Week 6
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we approach the end of the 2026 Legislative Session, my focus remains on keeping life affordable and holding government accountable for every family in our communities. This session, we’ve passed meaningful legislation to lower costs and ease the burdens families are facing. We’re also taking proactive steps to safeguard critical resources, strengthen innovation in education, and keep Utah among the safest states in the nation.
Your voice is the most important part of this process, and I encourage you to stay involved as we head into the final week. You can read every bill, watch live floor debates, and track daily committee agendas in real time by visiting le.utah.gov.
Lowering Gas Prices for Utahns
I know the rising cost of living is the top concern for families in our communities. As a Legislature, we are taking action to provide relief. Utah has reached a landmark agreement with industry partners to strengthen our gasoline fuel supply and help lower prices at the pump by reducing the gas tax.
Through H.B. 575, we are cutting red tape to expand energy infrastructure. By streamlining the permitting process for pipelines and midstream facilities, we are clearing the way for additional fuel to enter our market every day. This isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about basic economics: when supply increases, prices come down.
While we build for the long term, we are also delivering near-term savings. Beginning July 1, the state gas tax will be reduced by 15%, providing direct relief each time you fill up. I’m committed to a future where energy is reliable, taxes stay low, and Utah remains the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.
Legislative Update: Bills to Watch
Bills on Governor’s Desk
HCR01 – House Concurrent Resolution Regarding Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing
HB369 – Agriculture and Food Amendments
HB238 – Utah Energy Generation and Transmission Planning
HB222 – Limitation of Actions Amendments
HB69 – Drinking Water Restructuring Amendments
HB66 – Soil Health Program Amendments
In the Senate
HB145 School Excused Absence Amendments: Updates excused absence and attendance reporting rules to create clearer standards for schools and families, including Shooting Sports, Mountain Biking Clubs, and 4-H projects that students are involved with.
HB78 Nuclear Regulatory Amendments: Sets a clearer regulatory framework for nuclear-related activities as Utah evaluates future Nuclear Energy options.
HB376 Land Management Funding Amendments: Strengthens coordination and investment in land and watershed restoration to improve resilience and reduce long-term risk for wildland fires. This was a very popular bill all along the way in both the House and Senate, considering all the wildland fires we have experienced.
Committees and Caucus Leadership
As Chair of the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Standing Committee, I’m committed to practical, rural-focused policy. I also serve on the House Public Utilities and Energy Committee, Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, Utah Energy Council, Water Development Commission, Federalism Commission, Constitutional Defense Council, and the Colorado River Authority Caucus. I’m also Co-Chair of the Rural Caucus and serve on a Rural Legislative Education Working Group focused on improving rural education delivery and facilities, including capital improvements and campus infrastructure.
Stay Engaged
Your feedback helps shape the decisions we make at the Capitol. Thank you for allowing me to represent you. Please follow the process, track legislation, and watch proceedings at le.utah.gov. If you have questions or concerns, please call, email, or text my intern, Curtis Byrne, at #385-420-3096, or me at #435-979-6578. Thanks for staying engaged—I’ll be back next week with a final Week 7 update.
