Utah Extends Maternity Leave and Rethinks Tech in the Classroom

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.