Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more.

Taking action to protect our youth

On Monday, we announced the state of Utah will be suing social media companies to protect our youth. We can no longer stand by as social media continues to harm our children’s mental health and well being. 

We appreciate Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and his team for their important work as we prepare to proceed with these lawsuits. Our administration is committed to protecting the next generations, more information will be available in the coming weeks. You can watch the full press conference here.

Utah has a spirit of service

We’re excited to announce the second annual Governor’s Spirit of Service Awards! Like so many Utahns, we are constantly looking for opportunities to listen, learn from one another and improve people’s lives. 

Utah leads the nation in volunteerism, and there are so many of you engaged in important service work that too often goes unnoticed. We want to recognize you! This award will be given to four individuals and four organizations at an award ceremony in early May. 

Nominating a person or organization for the award is easy. Use this link and fill out the survey before March 10, when the submission period closes. Share the survey with family and friends; we want to give everyone the chance to nominate the person or organization they think deserves the award. Thank you for all you do to serve your community!

Domestic violence legislation clears first legislative hurdle 

After a tragedy, often comes a silver lining.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson hugged her family tightly after the Senate Judiciary Committee gave unanimous approval to S.B. 117 on Tuesday. The legislation sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler stems from a monthslong effort to root out gaps in Utah’s response to domestic violence.

Lt. Gov. Henderson’s cousin Mandy Mayne was ambushed and killed by her ex-husband last August in Taylorsville. Mandy’s case kicked off a statewide listening tour with her family, inspiring S.B. 117 and bringing renewed attention and momentum to efforts to prevent domestic violence homicide in Utah.

The legislation is a culmination of work with DPS Jess Anderson, CCJJ Executive Director Tom Ross, law enforcement, and victim service providers. You can learn more about S.B. 117 here before it heads to the full Senate for a vote on Monday.

We believe in second chances

In Utah, we believe in second chances. Almost four years ago, Utah became the second state in the nation to pass a Clean Slate Law. This law allows for old and minor criminal records to be expunged if an individual is crime free for a set period of time. The vote was unanimous, not one legislator voted against it. 

This week, we celebrated this policy change at an expungement clinic hosted by the Utah Jazz. We’re grateful to the volunteers running the clinic and appreciate the Utah Jazz, the NBA, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson for their support and work on this important cause. For more information, click here.

We know that everyone makes mistakes, and this law will help get jobs, stable housing, support families and contribute to their communities. People can and do turn their lives around, and it is important for our laws to recognize and reflect that.

No dead ends in Utah

On Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, a chapter of Utah history came to an end as the closure of the Draper Prison site and the opening of the new Utah State Correctional Facility was celebrated. This new facility’s mission is to improve the lives of both offenders and staff. 

A dead end sign was posted on the street leading to the new correctional facility. This was not the message we wanted to leave behind, so we pried the sign off of its signpost and took it back to the Capitol building where it now hangs as a notice to all: Utah is not a place for dead ends. 

We need to get back to being a country of building, a country that dreams big and inspires others to dream big as well. You can now see the dead end sign on the first floor of the Capitol. View information on how to visit the state Capitol here. 

Utah mourns Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Chairman Rupert Steele

The state of Utah sends its love and prayers to the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Indian Reservation after the passing of Chairman Rupert Steele.

A spiritual leader and standard-bearer for his fellow tribal members, Chairman Steele forged friendships with local, state, and federal leaders – ensuring the voice and interests of the tribe were well represented. Throughout his life, Chairman Steele sought and succeeded in efforts to protect his ancestors' traditions, sacred sites, language, and land.

His legacy and work will impact generations to come. Chairman Steele’s advocacy has cemented Utah’s support of the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Spotlight: Governor’s Award for Excellence

Each week we are highlighting a state employee who was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence. This week we are recognizing Captain Vincent Pierce with the Utah Army National Guard. 

Captain Pierce of the 85th WMD Civil Support Team (CST), Utah Army National Guard, has distinguished himself with over 15 years of public service as one of the state of Utah’s foremost subject matter experts in the field of chemical, biological and radiological terrorism. Agencies across the state have benefited from his tireless outreach and training programs which, without a doubt, have elevated the State of Utah’s preparedness and readiness for an act of terrorism. He consistently exceeds expectations in training the members of the CST and training with our partner agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Department of Homeland Security, local fire departments, police departments, HAZMAT, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams across the state. Captain Pierce is the epitome of Outstanding Public Service. He is tireless in his pursuit of serving the state of Utah. 

Keep up the great work, and thank you for your service CaptainTo read more about the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, click here. 

Film in Utah

The Sundance Film Festival is coming to an end this week, so we will be wrapping up on iconic film locations in Utah. “Indiana Jones”, “Thelma and Louise”, and "Westworld" take place in the red rocks of Utah between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. A more well-known film scene that may surprise you is the final running scene in “Forrest Gump" was shot near the southeastern Arizona/Utah border, just below Mexican Hat.  A few episodes from “Doctor Who" and the landing of Dr. Stone from “Gravity” were filmed on the murky beaches and blue waters of Lake Powell. Utah is a beautiful state filled with many unique and beautiful environments that make for great film settings. 

Next time you take a road trip, make a mental note of where some of your favorite Utah film sets are located. Check out more Utah movie locations from Visit Utah!

ICYMI

• We were thrilled to meet with President Mindy Benson, Dixie and Anne Leavitt, faculty and students from Southern Utah University at SUU Day on the Hill! 
• On Wednesday, we were able to visit a few different Utah companies including Teal Drones, Boeing and Hexcel with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Utah is the best state in the nation to start a business! 
• Our thanks to Adobe employees who welcomed us to a town hall to talk all things Utah! 
• A kidnapped teen was rescued by police after downloading the SafeUT app.
• Last Thursday, we gave our 2023 State of the State Address. The state of our state has never been brighter. View our full address here. 

Coming up

• Jan. 30: We will be attending the FinTech Xchange Summit at the University of Utah.
• Jan. 31: On Native American Caucus Day, Lt. Gov. Henderson will join tribal leaders, Go Utah and Connecting Utah to talk about collaboration on rural broadband expansion efforts.
• Feb. 1: We’re headed to southern Utah for the “What’s Up Down South” Economic Summit!
• Feb. 3: Lt. Gov. Henderson will deliver firewood to residents of the Navajo Nation with Treasurer Marlo Oaks and other Utah leaders.
• Feb. 6: We’re excited to meet with the Utah Association of Student Council State Officers!

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

Get in touch!

You can reach the Governor's Office here. And you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and  YouTube for the latest news and updates.

Contact the Governor's Office