b'2020 Post WPMAEXPOUTAH Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association (UPMRA) ReportUtah Update UT Speaker Wilson predicts a repeal effort of the constitu-State Legislative Highlights with 8 days to go tional earmark for education in the next two years. Adding to that, a potential U.S. Coronavirus crisis and downturn The Utah State legislative sessionin the economy has legislative leadership suggesting that beganon January 27, and ended Marchmost of the surplus money should be placed into rainy 12, 2020, with me writing this report onday funds rather than returned to the public as tax John HillMarch 2 nd , so some changes are expectedrefunds, rebates or rate reductions.afterthisrecap.Nowintothefifthweek,UPMRA our lobbyist, Gary Thorup, describes theThe Legislature was also negotiating this session with the UPMRAExecutive Director legislative session thus far as: slow, proponents of Proposition #4, that deals with the cre-methodical, quiet and subdued; ation of a re-districting commission, a voter initiative that it is as if the tax reform battle passed during the 2018 General Election to stop politi-from last year sucked all of the cal gerrymandering. The Legislature and the proponents life out of the legislators.came to a consensus on amendments to the initiative and a planned protest at the Capitol was canceled. The sticking UPMRA held its annual Day on Capitol Hill lunch meet- point in negotiations had been about setting legal anti-ing on Wednesday, February 26th, and heard presenta- gerrymandering standards for the commission.tions from Rep. Dailey-Provost regarding her vapingSign up for UPMRA E-news by sending a request to:billthatbansthesaleofflavorede-cigarettesinallbut johnhill@upmra.com.specialty tobacco retail locations. Rep. Harrison also spoke to our members concerning her Tier 3 website and a bill that would have created an Employer Tax CreditSheraton Park Cityfor Child Care, which died in committee. We also heard from Jim Olsen (President of the Utah Beer Wholesalersto Host 2020 Convention & Trade ShowAssociation) concerning HB 399 Alcohol Amendments andThe 2020 Convention will be at the Sheraton a proposed labeling requirement for each individual bottlePark City , formerly the Park City Marriott on Sidewind-and can of beer sold in Utah.er Drive, September 9-11, 2020. Following the success of New State revenue numbers revealed an on-going surplusthe current convention schedule, we will again begin with of $518 million in revenue earmarked for the Educa- a board meeting on Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 PM prior to tion Fund, because it is derived from income tax revenues.an opening reception, have a big day of education and the On February 28 th , teachers from Salt Lake School Dis- trade show on Thursday, and end the Convention with golf trict decided to have a show of force, and took time offon Friday at Mountain Dell Golf Course.from work, forcing some schools to close, as teachers and friends of education marched up the hill to the State Capi-tol and held a rally asking for a 4% increase in educationBlain Boelter appointedfunding; Utah remains last in the nation in educationPMAA C-Store Committee Memberper-pupil-spending. UPMRA president Blain Boelterhas accepted the Of the surplus revenue, very little is projected for thetwo-year appointment as Western Region PMAA C-Store General Fund, so legislators have been creative in trying toCommitteemember.BlainwillattendhisfirstPMAA findaneducationcomponenttotheirfundingrequests,and Washington Conference this coming May. S50 www.wpma.com / Spring 2020'