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Hello District 3!
With only a few weeks left in the 2025 General Session, we are hard at work getting important pieces of legislation passed through the House and the Senate. The past few weeks have been a rush of committee meetings, floor debates, and collaboration, all focused on ensuring Utah continues to thrive.
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Week 5 Legislative Update
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This week, I presented my bill, HB389, Child Care Business Tax Credit, before the House Revenue and Tax Committee. This bill seeks to increase childcare supply for families throughout the state by providing a private-sector contribution to resolving our childcare crisis. I'm proud to say that this bill has passed with a favorable recommendation and is now before the full House of Representatives for a vote.
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One other important project I am working on this session is a federalism initiative along with Representative Ken Ivory and former USBE chair, Jim Moss. Our proposed bill, HB488, capitalizes on a great opportunity for the State of Utah to be at the forefront of the federalism movement in the United States. Unfortunately, most Americans and even most state legislators don't fully understand federalism, the structure our Founding Fathers established to ensure states could govern themselves.
This bill, backed by numerous leaders and groups from both sides of the isle, would create a partnership with the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University to develop a continuing education and training program for state and local government employees regarding federalism issues. It would also organize an annual federalism conference and study the creation of a state-led national federalism organization.
Our goal with this bill is to focus on structure, not politics. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that the message of balanced government and federalism is shared here in our state and nationwide.
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I truly appreciate your ongoing support and input as I work alongside my colleagues to strengthen our great state of Utah. If you have any questions about the legislation we’re working on this Session, please feel free to reach out. Wishing you a great week, and I look forward to connecting again soon!
Thank you,
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Jason Thompson
Representative, House District 3
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Update on Pending Legislation
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HB361 Opioid Overdose Training Amendments
- This bill provides training and education to recognize an opioid-related drug overdose and administer naloxone (Narcan).
- This bill has been assigned to the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee.
HB373 Service Marketplace Platforms Amendments
- This bill allows daycare providers to hire independent contractors and establishes that daycare providers can use a service marketplace platform to do so.
- This bill passed the House 3rd Reading Calendar and has been introduced in the Senate.
H.B. 389 Child Care Business Tax Credit
- This bill states that businesses that either pay for childcare services for their employees or build or expand childcare facilities can qualify for a tax credit. Additionally, if a company pays for childcare services at a qualified facility, it can claim a tax credit worth 20% of the costs. If a company builds, renovates, or expands a childcare facility, it can claim a tax credit worth 50% of the costs.
- This bill received a favorable recommendation from the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
H.B. 524 Electronic Cigarette and Inhaler Amendments
- This bill regulates supplement inhalation products, such as vitamin vapes, that have been fraudulently marketed for unproven health benefits. This bill prohibits products that do not have FDA approval from being sold in the State of Utah.
- This bill was introduced in the House Rules Committee.
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This week we Research Day on Capitol Hill, where we had many students from Utah State University and the University of Utah present the findings of their work over the last year.
I was blown away by the caliber of students we have. Their research and findings were extremely interesting. I am proud to represent Utah State University and am proud of our students and faculty who are making a difference in so many areas that impact each one of us!
Click the pictures below to read about these brilliant students' studies.
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My Legislative Page
To view my legislative page and information about my role in the Utah State House of Representatives, click here.
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