July 2015

Dear Friends:
Summer is under way at the Utah Legislature and there are important and impactful issues that will be addressed.

Here are a few highlighted facts about the 2015 Utah Legislative Session which ended March 12th with a flurry of important bills coming before us on the final days of the session. This year there were 1,262 bills requested, 831 bills/resolutions introduced and 528 bills/resolutions passed. Some of the more notable pieces of legislation included HB348, which allocated $15 million for criminal justice reform to focus on substance abuse and mental health treatment as alternatives to incarceration, thereby reducing recidivism, benefiting not only the individual, but society as a whole. And the monumental SB296, which took seven years to pass, will now provide housing and workplace discrimination protection for LGBT Utahns. Legislation for major funding was also provided for transportation and roads, education (although never enough!) and to support existing and possible future water projects.

 

Although Medicaid expansion garnered the most discussion and dedication of time, we left the session as we started - without a solution. Governor Herbert's Healthy Utah Plan would have insured 126,500 Utahns for two years (we lost one year already), bringing back to Utah nearly $893 million that Utahns have already spent for health care programs, while costing the state about $25 million. After two years, the plan could be reviewed and be continued or discontinued. The other plan being discussed costs Utahns $64 million over two years, provides a limited benefit package, and insures tens of thousands fewer Utahns. The Senate passed the Healthy Utah Plan but it failed in the House. There is now a deadline for July 31st to reach a solution at a special session. The decision on where to locate the prison continues to be challenging, divisive and emotional.  

 

To learn more about interim at the Utah Legislature click here. For highlights of this year's interim session, click here.

Below is a list of my current legislative assignments:
   
Standing Committees

Economic Development & Workforce Services

Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment

Government Operations (Interim)

Appropriations Subcommittees

Public Education 

Executive Offices and Criminal Justice

 

Senate Confirmation Committees

Economic Development and Workforce Services

Education

Health and Human Services 

Judiciary 

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Natural Resources and Agriculture

 

Other Assignments 

Charter School Funding Task Force

Federal Funds Commission

Native American Legislative Liaison 

Senate Ethics Committee

Utah Constitutional Revision Commission

 


Aside from legislative appointments, I was asked by organizations to serve on their committees - Emergency Medical Services Committee (EMSC) and The Utah State Instructional Materials Access Center (USIMAC) of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

        

My terms at Voices for Utah Children and Bennion Center ended. I was honored to be a part of these wonderful organizations, committed to children and public service. I continue to serve on Primary Children's Hospital Board of Trustees and Salt Lake Public Utilities Advisory Committee.

I would like to physically mail information to all constituents in District 4, as many do not use email. However, mailing costs thousands of dollars. If at some point I have sufficient funds to do this, it would be very helpful if you could help me update my distribution list by sending me your complete contact information, including physical mailing address and telephone number(s), as well as an alternate email address where you would prefer to receive any communications. Also, if you would like to be taken off this list, please let me know. I will do my best to keep a current contact list but your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I look forward to working with you closely and appreciate your input. Your voice is critical and makes a difference! If you would like to volunteer, PLEASE contact me. I can be reached at jiwamoto@le.utah.gov (legislative matters), iwamoto.jani@gmail.com (personal matters), by mail to 4760 S. Highland Drive, #427, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117, or by phone at (801)580-8414. Check out my website here, or you can interact with me on my Facebook!

Thank you!

This Senate seat includes the following house districts: District 36 (Rep. Patrice Arent), District 37 (Rep. Carol Spackman Moss), District 40 (Rep. Justin Miller), District 46 (Rep. Marie Poulson) and District 28 (Rep. Brian King). To see who your Representative is click here!
Jani Iwamoto
Senate District 4



To visit my website, click here. To visit my facebook page, click here.