CHECKING IN AT THE LEGISLATURE:
March 2026 Newsleter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy spring! 

The 2026 legislative session is officially over, and I am proud of what our legislature was able to achieve. I’ve included links below to summaries of our accomplishments and articles regarding the impacts of new policies on the lives of Utahns. 

Looking ahead to the Interim, I am excited to continue working to solve important issues and improve the lives of Utahns. 

Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you have a happy Easter!

Warm Regards,
Melissa 

Construction Updates: Legacy Parkway Traffic Shifts and Lane Closures (March 23 through April)

To keep traffic moving during the busiest periods, both lanes of traffic are expected to remain open at the following times:
    •    Northbound Legacy Parkway: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday
    •    Southbound Legacy Parkway: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday

To see UDOT construction updates, visit udotinut.utah.gov.

HELPFUL LINKS

• 2026 Session Bills Organized By Issue
• Biggest Tax Cuts of the 2026 Session

UPCOMING ELECTION EVENTS

• June 2nd: Primary Ballot Drop
• June 23rd: Republican Primary Election Day
• November 3rd: General Election

1. 2026 General Session Highlights
2. Looking Forward to Balance the 2027 Session Budget
3. Utah Housing Coalition Funding
4. Utah’s Highway System Ranks 10th in the Nation in Overall Cost-Effectiveness and Condition

2026 General Session Highlights

This past session, the Legislature acted to intentionally improve the lives of Utahns. As a body, we increased funding for public education by an estimated 6% and expanded school choice.

We implemented legislation to ensure conserved water is funneled to the Great Salt Lake and allocated an extra 60 million dollars towards lake restoration efforts.

We enacted policies to promote affordable homeownership, improve transportation, and reduce taxes, all while maintaining a balanced budget. 

See the graphics below to learn more about how we funded education and supported families in the state. 

Looking Forward to Balance the 2027 Session Budget

Ending the 2026 session, we looked forward to setting a responsible and balanced budget for the 2027 Legislative Session. We plan to reinvest more than 3% of base resources in the following key areas: public education, higher education, social services, and criminal justice. This is in addition to the $125 million we are providing to increase prison capacity in Gunnison. Our efforts as a legislature have provided Utahns with over $600 million in tax relief over the past two years, including targeted reductions in income and gas taxes and expanded child care tax credits. This fiscal approach reflects our dedication to balanced growth, responsible spending, and support for Utah residents.  

Utah’s Highway System Ranks 10th in the Nation in Overall Cost-Effectiveness and Condition

I wanted to share Utah’s results in Reason Foundation's just-published 29th Annual Highway Report. Utah's roads and bridges rank 10th overall in the nation for performance and cost-effectiveness, according to the 29th Annual Highway Report.
 
Utah's key road quality, safety, and spending rankings include:
 
 • Traffic congestion: Utah ranks 19th in traffic congestion, with drivers spending 16 hours a year stuck in traffic jams.
 
 • Pavement conditions: The state ranks 9th in urban arterial pavement condition, 17th in urban Interstate pavement condition, 8th in rural Interstate pavement condition, and 10th in rural arterial pavement condition.
 
 • Traffic safety: Utah ranks 12th in urban fatality rate and 22nd in rural fatality rate.
 
 • Bridge safety: The state ranks 6th in structurally deficient bridges.
 
 • Spending: Utah ranks 33rd in capital and bridge disbursements, 38th in maintenance disbursements, and its administrative disbursements rank 20th.
 
The Annual Highway Report compares highway systems across all 50 states using federal transportation data, measuring performance in categories like traffic fatalities, pavement quality, congestion, bridge condition, and spending.
 

Positive News Coverage

This session, we advanced a package of tax relief measures aimed at improving affordability for Utahns across the state. The plan included a reduction in the state’s income tax rate, expanded targeted family tax credits for households with children, and a temporary cut to the gas tax to help ease transportation costs. Together, these measures reflect an ongoing effort to reduce overall tax burdens while directing relief to both individuals and families facing rising expenses. The package was funded in part through agency budget reductions and program reallocations, balancing fiscal restraint with continued tax relief across the state.

Utah lawmakers emphasize continual commitment to be fiscally disciplined and exhibit responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars through a structured, year-round budget process. Each session, we review agency spending to identify inefficiencies, eliminate duplication, and ensure resources are directed toward the highest-priority services that best serve Utah families. This approach allows us to reinvest savings where they will have the greatest impact or return them to taxpayers, while maintaining essential public services. By balancing the budget annually and avoiding structural deficits, we work to preserve long-term financial stability and keep state government lean, accountable, and focused on delivering results.