House Rules: Politics and Policy in Utah

Utah helped secure a landmark $12.2 billion settlement with Meta after years of pushing for stronger protections for kids online. Rep. Jordan Teuscher sits down with Utah Attorney General Derek Brown to discuss how Utah helped lead the fight, what the settlement changes for young social media users, and why the state’s work to protect kids from addictive technology is far from over.

Utah faced a historically challenging fire seasons in years, with nearly 1,000 fires and more than half a million acres burned. House Majority Leader Casey Snider sits down with newly appointed Utah Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Jamie Barnes to discuss how years of preparation helped Utah respond, why wildfire prevention and mitigation matter, and what the state is doing now to recover and prepare for the next fire season.

With updated boundaries for Bears Ears & Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, the lands outside those boundaries remain public and protected.

Rep. Logan Monson, former mayor of Blanding whose district includes both monuments, sits down with Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office Director Redge Johnson to discuss what the new boundaries actually change, what protections remain in place – and how access, wildfire prevention and active management fit into the future of Utah’s public lands.

Utah’s annual homelessness count declined this year, including fewer people living unsheltered. Rep. Candice Pierucci sits down with Utah Homeless Coordinator Tyler Clancy to discuss what’s driving the progress, why the state is moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach – and how treatment, accountability and housing fit together in Utah’s long-term strategy.

Rep. Matt MacPherson sits down with Rep. Anthony Loubet to discuss Utah’s judicial reforms, constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall, and the work lawmakers are doing during interim.

They discuss recent investments in Utah’s courts, including additional judges, clerks, judicial assistants and expanded public access to court records. The conversation also explores how lawmakers are working to support judicial independence while improving transparency, accountability and public trust in the court system.

The episode also breaks down proposed constitutional amendments related to tax increases through ballot initiatives and public notice requirements, as well as why interim meetings give lawmakers and the public more time to study, debate and refine major policy issues before the next legislative session.

Rep. Cal Roberts sits down with Rep. Jill Koford to talk through key housing policies from the 2026 General Session focused on affordability, homeownership, and increasing housing supply in Utah.

They discuss new efforts to expand accessory dwelling units (ADUs), invest in roads and water infrastructure needed for housing development, encourage smaller starter homes, streamline state housing programs, and reduce barriers for modular and offsite construction.

The episode also explores why home prices have outpaced wages, the challenges facing first-time homebuyers, and how lawmakers are working to keep the American dream of homeownership within reach for the next generation of Utahns.

Rep. Ariel Defay sits down with Emily Bell McCormick, president and founder of The Policy Project, to talk through key policies from the 2026 General Session focused on strong families and student success.

They discuss expanded maternity leave for public employees, Utah’s new bell-to-bell phone policy in schools, and new guardrails to rebalance technology use in the classroom. Together, the conversation reflects Utah’s broader approach: supporting families at home, giving parents more tools, and helping students succeed in the classroom.

Rep. Steve Eliason sits down with Utah State Tax Commissioner John Valentine to discuss the biggest tax changes from the 2026 General Session.

They cover income tax cuts, tax policy for families, gas and tobacco tax changes, property tax, and how Utah’s tax system works.

Rep. Candice Pierucci sits down with Rep. Karen Peterson to look back at the biggest wins of the 2026 General Session – and the work that often gets overlooked. They discuss the House Majority’s focus on affordability, from tax relief and childcare support to housing and infrastructure, along with major work on education, transparency, public safety, water, and energy.

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Cal Roberts breaks down why Utah drivers continue to pay more for gas than neighboring states and what lawmakers are doing about it. Utah refines more fuel than it consumes; yet, prices remain higher due to regional market dynamics and refinery incentives that pull fuel to higher-priced West Coast states.

The Legislature plans to lower the gas tax and negotiate a better deal for Utahns by reexamining existing tax breaks and exemptions for refineries. The goal is to keep more of the economic benefit in Utah, reduce costs for families, and support long-term affordability.

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Candice Pierucci joins Sen. Scott Sandall to discuss the recent court ruling that struck down Utah’s congressional maps and set a new redistricting process in motion.

As the new chairs of the Redistricting Committee, they reflect on the 2018 ballot initiative, the compromise that followed, and the hundreds of hours of public hearings that shaped the 2021 maps. They explain why the legislature is complying under protest, what the 30-day timeline means, and how lawmakers plan to balance rural and urban representation while pursuing appeals to the Utah and U.S. Supreme Courts.

