Monday - May 25, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Utah Newsletter for Friday May 01, 2026 ( 29 items )  

'A Handout to Big Chemical': On House Floor, Pingree Speaks Out Against Republican Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * 'A Handout to Big Chemical': On House Floor, Pingree Speaks Out Against Republican Farm Bill * Speaking on the House floor last night, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) condemned the Republican Farm Bill that fails farmers and puts chemical company profits over the health of Americans. Pingree spoke in support of an amendment to remove dangerous, industry-written language that would pre-empt  more

Americans for Tax Reform: Examples of Good News Arising From Big Beautiful Bill's Full Business Expensing Provisions
WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary by John Kartch: * * * Examples of Good News Arising from Big Beautiful Bill's Full Business Expensing Provisions In addition to across-the-board tax cuts for households, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump on July 4 provides full business expensing for American businesses. In their own words, U.S. employers describe the benefits of the expensing provisions in the bill: Wideman Pools (Festus  more

Attorney General Alan Wilson protects citizens from illegal racial discrimination and DEI quotas
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 30 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson protects citizens from illegal racial discrimination and DEI quotas * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a 20-state friend-of-the-court brief in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to protect citizens from racial discrimination in employment practices. The brief argues in favor of the State of Missouri, which is suing Star  more

Attorney General Phil Weiser urges CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets
DENVER, Colorado, April 30 -- Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Phil Weiser urges CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets * April 30, 2026 (DENVER) -Attorney General Phil Weiser today joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports-related "event contracts" belongs to the states. "The protection of consumers from irrespon  more

Attorney General Rayfield Announces that Purdue/Sackler $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Takes Effect
SALEM, Oregon, April 30 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield Announces that Purdue/Sackler $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Takes Effect * Oregon to receive almost $66 Million, funds to be distributed over 15 years Attorney General Dan Rayfield today announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective, capping nearly a decade of work by attorn  more

Calif. Gov. Newsom: 61 Days Later, No Plan - Trump's Iran War Drives National Gas Prices to a Four-year High, Sending Prices Soaring Across the Economy
SACRAMENTO, California, May 1 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on April 30, 2026: * * * 61 days later, no plan: Trump's Iran war drives national gas prices to a four-year high, sending prices soaring across the economy What you need to know: Gas prices just hit their highest point nationally since 2022. Over two months ago, Donald Trump launched a war with no plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for 20 percent of the world's oil supply. Sin  more

Congressman Blake Moore Introduces Bipartisan Bill Protecting Children from AI Companion Chatbots
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Blake Moore Introduces Bipartisan Bill Protecting Children from AI Companion Chatbots * WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation to protect children from AI companion chatbots. The Guidelines for User Age Verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act bans AI companion chatbots for minors, requires AI chatbots t  more

Conn. A.G. Tong Sends Letter to House Senate Leaders on Feb. 10, 2026
WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and 44 co-signers. To: John Thune, Senate Majority Leader, 511 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510; Mike Johnson, House Speaker, 521 Cannon House Building, Washington, DC 20515; Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, 322 Hart Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510; Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, 2267 Rayburn House Building, Washington, DC 20515; Marsha Blackburn, Senate Judiciary   more

Cortez Masto, Curtis, Rosen, Kelly Create National Dark Sky Week
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: * * * Cortez Masto, Curtis, Rosen, Kelly Create National Dark Sky Week * Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) recognizing the week of April 20 th, 2026, as National Dark Sky Week passed the Senate unanimously. The resolution honors the spots across the United St  more

Curtis Statement Ahead of 60th Day of Iran Conflict
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Curtis Statement Ahead of 60th Day of Iran Conflict U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement ahead of the 60-day mark of the war in Iran:  "From the beginning, my position has been that the President's actions in Iran have been consistent with his legal authority under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. However, that same law is   more

