The Legislature placed Utah on a path to meaningful health system reform that will contain costs, enhance access and improve medical outcomes. The Salt Lake Chamber was asked by the bill sponsor, Rep. David Clark, to lead business efforts to contain costs.

Transportation was a big winner with the authorization of a new $1.8 billion bond for reconstruction of I-15 in Utah County, an additional $200 million for critical highway needs, and funding for the TRAX light rail line from downtown to the Salt Lake International Airport.

An omnibus immigration bill passed that will increase the state’s ability to address illegal immigration in our state. The Salt Lake Chamber softened the bill to be less burdensome to employers. We also lobbied successfully for a 2009 effective date so that community leaders will have more time to understand and properly implement this bill.

Utah’s future work force received half of this year’s new money. Legislators appropriated $441 million of new funding for teacher salary increases, differential pay for math, science and technology teachers, a scholarship program for high-achieving students, and other items. We successfully lobbied against the repeal of resident tuition for children of undocumented immigrants, but were disappointed that attempts to increase the number of school counselors and the merger of the Tooele and Salt Lake Applied Technology Centers with Salt Lake Community College did NOT occur.

We successfully defeated attempts to redistribute tourism taxes, which are primarily generated downtown, to other areas of the state. School capital equilization, however, did pass and Salt Lake City will lose $6 million in funding. Board Member, Superintendent McKell Withers, has asked the Governor to veto this bill.

Other issues that affected business in the 2008 session included alcoholic beverages, energy, and taxation.