On January 20, the Utah Legislature will gavel in for its annual six-week sprint—a compressed exercise in lawmaking with effects lingering long after adjournment. In theory, it’s a civic ritual meant to invite public engagement. In practice, participation in the Beehive State often feels less like an open door and more like a maze, especially because of the torrent of legislation (last year, over 900 bills were introduced). Most of the roughly half that made it to the floor and passed in both chambers did so during the final week of the session, with little time for review and even less time for public participation. This churn increases the odds of flawed laws and narrows avenues to fix them later on, particularly as lawmakers take aim at citizen-led initiatives—one of the public’s few effective checks on legislative power.
Needless to say, it pays to be paying attention. But with nearly a thousand bills in play, who can realistically track all of them? Here, we spotlight the legislation most likely to matter and flag a handful of bills already generating the most heat.
“Affordability”
The word is buzzing through Capitol Hill like flies at a summer barbecue—and everyone’s swatting for attention. Why the racket? Utah is getting pricey fast, especially when it comes to housing and putting food on the table. And it’s an election year, which means every lawmaker wants to claim they cut taxes.
“Our number one issue for our caucus is the economy and affordability,” Minority Leader Rep. Angela Romero, D‑Tooele, told a recent panel.
Expect a swarm of bills: expanding homeownership, easing housing costs, lowering gas and utility bills, tweaking healthcare, doling out new tax credits and promising around $200 million in tax relief. The catch? How to plug the estimated $500 million hole left by Trump’s income tax cuts. Ideas on the table range from taxing social media ads to a porn tax—or even shifting some of the gas tax burden onto oil companies.
Housing
It’s a familiar contradiction we’re facing right now: fierce NIMBY (“Not In My Back Yard”) opposition to new development on one hand, and on the other, the hope that our children will someday be able to afford a home and build a life in Utah. With starter homes averaging $600k, the new generation of homeowners is often forced to leave town.
“The number one issue we’re hearing right now is cost of living and part of that is home ownership,” said Majority Whip Rep. Candice Pierucci, R–Riverton, at a recent panel discussion.
Utah is short about 40,000 homes. Expect bills tackling infrastructure bottlenecks, a new housing division in the governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity to steer policy, zoning changes to speed up starter-home construction and penalties aimed at keeping corporations from snapping up single-family homes.
Great Salt Lake
For years, lawmakers have shrugged off the historic lows of the Great Salt Lake, treating conservation warnings as little more than the persistent din of the Sierra Club. Now, the shrinking lake has become a national embarrassment—headlines warn of toxic dust and threatened industries. Lawmakers have decided it’s time to take action before it becomes an international embarrassment (just eight more years until the 2034 Olympics) or we all contract lung disease—whichever comes first. Climate change, drought and decades of water diversions from aging infrastructure are taking their toll.
Legislators are lining up a boatload of proposals: water-banking deals with farmers, tighter rules to make sure conserved water actually reaches the lake, landscaping restrictions, conservation ordinances and an omnibus bill that would compel reservoirs to release water. Another eye-catching measure: requiring data centers to disclose their water use. Utah’s iconic lake is finally getting the attention—and protection—it desperately needs.
Judicial “Reform” and Redistricting
If you haven’t noticed, Utah’s legislature and judiciary are at odds. Lawmakers are now setting their sights on the Supreme Court. One bill would raise the number of justices from five to seven in the name of “efficiency” (even though more justices usually slow, not speed, decision-making). Another would let the governor appoint justices without the bipartisan nominating commission of lawyers and lay members.
Are Republican lawmakers punishing the court for recent redistricting rulings that undercut their supermajority? Will extra seats and no committee open the door to a far-right court majority? On the redistricting front (aside from appealing the court-ruled district map and extending candidate deadlines), look for a push to amend the Utah Constitution to give the legislature sole authority over redistricting, effectively sidestepping the anti-gerrymandering law voters approved.
Families and Education
Utah is facing a quiet crisis: fewer babies. The state’s plunging birth rate mirrors its affordability struggles, and lawmakers are taking notice. House Republicans are planning bills aimed at keeping families in the Beehive State by introducing everything from expanded child tax credits and rewarding businesses that provide on-site childcare to laws that make it easier to start a childcare business.
In schools, cell phones may be on the chopping block. A bell-to-bell ban making phones unusable during the school day is a top priority for the Governor and House. The proposed SAFE Act (Software Accountability for Education) would require all instructional software in Utah public schools to be “safe, legal, and effective,” while the companion BALANCE Act seeks to cut non-essential screen time, especially in early grades, and put teacher-led instruction front and center. Meanwhile, the Utah Education Association is pushing for more funding for school psychologists, counselors, and social workers, along with lower special-education caseloads.
Bills with Extra Buzz
Union Rights/Collective Bargaining Repeal
The very unpopular 2025 bill restricting Unions from collective bargaining is expected to be repealed after major outcry from civic employees.
Push to Rename Harvey Milk Blvd. After Charlie Kirk
Going after the LGBTQIA+ community with style, Rep. Trevor Lee, R‑Layton, wants to rename Salt Lake’s “gayest street”, Harvey Milk Blvd on 9th & 9th, into Charlie Kirk Avenue. Why? Some say Lee just enjoys ruffling Salt Lake City feathers (nearly everyone nearby and most business owners hate the idea). Others whisper it’s the fastest way to a TV camera. Either way, it’s hard not to gawk at the sheer audacity of trying to put a right-wing twist on downtown’s most rainbow-friendly corner.
Barring Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Minors
A new bill aims to permanently bar gender-affirming care for minors in Utah. A 2023 law hit pause on such treatments while the state studied outcomes—but when the Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported mostly positive results, some physicians slammed the study as flawed, citing a lack of long-term data for the nearly 28,000 young subjects. The final report, released in May 2025, highlighted higher mortality risks from suicide, non-natural causes and HIV/AIDS. Nationwide, support for these treatments is low: a January 2025 New York Times/Ipsos survey found 71% of adults oppose hormonal care for anyone under 18.
Too Many
Utah’s legislature has earned a reputation for too many bills, too little time. New House member, Rep. Clint Okerlund, R‑Salt Lake, is even introducing a bill to limit the number of bills lawmakers can file. With only about 45 days in the annual session, there’s intense pressure to prioritize—and push major proposals through fast. In 2025, lawmakers filed a record 959 bills, with 582 ultimately passing. Most of the action happens in the final week, often bending rules: debate is cut short, public comment limited, major substitutions dropped minutes before hearings and meetings posted with just 24 hours’ notice. Okerlund’s proposal pushes quality over quantity, aiming to slow the frenzy and give each bill a fair shot.
How to Track Bills
Want to track bills in Utah? Get that drum of coffee ready, then jump onto the Utah legislature’s website or Legiscan. Even better, find out about bills from advocacy or interest groups in Utah that share your values. League of Women Voters, Sutherland Institute, HEAL Utah, United Way, Salt Lake Chamber, Alliance for a Better Utah, Utah League of Cities and Towns, Utah Wildlife Federation and Equality Utah are just a handful of many organizations that offer bill tracking or alert tools.
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