House Rules: Politics and Policy in Utah

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...

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 progr...

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 conver...

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 negotiat...

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....

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 s...

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 inn...

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 discu...

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...

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...

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 se...

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...

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...

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 insti...

In this episode of House Rules, Rep. Jefferson Moss sits down with Rep. Tyler Clancy to discuss H.B. 199 and Utah’s efforts to tackle drug addiction and homelessness. Drawing from his experience as a police officer and legislator, Rep. Clancy explains how data-driven policies and targeted intervention can help those in crisis. Tune in to learn how Utah is balancing compassion with accountability t...

In this episode of House Rules, Majority Leader Jeff Moss sits down with Rep. Jefferson Burton to discuss his election security bill, H.B. 300. Rep. Burton aims to increase voter confidence by requiring in-person ballot drop-off with ID verification, streamlining election processes, and eliminating the need for signature verification. He highlights concerns about Utah’s mail-in voting system compa...

In this episode of House Rules, Utah Legislative Auditor General Kade Minchey and his team break down three recently completed audits:  A Performance Audit of the Position of Attorney General A Performance Audit of the Office of the Attorney General A Performance Audit of Piute and Wayne County Election Processes The auditors highlight key findings and recommendations, addressing oversight, accoun...

Utah House Majority Leader Jeff Moss and Rep. Karen Peterson sit down to discuss House Bill 265, titled Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment. The bill, which is advancing through the Utah Legislature, aims to make college more affordable, accessible, and relevant for students while maximizing the return on investment for Utah taxpayers. Moss and Peterson, both leaders in the higher ed space, ta...

A major audit of higher education efficiency and workforce alignment in Utah urges institutions to better address workforce needs amid projected declines in student enrollment. This week on House Rules, Legislative Auditor General Kade Minchey joins auditors Jesse Martinson, Brian Dean, and Darin Underwood to discuss this report and others, including detailed reviews of OpenEd (formerly My Tech Hi...

In this episode of Majority Report, House Majority Leader Rep. Jeff Moss sits down with Rep. Stephen Whyte, a leading voice on housing policy in Utah and co-chair of the Commission on Housing Affordability.  Representing House District 63 in Utah County, Rep. Whyte shares his journey into public service, the key factors driving Utah’s housing shortage, and how Utahns are working together to bring...

The Fairpark community on the west side of Salt Lake City is undergoing a massive transformation with oversight from a brand new state authority. This multi-billion dollar project aims to reinvent and revitalize the gateway to Utah’s capital city – and it could bring Major League Baseball along with it. Today on House Rules, we unpack what’s next for the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restorati...

Utah has filed a landmark public lands lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to address whether the federal government can simply hold unappropriated lands within a state indefinitely. This week, we take a look at out how we got here and what it could mean for public lands access in Utah. Guests: Redge Johnson, Dan Burton, Dillon Hoyt

Two of our interns from the 2024 General Legislative Session join us to discuss their experience working one-on-one with their assigned Legislator.