Hello friends and neighbors,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the Summer sunshine. Our community celebrations and neighborhood gatherings throughout the Summer are highlights I look forward to each year. Thank you to all the volunteers and community leaders that work together to make our House District such a wonderful place to live, raise families, and create great memories.

Although the Utah Legislature is not in Session, the legislative process is in full swing, and I want to keep you apprised of what is happening. It is an honor to serve and work with you and to represent you in the Utah State Legislature.

Enclosed is my Summer update about our House District 63 and what is taking place in the Legislature in preparation for the 2025 Legislative Session.

Have a wonderful day.

Stephen

I believe it is important to be accountable to you, so after each year’s Legislative Session, I hold a Town Hall meeting in Mapleton, in Spanish Fork, and in Springville so I can report back to you, share how and why I voted the way I did, how I represented our great neighborhoods at the Capitol, and how new laws and budgets will impact your life.

Thank you to everyone who attended. I appreciate your involvement, civility, respect, questions, and recommendations. This Legislative process is truly a team sport and I’m grateful for the privilege and honor to represent and serve you

To help address the serious issues we are experiencing with housing affordability, I spent several thousand hours last year working with individuals, organizations, cities, counties, builders, and the legislature in crafting new housing bills to help our children and grandchildren have the opportunity for homeownership. Each of the six bills focused on various aspects of housing and I’m pleased to announce that each bill passed the House of Representatives, the Senate, and was signed by the Governor.

The Governor invited me to the bill signings where people from throughout the state gathered together to celebrate these significant milestone accomplishments. These bills represent the most innovative, creative, aggressive housing bills among all 50 states this year. There is still much that needs to be done going forward and I’m grateful for how the state is coming together to work together to address this issue.

I’ve seen firsthand that a bill does not become a law due to the work of just one person. It truly takes a team working together. I mention this because I’ve received some unexpected awards and recognitions for my legislative work. While my name is attached to the awards, I want to thank everyone who has been involved in these important efforts.

Springville-Mapleton Chamber of Commerce: President’s Chair Award

Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce: Housing Champion During the 2024 Legislative Session

Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce: Business Champion

When I was 11 years old, I attended a Boy Scout Merit Badge Pow Wow at my Junior High to get help with the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. The teacher was amazing, and I was captivated as he explained how the Founding Fathers established the nation by using checks and balances and division of powers between the federal government and state government so that our freedom and liberty could be protected. I was amazed then and am still amazed today. Forty years later I saw these principles of checks and balances in the roles of federal and state government in practice in the June Legislative Special Session.

During the Special Session on June 19, the Legislature took action to protect Utah’s freedoms and push back against federal regulations that conflict with state law. We did this in three areas: 1) state sovereignty, 2) securing energy independence, and 3) protecting women’s sports and women’s spaces.

The Legislature’s work to reduce federal overreach in Utah was complimented by two groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court rulings that will also reign in federal overreach.

1. The Chevron Doctrine previously allowed federal agencies to interpret laws broadly, often resulting in policies that were not directly authorized by Congress. With the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Chevron Doctrine, Utah now has a powerful tool to challenge and remove these unchecked policies imposed by unelected federal bureaucrats. No other legislative branch in the nation has fought federal overreach as relentlessly as Utah. The Utah Legislature has asked every state agency to identify federal regulations that exceed Congressional intent. The Legislature will then take action to remove the unlawful federal regulations impacting the state.
2. The EPA’s Ozone Transfer Rule was also halted by the U.S. Supreme Court. This decision is significant as it will help keep Utah’s energy affordable and will keep the federal government out of Utah’s energy decisions. The future of Utah’s energy independence should be left to those who understand our needs best: Utahns. My colleagues and I remain committed to Utah’s all-of-the-above energy approach so we can have energy that is reliable, affordable and dispatchable.

Legislative Interim Committee meetings were held May 13-15 and June 18-19. These meetings, now held almost every month at the Capitol between now and December, give legislators the opportunity to review and study policy items in preparation for the 2025 Legislative Session. The meetings are open to the public, allowing everyone in Utah an opportunity to provide input either virtually or in person.

It’s been described that the Committees are the workhorse of the Legislature. We are diving into issues, laws, and budgets that you have told us are important to you.

