendments

• H.B. 103 Salary Supplement for School Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists

• H.B. 105 Educator Expense Modifications

• H.B. 121 Educator Background Check Amendments

• H.B. 124 Energy Infrastructure Amendments

• H.B. 139 Mental Health Treatment Study

• H.B. 148 Artificial Pornographic Images Amendments

• H.B. 156 Burglary Amendments

• H.B. 161 School Board Amendments

• H.B. 173 Local School Board Amendments

• H.B. 192 Local Education Agency Employee Paid Leave

• H.B. 194 Child Placement Amendments

• H.B. 197 Requirements for Supported Decision-making Agreements

• H.B. 203 Involuntary Commitment Amendments

• H.B. 209 Human Trafficking Civil Action Amendments

• H.B. 216 Eliminating Minimum Time Requirements for Professional Training

• H.B. 222 Wildlife Hunting Amendments

• H.B. 226 Burglary Modifications

• H.B. 231 Motor Vehicle Insurance Modifications

• H.B. 238 Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Amendments

• H.B. 247 Statewide Online Education Program Amendments

• H.B. 262 School and Institutional Trust Lands Amendments

• H.B. 273 Sentencing Modifications for Certain DUI Offenses

• H.B. 276 Crime Victims Restitution Amendments

• H.B. 282 Utah Office of Regulatory Relief Amendments

• H.B. 291 Department of Agriculture and Food Amendments

• H.B. 297 Utah Bee Inspection Act Amendments

• H.B. 301 Charter School Accountability Amendments

• H.B. 302 Paleontological Landmark Amendments

• H.B. 308 Crime Victim Amendments

• H.B. 309 Driver License Amendments

• H.B. 319 Exchange of Clinical Health Information Amendments

• H.B. 321 Eviction Records Amendments

• H.B. 326 Firearm Safety Incentives

• H.B. 331 School and Classroom Amendments

• H.B. 332 Campus Safety Amendments

• H.B. 334 Warning Label Amendments

• H.B. 341 School Closure Amendments

• H.B. 345 Driving Penalty Amendments

• H.B. 351 Driving by Minors Amendments

• H.B. 352 Amendments to Expungement

• H.B. 353 Mining Operations Amendments

• H.B. 355 Residential Rental Modifications

• H.B. 356 Bail Amendments

• H.B. 358 Pregnant and Postpartum Inmate Amendments

• H.B. 362 Juvenile Justice Revisions

• H.B. 365 Cosmetic Procedure Amendments

• H.B. 366 Criminal Justice Amendments

• H.B. 369 Defensive Force Amendments

• H.B. 370 Dispatcher Discipline Amendments

• H.B. 375 Domesticated Elk Amendments

• H.B. 377 Podiatrist Practice Amendments

• H.B. 378 First Responder Mental Health Services Amendments

• H.B. 388 Person-Centered Services Amendments

• H.B. 389 Medical Cannabis Pharmacy Modifications

• H.B. 390 Newborn Safe Haven Amendments

• H.B. 392 Nursing Care Facility Modifications

• H.B. 396 Workplace Discrimination Amendments

• H.B. 406 Firearms Financial Transaction Amendments

• H.B. 410 Utah San Rafael State Energy Lab

• H.B. 411 Local Governmental Entity Drug-free Workplace Policies Amendments

• H.B. 418 Student Offender Reintegration Amendments

• H.B. 422 Public Health Orders Amendments

• H.B. 424 Lewdness Involving a Child Amendments

• H.B. 431 Teacher Retention

• H.B. 433 Brine Amendments

• H.B. 437 Fire Amendments

• H.B. 443 Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act Amendments

• H.B. 451 Foster Care Amendments

• H.B. 453 Great Salt Lake Revisions

• S.B. 13 Education Entity Amendments

• S.B. 18 Water Modifications

• S.B. 22 Tax Information Sharing Amendments

• S.B. 54 Property Tax Refund Amendments

• S.B. 58 Property Tax Administration Amendments

• S.B. 62 Dog Related Liability Amendments

• S.B. 63 Board of Pardons and Parole Amendments

• S.B. 64 Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program Amendments

• S.B. 66 Criminal Offense Amendments

• S.B. 67 Public Thoroughfare Amendments

• S.B. 76 Evidence Retention Amendments

• S.B. 81 County Clerk Amendments

• S.B. 88 Juvenile Justice Amendments

• S.B. 90 Technical Code Amendments

• S.B. 92 Student Communication Methods

• S.B. 94 Elections Records Amendments

• S.B. 97 Process and Facilities Amendments

• S.B. 98 Online Data Security and Privacy Amendments

• S.B. 100 Local Referenda Amendments

• S.B. 106 Public Cold Bath Requirements

• S.B. 107 Election Process Amendments

• S.B. 109 Corrections Modifications

• S.B. 123 Commercial Email Act

• S.B. 127 Nurse Apprentice Amendments

• S.B. 130 Overdose Outreach Provider Amendments

• S.B. 134 Child Welfare Amendments

• S.B. 158 Youth Service Organizations

• H.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Proclaiming World Refugee Day

• H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Tanner Dance Utah

• H.C.R. 11 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing the Importance of Cross-issue Growth Impacts

• H.C.R. 12 Employer Disclosure for Veterans

• H.C.R. 13 Concurrent Resolution Related to the Division of Wildlife Resources

• H.C.R. 18 House Concurrent Resolution Condemning and Censuring State School Board Member Natalie Cline

• H.J.R. 22 Joint Resolution Regarding District Court Operations

• S.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing School Support Staff

• S.J.R. 3 Joint Resolution Concerning the Success Sequence

• S.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Urging Changes to Ada Website Accessibility