2022 UEA Legislative Activities

Teachers’ voices are critical to the policymaking process. Whether you are a casual observer or a diehard political junkie, the Utah Education Association wants to keep members informed on education issues. There are plenty of opportunities to stay informed and for your voice to be heard. UEA communications during the Utah Legislative session will have the following main elements:

UEA ‘Under the Dome’

Read daily updates from the UEA Legislative Team, follow the progress of education-related bills and view comprehensive legislative resources at UEA Under the Dome. This site is updated regularly with news and links to relevant information. The UEA President and other members of the UEA Legislative Team also provide regular updates on activities and their commentary on happenings during the session.

Weekly Briefing

Join the UEA Legislative Team for a UEA Capitol Insights Zoom briefing each Thursday at 4:30 p.m. during the legislative session. You’ll hear the latest updates on important education issues and have the chance to ask questions of the UEA lobby team. Pre-registration is required…click here to sign up (register once and you can use the link to join each week).
Persons needing reasonable accommodations, including auxiliary communicative services, should contact Shawnie Thurgood, shawnie.thurgood@myUEA.org, at least two full business days prior to the meeting.

Email Updates

Receive regular email updates during 2022 Legislative Session by registering as a UEA activist. A sign-up link to be a UEA activits and receive the UEA Capitol Insights e-newsletter will be available soon.

Live Video Updates

Watch for regular Facebook Live updates from your UEA Legislative Team at the Capitol. Follow the UEA on Facebook at facebook.com/UtahEducationAssociation.

‘Why Educators Lobby’ Video

Wondering why UEA encourages educators to get involved in the legislative session in the first place? Hear Utah legislators and fellow teachers explain how policy and budget decisions are made, how these decisions impact educators and why educators should get involved.

• Why Educators Lobby

Lobbying Training Videos

Watch UEA videos on effective lobbying during the 2022 Legislative Session.

• Training #1: UEA Legislative Team and 2022 Priorities (COMING IN JANUARY)
• Training #2: Navigating the Utah Legislative Website (COMING IN JANUARY)
• Training #3: Tracking Bills at the Legislature (COMING IN JANUARY)
• Training #4: UEA Legislative Resources and Activities (COMING IN JANUARY)
• Training #5: The UEA Message and Telling Your Story

UEA Policy Ambassadors

A team of UEA Policy Ambassadors represent teachers and provide commentary during each Legislative Session (view posts and more about UEA UEA Policy Ambassadors).

UEA Action Bulletin

The UEA will provide legislative email updates on important breaking news through the UEA Action Bulletin e-newsletter.

‘UEA Action’ Member Newsletters

A summary of current happenings is shared with all members in each monthly issue of the UEA Action e-newsletter during the Legislative session. A summary of UEA activities and results from the Utah Legislative session is included in the April print issue of the UEA Action Digest delivered to all members.

Questions?

Please feel free to reach out to any member of the UEA Legislative Team if you have any questions.

2022 UEA Educator Day on the Hill details

• Please note that attendance at 2022 UEA Educator Day on the Hill will be limited due to COVID-19 precautions and Capitol construction. Contact your local leader and/or UniServ director if you would like to attend Educator Day on the Hill.
• Held each Friday during the 2022 General Legislative Session:
  • January 21
  • January 28
  • February 4
  • February 11
  • February 18
  • February 25
• Meet at 7 a.m. on Capitol Hill in the Aspen Room, located in the Senate Building (350 N. State Street).
• The UEA Legislative Team will brief attendees on education bills and the public education budget.
• Attend a committee meeting or watch floor debates to see policymaking in action.
• The Team will assist you in contacting legislators from your legislative districts.
• Educator Day on the Hill attendees reconvene at noon in the Aspen Room to “de-brief” the morning’s activities. Lunch is provided.
• EDOH-Plus, providing additional legislative training for first-time Educator Day on the Hll attendees, is available the Thursday evening prior to each event. Reimbursement for travel expenses may be available. Please contact your local leader and/or UniServ director if you are interested.

Each year, the Utah Education Association tracks numerous bills during the legislative session. The UEA then reviews the voting records of legislators and highlights selected bills voted on in the Legislature that would have significant impact on public education, the education profession and the UEA. It is important to note that a voting record is but one of several indicators used to evaluate legislators. It does not explain the reasons a legislator voted a certain way on a bill, and in some cases the final percentage might not accurately reflect a legislator’s overall support for public education.

From bills affecting funding for public education, educator professionalism and grading schools to parent rights, technology and school board elections, lawmakers consider a wide variety of education-related measures during their 45-day session. In addition to using “final floor votes” on most bills, the UEA analysis includes committee votes and votes on important amendments. Often times these votes provide a more critical, or accurate, indication of a legislator’s support. The UEA encourages you to contact your legislators directly to ask them to explain their votes. Contact information for your legislators is available from the Utah Legislature look-up page.

Previous Utah State Legislative Voting Records

• 2021 UEA Analysis of Senate Voting Records
• 2021 UEA Analysis of House Voting Records