Hello friends,

Our local communities are strong because of great volunteers. Here are three examples from May: 

A new community theater is starting in Mapleton and the inaugural Gala in May was astounding—such incredible talent. I can’t wait for their opening show in June—Cinderella. 

The annual Mapleton Fireman’s Breakfast delivered on pancakes, fire trucks, and family fun. Mapleton’s Fire Association supports local philanthropic efforts in our community. 

The permanent memorials in Mapleton, Springville and Spanish Fork beautifully capture the meaning of Memorial Day and our eternal gratitude for our neighbors who came before us, who gave their last true measure of devotion so that we can have freedom today.

Thank you to everyone involved in these and many other efforts to create a community of unity.

Utah’s continued prosperity is rooted in the strength of our homes, and that was proven in a new national report that ranks Utah #1 in the family structure index. This ranking reflects our state’s high marriage rates and the fact that more of our children are raised in stable, two-parent households than anywhere else in the country. Our commitment to family values has led to tangible results: Utah currently holds the lowest childhood poverty rate in the nation and the lowest reliance on public assistance. When we prioritize the family unit, we see a direct correlation with our #1 rankings in volunteerism, charitable giving, and overall economic outlook. For the fourth year in a row, Utah has been named the best state in the nation, proving that strong families are not just a social priority—they are the primary engine behind the greatest success story in the American experiment.

During May legislative interim meetings at the Capitol, my colleagues and I were able to learn more about the needs of our state so we can best prepare legislation for the upcoming 2027 Legislative General Session. Click here to read the highlights. June’s interim meetings at the Capitol will take place on June 16, 17, 18. You may attend in person or online. Details can be found at le.utah.gov.

Out of the hundreds of issues discussed in the May interim meetings, here are just a few items of particular note:

We received updates from the Division of Water Resources, the state engineer, and the Great Salt Lake commissioner regarding water and supply and demand. Click each of the embedded hyperlinks to see stats, facts, trends, and status.

We heard a presentation from the Division of Water Resources about needed infrastructure funding and received updates about the statewide water infrastructure plan. Click here to read the plan. Water conservation is helping—Utah has had a nearly 20% reduction in the state’s per capita water use between 2000 and 2018 despite an almost 50% increase in population—but we need to build more water infrastructure for storage.

We analyzed the status of Utah’s state tax revenues, economy, and labor market by hearing presentations from the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, and the Department of Workforce Services.

We received a presentation on the U.S. Mint’s decision to stop producing pennies and discussed the impacts on businesses, consumers, and state agencies. Here are some interesting stats: It costs 3.7 cents to produce 1 penny. Approximately 86% of point-of-sale transactions are cashless. Although pennies are no longer being minted for circulation, they remain legal tender. Read the presentation here.

We heard from the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) about Advanced Placement (AP) credit vs. Concurrent Enrollment Alignment. Information included current policies and practices related to AP credit and concurrent enrollment classes; the transferability of college credits across institutions within the system; and how to better align credit recognition policies across institutions of higher education.

We received a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor General regarding a Performance Audit of the Utah Medical Cannabis Program, on inspection processes, enforcement actions, and board determinations of the Medical Cannabis Program, and heard a response from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

Being in our local schools and other schools around the state during May have made me excited for the future because the children and youth are doing amazing things. They are truly the ‘Hope of America.’ 

Sage Creek Elementary in Springville has a talented team of teachers, facilitators, and coaches. I loved learning from an exemplary school counselor, Mrs. Lindsey Harris, and enjoyed the opportunity to teach 5th graders about citizenship. Maple Ridge Elementary in Mapleton had an epic school and community celebration and send off for Mrs. Sara Matis who was the first principal of this amazing school. After 11 years we hate to see her leave but are grateful friendships continue. This has truly been an education Dream Team!

As I serve as the Chair of Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I also visit schools throughout the state. Being at Davis School District’s “Voices of a Nation” was inspirational. Students shared perspectives on 250 years of America. These voices represent the next generation of leadership, innovation, and civic engagement. They spoke of the foundational principles that are in America’s story: courage, sacrifice, resilience, and hope. I truly saw excellence in education in Davis County.

The icing on the cake was watching thousands of 5th graders and their wonderful teachers from our local communities performing ‘Hope of America’ in the Marriott Center to celebrate our neighborhoods, state and nation. 

The annual Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit in Salt Lake City brought Utah business leaders and policymakers together in May to discuss supply chains, trade policies, new markets and more. Check out these impressive stats: Utah exported $22.4 billion of goods in 2025, contributing $9.2 billion to the state’s GDP, $18 billion to the state’s gross output (industry sales), and 73,369 jobs. 

One of my top priorities for our state is ensuring we have secure, reliable, and affordable baseload power that is always available when our families and businesses need it. In Utah, we embrace an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy that allows us to utilize every resource at our disposal to keep our power affordable and independent. In a major step forward for this vision, Utah has teamed up with Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico to launch the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium. Geothermal energy is a crucial piece of this puzzle because it provides a continuous, 24/7 supply of electricity that doesn't rely on the weather. We are uniquely positioned to lead this industry because high-quality heat is closer to the surface here, and experts are already calling Utah the heart of this geothermal renaissance. By streamlining permitting and cutting through bureaucratic red tape, this consortium will help expand our domestic energy portfolio and ensure Utah remains a powerhouse of innovation and grid reliability.

This month I attended the annual Operational Gigawatt Summit which brought together energy experts, business leaders and policy makers to discuss affordable, reliable, clean, dispatchable power to meet current and future energy needs. Learn more here about Operation Gigawatt.

As we gear up for America’s 250th anniversary, I find myself reflecting more than ever on the incredible legacy of freedom, ingenuity, and community that defines our nation. This milestone isn't just about looking back at our history. It’s about coming together as neighbors to shape the next chapter of our story. There are some fantastic celebrations and community events being planned right here in our area, and I’d love for you and your family to be a part of them. Check out Utah America 250 website to find upcoming events, get involved, and join in as we honor this incredible milestone together!

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