I love this time of year! It’s the season of beautiful weather and new beginnings. I’m enjoying all of the end of year programs and events at our local schools as the school year winds down. A highlight was the Hope of America program put on by the America Freedom Festival. Several schools in our area participated. It was inspiring to hear these young voices proudly sing the words of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
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Your Voice Matters: Join Us for Interim Meetings
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Our first interim committee meetings of the year kick off on May 19th and 20th. During the interim, we meet in committees one to two days a month to dive into the issues impacting our community. This interim I will be serving as a member of the Revenue & Taxation, Political Subdivisions, and Public Education Appropriations committee.
All of the topics that have been approved for interim study can be found here. As always, all meetings are open to the public, both in person or online at le.utah.gov, where you can view agendas, watch live streams, and give public comment. I hope to see you there!
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I had the opportunity to see the Ward 250 nuclear reactor just before it was fueled and permanently sealed. As America re-enters a new era of nuclear energy, Utah is leading the way. I got a firsthand look at the impressive innovation happening at Valor Atomics, and the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Emery County this month. I’m grateful for the chance to learn more about this important work and the impact it will have on our state.
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Utah - Best Economic Outlook
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Good News for Utah Public Lands
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Last month, the U.S. Forest Service announced that Salt Lake City will now be home to the agency’s national headquarters. This move shifts leadership closer to the 193 million acres of National Forest System lands, with over 8 million in Utah. Not only will this bring high-quality federal jobs to the region, the move is also ensuring that policy decisions made about these federal lands are made by those with boots on the ground experience.
Utah is ready to help support the important work ahead and demonstrate what is possible when agencies are grounded in the regions they serve.
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Improved Air Quality Across the Beehive State
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Over the past two decades, Utah’s air has steadily become cleaner—a result of thoughtful, commonsense policies and a focus on practical solutions. By investing in cleaner technologies, improving efficiency, and modernizing infrastructure, we’ve made meaningful progress in reducing emissions and protecting the quality of the air we breathe.
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As national inflation continues to put pressure on your household budget, my colleagues and I are taking aggressive steps to lower the cost of living for all Utahns. Over the last six years, we have steadily reduced the state income tax by 11%—moving the rate from 4.95% down to 4.45%—a change that keeps hundreds of dollars in the pockets of Utah families every year. I sponsored the bill to expand the Child Tax Credit allowing more families with young children to qualify for the $1,000 per child credit. Furthermore, we’ve eliminated the Social Security tax for those earning up to $90,000 and slashed the state gas tax by 15% to provide relief at the pump beginning July 1.
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Congratulations Graduates
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It’s an exciting time of year as our universities all held commencement ceremonies the past couple of weeks. Congratulations to all the graduates!
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I would love to hear from you!
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