Running on the Beach … With Legislators BY SHAWN BENJAMIN, AIA, LEED AP I vaguely recall, from my youth, the Oscar-winning movie “Chariots of Fire,” loaded with what I’m sure was an amazing cast and compelling storyline, a veritable struggle between “good” and “evil” and the inevitable triumph of right over wrong. I have to admit, the only part I remember was the ending — where everyone is running on the beach and that song starts to play. I’m sure you know it … dun, dun-dun-dun, dunnnnn. It’s been stuck in my head for days now. Not unlike the plot to that silver screen classic, our legislators converged on capital hill with an unfiltered school of thoughts running through their heads. To help tame that, the AIA Government Affairs Committee (GAC) also charges into each session, but with the directive, “To promote and enhance the health and safety of all Utahns in the built environment through relationship building and lobbying of government officials.” From the first day, legislation was pouring in from seemingly everywhere. Early on, we saw several social bills run through the halls of the House and Senate chambers passing quickly to be signed by the Governor within days of the opening of the session. SB089 (Social Media Modifications), HB0257 (Sex‑based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying and Women’s Opportunities) and HB0261 (Equal Opportunity Initiatives) were a few among the first waves to hit the shore and seemingly crash over the remaining efforts of the 45-day undertaking. Once the more charged bills of the session found their way to passage, the rest of the record 940 bills came to light. Some derived from legislators’ personal experiences, others from community clamor, some from agencies within the state and others from interests out of state. On every front they make their way through committees, draft revisions and substitutions to land at the final floor vote before being signed into law. There’s a certain stamina required, but fortunately, we have engaging and well-respected lobbyists. So, our efforts within the industry, combined with their efforts behind the scenes, continues to be an effective pairing. Leading up to the 2024 session, the GAC tracked some past legislation, community issues and technical subject matter related to the built environment. They looked for potential pitfalls as well as opportunities to improve our industry and as a result, our communities. Here are a few of the highlights from the session: By the Numbers • 940 pieces of legislation were introduced. • 591 bills passed with 555 signed by the governor; and 7 vetoes. Additional Bills of Interest House Bills • HB0011: Restricts lawn or turf by certain government entities. • HB0058: Broadens education/experience requirements, temporary license. 18 REFLEXION
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