Utah is building an innovative pipeline that could turn high school into a pathway to public safety careers. Rep. Matthew Gwynn is joined by Weber State University President Brad Mortensen and Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Jared Garcia to discuss a new program that will let students earn concurrent enrollment credit, complete their Special Functions Officer certification, and step into a living-wage job in corrections – all for just $45.

The conversation covers how the idea came about, the partnerships making it possible, and why creating early career pathways matters for both students and public safety.

On this episode of House Rules, Rep. Paul Cutler joins DEQ Director Tim Davis to talk air quality, water conservation, and Utah’s approach to smart environmental policy.

They discuss how Utah has made historic progress on air quality, how the state is tracking dust from the Great Salt Lake, and how wildfire smoke is being monitored year-round. Davis outlines DEQ’s new strategic plan focused on innovation, problem solving, and community growth.

This is how Utah is using data and technology to protect air, land, and water as Utah’s grows.

Rep. Logan Monson talks with Redge Johnson, director of Utah’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, about Utah’s continued fight to keep public lands in public hands, managed locally. Not from Washington.

They break down the differences between Senator Mike Lee’s federal public lands proposal and Utah’s own plan to create a state-run Department of Land Management. Rep. Monson and Johnson discuss the state’s recent lawsuit over unappropriated lands, the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, and the impact of federal road closures, monument expansions, and top-down restrictions on rural Utahns.

This episode highlights Utah’s vision for conservation through access, multiple use, and responsible local stewardship, not fences and red tape.

Speaker Mike Schultz joins Reps. Stephanie Gricius and Kristen Chevrier to talk about Utah’s bold new health reforms: banning fluoride in public water, eliminating food dyes in schools, and restricting soda purchases with SNAP. The lawmakers explain why Utah is leading on parental choice, nutrition, and medical freedom alongside the Make America Healthy Again movement.

The lawmakers highlight Utah’s leadership, parental rights, and why state-led innovation is sometimes the only way to move national policy forward.

In this episode of House Rules, Utah House Majority Leader Casey Snider joins Rep. Stephen Whyte to discuss his path to leadership and the principles that guide him. A conservative lawmaker, farmer, and public lands advocate from Cache County, Rep. Snider shares how his rural background and service experience shape his legislative work.

He reflects on what led him to run for office, his views on servant leadership, and his work on natural resources and firefighter cancer legislation. This conversation offers insight into one of the youngest leaders ever elected to House leadership and his vision for the Utah Legislature.

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Tyler Clancy sits down with Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd to talk about law enforcement, homelessness, and public safety in Utah’s capital city.

Chief Redd reflects on his first 100 days as chief, sharing his top priorities: hiring, morale, fentanyl, mental health, and the overlap between addiction, crime, and homelessness. “The streets are a death sentence,” he says, calling for a system that offers both accountability and help.

They also discuss Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s public safety plan, lessons from Operation Rio Grande, and why collaboration between state and local leaders is key to real progress.

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Karen Peterson talks with Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Geoffrey Landward about House Bill 265, a new law reshaping how Utah funds its public colleges and universities.

As the state asks institutions to realign resources with student demand and workforce needs, Peterson and Landward explain what the changes mean for students, how tuition is being kept in check, and why the goal is smarter investment, not cuts.

They also discuss program mergers, data-driven planning, and what comes next for higher education in Utah.

A Utah judge has ruled the Utah Fits All Scholarship program unconstitutional — but the story is far from over. In this episode, Rep. Candice Pierucci and Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the original sponsors of the program, break down what the ruling actually means, why the scholarship is still active, and what comes next for the thousands of Utah families and teachers impacted.

They discuss how the program was designed to prioritize low- and middle-income families, how it ties into the largest teacher pay raise in Utah history, and why they remain confident that Utah Fits All will ultimately prevail.

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Jeff Moss sits down with Rep. Carl Albrecht, a leading voice on energy policy in Utah, to discuss H.B. 249. This bill is designed to lay the groundwork for Utah’s energy future, including nuclear power and other emerging energy sources. Rep. Albrecht shares his insights on the state’s strategy for ensuring reliable, affordable energy, the role of research institutions, and how a new energy council will help coordinate efforts statewide. Utah is leading the charge by shaping the next generation of energy policy.