Joel Briscoe

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = File:Joel Briscoe Feb2022.jpg

| name = Joel Briscoe

| residence = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

| office = Member of the Utah House of Representatives

| constituency = 25th district (2010–2023)
24th district (2023–2024)

| term_start = July 20, 2010

| term_end = December 31, 2024

| predecessor = Christine Johnson

| successor = Grant Amjad Miller

| party = Democratic

| occupation = Public Education

| spouse = Christine

| alma_mater = University of Utah

}}

Joel Briscoe is a former member of the Utah House of Representatives from Utah. A Democrat, he represented District 24 in Salt Lake City.

Early life and career

Briscoe graduated from the University of Utah and taught English, U.S. History, and Civics in secondary schools for twenty-six years, twenty-one of them at Bountiful High School. Briscoe served on the Salt Lake City Board of Education from 1998–2002, the last two years as the Board President. He also served as the chair of the East Central Community Council, a community council located between downtown Salt Lake and the University. In this capacity, Briscoe led community opposition to a proposal to install above-ground high voltage electrical transmission lines through neighborhood yards. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} He currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife Christine and three children.{{cite web |url= http://le.utah.gov/house2/detail.jsp?i=BRISCJK |title= Joel Briscoe |publisher= Utah House of Representatives |access-date= April 11, 2014}}

Political career

Briscoe served on the Salt Lake City Board of Education from 1998–2002, the last two years as the Board President. He also served as the chair of the East Central Community Council, a community council located between downtown Salt Lake and the University of Utah. In this capacity, he led community opposition to a proposal to install above-ground high voltage electrical transmission lines through neighborhood yards.

Briscoe was elected to the Utah House of Representatives on November 2, 2010 and has made education issues a focus of his legislative efforts.{{cite news|last=Waddhany|first=Rinna|title=Joel Briscoe: New Lawmaker Knows His Way Around Capitol, Classroom|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51292290-78/briscoe-education-students-public.html.csp|access-date=April 5, 2011|newspaper=Salt Lake Tribune|date=March 2, 2011}}

During the 2016 legislative session, Briscoe served as the House Assistant Minority Whip. He served on the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, as well as the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee.{{Cite web|url = http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Main.asp?LegCode=BRISCJK&Year=2016&List=3#Results|title = Committees|website = le.utah.gov|access-date = 2016-04-01}} During the 2022 legislative session, Briscoe served on the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Legislative Process Committee, and the Legislative Water Development Commission.{{cite web |title=Joel K. Briscoe |url=http://house.utah.gov/rep/BRISCJK/ |website=House of Representatives-State of Utah |access-date=27 March 2022}}

Briscoe ran for re-election in 2024 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Grant Amjad Miller.{{cite web |title=Pair of incumbent state lawmakers headed for defeat after Tuesday's primaries |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/51053767/pair-of-incumbent-state-lawmakers-headed-for-defeat-after-tuesdays-primaries |website=KSL.com |access-date=12 February 2025}}

Political Positions and Significant Legislation

=Environmental Policy=

Rep. Briscoe supports policies aimed to limit pollution. He currently served as co-chair of the Clean Air Caucus in the Utah legislature.{{cite news |last1=Olander |first1=Daeden |title=Could UTA's 'Free Fare February' become Free Fare Forever? |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/02/03/could-utas-free-fare/ |newspaper=Salt Lake Tribune |access-date=27 March 2022}} In 2021, Briscoe said he support government regulations to curb emissions, but also believes that private innovation to help fight emissions, "particularly through public-private partnerships and other incentives, is necessary to developing clean alternatives to our current polluting technology."

In 2022, as part of an effort he believes he will help bring about cleaner air in Utah, Rep. Briscoe sponsored a bill that would make Utah Transit Authority services, including TRAX, the Frontrunner, and buses free throughout Utah. The bill was held in committee.{{cite web |title=H.B. 164 Public Transit Fares |url=https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0164.html |website=Utah State Legislature |access-date=27 March 2022}}

2022 sponsored legislation

class="wikitable"
Bill NumberBill TitleStatus
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0164.html HB0164]Public Transit FaresHouse/ filed - 3/04/2022
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0189.html HB0189S03]Electric Vehicle Charging ModificationsHouse/ filed - 3/04/2022
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0425.html HB0425]Beer Order and Delivery AmendmentsGovernor signed - 3/04/2022
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0430.html HB0430]Municipal Alternate Voting Methods ModificationsHouse/ filed - 3/04/2022
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0453.html HB0453]Alcohol Restrictions AmendmentsHouse/ filed - 3/04/2022
[https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0464.html HB0464]

|Utah Clean Energy Fund

|House/ filed - 3/04/2022

Sources

{{reflist}}