Oct 2, 2023
September Interim and Long-Term Planning Conference
This past month, my colleagues and I took interim meetings off Capitol Hill and down to beautiful St. George. I enjoyed meeting with and hearing from the people in Southern Utah. You can read the highlights of those interim meetings here. This month’s interim meetings will take place on October 10th and 11th at the Capitol. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.org.
While in St. George, we also met as a Legislature for the Long-Term Planning Conference, where we had the opportunity to learn about and discuss topics like transportation, housing affordability, water, and technology innovation. It’s important that we begin now to plan for our future.
Happiest State in the Nation
Utah was recently ranked the Happiest state in the Nation! There are many reasons why I am proud to call Utah home, from our beautiful landscapes to our unmatched opportunities, but I believe the thing that makes Utah truly special is our amazing people and communities. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve each of you.
Supporting our Educators
During this past session, my colleagues and I passed the largest single teacher pay raise in state history and teachers across Utah are already benefiting. In total, the Legislature allocated nearly $5.6 billion towards public education. We know that education is the key to upward mobility and I remain committed to setting our students and teachers up for success. You can learn more here.
Remember to Vote
County and municipal general elections will take place next month on Tuesday, November 21st. Voting is an important constitutional right and I encourage you all to participate. Find more info at vote.utah.gov.
Sep 5, 2023
I enjoyed meeting with my fellow legislators during this month’s interim meetings. These meetings are an opportunity for us to hear presentations from experts and stakeholders, as well as public comment, all of which helps us prepare for the upcoming legislative session. You can read the highlights of these meetings here. September’s interim meetings will be held on the 18th in St George. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov
Happy Labor Day, Utah!
I hope you all had a fun, safe, and enjoyable holiday weekend! I am proud to live in a state that is known for its industrious spirit. The hardworking people of Utah are a big part of what makes our state the best place to live, work, and play.
Great Salt Lake License Plate
Looking for a way to show your love for the Great Salt Lake? Sign up today for a new Great Salt Lake license plate! Contributions will go towards conserving and protecting the GSL watershed and ecosystem. Click here to learn how you can get yours.
Back to School
To all the students across the state who are headed back for the start of the new school year, I wish you luck in all your academic endeavors! Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future and remains a top priority for myself and the legislature.
Jun 5, 2023
Special Session
This past month, the Legislature convened in a special session to address the needs of the state by extending the current state of emergency and allocating funds to help mitigate the ongoing statewide flooding. You can watch the recording of this special session here.
Bills passed during the special session:
H.B. 1001 Emergency Response Funding
H.B. 1002 Restricted Persons Amendments
H.B. 1003 Firefighter Death Benefit Amendments
H.J.R. 101 Joint Resolution Extending Emergency Powers for Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure Rehabilitation
May Interim
May interim was a success! It is always a pleasure to serve with my colleagues on our interim committees and to hear from the public about issues they care about. You can read the highlights here. June interim will be held on the 13th and 14th of this month. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time to honor all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I am grateful for all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces. Thank you for your dedication and service.
Congrats Graduates!
Congratulations to the class of 2023! Whether you finished your senior year of high school or college, I commend you for your achievement and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you.
May 4, 2023
Best Overall State!
Utah was ranked Number 1 best overall State by U.S. News and World Report! Our commitment to innovation, education, fostering industry, and strengthening our economy are just a few of the reasons why this is such an amazing place to live, now and for generations to come. I am proud to call Utah home. You can check out the report here.
Interim Meetings and Committee Assignments
During the year, my colleagues and I prepare for the upcoming General Session through our monthly interim meetings. These meetings start again this month on May 16th! They are open to the public, and you are able to participate both in person and virtually. Click to view committee assignments and interim study items.
Flood Prevention
This spring, we are facing an increased risk of flooding all across our State. It’s important to monitor your local risk of flooding to help minimize damage in the event of a worst-case scenario. Click here to check your risk level and find some helpful flood preparedness resources.
House Spring Service Project
Each year, the House majority participates in a spring service project. This year, my colleagues and I are helping address flooding in our areas by volunteering to help fill sandbags and participating in other flood preparation activities. If you would like to get involved, check your city and county websites for volunteer opportunities.
Mar 3, 2023
First, if you’re free on Thursday, swing by the Northern Utah County Legislative Debrief.
7:30 pm @ 3192 W 2450 North Lehi, UT 84043
This will be with myself, Representatives Moss and Maloy, and Senator Anderegg. Speaker of the House, Brad Wilson, will also be coming by to offer his support to our area.
That’s A Wrap!
The Legislative Session has come to a close. The legislature passed over 500 bills, a record number, and still managed to end before midnight on the last night. Five of those were mine, all of which expanded personal freedom and pulled back on government regulations.
Stewardship
Water:
We accomplished 4 main goals this session:
- Increased water capacity
- Expanded conservation efforts
- Prepared for future water needs
- Enhanced outreach efforts
The legislature invested nearly $500 million into Utah’s water resources this session. Solving our water problem is a marathon, not a sprint. It will take several years of careful management in addition to rain and snow, but we are committed to making progress every session.
Energy:
- Safeguarded Utah’s ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy
- Pushed back against the federal government’s regulatory overreach that threatens our ability to provide power to the state
- Passed legislation to create a statewide energy plan to develop and implement energy policies and goals as it relates to renewable and non-renewable energy sources
- We will continue to invest in Utah’s all-of-the-above energy approach including coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, solar, hydrogen, and more.
Land Management:
Affordability
Taxes:
The legislature passed several tax related bills. The details of those are as follows:
Total Tax Reductions
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$607.9 million (H.B. 54) – Income Tax and Sales Tax on Food
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$9.6 million (H.B. 170) – Child Care Tax Credit
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$146 million (H.B. 293) – Property tax thaw
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$51 million (H.B. 364) – Low Income Housing Tax Credit
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$32.7 million (H.B. 301) – Gas tax
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$2.6 million (H.B. 130) – Adoption Tax Credit
Government Overreach
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Blocked efforts to distort financial markets and limit access to capital based on artificial and subjective criteria
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Protected against investment schemes based on assessments of businesses’ and individuals’ political beliefs
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Ensured any state investment is done without regard to companies’ political, environmental, or social considerations
Investment
Transportation
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Monumental year for generational investments, including every mode of transportation
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Over $2 billion invested in transportation
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These investments will not only benefit us today, but will greatly benefit our children and grandchildren and set Utah up for future success
Education
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Education inspires upward mobility, fosters innovation, and opens the doors of the future
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Made significant investments in public education that positively impact students, teachers, and parents:
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Provided historic teacher pay raises
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Gave additional learning opportunities for Utah students
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Funded paid teacher collaboration and preparation time
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Funded optional all-day kindergarten
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Passed half a dozen bills related to school safety
School Safety
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Multi-faceted approach to school safety by addressing top concerns of students, educators, parents, and law enforcement
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Invested in student safety and ensured best practices are used to protect Utah schools and students
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Addressed chronic absenteeism through prevention and intervention
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Passed legislation to empower parents with information and resources when their student has been subjected to bullying, cyber-bullying, or other abusive behavior
