b'UP 2022 State ReportM Utah Update RA but some will not. The bill does provide for a transi-State Legislative tion period to allow retailers to sell current invento-UT Highlights ries. SB 176 passed on the last night and awaits the Governors action. Weve been informed that next session a bill will be introduced that would return allafter 45 day session malt beverages to Convenience and Grocery stores.Addressing Legislative Leaderships goal that 2022 The Utah Legislatures 2022 General is the year of the tax cut, SB59, Tax Amendments Sessionbegan on Tuesday, January 18th andcontained all aspects of tax relief to be granted this ended on Friday, March 4th. This years sessionsession. The 4th Substitute, SB 59, (1) deletes the began with COVID infections way up, but unlikepersonal property tax and sales and use tax provi-last year, there were no COVID health restrictions.sions dealing with supplies and tangible personal All committee meetings were in-person and open toproperty consumed in the performance of a taxable the public, but also live-streamed, giving the publicservice, but (2) increases the social security benefits an opportunity to speak on any bill.tax credit by raising the threshold for the income-In the first week of the session, not wanting thebased phase-out, while (3) maintaining a .1% reduc-Salt Lake County Health Departments 30-daytion in the income tax rate from 4.95% to 4.85%. mask mandate to stand, the Legislature quicklyThe bill passed in week 4, and was quickly signed passed a joint-resolution (1st Sub SJR 3) to overrideby Governor Cox.the mandate, which Governor Cox had alreadyIn an attempt to be more transparent, the Legislature weakened by claiming masks could not be mandatedhas strengthened its rules about the requirement that in state government buildings.a bill needs to have a committee hearing in both the Governor Cox also gave his annualHouse and Senate before it can be considered for State-of-the-State address, which hadfinal passage. Consequently, there were committee an impassioned plea for everyonemeetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of the to work together for the commonlast week of the session, with very long agendas.good of the State and to put aside2nd Sub. HB 60, the vaccine passport bill our differences. He also parrotedpassed the House in week 6, by 51 to 23 votes, the House Majority Caucusrebuffing attempts to amend or defeat it.Four days Local12.com/SpencercoxPolicy Pillars, which outlinebefore the session ended, HB60 had a rowdy Senate their priorities for the session,committee hearing when bill supporters refused to including water conservationstop flashing their support stickers in the audience; a and saving the Great Salt Lake,violation of committee rules. One protester even left proposing $970 million for edu- in handcuffs, before the bill was debated and then cation innovation, and addressingpassed out favorably to the Senate Floor. However, Utahs housing and infrastructurebad press from the incident led Senate leadership to needs with sustainable growth.issue a statement vowing to review some of its com-By week three, Rep. Hawkes proposedmittee meeting protocols. HB 60 was put on the Sen-alcohol amendments were released under Senatorate Board Wednesday afternoon, but was not further Stevensons name as SB176, Alcoholic Beverageconsidered before time ran out Friday night.Control Act Amendments, and is the annual om- A vaccine bill that did pass: HB 63 COVID-19nibus alcohol bill. SB176 covers multiple subjects,Vaccine Exemptions provides an employee or including one that directly affects UPMRA mem- prospective employee an exemption to vaccination, bers that precludes the sale of certain beer productsif they can provide a note from a primary care that DABC had previously, although inadvertently,provider indicating that the employee or prospective allowed to be sold based upon content and brewingemployee has had and recovered from COVID-19. process. The majority of malt products will stillThe bills language has exemptions for healthcare be able to be sold by off-premise retail licensees,facilities and for employers who have contracts 54 www.wpma.com / Spring 2022'