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Chamber chat: Chamber is committed to economic interests during the legislative period | News, Sports, Jobs
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David Rowley, Chief Operating Office of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.
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From left: Rep. Jon Hawkins, President and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Curtis Blair, COO of the UV Chamber and Director of Government and Community Affairs, David Rowley, Rep. Stephen Whyte and Rep. Norm Thurston pose for a photo on the floor of the Utah House of Representatives during the 2023 Legislative Assembly.
Courtesy of David Rowley
David Rowley, Chief Operating Office of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The momentum at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce continues at a rapid pace. Following the Utah Legislature, we are preparing for a number of upcoming events and hope that many of you will be able to join us.
Legislative Session
I have a newfound respect for the men and women who give their time, skills and resources to make Utah a better place for all of us. The Utah County Legislature is a respected and owned group atop Utah’s Capitol Hill.
I want to share some experiences we had during this session. One of our favorite parts of the session is the opportunity we have to work with all chambers in Utah County and across the state. Through our combined efforts, we have been able to support many bills, amend others, and oppose those that fall short of our policy-based principles (for more information on these principles, visit: thechamber.org/legislative-priorities).
Here are some highlights: It’s always fun to be on Capitol Hill and sit on the gallery and listen to the bills being discussed and debated. However, we enjoy sitting in the House or Senate as guests of our Utah County legislators. And although I let them do their job, I don’t mind observing up close.
Utah County Caucus
On Friday morning, the Utah Valley Chamber supported our elected officials by attending their 7 a.m. caucus meeting where we listened and offered a business perspective on legislative priorities.
Courtesy of David Rowley
From left: Rep. Jon Hawkins, President and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Curtis Blair, COO of the UV Chamber and Director of Government and Community Affairs, David Rowley, Rep. Stephen Whyte and Rep. Norm Thurston pose for a photo on the floor of the Utah House of Representatives during the 2023 Legislative Assembly.
In mid-February, the Caucus hosted our Chamber Executive Roundtable to discuss bills of importance to business and the chamber community. Several bills that lacked clarity, were too vague, or contained unfriendly business language were discussed openly and respectfully.
Other bills that would allow for more efficiencies and support the business community were welcomed and encouraged. We appreciate the transparency and collaborative spirit that our elected Utah County officials exude.
An example of this is a bill sponsored by Rep. Brady Brammer. He has introduced legislation that will not only help Utah businesses, but will bring more businesses to Utah. House Bill 216 establishes the Business and Chancery Court in Utah.
The most famous of these courts is in Delaware, where most major corporations are based. The Business and Chancery Court is widely recognized as the nation’s preeminent forum for deciding disputes affecting the internal affairs of corporations and other business entities through which much of the world’s commercial affairs is conducted.
The Chamber has strongly supported this bill, and we are pleased that it has passed the House and Senate and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Our heartfelt thanks to the legislators, their interns and their staff working so closely with the Chambers of Commerce during the session. Together we bring the voice of business to Capitol Hill.
Utah County goes to Washington
This April, the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a trip to Washington, DC, in partnership with the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University. During our time there we will meet Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney and Representatives John Curtis, Blake Moore, Burgess Owens and Chris Stewart. In addition, we will hear from, among others, Nicholas Cole, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, and UVU President Astrid Tuminez.
Come to us and let your voice be heard. See http://thechamber.org/chamber-events/utah-county-goes-to-washington-dc/ for details.
