CHECKING IN AT THE LEGISLATURE:
2026 Legislative Session Week Five

Week 5 Update Video

Helpful Links 

• Utah Voter Registration

• Learn about the House Majority Issues

• H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments

• H.B. 416 Firefighter Cancer Amendments

• Listen to or Participate in Live Meetings

Upcoming Events

Saturday Morning Chats: 8:30-9:30 AM on Facebook South Davis Community Page

1. Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee
2. Protecting Utah’s Water for Generations
3. Unanimously Passed HB374S1
4. Dust Observation Update
5. Check for Your Unclaimed Money
6. Friends on the Hill
7. Bills Passed by the House Week

Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee

As Chairs of the Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee, we presented the committee recommendations of cost savings, investments, and funding the agencies we oversee to the Executive Appropriations Committee.

These agencies include the Courts, Department of Corrections (prison and parole), Department of Public Safety, Gaurdian ad lidem, and the Attorney General’s office.  

Thanks to my co-chairs, Representative Matt Gwynn and Senator Brady Brammer, and legislative fiscal analysts Nate Osbourne and Gary Syphus.  

Protecting Utah’s Water for Generations

 Water is absolutely essential to our way of life here in Utah. This year I’ve supported proactive measures to safeguard it for families, farmers, and future generations. We passed bills that strengthen water rights management and streamline voluntary contributions of water to benefit critical waterways like the Great Salt Lake. This ensures funds from natural resources can support long-term conservation and lake health efforts. We created a more flexible process for water rights holders to dedicate water without forfeiting existing rights and secured ongoing funding to support the lake. Protecting Utah’s water requires a strong framework to collaborate on water solutions.  

Unanimously Passed HB374S1

I am proud to share that my bill HB374S1 Speech, Language, and Hearing Occupations Licensing unanimously passed out of the House floor now its onto the Senate. This bill streamlines licensure and education pathways for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. It eliminates the state board but still provides temporary committees to address concerns. It also allows hearing specialists to provide follow up testing for children with hearing aids.

Supporting Utah’s Dust Observation Network

Utah’s Dust Observation Network has the role to monitor air quality across our state. This network provides real-time data that helps communities, researchers, and policymakers to help better understand dust events and their impact on public health. I’m happy to see the collaboration between state agencies and local partners working toward the improvement of air quality across the state. 

Learn more about Great Salt Lake dust monitoring efforts here, read about Utah’s 19 new dust monitors and explore Wilkes Center’s new dust exposure mapping tool.

Check for Your Unclaimed Money

The Utah Office of State Treasurer reported that $178.3 million in lost funds were turned over to the state in the last fiscal year alone. I encourage you to visit mycash.utah.gov to search for any unclaimed money in your name or for others you care about. These unclaimed funds can include your forgotten bank accounts, insurance payouts, or other assets to claim them is quick and easy. 

Friends on the Hill

With Bountiful high students and Leeann Hyer fr District 20 who teaches US Government at Farmington High.

With my nephew Cole Menlove -  thrilled to have him visit the Capitol with Bountiful’s High School students!

With Vito’s owner Vito Leone who came to the House Business and Labor Committee speaking to the importance of business choosing to use cash. Trooper Mitton, Trooper Griffis, Sheriff Labrum (Uintah), Sheriff Smith (Utah), Tom, Sheriff Curtis (Sevier). Mary Gardner from Bountiful who advocates for the statewide non-profit organization called Voices for Utah Children.

Bills Passed by the House this Week

• H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation
• H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information
• H.B. 32 Signature Gathering and Verification Amendments
• H.B. 38 County Government Amendments
• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments
• H.B. 97 Medical Waste Amendments
• H.B. 99 Eyewear Sales Tax Amendments
• H.B. 105 Child Welfare Revisions
• H.B. 110 Offender Supervision Amendments
• H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments
• H.B. 118 Driver Training Schools for Commercial Driver License Amendments
• H.B. 122 Pregnant and Postpartum Inmate Amendments
• H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments
• H.B. 141 International Money Transmission Amendments
• H.B. 148 Tax Return Donation Amendments
• H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments
• H.B. 165 Critical Infrastructure Amendments
• H.B. 171 Physician Assistant Amendments
• H.B. 172 Food Safety Amendments
• H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status
• H.B. 179 Milk Amendments
• H.B. 195 Precious Metals Amendments
• H.B. 187 Water Amendments
• H.B. 205 Substance Use Intervention Amendments
• H.B. 215 Landscaping Restrictions Amendments
• H.B. 217 Stolen Vehicle Amendments
• H.B. 220 Public Safety Data Amendments
• H.B. 222 Limitation of Actions Amendments
• H.B. 223 Electronic Signature Collection Amendments
• H.B. 229 Restricted Account Modifications
• H.B. 236 Truth in Taxation Amendments
• H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments
• H.B. 243 Gambling Revisions
• H.B. 248 Family Law Modifications
• H.B. 349 Statewide Water Storage
• H.B. 250 Utah Retirement Plan Exchange
• H.B. 251 Diligence Claims Water Amendments
• H.B. 265 Non-nicotine Inhalation Product Amendments
• H.B. 268 Towing Notice and Ownership Rights Modifications
• H.B. 369 Agriculture and Food Amendments
• H.B. 271 Multi-Agency Joint Strike Force Modifications
• H.B. 288 Voting Registration Amendments
• H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections
• H.B. 299 School Response to Sexual Offense
• H.B. 300 School District Taxation Amendments
• H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments
• H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments
• H.B. 311 Amendments to Election Law
• H.B. 314 Firearm Purchase Amendments
• H.B. 324 Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments
• H.B. 330 Liability Limitations Amendments
• H.B. 351 School Vision Screening Amendments
• H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment
• H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments
• H.B. 376 Land Management Funding Amendments
• H.B. 378 Fugitive Dust Mitigation Amendments
• H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments
• H.B. 404 Sex-Designated Housing Amendments
• H.B. 419 Environmental Legal Action Amendments
• S.C.R. 2 Concurrent Resolution Concerning Remembrances of the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks
• S.J.R. 2 Joint Resolution Regarding Constitutional Brackets
• S.B. 40 Business Entity Amendments
• S.B. 41 Business Entity Technical Amendments
• S.B. 46 Water Wise Landscaping Amendments
• S.B. 52 Substitute Teaching Requirements Amendments
• S.B. 84 Department of Commerce Amendments
• S.B. 117 Occupational and Professional Licensing Amendments
• S.B. 120 Towing Modifications