October 2025 Legislative Newsletter

Dear Friends,

 

I hope October has treated you well as we’ve enjoyed the beautiful fall colors, neighborhood gatherings, and the blessing of rain.

 

My legislative updates contained in this month’s newsletter are intended to keep you abreast of successes and issues that are being worked on by the Legislature.

 

As I met with the Judges along the Wasatch Front this month, I was reminded of a great resident of Mapleton, James Brady, who served as a Judge and the Mayor of Mapleton when my family and I moved into town 18 years ago. Although he is no longer with us on earth, James Brady’s wisdom, which was shared in my meeting with all the Judges, rings true and clear today:

 

Judge M. James Brady Principles to Live By:

  1. Stand firm in your principles, but be gentle in your words. Justice with compassion makes you not just fair but good.
  2. Do what’s right, not what’s easy. Character is forged in quiet choices no one sees.
  3. Serve your community like it’s your family. Public service isn’t just a duty, it is love in action.

I feel a deep sense of love and appreciation for you, our local communities and beautiful state, which is wonderful because of you. Thank you for the privilege to serve and represent you in the Legislature.

You’re Invited to a Special Fall Town Hall

I’ve been asked by many people in our House District about the economy. This is one of the most important issues the Legislature works on each year. I’ve invited Robert Spendlove, Chief Economist for Zions Bank and a former Utah Representative, to join me and we’ll provide updates on the status of the impact of inflation, interest rates, and federal decisions on Utah’s economy.

 

Please join me and special guest Robert Spendlove at this Town Hall for residents of House District 63 in Mapleton, Spanish Fork and Springville on Tuesday, November 11, 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Mapleton City Hall (125 West 400 North, Mapleton).

Invitation to Help Utahns in Need Due to Federal Government Shutdown

With the federal shutdown halting SNAP benefits for 86,000 Utah households, Utahns need immediate help. To ensure our most vulnerable Utahns have food, the state of Utah will provide resources to support the Utah Food Bank and its partners. This effort will not be possible without support from nonprofits, faith-based groups, community partners, businesses, and families stepping up to fill in the gap. Utahns have shown time and time again that when we come together, we can accomplish anything. As the most charitable state in the nation, and during a time when Senate Democrats in Congress are putting politics over people, we all should step up and help our neighbors. 

 

Donate money to the Utah Food Bank here. 

 

Donate food by visiting one of the Utah Food Bank distribution centers or drop off locations:

 

Utah Food Bank Timpanogos Distribution Center

1900 W 900 S

Springville, UT 84663

 

Utah Food Bank Main

3150 S 900 W

Salt Lake City, UT 84119

 

Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center

4416 River Rd

St. George, UT 84790

 

Utah Food Bank Southeastern Distribution Center

295 E 200 N

Blanding, UT 84511

Riverton Chevrolet

11100 South Jordan Gateway

South Jordan, UT 84095

 

Or drop off at any Harmons location statewide or your local food pantry. Click here to find one nearest you. 

 

Volunteer time by scheduling with the Utah Food Bank. 

 

Your help will ensure Utah families receive the help they need. If you are in need of food during this time, click here to find a food pantry near you.

October’s Interim Legislative Meetings:

During October 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 2026 Legislative General Session. Click here to read the highlights. November’s interim meetings at the Capitol will take place on November 18, 19, 20. You may attend in person or online. Details can be found at le.utah.gov.

