Castle Country Radio is conducting weekly Legislative updates with Representative Christine F. Watkins while the general session is taking place this year. She will give a brief report on the dealings taking place on the hill twice a week, so she took time on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to speak over the telephone.

Things are moving along quite well on the hill with many bills going through the process.  “It’s very, very, different this year, of course we hit some of the most controversial bills right out of the gate. I mean they’ve already been signed by the Governor, and one already has lawsuits filed against it. We just didn’t hold back this year on that,” said Representative Watkins. There are still a few controversial bills coming up that have to be addressed so keep an eye out for them by visiting https://le.utah.gov/

House Bill 88, Social Security Tax Amendments was addressed and the income limits are being adjusted. “Raising these limits to me are much more reasonable and real world. Now I agree with a lot of people, I just wish we would do away with it period. But we seem to be working towards that, so we will be patient and keep doing that,” said Representative Watkins. These limits will expand eligibility for social security benefits tax credit by increasing the thresholds.

The next House Bill up for discussion is number 131, Vaccine Passport Prohibition. This bill enacts a prohibition on the use of an individual’s immunity status by places of public accommodation, governmental entities, and employers. “This one is dealing with, like a pandemic, like what we just went through. Because there’s still places that want to say, give me your vaccine card, really, I don’t think so. So this is just to make it so that can’t happen and that also your employer can’t say, you want your job, you have to go receive a vaccine,” explained Representative Watkins.

To stay informed on what is taking place at the Utah State legislature visit their website at https://le.utah.gov/