Hello friends,

 

Over the last week, we have made significant strides for our state. From setting the foundation for greater government agency accountability to supporting our students and educators, we’re working hard to ensure Utah continues to be the best state in the nation. 

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.

As the most basic and fundamental unit of society, families are the bedrock of our thriving communities. Pro-family policies drive economic opportunity, promote happiness, foster social stability, and support the overall health of people. However, Utah families, just like families around the country, face new and evolving challenges. We are working to adopt policies this Legislative Session that will support families with children, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and increase awareness about the importance of strong families. The bottom-line goal is to help families thrive in all facets of life.

Researchers credit Utah’s tight-knit families and historically high birth rates with fostering the state’s economic might and high quality of life. However, we’re not immune to national trends of declining emphasis on the family. A growing body of research finds that adults who follow a specific sequence of life events live happier, more prosperous lives. We are working on policy solutions to strengthen this sequence and help current and future Utah families thrive.

First Lady Abby Cox and Susan Adams (wife of Senate President Stuart Adams) recently invited the Legislative Spouses to join them for the annual SHOW UP for Service Event, this year focusing on the State’s Homeless Shelters. Participants went to four different facilities in the Salt Lake area. My wife, Roxane, went to the Pamela Atkinson Resource Center, a 300-bed emergency shelter for men in South Salt Lake where guests are connected to crisis services such as beds, three daily meals, showers, blankets, clothing, laundry, and more. There she helped sort donations into organized bins labeled by size, enabling more efficient distribution of new and used clothing to those in need. Other volunteers served a delicious hot meal to approximately 75 people. Also known as the Road Home, this resource center is always grateful for donations of men’s clothing including socks, belts, jeans, coats, shoes and other items.

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, each 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 a very unique and special opportunity as my daughter Rebecca, who is a senior at UVU, was selected for the internship program and then was assigned to me. Having her 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 Rebecca throughout the Session. We would be happy to help you. Rebecca’s cell: 385-420-3147; email: rwhyte@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.

I am proud to sponsor HB97 – Postsecondary Education Transparency Act, a bill aimed at increasing transparency in higher education institutions across Utah. This legislation ensures that students and their families are fully informed about the costs, financial policies, and accreditation status of educational programs before making a commitment.

 

HB97 also protects students' rights by establishing a "cooling-off" period, allowing students to reconsider their enrollment decisions without pressure. This added protection promotes informed decision-making, ensuring that students can pursue their education with confidence.

 

By improving transparency and protecting students' ability to make thoughtful decisions, HB97 benefits Utahns by fostering a more equitable and responsible educational environment. This bill has now been unanimously passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and is now on the Governor’s desk for his review and anticipated signature so it will become law.

As your representative, I take seriously the responsibility of ensuring your tax dollars are used wisely. Utah’s Constitution requires us to pass a balanced budget, meaning we cannot spend more than we bring in—no deficit spending, no kicking the can down the road. This commitment to fiscal responsibility has made Utah one of the best-managed states in the nation.

Utah's economic strength continues to shine, earning the top spot as the best state overall for two years in a row and maintaining the best economic outlook for 17 consecutive years. This success is a testament to Utah’s fiscally responsible policies and strategic planning. The state’s economy remains robust, with wages rising and retail sales on the up. Over the past four years, the Legislature has reduced taxes by over $1.3 billion while investing in crucial areas like education, water, and energy. As we navigate a more normalized fiscal environment, we stay focused on preserving Utah’s long-term prosperity, ensuring that future generations can thrive in an affordable, stable economy. Click here to learn more about the latest budget estimates.

Utah is officially on the road to hosting the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games! With the organizing committee officially formed, our state is ready to build on the legacy of the 2002 Games. These Games will not only showcase Utah’s world-class venues but will also focus on engaging communities across all 29 counties in our state. As we prepare to welcome the world once again, we are committed to ensuring that the Games leave a lasting impact for generations to come. Let the countdown begin!

Bill topics have once again been vast and varied this week including: AI, construction, dentistry, E-Verify, toy guns, Medicaid, career technical education, federalism, housing attainability, child porn, infrastructure, federal overreach, car dealerships, mental health, sanctioned crime and many, many more.

Below is my voting record for the 5th week of the Legislative Session.

Additionally, there have been several bills that I feel would be helpful to explain to reduce confusion, put details into context, and to provide my voting rationale:

• HB120 Time Change Amendments

• HB432 Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Modifications

• HB69 Government Records and Information Amendments

• SB37 Minimum Basic Tax Rate Amendments

For the past several years, I’ve consistently been told by people living in our House District 63 that Utah needs to stop changing our clocks each spring and fall. With 75-80% of all Utahns feeling the same way, a bill (HB120 Time Change Amendments) was brought forward this legislative session to address the issue. On February 5, 2025, the full House of Representatives debated and voted on the issue and the bill passed the House and will move to the Senate for further consideration. 

