SALT LAKE CITY — "We just want to do it the right way the first time," a member of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network said while asking lawmakers to vote against a tobacco bill Thursday. Also, Senate Democrats never heard from Senator Mitt Romney or Reps. Chris Stewart and John Curtis at their annual update to lawmakers.

Get those and more happenings from Utah's Capitol Hill below. Click the headlines to read the full articles.

Cancer advocates says tobacco bill is flawed, encourage lawmakers to vote no

Although the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is in favor of legislation raising the age for purchasing tobacco to 21, they used the annual Cancer Action Day to lobby against a bill that would do just that.

Why?

Because the network says it penalizes youth, it could keep other counties and cities from passing their own tobacco laws and it would be phased in over two years.

“We would love a bill we could support, so we are hopeful that he will make some changes,” said the network's Brook Carlisle. "We just want to do it the right way the first time."

Utah Senate Democrats miss update from Romney, Curtis, Stewart

Sen. Mitt Romney's first report to the Utah Legislature since taking office earned applause from Republican and Democratic caucuses Thursday — except from Senate Democrats.

The six-member caucus never heard from Romney or Reps. Chris Stewart and John Curtis, the other Republican members of Utah's congressional delegation who came to Capitol Hill to deliver their annual update to lawmakers.

"We have an open caucus. They can come in anytime they want," Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, said. "They chose not to, obviously. I'm sorry about that."

She said the Senate minority staff was not told the delegation members were coming.

Controversy continues over trio of Utah water reform measures

UPDATE: The House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee gave a favorable recommendation to both SB17 and HB31 Friday morning, according to the Utah State Legislature Online.

Three measures that could invoke significant reforms to Utah water law and the state constitution continue to percolate with controversy that could once again derail their progress.

The two bills, SB17 and HB31, as well as HJR001, will be heard Friday morning in the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Committee.

On Thursday, the Utah League of Cities and Towns sent out an action alert based on information the organization had indicating possible "negative" revisions might surface at the meeting related to Sen. Ralph Okerlund's bill on extraterritorial jurisdiction, or SB17.

Utah bill would put flavored e-cig cartridges for sale only in smoke shops

Fewer than 5 percent of Utah teens were using tobacco products prior to the advent of electronic cigarettes, which one lawmaker said was proof that the state was "winning the war on tobacco."

E-cigarettes, however, have enticed young minds at "alarming" rates, said Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City. She said at least 11 percent of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders now report getting a daily nicotine fix via vaping and at least 30 percent have tried it, according to Utah Department of Health data.

"It is safe to say that nicotine is the gateway drug for our state," she said. "Nicotine primes the brain for addiction."

Utah lawmakers hold bill intended to prohibit instructional fees in secondary school

The House Education Committee voted unanimously Thursday to hold HB273, a bill that would have prohibited instructional fees in Utah secondary schools.

The bill was held at the request of its sponsor, Rep. Adam Robertson, R-Provo.

Robertson asked the committee to hold the bill after educator, school board, school administrator and charter school representatives urged a slower approach.

"The feeling we're having is, let's not be hasty," said Terry Shoemaker, who represents the state's school boards and public school district superintendents.

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