My name is Melissa Garff Ballard. As your State Representative, I’m working hard to represent you, your family and our community in House District 20. 

Early Life

Melissa Garff Ballard was born and raised in Davis County. She attended the University of Utah, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Accompanying. She was the Founding Chair of the University of Utah School of Music Advisory Board and Camarata Awards. She performed in NYC Carnegie Hall 2023, and recorded an album with Centaur Records receiving critics’ choice awards in 2020.

Serving Her Community

Melissa was the Co-Founder of the Salt Lake CAP Head Start Advisory Board supporting hundreds of at-risk children whose families live below the poverty level. She was the recipient of the Heart and Hand Award in 2007. She also received awards such as the Salt Lake Chamber Business Champion and Corrections Champion.

Nationally, her service includes President of the Women’s Legislative Network for NCSL (the National Conference of State Legislators), Founding Board Member of the United States Hydrogen Alliance, Leadership Alliance for a More Perfect Union Founder’s Council, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and Green Hydrogen Coalition.

In Utah, she served on the following Boards: Envision Utah, the Governor’s Utah Education Commission, The Natural History Museum of Utah, Founding Chair of the SLCap Advisory Board, and Founding Chair of the University of Utah School of Music Advisory Board.

Legislative Service

In 2018, Melissa was elected to serve as the Representative for House District 20 in the Utah House of Representatives. Her family has long served Utah in the Legislature, and is the 5th member of her family who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 1896.

During her time in the Utah House, Melissa has served as Chair of Higher Education Appropriations, Founding Chair of the Higher Education and Corrections Council, Chair of Education and Mental Health Council, and Chair of the Utah Marriage Commission. She was also a Founding Leader of the Republican Women Lead PAC.

She has served on legislation standing committees which include Public Education, Transportation, Criminal and Law Enforcement, Business and Labor, Economic Development, and Social Services Appropriations.

Melissa has legislative experience in a variety of areas, giving her a broad understanding of multiple issues across our state and the nation. These include, but are not limited to, education funding transparency, improving government fiscal transparency and efficiency, parental leave, planning for growth, energy production, early education, aligning workforce development with private and public higher education partners, aligning private with public mental and behavioral health organizations, planning for future transportation, simplifying government regulations, and support of the arts and museums. Her work with the Department of Corrections has led to innovative prison reform, including increasing access to education, inmate debt, and preparation for re-entering into society upon release.

Family

Melissa is married to Craig Bowen Ballard. They have six children, ages 20-30, four grandsons and one granddaughter. Together, they presided over the Oregon Portland Mission 2014-2017 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where they served with more than 650 young adult volunteer missionaries.