The legislative session has come to a close, and after a few days of much-needed sleep, I am ready to report back to you. While far more happened than I can fit in one post, I want to provide a summary of what we accomplished together.
As always, I encourage you to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns regarding my record. I am grateful for your continued engagement.
My Accomplishments This Year
This was an exceptionally productive year. My approach remains rooted in being one of the most thoughtful and effective voices at the Capitol, and I want to be fully transparent about the results of that work. I apologize for the length of this update, but there is a great deal to cover.
My Work on the Budget
As House Chair of the General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, I led an intensive effort to review how government fees impact taxpayers. Our goal is twofold: ensure we aren’t disguising taxes as “fees” and verify that the fees we do collect reflect the actual cost of the service.
We are focusing on three distinct categories:
- Service Fees: Fees paid for a specific benefit, such as obtaining a birth certificate or entering a state park. These should be set strictly to cover the cost of the service.
- Regulatory Fees: Collected from industries that require oversight (e.g., healthcare licensing). In aggregate, these should cover the costs of processing applications, inspections, and enforcement.
- Fees That Function as Taxes: Some “fees” are currently used for general government purposes. Car registrations are a prime example. These are, in reality, taxes.
- Our committee oversees 49% of all fees collected in Utah. We have launched a data-collection process to identify the true costs associated with each fee and flag those that are actually taxes. HB318 will be a vital tool in this effort, increasing transparency, driving government efficiency, and reducing the financial burden on our citizens. This remains a top priority for 2026.
Bills I Sponsored
I previously shared details on my individual sponsored bills. I am pleased to report that the following have passed:
- HB22 – Vintage Vehicle Amendments
- HB129 – Education Board Amendments
- HB199 – Health Data Amendments
- HB384 – Executive Branch Agency Amendments
- HB394 – Veterinary Amendments
- HR3 – House Rules Resolution – Abandoning Legislation
- HJR10 incorporated into HR7 – House Rules Modifications
- HB74 incorporated into HB32 – Signature Gathering and Verification Amendments
- SB147 – Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Amendments
- SB175 – Health Insurance Revisions
- SB229 – State Employee Benefits Amendments
In addition to bills that I sponsored, there are many bills that I was heavily involved in and where the final bill includes my ideas or suggestions. Here are just a few:
- HB329 – State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments
- HB381 – Electric Mobility Device Amendments
- HB527 – Pharmacy Pricing Amendments
- HB545 – Budgetary Modifications
- SB31 – Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments
- SB47 – Reauthorization of Administrative Rules
Please use le.utah.gov to learn more about the final status of bills on topics that interest you.
Thank you for the privilege of representing District 62.
