CHECKING IN AT THE LEGISLATURE:
APRIL 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Spring is here! Check out some of the local Easter events in and around our district by clicking this link.

The legislative session has ended, and I've included many summaries of our accomplishments— including reduced taxes and budget summaries.

I want to thank the Utah Taxpayers Association for awarding me a Friend of the Taxpayer Award with a score of 100%!

Thank you all for your support, and have a great Easter!

Warmest regards,

Melissa

QUICK LINKS

• See all passed bills this session 
• Utah ranks #1 state for starting a business
• Utah among least federally dependent states in the nation
• Check out the Easter egg hunts and other activities in our area!

• Budget Quick Facts– The pocket card on Utah finances
• Budget in Bullets– A short, written summary of the top hits in budgeting this year
• DataViz– Drill down to your heart's content
• COBI– See every dollar

• On the Road Again: Evaluation Seeks to Optimize Travel Time for Inspectors
• Deseret News– New Poll: How do Utahns feel about the Legislature’s tax cuts this year?
• Deseret News– Gov. Cox thinks there’s a smarter way to be tough on crime as prison sentences set to go up in Utah
• Deseret News– How Utah lawmakers applied federalism in legislation passed this session
• Deseret News– How the Utah Legislature impacted families this year
• Criminal Justice legislation represents half of bills introduced this year
• Water Reuse Report: Colorado River Basin

IN THIS ISSUE

As a body, the Legislature took significant steps this year to improve the lives of Utahns throughout the state. We gave teachers a $1,446 pay raise, expanded Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, and cut taxes to provide relief for families and businesses. We invested in transportation, energy production, and water infrastructure while enacting policies to make homeownership more attainable. 

To keep Utah safe, we increased criminal penalties and cracked down on illegal immigrants who commit crimes. We also strengthened our election security while preserving vote-by-mail and put safeguards in place to keep government agencies accountable. 

Over 45% of the budget is dedicated to public education, reaffirming our commitment to students, teachers, and our future workforce. 

These achievements reflect our commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Utah. 

This year, Utah has once again ranked as one of the least federally dependent states in the country.

Our state constitution requires a balanced budget, and Utah's commitment to fiscal responsibility has kept us on a path of self-reliance and resilience. 

Thanks to our strong economy and our dedication to responsible spending, we have ranked as the fifth least dependent state. 

Utah continues to be a leader in economic opportunity and has been ranked the number one state for starting a business.

We're committed to fostering a pro-business environment through our competitive tax policies, low startup costs, and reduced regulations. Thanks to these efforts, Utah can continue to empower innovation, fuel job creation, and support our entrepreneurs.