The 2024 legislative session has come to an end. In just 45 days, we scrutinized hundreds of bills, crafted a $29B balanced budget, and invested in Utah’s future. We enacted policies to protect Utah’s water, energy, and natural resources while protecting the environment. We put students and teachers first by making teaching more rewarding, revamping school safety, and removing school fees. We invested in our state’s transportation and housing needs, and ensured Utah can lead in innovation while protecting our data. We made government more efficient by reducing the number of government boards and commissions, overhauling higher education, and strengthening our criminal justice system. We also cut taxes for the 4th consecutive year. I am profoundly grateful to represent you and thank you for your unwavering support.
Prior to the start of the session, we identified four key areas that warranted our attention:
- People: Elevating opportunities for Utahns including families, taxpayers, students, teachers, etc.;
- Resources: Protecting and maximizing resources for Utahns–water, energy, and lands;
- Accountable Government: Improving systems, processes, and institutions for Utahns; and
- Future: Ensuring a bright and bold future for Utahns–housing, transportation, & technology.
Below I highlight some of the legislation we passed to further these priorities (here’s a pdf version of this information). Complementing these priorities, I was proud to sponsor a diverse range of legislation from protecting minors from the harms of social media, increasing religious freedom protections for all Utahns, providing more efficiency and local control in Salt Lake County, and more.
Bills Sponsored & Passed Passed in 2024
I was proud to be the chief sponsor or House floor sponsor of the following bills that passed during the 2024 General Session:
House Bills
H.B. 160: Campaign Funding Amendments: Brings clarity and consistency to campaign finance law by clarifying when officeholders can use campaign funds, ensuring clear, uniform rules across all levels of government.
H.B. 172: Student Athlete Participation Amendments: Expands access to school athletics by ensuring all eligible students, including those experiencing homelessness or without traditional documentation, have a fair opportunity to participate while maintaining integrity in competition.
H.B. 184: Vehicle Owner Registration & Insurance Requirements: Modernizes compliance by allowing digital proof of registration and insurance and strengthening enforcement through the uninsured motorist database, making it easier for drivers to comply while improving accountability on the road.
H.B. 202: Student Athlete Amendments: Creates a responsible framework for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college athletics by protecting student opportunities while prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars, balancing innovation with accountability.
H.B. 220: Divorce Amendments: Brings greater fairness and consistency to divorce proceedings by giving courts clearer guidance on alimony, focusing on real financial need, earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage.
H.B. 318: Decentralized Autonomous Organization Act Amendments: Strengthens Utah’s first-in-the-nation DAO framework by refining how these organizations are formed and governed, reinforcing Utah’s leadership in blockchain and digital innovation.
H.B. 330: Unincorporated Areas Amendments: Moves Salt Lake County closer to wall-to-wall cities by giving unincorporated islands a three-year window to either incorporate or automatically be annexed into the most populous neighboring city, reducing fragmented governance and improving service delivery.
H.B. 414: Due Process Amendments: Protects fundamental rights on college campuses by ensuring students have access to legal representation, fair procedures, and accountability when institutions fail to uphold due process.
H.B. 459: Blended Plea Amendments: Restores fairness in the justice system by eliminating unlawful blended pleas, ensuring individuals are not subjected to inconsistent or improper sentencing practices.
H.B. 464: Social Media Amendments: Holds social media companies accountable when minors are harmed on their platforms by creating a clear legal pathway for families, making Utah a national leader in protecting kids online.
Senate Bills
S.B. 84: Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity Amendments: Streamlines Utah’s economic development efforts by modernizing GOEO’s structure and operations, helping the state more effectively attract investment, support businesses, and create jobs.
S.B. 92: Student Communication Methods: Ensures students are not left out by requiring schools to provide non-digital communication options, improving access to important information for all students.
S.B. 107: Election Process Amendments: Improves clarity and consistency in Utah’s election system by updating petition and filing processes, helping ensure elections are orderly, transparent, and accessible.
S.B. 150: Exercise of Religion Amendments: Defends religious liberty by strengthening protections against government overreach and ensuring individuals can freely exercise their faith unless a compelling state interest clearly justifies restriction.
S.B. 194: Social Media Regulation Amendments: Establishes nation-leading protections for minors online by requiring age verification, default privacy safeguards, and stronger parental tools, putting Utah at the forefront of holding Big Tech accountable.
S.B. 198: Point of the Mountain State Land Authority Amendments: Advances long-term economic development at the Point of the Mountain by strengthening the Authority’s structure, funding, and governance, supporting one of Utah’s most important growth areas.
S.B. 245: County Sales and Use Tax Amendments: Updates how certain local tax revenues are distributed to better support community, cultural, and recreational assets, helping ensure these resources are funded in a more effective and sustainable way.
