With the closure of the 2007 Utah legislative year last week, it’s worth taking a moment to note the issues on which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was involved. In common with the pattern of past years, the Church offered comment or became involved in a few matters that it regarded as important, but the number in total was small. This year, 423 bills and resolutions passed the legislature. The Church became involved with four of them.
Most notable in 2007 from the Church’s point of view was the inclusion of a charitable-giving incentive in the revision of the state tax code. In testimony to a legislative committee when the current tax reform was first being considered, a representative of the Church said that the community is best served by providing tax incentives for the support of charitable activities. For the overall good of the citizenry, the state tax system should continue to provide tax deductions for charitable giving — including religious contributions.
A Church representative said: “Charitable contributions help provide for society's poor and needy, fund education and the arts, and meet other important social needs beyond the reach of government resources. Charitable contributions provide the primary, and often the only, support for programs that alleviate suffering, educate the citizenry, reduce violence, increase health and well-being, promote tolerance, strengthen families and otherwise increase human potential.”
Society’s laws not only regulate but also reflect a society’s deepest and most cherished values. In retaining a tax incentive to give, Utah continues to demonstrate the generous spirit for which it is so well known.
In addition to the charitable-giving measure, in 2007 the Church also became involved in followings bills that passed:
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- HB 104, “Alcoholic Beverage Licensees and Gambling-Like Activities.” The interest of the Church in this bill was to ensure continuation of Utah’s ban on all forms of legalized gambling. Along with Hawaii, Utah remains the only other state with no legalized gambling. ( Read talk on gambling from President Hinckley .)
- SB 89, “Revising Death Certificates.” The interest of the Church and others in this bill was to preserve important information for those interested in genealogical
- SB 205, “Alcoholic Beverage Control Amendments.” The interest of the Church in this comprehensive bill was to ensure continuation of the state philosophy of alcohol control by making alcoholic beverages available to those who will responsibly use them and at the same time protecting underage youth from alcohol use.