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

  • Service Programs for At-Risk Youth in Utah: Nearly 90,000 Utah children live in poverty, more than 70,000 Utah children are experiencing intergenerational poverty, and over 50,000 Utah children live in high-poverty neighborhoods. We received a presentation from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on a study of community-based approaches to educational achievement and workforce development, which compared different state and federal programs that focus on improving economic mobility for youth and reducing intergenerational poverty.
  • Tourism in Utah: In 2024, visitors to Utah spent $13.5 billion dollars in the state, resulting in $2.5 billion state and local tax revenue, which reduces all of our taxes. Tourists to Utah create 164,600 tourism-related jobs in Utah. 78% of Utahns recognize the importance of tourism to Utah’s economy. We received a presentation from the Office of Tourism and Film about Utah’s economy and rural economy and challenges facing tourism.
  • Housing Attainability and Affordability: We received a presentation recommending how to streamline government offices and policies to eliminate duplication, increase efficiency, improve coordination, and reduce regulatory costs.
  • Property Taxes: Property taxes are referred to as a local tax because our property taxes are determined by our school boards, city councils and county commissioners. We received a presentation on property tax burden throughout the state and country and a presentation on property tax trends and shift happening throughout the state. A committee bill file was opened to shift the property tax burden from residential property to other property types.
  • Kratom Product Regulation: We received a presentation from the Department of Agriculture and Food on proposed changes to administrative rules regulating kratom products and discussed safety concerns involved with allowing the manufacturer and sale of products containing kratom in conjunction with other substance.

Legislative Committee Bills for 2026 Legislative Session:

  • So far this year, legislative interim committee meetings, involving people and organizations working collaboratively from throughout the state, have resulted in 88 committee bill files being opened. A listing of these bill files can be found here (at the bottom of the doc).

Remember to Vote

Elections are underway and the ballot you received in the mail needs to physically be received by the county clerk’s office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. Voting details can be found by clicking here.

 

This year’s city elections are particularly important because the local decisions our mayors and city councils make impact our lives the very most.

 

Consider the following:

 

“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter,” Dwight D. Eisenhower

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate,” Thomas Jefferson

 

“This right to vote is the basic right without which all others are meaningless. It gives people, people as individuals, control over their own destinies,” Lyndon B. Johnson

 

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting,” Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free,” Ronald Reagan

Bipartisan Discussion with UVU Students

I had a great time with UVU Tocqueville Fellows and Representative Grant Miller from Salt Lake in a bipartisan discussion on making a meaningful impact in our community, state, and nation. I enjoyed listening to their thoughtful ideas for the upcoming legislative session. These students’ knowledge, work, and values will help our constitutional republic thrive.

Governor’s Trade Mission to New Zealand and Australia

Representing Utah abroad was an absolute honor as I joined Governor Cox, business, education, and government leaders on Utah’s trade mission to New Zealand and Australia to open new doors of opportunity. Utah’s forward-looking strategy with this trade mission will produce long-term economic benefits, especially in the areas of critical minerals, aerospace and defense, life sciences, innovation and economic development.

Personal insights:

  • The timing and topics of our meetings in Australia were planned months ago. Serendipitously, we arrived in Australia within 24 hours after President Trump signed an unexpected historic agreement between the U.S. and Australia for rare earths and critical minerals. Additionally, an international conference on critical minerals was being held in Sydney with 120 countries being represented. With the U.S. government being shut down, the U.S. government was not represented. However, Utah was not only present, but we were also front and center as Governor Cox gave a keynote address at the conference. All of this has opened new opportunities for Utah businesses and positioned Utah as an international leader.
  • I saw firsthand how international relationships and mutual trust between nations and Utah drive economic prosperity back here at home.
  • Utah’s unique approach to this trade mission was welcomed and appreciated by everyone we met with because we used a trifecta strategy where Utah’s businesses, universities and state government showed up together demonstrating how we unitedly work together. We were told by our guests that other U.S. states do not take this approach.
  • Utah is experiencing economic prosperity due to its diversified economy and international trade. Utah exported $18.2 billion of goods in 2024, contributing nearly $8.0 billion to the state’s gross domestic project, $15.9 billion to the state’s gross output (industry sales) and 70,171 jobs.
  • The press accompanied the trade mission. Read the news stories here:
 

I would love to hear from you!

District 63

Representative Stephen L. Whyte

swhyte@le.utah.gov

385-271-8435

 

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