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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE 125TH

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST UTAH LEGISLATIVE

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SESSION

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2021 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Melissa G. Ballard

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Senate Sponsor: Karen Mayne

8     Cosponsors:
9     Carl R. Albrecht
10     Stewart E. Barlow
11     Joel K. Briscoe
12     James A. Dunnigan
13     Joel Ferry
Stephen G. Handy
Brian S. King
Phil Lyman
Merrill F. Nelson
Doug Owens
Stephanie Pitcher
Rex P. Shipp
V. Lowry Snow
Norman K. Thurston
Mike Winder

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15     LONG TITLE
16     General Description:
17          This resolution honors the 125th Anniversary of the First Utah Legislative Session.
18     Highlighted Provisions:
19          This resolution:
20          ▸     commemorates the 125th Anniversary of the First Legislative Session; and
21          ▸     honors the work of the first Utah State Legislature and subsequent Legislatures.
22     Special Clauses:
23          None
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25     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
26          WHEREAS, on January 4, 1896, Utah joined the United States of America as the 45th
27     state of the United States of America;
28          WHEREAS, from its beginning, the people of the state of Utah have all believed in the

29     rule of law, that citizens are the source of all governmental power, in the consent of the people
30     to create a government, in limited government that can only do those things the people have
31     given it power to do, in a democratic republic form of government, and they hold dear the
32     individual rights and freedoms protected by the government;
33          WHEREAS, on January 7, 1896, the Utah Legislature was called into its first general
34     session of statehood, convening at the Salt Lake City and County Building in Salt Lake City,
35     Utah, where the first Utah Senate seated 18 members, and the Utah House of Representatives
36     seated 45 members;
37          WHEREAS, the 63 duly elected legislators were empowered during that first session to
38     design and build a new state government based on the principles of American democracy to
39     serve the people of Utah which remains the foundation of our state government today;
40          WHEREAS, the early lawmakers funded public schools, police and fire departments,
41     prisons, and two universities during that first legislative session; and established a firm
42     foundation of a balanced budget, fiscal restraint, and support of strong families--all values and
43     principles that carry forward in Utah's Legislature today;
44          WHEREAS, Utah's Legislature now meets at the Utah State Capitol, seats 29 senators
45     and 75 representatives to serve from Utah's 29 counties, all of whom support the advancement
46     of public education, higher education, economic development, natural resources, environment,
47     business, arts, cultural resources for Native Americans, and a host of many other departments
48     and agencies, all working to benefit the citizens of the great state of Utah; and
49          WHEREAS, some Utah senators and representatives have ancestors who served in the
50     1896 and subsequent Legislatures, and many other Utah senators and Utah representatives have
51     adopted that great legacy and heritage of public service since statehood:
52          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Utah State Legislature, the Governor
53     concurring therein, honors the work of the first Utah State Legislature and each subsequent
54     Legislature for their lasting impact on the public good and the benefit to all citizens who work
55     and live in Utah.