Democrats Oppose Trump Admin Proposal to Deny Homeowners Thousands of Dollars in Interest Earnings
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Democrats Oppose Trump Admin Proposal to Deny Homeowners Thousands of Dollars in Interest Earnings * WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to save consumers thousands of dollars and prevent the Trump Administration from providing a giveaway to big banks at homeowners' expense, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today led a letter to the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) urging the wi  more

EEOC Files Second Subpoena Enforcement Action Against Gallup-McKinley County Schools Following Refusal to Comply
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * EEOC Files Second Subpoena Enforcement Action Against Gallup-McKinley County Schools Following Refusal to Comply * Federal agency seeks court order compelling GMCS to produce information relating to its employment practices ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that it has filed a second action in federal court to enforce a third  more

Gov. Cox to ceremonially sign H.B. 108 and announce Utah's participation in "A Home for Every Child"
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 29 -- Gov. Spencer J. Cox, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Cox to ceremonially sign H.B. 108 and announce Utah's participation in "A Home for Every Child" * What: Gov. Spencer J. Cox will ceremonially sign H.B. 108, Minors in State Custody Amendments, and announce Utah's participation in "A Home for Every Child," a national effort through the Administration for Children and Families to improve outcomes for children in state custody. When: T  more

Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah Calls on EPA to Strengthen Commercial Sterilizer Emissions Regulations
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, Salt Lake City, has submitted a public comment letter urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject proposed rule changes regarding commercial sterilizer emissions that the organization believes fall short in protecting public health. The letter expresses concern about the risks posed by emissions from sterilization facilities, particularly those releasing ethylene oxide, a toxic air pollutant linked to increased cancer r  more

Hexagon Completes Acquisition of Inertial Sense
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 1 -- Hexagon, a provider of digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, issued the following news release on April 30, 2026: * * * Hexagon completes acquisition of Inertial Sense * The acquisition strengthens Hexagon's assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) portfolio, expanding resilient navigation capabilities * Inertial Sense adds proven GNSS+INS technology with over 30,000 systems deployed across defence and commercia  more

Mines Students Shine at Regional Chemical Engineering Conference
RAPID CITY, South Dakota, April 30 -- The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology issued the following news release: * * * Mines Students Shine at Regional Chemical Engineering Conference * Students from the Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at South Dakota Mines demonstrated innovation, teamwork and technical excellence at the recent American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Rocky Mountain Regional Conference held at the University of Utah. Com  more

STAND UP AMERICA: SUPREME COURT EVISCERATES LAST REMNANTS OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT, OPENING DOOR TO JIM CROW GERRYMANDERING IN RED STATES
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Stand Up America, an organization was born in 2016 as a digital-first grassroots community working to resist what they say is Donald Trump's corruption, racism and his threats to democracy, issued the following news release on April 29, 2026: * * * SUPREME COURT EVISCERATES LAST REMNANTS OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT, OPENING DOOR TO JIM CROW GERRYMANDERING IN RED STATES Today, the Supreme Court issued a decision striking down a congressional map in Louisiana with a second majorit  more

Subcommittee Chairman Owens Holds Hearing on First Amendment in Higher Education
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, issued the following statement on April 29, 2026, at a hearing entitled "Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education": * * * "Colleges and universities should strive to cultivate intellectual diversity on campus by exposing students to new, and sometimes controversial, ideas they may not agree with. "This missio  more

Tahirih Justice Center, 52 Organizations Oppose DHS Proposed Employment Authorization Rule for Asylum Seekers
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Tahirih Justice Center, joined by 52 organizations supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender-based violence, submitted a public comment letter opposing the Department of Homeland Security's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants. The letter was addressed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expressing concerns about the proposed rule's impact on asylum-seek  more

The Big Long List of U.S. AI Laws
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, April 30 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * The Big Long List of U.S. AI Laws * Did you ever think that AI, as a new technology, is barely regulated in the U.S.? Think again! Below, we catalog certain state laws regulating the development and use of AI systems and technologies, passed between 2019-2026. This list focuses on legislative initiatives that are currently in effect, or are expected to take effect soon, that impa  more