Check out the meeting schedule here: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2024/pdf/00001974.pdf

The committee assignments here: https://house.utleg.gov/2024-interim-committees/

And the items and topics that will be studied here: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2024/pdf/00001992.pdf

The Unified Economic Opportunity Commission (UEOC) held its 2024 kickoff meeting at the Capitol on May 20 in preparation for next year’s Legislative Session and to identify challenges, solutions, and long-term planning for the next 10 years. Housing, energy, water, agriculture, education, economy, transportation, and many other important aspects of our daily life will be worked on so we can keep Utah a wonderful place to live, work, learn, and play. A second UEOC meeting was held on July 2 where the 2034 Winter Olympics, Life Sciences, and FinTech statewide industries were discussed.

One of the reasons that Utah is recognized as the best managed state in the nation is due in part to how various organizations and government agencies collaborate and work with each other to solve problems and strategically plan for the future. The purpose of the UEOC is to bring leaders in the executive branch, legislative branch, and private sector together. It’s an honor to serve as part of this team.

This year, the Utah House of Representatives made good on our promise to trim excess in state government. We cut 50 boards and commissions and raised the barrier for the creation of more government bodies. That’s 110 fewer gubernatorial appointees and a savings for all Utahns. In his 1964 speech, Ronald Reagan quipped, “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments' programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.”

Not in Utah.

Between H.B. 532 & H.B. 534, which we passed this Legislative Session, we re-examined over 400 boards and commissions that oversee and regulate everyday life – combining and eliminating unneeded bureaucracy. This is ongoing work, and we promise to stay diligent. Good governance requires accountability and the efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds. For more, you can watch our video on trimming boards and commissions here.

In June I was invited to represent Utah to the government and business leaders of Taiwan. At no cost to Utah taxpayers, I had the privilege of sharing the Utah story, showcasing our state’s talent and innovations, building and strengthening relationships for business to increase trade, identifying areas of economic growth and opportunity, and building upon our common shared values of freedom, democracy, and the family. Learning about and seeing firsthand the 400-year history of Taiwan deepened my understanding and resolve to defend freedom domestically and internationally, defend our rights guaranteed in the Constitution, and to stand strong with our allies. Did you know:

• In 2020, Taiwan was Utah’s fifth-largest trading partner and sixth-largest export destination, with Utah exporting more than $650 million in goods to Taiwan, including electronics, food, chemicals, and machinery.
• In addition to economic ties, Utah and Taiwan share cultural and educational connections with many Taiwanese students attending universities in Utah and cultural exchange programs between the two regions.
• During the 2024 Utah General Legislative Session we unanimously passed a resolution, which the governor then signed, supporting Utah’s economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan, including language that encourages global organizations to admit Taiwan into their membership.
• About 13,000 K-12 students are learning Mandarin across Utah, more than any other state in the country.

I had the privilege of seeing firsthand the benefits of Meals on Wheels while helping deliver meals to many wonderful residents in Mapleton. Each day 500 nutritious, warm meals are delivered to elderly folks in Utah County who live at home and need assistance. They not only get a nutritious meal, but also receive a personal visit and check-in to make sure they are ok. 65% of the meals are delivered by volunteers, and Joy Davis Smith, who lives in our community, is the best of the best. The Legislature provided $2.4 million this year to continue this statewide program of which $389,000 came to Utah County. There is a shortfall of $150,000 needed to help the elderly in Utah County who live at home and are requesting assistance with a daily meal. Learn more, volunteer or contribute at https://mountainland.org/meals/

The nation has once again learned about Utah’s uniqueness in over 70 metrics and thousands of data points as U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah as the No. 1 overall state in the nation for the second consecutive year. The categories analyzed include economy, education, infrastructure, economic opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, healthcare quality, along with many other data points. Check out the details here.

The true underlying reason why Utah is the #1 overall state in the nation is….you. Your service, involvement, work ethic, integrity, volunteerism, and principle based approaches to solving problems makes all the difference.

With all the national accolades Utah is receiving, I believe one of the greatest challenges before us is complacency. While it is nice to be recognized, we have a lot of work to do to keep our communities and state the place that we love and want to raise our families. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Representative in the Legislature as ‘We the People’ work together for the betterment of our future.

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