The 2026 legislative session was defined by a simple mission: keeping Utah the best state to live, work, and raise a family. My colleagues and I worked tirelessly to protect your hard-earned money by passing a balanced budget that cuts the state income tax for the sixth year in a row to 4.45% and reduces the gas tax by 15%. We are tackling the cost of living head-on—ensuring transparency at the cash register and empowering more Utahns to save for retirement—while still delivering a 5.9% increase in funding for public education. Check out the latest episode of our House podcast to learn more about what we did to keep life affordable for families. 

Our work doesn't stop just because the session ended. Interim meetings will begin in mid-May. Your voice is vital to our process, and you can follow every update at le.utah.gov.

To highlight some of the most impactful wins from this year, Governor Cox held a special bill signing ceremony, and I was honored that two of my bills were selected.

HB214, Firearms Liability Amendments, takes a strong stand for the Second Amendment and for Utah businesses. It shuts down the growing effort to weaponize vague consumer protection laws against firearm manufacturers and dealers. If someone breaks the law, they can be held accountable. But this bill makes clear that lawful companies cannot be targeted with politically motivated lawsuits. It protects jobs, protects an important industry, and protects our constitutional rights.

SB208, Vehicle Emission Inspection Program Revisions, is about something every Utahn cares about, cleaner air. Along the Wasatch Front, air quality directly impacts our families, our health, and our quality of life. For too long, thousands of vehicles have been slipping through the cracks and avoiding emissions requirements, putting more pollution into our air. This bill closes that loophole and strengthens enforcement so the system actually works. The result is fewer high-emission vehicles on the road, better air for our kids, and real progress on one of our state’s biggest challenges.

Grateful to Governor Cox for recognizing these efforts and for his partnership. Proud to be working on solutions that defend our freedoms and deliver real results for Utah families.

Utah’s success is built on the hard work of its citizens, not the size of its government. That is why I am proud to report that we passed a balanced budget while delivering significant tax relief to help you navigate the rising cost of living. For the sixth consecutive year, we reduced the state income tax rate—now down to 4.45%—marking an 11% overall reduction and saving the average family roughly $330 annually. We also reduced the state gas tax by 15% and expanded the child tax credit to better support Utah’s families. 

Rising property taxes have been a growing concern across our community, especially for those living on a fixed income. While property taxes are set at the local level, it’s important to ensure you have a seat at the table regarding your local finances. We passed new transparency measures requiring cities and school districts to provide clearer, more accessible information before pursuing tax hikes. 

I really enjoyed a great visit at the Capitol recently.

I had the opportunity to partner with United Families International to host a group of outstanding students from BYU-Idaho’s Family Advocacy Program. BYU-Idaho deserves real credit for the work they’re doing to equip these students with the knowledge, perspective, and practical skills to engage on issues that impact families in a meaningful way.

These are sharp, thoughtful young people who care deeply about strengthening families and making a difference in their communities.

We spent time walking through the Capitol, talking about how the legislative process works here in Utah, and discussing real, practical ways they can get involved and have an impact, right now, not someday.

One of the things I always emphasize is that good policy doesn’t just happen. It comes from engaged citizens who are willing to show up, learn the issues, and be part of the process. That is exactly what I saw from this group.

Grateful for organizations like United Families International, and for institutions like BYU-Idaho that are preparing the next generation of leaders.

The future is in good hands.

As areas like ours continue to grow, we are seeing "yesterday’s" roads struggle to keep up with today’s demands. That is why this year, my colleagues and I took an infrastructure-first approach. By investing $2.1 billion into critical projects throughout the state, we are tackling congestion head-on. These investments do more than just move cars; they support housing affordability by opening up new areas for homes and reducing time spent in traffic. We are planning decades ahead to ensure that as Utah grows, our communities remain connected, our businesses stay competitive, and you spend less time commuting and more time with your family.

I had the opportunity to join a bipartisan panel discussion with Senator Weiler, Senator Pitcher, and Representative Owens at the J. Reuben Clark Law Society luncheon.

We had a thoughtful conversation reflecting on the 2026 legislative session, what we accomplished, and where we still have work to do. I always appreciate settings like this where we can step back from the day-to-day pace of the session and talk more candidly about the decisions we’re making and why they matter.

This session, we focused on strengthening families, lowering the cost of living, protecting kids, and preparing Utah for the future. That included meaningful tax relief, continued investments in education, and efforts to address some of the real challenges facing our communities, from housing to public safety to the impacts of technology on our kids.

One of the things I value most is the ability to engage in respectful, substantive dialogue, even when there are differences of opinion. That kind of conversation is essential to good policy and good governance.

Grateful to the J. Reuben Clark Law Society for hosting and for the chance to be part of the discussion.

As areas like ours continue to grow, we are seeing "yesterday’s" roads struggle to keep up with today’s demands. That is why this year, my colleagues and I took an infrastructure-first approach. By investing $2.1 billion into critical projects throughout the state, we are tackling congestion head-on. These investments do more than just move cars; they support housing affordability by opening up new areas for homes and reducing time spent in traffic. We are planning decades ahead to ensure that as Utah grows, our communities remain connected, our businesses stay competitive, and you spend less time commuting and more time with your family.

A strong economy starts with a skilled workforce, which is why we are making historic investments in both our K-12 schools and our technical colleges. This year, we increased public education funding by 5.9%, including a $100 million expansion of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to give our students hands-on experience in high-demand fields like healthcare and construction before they even graduate. 

We are applying that same focus on results to our technical colleges through a new strategic reinvestment initiative. By identifying and cutting $23 million in administrative costs, we are redirecting those funds into high-impact programs—such as nursing, engineering, and welding—without raising tuition or taxes. These common-sense reforms ensure that your tax dollars are focused on getting Utahns into great careers and keeping our state’s economy the strongest in the nation.

Families across Utah are sitting at their kitchen tables making tough choices to balance their budgets, and your state government should be no different. This year, we successfully passed a balanced budget by applying the same fiscal discipline you use at home. We challenged every state agency to identify underperforming or duplicative programs, ensuring your tax dollars are focused only on what truly works. By keeping government lean and accountable, we are able to fund core services like education and infrastructure while still lowering your taxes. Our commitment is simple: keep more money where it belongs—in your pocket.

Thank you to everyone who attended our post session town hall! It was great to meet with each of you and hear more about the issues effecting our community. In case you missed it, you can watch the full recording of the meeting here:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3893570754279931&rdid=kILhiT6A6G2YRPxE

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