The Nature Conservancy Acquires 174-acre Buffalo Ranch on Eastern Shore of Great Salt Lake
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 30 [Category: Environment] -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news: * * * The Nature Conservancy Acquires 174-acre Buffalo Ranch on Eastern Shore of Great Salt Lake * The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Utah announces the purchase of a 174-acre property known as Buffalo Ranch. Located along the eastern shore of Great Salt Lake, this project secures the protection of critical habitat for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl and builds upon decades of TNC's eff  more

Trailblazers in an Era of Change
REXBURG, Idaho, April 30 -- Brigham Young University Idaho campus issued the following news: * * * Trailblazers in an Era of Change * The story of BYU-Idaho is, at its heart, a story of trailblazers. People who stepped into unfamiliar places with faith as their guide. Thomas E. Ricks was one of them. In 1848, while pursuing a group who had stolen cattle, he was shot three times and left near death. As he lay in camp, however, he received a quiet but remarkable promise: "You will not die; y  more

U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Cosponsors Bill to Ban ICE Warehouse Detention Facilities
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Cosponsors Bill to Ban ICE Warehouse Detention Facilities * WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) is cosponsoring the Ban Warehouse Detention Act, which would ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from converting industrial warehouses into immigration detention centers. The Trump Administration plans to spend almost $40 billion turning wa  more

University of Utah Health: In Mice, Viruses Gain Virulence in Some Individuals, Depending on Genetics and Sex
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 (TNSjou) -- The University of Utah Health issued the following news release: * * * In mice, viruses gain virulence in some individuals, depending on genetics and sex Influenza virus appears to gain virulence more quickly as it evolves through female hosts, according to research led by U biologists. * During the early stages of a pandemic, viruses tend to evolve in ways that enhance their ability to reproduce and spread, rather than to evade the host's immune syst  more

University of Utah: Biochemist Brenda Bass Wins Rosenblatt Prize
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 -- The University of Utah issued the following news release: * * * Biochemist Brenda Bass wins Rosenblatt Prize Distinguished professor helped reveal the inner workings of RNA, the molecule that carries genetic instruction for building proteins. * Over the course of a half-century career in science, Brenda Bass helped unlock some of the deepest mysteries of ribonucleic acid, or RNA. RNA had primarily been defined as a carrier of instructions for DNA to synthesize  more

Utah-Led Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement Over App Store Monopoly
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown posted the following news on April 30, 2026: * * * Utah-Led Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement over App Store Monopoly Today, a federal court stated that it will approve a $700 million settlement in a Utah-led antitrust lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit challenged Google's control over Android app distribution and in-app payments. The approval of the settlement ends a five-year case and gives   more

WATCH: In Senate EPW Hearing, Kelly Presses EPA on Lead Pollution Waiver Putting Arizona Kids at Risk
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * WATCH: In Senate EPW Hearing, Kelly Presses EPA on Lead Pollution Waiver Putting Arizona Kids at Risk * "It's just common sense. Nobody wants their kids breathing in lead and arsenic pollution." Today, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing on the proposed Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) 2027 budget, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed EPA Administrator Le  more

WATCH: Padilla Sounds Alarm After Supreme Court Weakens Voting Rights Protections
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * WATCH: Padilla Sounds Alarm After Supreme Court Weakens Voting Rights Protections * Padilla Joins Senate Democrats in Launching Election Protection Effort WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the wake of today's Supreme Court ruling impacting voting rights, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered remarks along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats as they unveiled a  more

Whip Emmer Touts More Than 500 Key Stakeholders Supporting the House-Passed Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Rep.) -- House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Whip Emmer Touts More Than 500 Key Stakeholders Supporting the House-Passed Farm Bill * House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) today announced that more than 500 key stakeholder groups came out in support of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, ahead of the bill's successful passage through the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 7567, or the Farm Bi  more