I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer. Although the Legislature is not in session, I feel it is important to keep you informed of important happenings in the state and in our House District. Thank you for the privilege to serve and represent you.

Enclosed are many important issues and updates we’re working on at the Capitol.

Did you know that for the 18th year in a row, Utah has been ranked #1 in the nation for economic outlook by the Rich States, Poor States Economic Competitiveness Index. It’s the result of decades of thoughtful policy, long-term planning, and a shared commitment to building a better future for the next generation.

I hope you all have a fun, safe, and enjoyable Labor Day holiday weekend! I am grateful to live in a state that is known for its industrious spirit. The hardworking people in our local communities are a big part of what makes our state the best place to live, work, learn, and play.

Everyone in our House District 63 is invited to attend my exclusive Family Night at the Capitol on September 17 for a pizza dinner and behind-the-scenes private tour to celebrate Constitution Day—238 years ago the Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. Space is limited to 60 people, so an RSVP is required by Sept. 8. If you and your family are interested, please reserve your tickets quickly before space is filled. I’m excited to be with you.

RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-night-at-the-utah-state-capitol-for-house-district-63-tickets-1641873691409?aff=oddtdtcreator

This Summer I attended two national legislative conferences to study and learn about issues facing our state and nation to help make informed policy and budget decisions.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is America’s largest nonpartisan organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Indianapolis conference discussed issues ranging from agriculture to broadband, energy to infrastructure, housing and land use to international trade, to name just a few.

The National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) is the largest gathering of legislators from every state in the nation. With thousands in attendance, the President of NCSL this year was Utah’s very own State Senator Wayne Harper—a tremendous national honor. The Boston conference discussed issues ranging from Medicaid to criminal justice, taxes to transportation, and education to environment and natural resources, to name just a few.

While my understanding was greatly expanded, my greatest takeaway is how fortunate we are to live in Utah. Throughout both conferences, Utah was mentioned again and again as a positive example and model for the nation.

I enjoyed meeting with my fellow legislators from throughout the state during this month’s interim meetings at the Capitol. These meetings are an opportunity for us to hear presentations from experts and stakeholders, as well as public comment, all of which helps us prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

Our next interim meetings are coming up on September 16-17, and I encourage you to join us. Committee meetings are always open to the public, whether you’d like to attend in person or stream them online at le.utah.gov. There, you can also check schedules, read agendas, and watch recordings of past meetings. Your input shapes the decisions we make, so I hope to see you there.

Every legislative committee meeting is a chance to strengthen our communities—supporting law enforcement, first responders, and fair business practices across Utah. Click here for a summary of the hundreds of issues discussed in this month’s interim meetings. A small sampling of topics include:

• Kratom regulations
• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace and defense
• Federal tax reform
• Housing
• Land, water and air
• Mining
• Elections
• Medicaid expansion
• Healthcare in state prisons
• Adoption tourism
• Online extremist groups
• Transportation
• And many, many more

As a result of many people and organizations working together in legislative committees so far this year, there are 62 committee bill files open for the 2026 General Session.

Utah is cracking down on fentanyl like never before – and it’s working. Thanks to HB87 and the coordinated efforts of the Fentanyl Task Force, the state has already seized 4.3 million units of fentanyl in the first half of 2025 – nearly matching all of last year’s record haul. Overdose deaths are also down compared to last year, a hopeful sign that these tough measures are saving lives. With strict new felony charges for major traffickers and law enforcement sending a clear message that fentanyl won’t be tolerated here, Utah is proving that bold action can protect communities from this deadly opioid.

Utah isn’t just participating in the AI race, we’re helping shape its future. Thanks in part to legislation passed this last session, Utah recently ranked third in the nation for AI preparedness. We are proving that innovation and consumer privacy can thrive together. The state is leading the way with practical policies that encourage tech growth while safeguarding Utahns’ data and rights. By supporting smart AI legislation in the Legislature, Utah is making sure the Beehive State remains a hub for cutting-edge technology without compromising on protecting its people.