 

Due to the overwhelming input of support of this bill from our House District 63, I voted in favor of the bill recognizing there are pros and cons to it and those in support of the bill wouldn’t experience its full implications until later this summer. Here’s some background and details about the bill:

 

Background:

• Daylight Saving Time was originally started to save energy and make better use of daylight and has been used in the U.S. for more than 100 years.

• By an act of the U.S. Congress, clocks in most areas of the United States are adjusted ahead one hour in the summer months (known as Daylight Saving Time) and turned back one hour in the winter months (known as standard time).

• Not all places in the U.S. observe Daylight Saving Time. Hawaii and most of Arizona observe standard time only.

• For a detailed history and explanation of Daylight Savings Time, read more here:

  • https://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/daylight_time

  • https://www.timeanddate.com/time/us/daylight-saving-usa.html

• The Utah Legislature passed a law in 2020 that would put Utah on year-round Mountain Daylight time if the U.S. Congress approved it and if at least four Western states agreed to do the same thing.

• Some people say they want Standard Time year-round and some people say they want Mountain Daylight Time year-round. There are arguments for and against both options.

• The consistent input is that people want to stop changing their clocks twice a year.

If the bill comes law, here is what will take place:

• Utah will stay on standard time year-round until federal law changes and allows Utah to observe daylight time.

• Because Utah will be on standard time year-round, we will gain an hour of light in the morning but lose an hour of evening daylight in the summer.

• The Trump Administration has signaled that this issue will be addressed and resolved by the U.S. Congress, which I personally hope will happen very soon as I personally would prefer being on Daylight Savings Time throughout the year.

• I recommend you reach out to our U.S. Senators (Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis) and our U.S. Representatives (Congressman Burgess Owens and Congressman Mike Kennedy) who serve our House District 63 and share your recommendations so they can represent your voice as this is debated and ultimately decided upon in the U.S. Congress.

February 19, 2025, update:

• The Utah Senate voted to hold this bill so this bill is now “killed” this legislative session and will not move forward for further consideration, which means Utah will remain with its current way of keeping time.

The bill HB432 Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Modifications was presented to the Business and Labor Committee on February 18, 2025. After receiving significant input in opposition to this bill from a multitude of people living within our House District, meeting and gathering info and data from medical and healthcare professionals, having personally visited high schools within our communities to talk with students, teachers, and counselors about vaping, and analyzing the 2024 legislative bill SB61 (which I supported and which became law in 2024), I voted in opposition to HB432 for the following reasons:

 

Current problem:

• Flavored vapes have fueled an epidemic of youth nicotine addiction. Currently, approximately 18,000 Utah students (grades 6-12) are vaping. 

• Significant risks include:

  • Brain development issues: nicotine alters brain function, impacting memory, learning, and impulse control.

  • Addiction: flavors mask the harshness of nicotine, making it easier for youth to get hooked.

  • Reduced motivation: vaping contributes to lower academic performance and decreased ambition.

2024 Solution:

• To address the problems of flavored vapes, in the 2024 Legislative Session, SB61 was signed into law banning flavors and requiring FDA approval for e-cigarette products.

• SB61 did the following:

  • Only FDA-approved products are allowed ensuring safety and quality control.

  • Banned flavored vapes (except tobacco and menthol) to reduce youth appeal.

  • Prevented excessive nicotine exposure with a 4% nicotine cap

  • Added oversight and enforcement through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Problems with HB432:

• This bill would undo the protections passed into law by SB61.

• The bill would legalize unlawful products as all flavored vapes currently on Utah’s shelves are illegal under U.S. law.

• The bill increases nicotine content by 25% (raises nicotine limit from 4% to 5%) making addiction even more likely.

• The bill eliminates safety oversight with no FDA approval, no Utah Department of Health and Human Services review, and no product registration.

Additionally:

1. It is well-established that e-cigarettes are not safe for kids. Their use poses a significant, and unavoidable, health risk to young people in the United States. Risks include increasing the possibility of: 

   1. Addiction.

   2. Harm to brain development.

   3. Harm to respiratory health.

   4. Use of other harmful tobacco products.

2. Flavors lure young people into using e-cigarettes.

   1. Of youth who have tried tobacco, 75% first tried it using vape products.

   2. 11.2% of 6-12th graders have vaped nicotine and 17.5% of 12th graders.

