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Council staff rolls out bill tracker, asks councilors to flag bills for quick action
Summary
Provo City staff previewed a new bill tracker and a standard operating procedure for council involvement in the 2025 Utah legislative session, asking councilors to email staff with bills to flag and their desired positions so staff can act quickly during the short session.
Provo City staff on Jan. 14 introduced a new, city-specific bill tracker for the 2025 Utah legislative session and a step-by-step process for how councilors can flag bills for city action.
The presentation, led by policy analysts Malia Daley and Michael Sanders, outlined the tracker’s sources (ULCT and Wasatch Front Regional Council) and said staff will send a weekly, Provo-specific tracker. “We have created kind of our own little bill tracker,” Daley said, describing that it will include bill numbers, the Utah League of Cities and Towns’ (ULCT) position and a space for the Provo City Council to register its own position.
Sanders told councilors the session is short and urged quick communications: councilors should email staff (copying all councilors) with a bill number, their position and reasons so staff can research impacts and propose options. “If you notice a bill…we need you guys to email the council staff,” Sanders said, describing a workflow that moves from email flagging to staff research to an all-council update.
Staff said the tracker will also highlight bills that may require administrative follow-up even if the city takes no formal position — for instance, items that prompt code updates or new reporting requirements for boards and departments. Daley said staff will note bills that could affect public works, parks and rec or planning so the administration can prepare early rather than wait until after the session to discover needed code changes.
Councilors asked for examples and clarifications. Councilor Rachel Whipple flagged SB 83, a bill about law enforcement policies for protective orders, as an item she wanted tracked; staff confirmed such operational or policy-impact bills should be raised and will be added. Councilors also discussed ULCT’s trackers and “political capital” considerations: Daley and Sanders said the tracker will show ULCT’s official position, which the council can choose to adopt, oppose or diverge from intentionally.
Staff reminded councilors of upcoming legislative events and practicalities: committee agendas are posted 24 hours before meetings, and virtual testimony is allowed. The tracker will be distributed on Mondays during the session and staff said they will help coordinate councilor attendance at ULCT’s local officials day and other committee hearings.
The presentation closes with staff offering to field council requests and prepare background research and possible actions for any flagged bills.
The tracker and staff operating procedure are an administrative tool; no formal council position or ordinance was adopted during the work meeting.
