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 to speak over the telephone about Senate Bill 211, House Bill 30 and House Bill 284.

There were several agencies that were on the hill that were there to talk about water resources. The agencies presented to the floor all the wonderful things they are doing around the state like cloud seeding and maintaining statewide water records. “Then they talked about Senate Bill 211 and this bill creates a Water Agent to find more water to bring into Utah, kind of an interesting concept. It also creates a Statewide Council and what they are going to do is they are going fight for our water rights in the Colorado River water compact,” said Representative Watkins.  The bill has already gone through committee and its should be coming to the floor soon.

Next up is House Bill 30 Road Rage Amendments this bill addresses road rage events. “It will increase the penalties and the fines and it will help pay for a campaign. If you’re watching TV, we’ve already had one commercial that’s on TV. We’re just telling and trying to get people to take a deep breath and calm down when they’re on the road and just give everybody their own space,” said Representative Watkins. This isn’t so much a problem in our rural area but it is a big problem up in the city.

Finally, House Bill 284, which modifies provisions relating to a statewide initiative. “It’s going to have a statewide, on a statewide ballot initiative would be created. It requires 60 percent of voters to approve an initiative proposing to impose a new tax or raise taxes. Right now, its like 51 percent and it can go through, and so this is requiring 60 percent,” said Representative. Watkins. They want to put this on the ballot this fall for people to say yes we want 60 percent or we want to stay at the 51 percent.