   3. Greater than 90% of all kids start with flavored tobacco products.

   4. Flavor makes vape juice more toxic and damaging to the lungs. The chemicals used to flavor e-cigarettes contain harmful toxins.

3. Teens are more likely to develop a lifetime addiction with flavored vape use. 

   1. This has been found when teens start vaping with sweet flavors like cotton candy or mango.

4. The American Lung Association strongly supports clearing all flavored products from the market, including menthol.

5. Permitting the sale of all varieties of flavored e-cigarettes in specialty tobacco shops creates the illusion of protection but in reality, creates an underground channel of distribution to anyone under 21 years old. The majority of youth (51.6%) borrow vape products from someone else, give someone money to buy them, or receive them from a person over 18 years old.

6. Vaping is more popular with Utah teens than adults.

   1. 9.7% of Utah high school students reported they had vaped compared to 6.8% of adults.

7. There is public support of bans.

   1. 57% of Americans support a policy prohibiting the sale of all tobacco products.

8. Cost burden is high.

   1. $630 million annual health care costs in Utah are directly caused by tobacco products.

The bill HB69 Government Records and Information Amendments has resulted in a lot of information being circulated in the media and social media, some of which is confusing and contradicting. This bill received many adjustments as it went through the legislative process resulting in the 4th substitute being adopted and passed by the House of Representatives and Senate. Enclosed below are background details and my voting rationale in support of this bill.

This bill addresses two items: 1) public officials handling of voter and ballot information, and 2) attorney’s fees involving government records requests:

• Due to the mishandling of voter and ballot information by a public official this past election cycle, this bill creates a code of conduct for public officials who have access to voting records including not being able to access an individual’s voting ballot and releasing it to the media to be used for political purposes. The bill also clarifies and defines what is in a voter history record. There will now be criminal penalties that apply to the mishandling of voter and ballot information by a public official.

• This bill also allows attorney’s fees to be awarded to either party in a court case involving government records if the judge finds that the losing party acted in bad faith.

• This is important because GRAMA contains a balancing test provision that allows the State Records Committee or a judge to release records that are properly classified as protected, if they determine that there is a significant public interest in releasing the records.

• If the government entity is acting in good faith regarding records that are properly classified as protected, it shouldn’t be required to pay attorney’s fees, even if a judge determines that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interests favoring protection.

• This is about ensuring fairness and safeguarding taxpayer dollars when the government entity is acting reasonably and in good faith. Just in the last 2 years, government entities have been ordered to pay $1.2M in attorney’s fees (using taxpayer dollars for payment).

• If a government entity acts in bad faith to obstruct the disclosure of records, it will still have to pay attorney’s fees.

• This bill maintains that attorney fees may be awarded but adopts a “bad faith” standard that would apply to both plaintiffs and defendants. This bill promotes fairness and accountability for all parties, safeguards taxpayer dollars, and brings statute in line with standard legal practices.

I’ve found that there is some misinformation and misinterpretation of details that are being shared on social media and in news stories about this bill. Any policy related to school funding is important to our community, and I hope the following details will clarify what this proposed bill accomplishes.

 

What SB37 does: 

• This is an accounting bill, not a funding bill. SB 37 makes the process for equalizing education funding between districts more efficient. It does not change the amount of money any school will receive. That is why fiscal analysts have determined the bill has no fiscal impact for state government or local schools. 
• Protects Local School District Tax Dollars – All tax revenue initiated by local school districts stays within the district. SB37 applies only to the “Basic Levy”—a statewide property tax required by state law, with the rate and funding allocations set by the Legislature to equalize funding between local school districts. 
• Equal Treatment for All Districts – Some school districts generate significantly more tax revenue than others. Currently, the state uses a process called “recapture” to redistribute funds from wealthier districts, such as Park City, to districts with lower tax revenue, like Piute and Sevier, which cannot generate as much money from taxes paid in that district. SB37 does not change this distribution. SB37 simply makes this process more efficient by sending all state-mandated levy revenue to the state treasurer to be divided equally among schools based on enrollment. 

What SB37 does NOT do: 

• Impact the tax revenue generated at the local school district level. 
• Take away local control. 
• Change how districts can spend their money. 
• Reduce per-student funding (WPU). 

Schools will continue receiving the same amount of money on the same schedule with complete flexibility to use it as needed. Through SB37, a more seamless and straightforward accounting process is created to fund public education, which is why I voted in support of this bill.

Supporting education is one of my top priorities, and I remain dedicated to making sure that students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed.

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