The Pulse

As of March 1st, the Utah Legislature concluded its annual 45-day Legislative Session. During this short time, they passed a record 591 bills, including 156 on Friday March 1st alone, and set the 2025 budget at $29 billion.

It’s been an exciting month of negotiations and strategizing as we move quickly toward the end of the Legislative Session.

One of our priority issues, postpartum Medicaid expansion, was getting sidetracked in the challenging conversations around Medicaid repeal, cost containment, and other measures under consideration, but despite these challenges, we managed to get a postpartum bill passed! House Bill 633 will allow women to keep the health care coverage they receive under Medicaid for a full 12 months after delivery, rather than just 60 days the current program covers. This will cover the various health challenges many new moms face after the birth of a new baby, without the additional obstacle of losing health care. The bill has passed through the House and Senate and is waiting to be signed by the Governor’s office.

We’re Halfway There

After a flurry of activity last week, we have hit the 7^th week of the 90^th General Assembly and we now have the top priority bills that will be debated in the days ahead.

In today’s digital age, where texting and emailing have become the norm, the thought of making or receiving a phone call can trigger anxiety for many. This specific type of anxiety, known as telephobia, is more common than one might think. It encompasses a range of fears related to phone communication, including the dread of awkward conversations, the fear of being misunderstood, and the pressure of having to respond in real time without the luxury of carefully crafted written responses.