As we approach the halfway mark of the 2025 legislative session, my colleagues and I have hit the ground running, tackling key issues that will have a lasting impact on our community. We’re pushing forward legislation to bolster our energy infrastructure, expand opportunities in higher education, and secure our state’s vital water resources. By positioning Utah as a leader in energy innovation, investing in our teachers and students, and implementing sustainable water management strategies, we’re ensuring a bright future for our state.
Make sure you continue to follow along with the process by reading my newsletters, connecting with me on social media, or watching live streams of our meetings at le.utah.gov.
Strengthening Our Election Process
As your Legislator, I am committed to ensuring the integrity and security of our elections. In recent years, we have enacted comprehensive reforms to strengthen our electoral process, including enhanced auditing procedures, stricter ballot custody protocols, and rigorous voter registration maintenance. This year, we are building on these past reforms by clarifying key election laws to ensure greater transparency and consistency in the voting process. We’re enhancing ballot tracking, creating stricter verification procedures for mail-in voting, and improving voter registration accuracy. These efforts reflect our continued commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our elections, ensuring that every eligible vote is counted fairly and securely. Check out the latest episode of our House podcast to learn more.
Stopping Sanctioned Crime
We’re taking bold steps to tackle homelessness and its impact on our communities. Last year, we provided cities with the tools to end unsanctioned camping, boosted funding to address homelessness, and created a Homeless Services Board to improve accountability. This session, we’re holding local governments accountable for reducing homelessness, enforcing the law, and minimizing community disruption—particularly in areas with the most severe challenges. Since 2022, the state has invested over $229 million to combat homelessness and support affordable housing, but this effort requires municipalities to do their part. That’s why we’re aiming to address the root causes of homelessness by enhancing substance use treatment and enforcement measures to set our communities up for success.
The first two weeks of the 66th Legislature were filled with big wins for Utah! We continued our work to strengthen education by expanding career and technical training, cutting red tape to boost workforce opportunities, and keeping costs low for students and families. We also advanced policies to support Utah’s thriving economy, streamline occupational licensing, and invest in critical infrastructure.
As always, our focus remains on keeping Utah a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Stay tuned for more updates as we keep moving forward and follow along with the process at le.utah.gov.
My Bills
This week has been a busy one, as I was able to presentfour of my bills in committee! I’m working hard to keep up with the high demands of my constituents, advocating for policies that promote respect, safety, and the well-being of all Utahns. My bills include:
I remain committed to ensuring every voice is heard and pushing for meaningful changes that strengthen our communities. It’s an honor to serve, and I will continue working tirelessly on behalf of the people I represent!
Supporting Opportunities for K-12 Students
As a Legislature, we’re expanding opportunities for K-12 students by reducing financial burdens and increasing access to career and technical education. Last session, we eliminated school fees for coursework, and this year, we’re enhancing individualized learning options to set students up for success. With Utah leading in education outcomes per dollar spent, my colleagues and I are committed to empowering students, parents, and educators with more choices for a brighter future.
Keeping Utah Business Friendly
This session, we’re fostering economic prosperity by supporting business-friendly policies and cutting red tape. By streamlining occupational licensing through the new Office of Professional Licensure Review, we’re removing barriers that keep qualified workers on the sidelines. We’re tackling workforce shortages, increasing job opportunities, and ensuring Utah remains a top state for business and innovation.
Leading the Nation in Fiscal Responsibility
Balancing the state budget is one of our most important constitutional duties, and Utah stands out as the only state where all 104 lawmakers take part in the budgeting process. The House and Senate passed the base budget, ensuring funding for key areas across our state. Over the next several weeks, my colleagues and I will continue refining the budget to keep Utah on a strong financial path.
With the start of the upcoming Legislative session just around the corner, I want to know what matters most to you and our community.
I will be holding a regional town hall on January 15th with my fellow Representatives from Northern Utah County I would love for you to join us as we discuss the issues facing our state as well as some of our Legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
As your Representative, your opinion is invaluable to me. I use your feedback throughout the session as I craft legislation and vote on bills. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the legislative process and make your voice heard.
