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2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT: WEEK 5 |
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Week 5 at the Capitol |
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Hello friends,
Week 5 of the legislative session was another busy one on Capitol Hill. We’ve been hard at work strengthening Utah’s water future, supporting families, and enhancing public safety in communities across our state.
Committee meetings and floor debates are in full swing, and thoughtful discussions are happening every day about the policies that will shape Utah’s future. As we move closer to the final weeks of the session, you can feel the momentum building.
Lawmakers are collaborating, refining ideas, and working toward practical solutions that will make a real difference for Utahns. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve you and to represent our community’s priorities at the Capitol.
You can continue to follow along and participate in the process, either in person or online at le.utah.gov. If you have questions or would like to share your thoughts, please reach out. I would love to hear from you. |
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Locals on the Hill |
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It was wonderful to visit with so many people from our House District 63 that came to the Capitol this week. Thanks for your involvement and for sharing what is on your mind. I love it and appreciate it. |
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Legislative Spouses Service Project |
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In honor of America's 250th, First Lady Abby Cox recently invited the Legislative Spouses to join her for the annual SHOW UP for Service Event, this year focusing on celebrating our nation's veterans. My wife Roxane went to the William E. Christofferson Veterans home in Salt Lake City and, along with other legislative spouses, sang patriotic songs to the residents, shared family stories of veterans, and afterward enjoyed eating lunch with disabled and elderly individuals who reside in the facility. It was a special day to honor and celebrate veterans from Utah that have made incredible sacrifices for our country. |
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Meet My Legislative Intern |
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Each year all the Universities throughout the state offer a legislative internship program to give students the opportunity to gain a hands-on experience of being involved in the legislative process. Through a competitive application process, every university selects and sends a handful of students to the Legislature and each intern is assigned to a specific Representative or Senator.
During this Legislative Session, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with Christina Blanco, a senior at BYU who is double majoring in political science and Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic. Having Christina as a legislative intern provides tremendous help, coordination, and support with the many demanding priorities and issues we are facing at the Capitol on a daily basis. Please continue to reach out to me or Christina throughout the Session. We would be happy to help you. Christina’s cell: 385-420-3147; email: cblanco@le.utah.gov.
If you or someone you know is attending any university in the state, please let them know about the legislative internship program and have them contact their university’s internship office to learn about the incredible opportunity to work with a legislator during next year’s Legislative Session. |
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Protecting Utah’s Water for Generations to Come |
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Water is absolutely essential to our way of life here in Utah, and this year the Legislature has taken proactive steps to safeguard that resource for families, farmers, and future generations. We’ve passed a series of bills that strengthen how water rights are managed, streamline voluntary contributions of water to benefit critical waterways like the Great Salt Lake, and ensure funds from natural resources funds can be directed toward long-term conservation and lake health efforts. We’ve also created a more flexible process for water rights holders to dedicate water without forfeiting existing rights, secured ongoing funding to support the lake, and put a framework in place to plan for this limited resource in a growing state. Protecting Utah’s water requires everyone at the table and every tool in the toolbox; the legislature is committed to securing our most valuable resource and will continue to explore more year after year. |
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Supporting Utah Families |
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Supporting families isn’t just good policy — it’s essential to Utah’s future. This session, we’re working to provide meaningful relief to parents by expanding the child tax credit, allowing more working families to qualify and keep more of what they earn. We’re also strengthening paid leave policies through extending postpartum recovery leave, adoption leave, and foster leave. We’re also encouraging employers — especially small businesses — to expand child care options by increasing incentives for both on-site and off-site child care support. Together, these efforts help ease financial pressure, expand access to care, and give working parents the stability they need to raise strong families here in Utah. |
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Smart Technology, Stronger Classrooms |
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As technology continues to shape our classrooms, we have a responsibility to use it wisely. H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments, which passed the House with bipartisan support, sets clear, age-appropriate standards for technology and AI use in schools. This bill reduces unnecessary screen time in early grades, increases transparency for parents, protects student privacy, and ensures AI is used to support, not replace, quality teaching. It also strengthens computer science education and creates safe, supervised opportunities for students to explore emerging technologies. We can embrace innovation while still putting parents, teachers, and student well-being first. |
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Supporting Those Who Protect Us |
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Our firefighters put their lives on the line for us every single day, and they deserve more than just our gratitude — they deserve our support. That’s why we passed H.B. 416 Firefighter Cancer Amendments, which builds on groundbreaking cancer screening legislation from last year by creating a dedicated Firefighter Cancer Benefit Trust Fund to provide benefits to firefighters who develop job-related cancers. This legislation leverages existing funding, ensures responsible oversight through a board of trustees, and builds a self-sustaining structure to support those who have sacrificed so much for our communities. I’m deeply grateful for our firefighters and proud to stand by them and their families when they need it most. |
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My Voting Record |
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Bill topics have once again been vast and varied this week including: water, home ownership, taxes, transportation, healthcare, education, reducing government regulations, childcare, federalism, critical minerals, election integrity, transparency in government, homelessness, workforce development, criminal justice and many, many, many more.
Here is my voting record for the 5th week of the Legislative Session: |
HOUSE FLOOR VOTES: |
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HB 16 Yes
SB 44 Yes SB 50 YesSB 89 Yes SB 146 Yes SCR 4 Yes |
COMMITTEE VOTES: |
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HB 59 Yes HB 88 Yes HB 176 No HB 280 Yes HB 294 Yes HB 346 Yes HB 377 Yes HB 433 Yes HB 495 Yes HB 539 Yes SB 160 Yes SB 108 Yes |
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I would love to hear from you! |
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District 63 Representative Stephen L. Whyte swhyte@le.utah.gov 385-271-8435
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