Utah is leading the way in safeguarding our land and military assets. A state law passed in 2023 and strengthened in 2024, which prevents restricted foreign entities from purchasing land in the state, blocked a land purchase in Utah County last month. Read more here. As foreign adversaries like China seek greater influence, Utah is showing how states can take proactive steps to defend their communities and critical assets. Utah’s example underscores the vital role states play in safeguarding America’s future.

The stability of Utah’s economy was on display, again, in the July 2025 jobs report. The state’s job count increased by 40,300 jobs, a year-over-year growth rate of 2.3%, and unemployment remains low at 3.3%. Both of these numbers remain better than the national numbers.

Utah's job market is still growing and most industries are seeing some expansion; however, the job gains are starting to be focused in fewer areas. The private education and health services sector, for example, is a huge reason for the current growth. It makes up about 14% of all jobs in Utah, but it's actually responsible for almost half of all the job growth we've seen in the last year. This is one of the many benefits of a diversified economy — when one sector slows down, another heats up and the inevitable changes to one industry do not bring down the economy.

Utah's overall economy remains strong, although we are noticing an increase in the duration of individuals staying on unemployment benefits. This has increased from an average 6.9 weeks of unemployment benefits to 7.7 weeks and the total number of job openings has declined compared to this time last year (from 85,000 a year ago to 71,000).

Utah’s July private sector employment recorded a year-over-year expansion of 2.1%, or a 31,100 job increase. Seven of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains are led by education and health services (19,600 jobs), construction (4,900 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (4,800 jobs). Trade, transportation and utilities (-2,200 jobs) and other services (-800 jobs) experienced year-over-year job losses. Listen to Chief Economist Ben Crabb’s analysis of the July 2025 employmentreport here: https://soundcloud.com/utahdws/utah-employment-report-july-2025.

While we are unfortunately seeing an alarming rate of hostility and divisiveness in the public square, there is so much collaborative work that is happening in the Legislature and throughout the state that is not widely known. I thought you would like to see how the Legislature and Utah media worked together to solve a big problem. The exceptional investigative reporting by KUTV2 news identified a need for legislative action and look what took place to improve the safety on our streets.

On Jul 18, 2025, at 11:22 PM, Reporter Wendy Halloran wrote:

Dear Lawmakers, 

I hope this finds everyone well. My name is Wendy Halloran and I am the Chief Investigative Reporter for KUTV 2 News. My colleague Jim Spiewak and I believe it's important that you see our recent investigative reporting which exposed a blind spot in the system that has been closed due to your action with regard to S.B. 74 - Corrections Modifications. 

Hunter Jackson and Odin Ratliff, were both just 3-years-old when they were killed on May 2, 2022, by a parolee who was extremely high on methamphetamine and was racing his car in excess of speeds of 120 mph. Kent Cody Barlow tested positive for meth and amphetamines weeks before he killed Hunter and Odin and stopped going to drug treatment entirely for 21 days before crashing through several fences at Cedar Valley Stables in Eagle Mountain killing the children. A jury convicted Mr. Barlow of two counts of first-degree depraved indifference murder and drug use/possession in April. On June 30, he was sentenced to a mandatory 30 years, potentially life in prison for their deaths. 

This is the blind spot: A system that failed to notice Barlow's drug relapse. A system that had a blind spot. A system that had no requirement for mandatory reporting of missed or failed drug tests for offenders on parole.

We have heard from many, including the parents of these two children who tragically lost their lives. Everyone is grateful we shined a light on this and grateful for your legislative action. While this won't impact these two families, parents Bobby and Theresa Ratliff and Brooke and Jeromey Jackson - it will impact a lot of families moving forward. 

Thank you for your time. 

Best Regards, 

Wendy Halloran and Jim Spiewak 

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