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Editor's note: This is part of a series at KSL.com focusing on bills during the 2020 general session that could have an impact on your money and health. In our weekly legislative roundup we let you know the status of some noteworthy bills being considered.
SALT LAKE CITY — With vaping in the headlines over the past year, Utah lawmakers are considering new legislation to regulate smoking and e-cigarettes in the state. They're also thinking of ways to incentivize cleaner vehicles and bring down the cost of prescription drugs.
Here are three bills to keep an eye on this week at the Legislature, as the session comes down to its final two weeks.
Bills that could affect your money
What it says: The Legislature in 2017 created an income tax credit for the purchase of certain alternative-fuel vehicles. This bill would extend that credit to qualified heavy-duty trucks, while also setting a sunset date for the credit.
The big picture: Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, said in the House chamber Friday that the new tax credit targets the state's worst vehicle polluters. "Hopefully by incentivizing them to purchase new vehicles, we cut out some of that big pollution," he said.
Qualified trucks include those classified 7 or 8 — the equivalent, Stoddard said, of a Ford F-750 or a semitruck.
HB59 passed the House on a 38-24 vote.
Bills that could affect your health
What it says: This bill would raise the legal age for tobacco and e-cigarette purchases to 21 in Utah, matching the new federal rule. It also creates stricter penalties for underage tobacco use, and especially for retailers who sell to minors.
The big picture: "This bill is an effort to protect our youth," said sponsor Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove, on the House floor Friday. "As we all are acquainted with or have youth in our lives, we want the best lives for them." He described the escalating fines and penalties retailers could face for selling to minors, up to the revocation of their license to sell tobacco.
Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, voted for the bill but suggested it could be strengthened by removing some exemptions for older retailers. HB23 passed the House Friday without a single vote in opposition.
What it says: This bill would direct the Utah Department of Health to explore a prescription drug importation pilot program. If the department gets approval from the federal government, it would operate a two-year pilot with public employees on the state insurance plan.
The big picture: The idea, said Senate Majority Whip Dan Hemmert, R-Orem, is to import certain name-brand drugs from Canada, where the government negotiates lower prices. The challenge will be in implementation; other states have had problems with importation programs, and the Canadian government has been wary. Hemmert said that's why he wants to try the program with just a handful of drugs and with state employees.
"It's an interesting idea," Hemmert said. "My approach to it has been, 'Why not?'"
Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, a pharmacist by trade, said there are probably "way too many barriers" to implement such a program on a broad scale. He advised Hemmert that the best way to explore the program would be to start small.
"PHP (the public health plan) has identified seven drugs that they think could make sense to do this with," Hemmert said. "We'll see what happens. There's still a lot of challenges with this."
Checking In
SB117, which would allow Regents' Scholarships to be used at private Utah colleges and universities again, has passed the Senate and moved to the House. It received a favorable recommendation in the House Education Committee.
SB121, which made last-minute tweaks before the rollout of Utah's medical cannabis program, was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert.
HB313, which expands physicians' ability to use telehealth services, passed the House Friday with no opposition.