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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

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9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This resolution honors the 125th Anniversary of the First Utah Legislative Session.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This resolution:
14          ▸     commemorates the 125th Anniversary of the First Legislative Session; and
15          ▸     honors the work of the first Utah State Legislature and subsequent legislatures.
16     Special Clauses:
17          None
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19     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20          WHEREAS, on January 4, 1896, Utah joined the United States of America as the 45th
21     state of the United States of America;
22          WHEREAS, from its beginning, the people of the state of Utah have all believed in the
23     rule of law, that citizens are the source of all governmental power, in the consent of the people
24     to create a government, in limited government that can only do those things the people have
25     given it power to do, in a system where people elect government leaders to make laws on their
26     behalf, and they hold dear the individual rights and freedoms protected by the government;
27          WHEREAS, on January 7, 1896, the Utah Legislature was called into its first general

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