Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

Utah’s state legislature is back in session. Bills will be filed, meetings will happen, debates will occur, decisions will be made, laws will be passed. These weeks every year should be a time of great interest for Utah’s citizens, but can also be stressful. Many of the decisions to be made will greatly affect all of us, including children. Becoming educated about and getting involved in the legislative happenings can be rewarding, although the session can also be a nail-biter as we wait to find out the direction our state will be heading on many important issues.

Budget, taxes, water issues, transportation, affordable housing, health care policies and education are just some of the topics that always seem to be part of the yearly session. However we feel about the issues, we can make our voices heard and get involved.

On the Utah State Legislature’s website, le.ut.gov, information and ways to get involved can be found. The calendar shows the legislature’s schedule, including times when committees and subcommittees will be meeting, There are also instructions for watching a legislative meeting online and there are even live streams available to watch.

Wondering about new bills, the status of each and who is sponsoring them? That information is also available on the website. Not only is it interesting to read about the various bills, it’s important to know what could possibly happen in our state. Many of these, like education-related bills, will directly impact – for better or worse – all of us.

The “Get Involved” section of the site’s Legislative Guide provides great information about understanding the legislative process, how to find out which legislators represent you, how to contact your legislators, how to encourage family and friends to become more involved and what to do if you are unable to reach your legislator.

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

“Be persistent! Remember that your senator represents approximately 40,000 people,” it reads.

It is important to reach out to our legislators to let them know how we feel about the issues. They have been elected, after all, to be a voice for those who voted for them.

A big question that often comes to mind is whether or not our legislators are doing the job that we elected them to do. Here are some questions to ask ourselves: Does my legislator listen to and communicate with constituents? Does my legislator vote how his/her constituents would vote? Does my legislator sponsor and support bills that are important to the community and will have a positive impact? Or, does my legislator focus on ‘fluffy’ issues that are unimportant to the community? Does my legislator respond to my inquiries and concerns?

If the answers to these questions leave us feeling frustrated, we’ll be sure to keep this in mind when election time rolls around, but until then, stay informed and know your legislators.

In all, 16 of Utah’s 75 representatives and nine of the 29 senators have constituents in Utah County. You can find your district by going to https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp and searching your address.

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