2021 Legislative Update #4
The Utah 2021 Legislative Session opened on Tuesday, Jan 19th. Every year Bike Utah works to keep people updated on legislative issues relevant to cyclists and bicycle advocates. Bike Utah will keep you informed on what is happening and what bills to watch out for.
Governor Cox’s New Proposed Budget
Action: Add your name to a letter supporting this proposed budget item.
Last week Governor Cox’s team published their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022. Bike Utah is thrilled to see the support of outdoor recreation and active transportation in the Governor’s budget. We are also pleased to see the continued support of the 1,000 Miles program with Governor Cox and Bike Utah will continue working hard to make our goal of 1,000 Miles of family friendly trails by 2027.
Based on available trail counts, it is estimated that biking and walking increased by approximately 88% during the summer of 2020. The governor’s office believes these numbers will not decrease once the pandemic is passed and is directing the budget accordingly.
Why does the Governor’s Proposed budget matter to cyclists?
$125 million is proposed for outdoor recreation and open spaces, including the following:
$100 million for outdoor recreation - This is an unprecedented level of support for trails and outdoor recreation facilities and will help Utah achieve the 1,000 Miles program goal.
$7.3 - Leray Mcallister Critical Lands - This fund works to support agricultural land.
$17.7 Million to expand and improve recreation opportunities at Utah’s state parks.
No specific funds are being added to active transportation funding, which is disappointing. Family-friendly active transportation projects, such as multi-use trails, protected bike lane infrastructure are expensive to implement. Funding is one of the largest barriers to more being built in Utah. The good news is that this statement was included in the proposed budget: “While many of the trails funded with the $125 million recommended for open space and trails are primarily for recreation purposes, some can also facilitate active transportation for commuting purposes” (Governor’s Budget Recommendations, pg 72). We believe this means that some multi-use paths that fall on active transportation corridors may be funded using the $125 million.
$50 Million to address transportation issues in the Wasatch canyons- We are still waiting on details on exactly what this money would go to support, but it seems in general to support the decrease of congestion in the Cottonwood Canyons.
$350 million to double-track FrontRunner - This would allow for more frequent and faster FrontRunner times. This would make utilizing the train when commuting with a bike more convenient. The hope is that with the improved convenience more people will use the FrontRunner alleviating traffic congestion and improving air quality.
Read the full budget proposal here:
Current Status:
Feb 9, 2021
BEDL Appropriations Committee
Prioritized in top 10 budget recommendations
Executive Appropriations Committee
Waiting REview
Utah Legislative Session 2021 Bills to Watch:
H.B. 142 Cyclist Traffic Amendments
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Floor Sponsor: Sen. Curtis S. Bramble
This bill amends traffic code provisions relating to operating a bicycle on the roadway allowing an individual operating a bicycle to yield at stop signs under certain circumstances.
Why is this relevant to bicycling?
Other states who have passed similar legislation have experienced a decrease in bicycle injuries at controlled intersections. For example, in Idaho reports that injuries dropped 14 percent after Idaho passed the law in 1982. Delaware reports a decrease of 23% over 3 years since their revised law was passed.
Similar bills have been attempted in Utah in the past, but failed at various stages. You can read more about the 2019 attempt in this article. We are hoping this will be the year we can get this legislation to pass.
Current Status:
January 28, 2021
Passed House Transportation Committee:
8-3-1
Favorable
Feb 5, 2021
House Floor
45-26
Passed
Feb 25,2021
Passed Senate Transportation Committee;
2-1
Favorable
March 1,2021
Waiting to be voted on Senate Floor
H.B. 82 Single-family Housing Modification
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Raymond Ward
This bill modifies provisions related to single-family housing. The bill would make accessory dwelling units easier to build throughout the state and would increase housing density as a result. The bill also adjusts minimum parking lot requirements allowing for smaller parking lot sizes.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
From a transportation/land use perspective, it is a very bike friendly bill. Higher density housing creates more bikeable communities improving access to a full array of services and destinations within a 1-2 mile radius. Read more about that concept in this article.
Current Status:
Feb 12, 2021 House Business and Labor
12-2-0
Favorable
Feb 18, 2021
Passed House Floor Vote
50-19-6
Favorable
March 2, 2021 Passed Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
5-1
Favorable
March 3, 2021 Waiting to be voted on Senate floor.
S.B. 15 Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Daniel McCay
Floor Sponsor: Rep. Mike Winder
This bill enacts reporting and other requirements for the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) related to teleworking by state employees.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
This bill seeks to increase state employee’s remote working capacities on bad air quality days in an effort to improve Utah’s air quality. If they are working from home then they are not driving to work and adding to the emissions on bad air days. Better air quality means better easier breathing for bicyclists and aligns with one of Bike Utah’s major goals to improve air quality here in Utah.
Current Status:
Feb 04, 2021
Senate Gov Op. Committee
5-0-3
Favorable
Feb 16, 2021
Senate Floor
28-0-1
Passed
Feb 22, 2021
House Rules Committee
12-0-1
Favorable
March 2, 2021
House Floor
70-5-0
Passed
S.B. 2 New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations Act
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Floor Sponsor: Rep. Bradley G. Last
This bill supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
The investment in active transportation is consistent with this letter drafted by the Wasatch Front Regional Council that was signed by 400 public, private, and community stakeholders across Utah urging the Governor and Legislature to invest in constructing high-priority, regionally important “active transportation” (i.e., biking and walking) projects throughout the State. SB2 includes a $35,000,000 one-time appropriation from the General Fund to support paved pedestrian or paved non-motorized transportation infrastructure projects. This bill also reduced required local matching funds from the typical 40% we see in Utah to 20% making this funding more accessible to underserved, smaller and/or more rural communities. We are very excited for what this means for active transportation in Utah!
Current Status:
March 2, 2021
House Floor Vote
70--0-5
Passed
See something we missed? Email us at info@bikeutah.org.