At last month’s interim meetings, I had the opportunity to meet with my colleagues and discuss legislation for the upcoming 2025 General Session. During my committees, we heard from policy experts, stakeholders, and members of the public about issues that matter to them. If you want to know more about what was discussed, you can watch full recordings at le.utah.gov or click here to read the highlights.
Next month’s meetings will take place on Oct. 15-16 at the Utah State Capitol. Interim is a great way for you to get involved in the Legislative process. I hope to see you there, or you can follow along online at le.utah.gov.
Stand for Our Land
As a state, we are pushing back against federal overreach and taking control of Utah’s future. The federal government controls nearly 70% of Utah lands. This includes 18.5 million acres of “unappropriated” lands, or lands being held without any designated purpose, controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In contrast, the federal government controls less than 1% of the land in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Under the control of the federal government, Utah public lands have become less and less public with every public lands decision coming from Washington, D.C. And upcoming plans of the BLM promise more road closures and further restrictions on access. These closures and restrictions significantly affect Utah’s economy and our ability to maintain Utah lands for wildlife management, hunting, wildfire protection, grazing, tourism, recreation, and many other activities.
Let’s keep Utah lands in the hands of those who know how to manage it best: Utahns. Learn more at standforourland.utah.gov.
Good News for the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is one of our state’s most critical resources. Over the last few years, the Legislature has taken significant steps to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy this natural wonder. Private citizens and companies alike have also stepped up to help protect the lake. Compass Minerals has agreed to donate a water right of 200,000 acre-feet, enough to fill 99,000 Olympic pools annually. The Jordan River Valley Conservancy has also released an additional 10,000 acre feet over the last month.
Remember to Vote
Your voice matters! Make yours heard by exercising your right to vote. Elections will take place Tuesday, November 5th and ballots will be mailed out starting Tuesday, October 15th. Click here to register to vote, learn more about the issues, and find polling places and ballot drop boxes near you.
Remember to Vote
Your voice matters! Make yours heard by exercising your right to vote. Elections will take place Tuesday, November 5th and ballots will be mailed out starting Tuesday, October 15th. Click here to register to vote, learn more about the issues, and find polling places and ballot drop boxes near you.
The 2024 General Session is behind us – and we passed historic policies that will benefit our community. This includes innovative solutions to lower the rising cost of housing, protect our state’s invaluable natural resources, invest in future generations, and increase safety in our communities.
A few funding highlights:
$830 million invested in Utah public education
Over $100 million invested in public safety for our communities
$30 million invested in Utah’s water resources
$55 million in transportation innovation
$20 million towards improving housing affordability
These investments will preserve Utah’s high quality of life for generations to come. Click here to learn more about how we’re working for you at the state Capitol.
Cutting Government Waste
This year, the Utah House made good on our promise to trim excess in state government. We cut 50 boards and commissions and raised the barrier for the creation of more government bodies. That’s 110 fewer gubernatorial appointees and a savings for all Utahns.
In his 1964 speech, Ronald Reagan quipped, “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.”
Not in Utah.
Between H.B. 532 & H.B. 534, we re-examined over 400 boards and commissions that oversee and regulate everyday life – combining and eliminating unneeded bureaucracy. This is ongoing work, and we promise to stay diligent. Good governance requires accountability and the efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds. For more, you can watch our video on trimming boards and commissions here.
Snow-Capped Mountains, Conservation, and Legislation
Good news – Utah’s mountains are stuffed with snow and our reservoirs are nearing capacity. On average, state reservoirs are sitting at 83% capacity before spring runoff. Last year, reservoirs statewide were around half full.
Here’s a helpful way to think about it: “Our reservoirs are our water savings account,”according to the director of the Division of Water Resources. “This critical infrastructure provides us with the water security we have today.”
During the session, the House passed historic changes to water law which will help Utah continue to thrive when the hydrology is good – and when it’s not. The governor highlighted a number of these bills at an annual spring runoff conference in Cache County. Watch our video here.
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