This past quarterly townhall at Bingham Creek Library was a fantastic opportunity to connect with so many of you and discuss the issues that matter most to our community. Thank you to Senator Lincoln Fillmore and Representative Susan Pulsipher for their great service and thoughtful answers.
We covered a wide range of topics, from phones in schools to transportation needs for our district, and how we can continue to enhance the quality of life for our community. I appreciated hearing your concerns, suggestions, and ideas — your input is vital in helping us better represent you and tackle the challenges we face.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and share your perspectives. These open discussions strengthen our community and guide us in making informed decisions. If you couldn’t make it, please feel free to reach out to me directly — I’m always happy to hear from you.
Looking forward to continuing these important conversations!
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At last month’s interim meetings, I had the opportunity to meet with my colleagues and discuss legislation for the upcoming 2025 General Session. During my committees, we heard from policy experts, stakeholders, and members of the public about issues that matter to them. If you want to know more about what was discussed, you can watch full recordings at le.utah.gov or click here to read the highlights.
Next month’s meetings will take place on Oct. 15-16 at the Utah State Capitol. Interim is a great way for you to get involved in the Legislative process. I hope to see you there, or you can follow along online at le.utah.gov.
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Last month, I had the privilege of presenting and participating in a panel at the community council meeting held at Mountain Creek Middle School to discuss the important topic of cell phones in schools. We heard from administrators, teachers, parents, health care professionals, and others, but the highlight of the evening was hearing from the intelligent, passionate, and articulate students from Herriman High School. Their thoughtful concerns about the proposed Jordan School District policies were greatly insightful.
We can all recognize the negative impact cell phones are having in classrooms. As we move forward, the challenge lies in the details as we work to find the best solutions to protect learning environments while addressing legitimate concerns. I'll continue monitoring this issue as we consider potential legislation in the upcoming session.
Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in this important conversation. Your input is invaluable as we seek to improve our schools for both students and teachers.
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As a state, we are pushing back against federal overreach and taking control of Utah’s future. The federal government controls nearly 70% of Utah lands. This includes 18.5 million acres of “unappropriated” lands, or lands being held without any designated purpose, controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In contrast, the federal government controls less than 1% of the land in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Under the control of the federal government, Utah public lands have become less and less public with every public lands decision coming from Washington, D.C. And upcoming plans of the BLM promise more road closures and further restrictions on access. These closures and restrictions significantly affect Utah’s economy and our ability to maintain Utah lands for wildlife management, hunting, wildfire protection, grazing, tourism, recreation, and many other activities.
Let’s keep Utah lands in the hands of those who know how to manage it best: Utahns. Learn more at standforourland.utah.gov.
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Defender of Liberty and Business Champion
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I was honored to have received the 2024 Defender of Liberty Award from the Libertas Institute, earning the highest rating of all members of the House of Representatives in defending Liberty. While I don’t focus on scorecards or awards, this recognition underscores the value I place on safeguarding our individual liberties and defending the principles of life, liberty, and property. As your Representative, I will continue to prioritize and protect the freedoms that make Utah and our nation strong. Thank you to Libertas Institute for this meaningful acknowledgment.
I was also honored to receive the Business Champion Award from the Utah Business Coalition. It’s a privilege to serve and partner with the Utah business community, and I remain committed to creating policies that foster growth, innovation, and opportunity for all. Thank you to the Utah Business Coalition for this recognition, and a special thank you to our incredible business leaders who work tirelessly to make Utah a great place to live and work.
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Good News for the Great Salt Lake
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The Great Salt Lake is one of our state’s most critical resources. Over the last few years, the Legislature has taken significant steps to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy this natural wonder. Private citizens and companies alike have also stepped up to help protect the lake. Compass Minerals has agreed to donate a water right of 200,000 acre-feet, enough to fill 99,000 Olympic pools annually. The Jordan River Valley Conservancy has also released an additional 10,000 acre feet over the last month.
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I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Greg Peterson, the new president of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). We had a great conversation about SLCC's incredible successes, as well as the challenges it faces. President Peterson shared his inspiring vision to elevate SLCC from a good community college to a truly great one.
With nearly 50,000 students across 8 campuses in our county, as well as a large number of high school students taking concurrent enrollment courses, SLCC plays a vital role in shaping the future of our community. I'm excited to see the positive impact President Peterson's leadership will bring to SLCC and our region!
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Your voice matters! Make yours heard by exercising your right to vote. Elections will take place Tuesday, November 5th and ballots will be mailed out starting Tuesday, October 15th. Click here to register to vote, learn more about the issues, and find polling places and ballot drop boxes near you.
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Upcoming Events and Important Dates
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I would love to hear from you!
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