Today, the Better Utah Institute released a newly-revised version of their Civic Engagement Toolkit, which includes a new course entitled “Utah Legislature 101.” The toolkit can be found here.
Designed to answer frequently-asked questions about how the Utah Legislature works, new lessons will be rolled out weekly over the course of the current 45-day Legislative General Session. Lessons will include information about the structure of the Legislature, how committees work, and how bills become laws.
“We know people want to be involved in the process, but often don’t have information about how it all works,” said Melissa Nelson-Stippich, engagement director for the Better Utah Institute. “We’ve developed this course to get them that complex information in a simple and fun way. Not only is understanding the process important for individual fulfillment, but also because our government works better and can more-effectively deliver upon the needs of the people when more people are involved in the process.”
Additionally, the Institute has added new features to the toolkit, including downloadable certificates, a dashboard displaying lawmakers and their contact information, as well as some new surprises for users to discover.
The Civic Engagement Toolkit is designed to educate Utahns on the importance of civic knowledge and participation. With the passage of H.B. 327 – Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative last year, and the call for additional funding to the program this year, Better Utah aligns with the need for greater civic engagement and seeks to remedy civic illiteracy through the launch of its Toolkit.
