House Rules: Politics and Policy in Utah

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 that may reach 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 Sen. 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 Mayor 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. 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 to drive real change.

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 compared to other Republican-led states and discusses how lessons from Florida’s election system helped shape the bill.

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 GeneralA Performance Audit of the Office of the Attorney GeneralA Performance Audit of Piute and Wayne County Election ProcessesThe auditors highlight key findings and recommendations, addressing oversight, accountability, and potential areas for improvement within the state’s top legal office.

Utah House Majority Leader Rep. 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, talk about key reforms to higher education, including reallocating funds from underperforming programs to high-demand fields, and the impact these changes will have on Utah’s workforce and economy.

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 High) and emergency medical transportation in Utah.

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 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 down the cost of homeownership.

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 Restoration District with Sen. Scott Sandall, the chair of the district’s oversight board, and Benn Buys, the district’s brand new director. 

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. 

The Legislative Audit Subcommittee met to hear presentations from Legislative Auditors about a few reports examining:State landsThe administration of Rich School DistrictIn this episode, our Legislative Auditor General Kade Minchey and his team are here to discuss the findings of these audits and what they say about the management of some of the schools in our state as well as school trust lands throughout Utah.

Rep. John Hawkins joins us to discuss the exciting announcement that Utah has been chosen to host the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games, as well as what's being done at the state level to prepare to once again welcome the world to Utah. 

Check out this special takeover episode of our House podcast, where Majority Leader Jefferson Moss is joined by Representative Ariel Defay to discuss her journey to the Legislature as well as their priorities for the upcoming year. 

During the summer months, millions of Utahns take advantage of the warm weather by hitting the road and traveling all across our beautiful state. With the rise in traffic comes a potential rise in vehicle accidents. This becomes especially concerning as across the Nation, we’re seeing a growing trend in one very dangerous driving habit in particular: road rage. Joining us to discuss how the state is combatting road rage and protecting Utah drivers with a first-of-its kind law is Representative Paul Cutler and Colonel Michael Rapich of the Utah Highway Patrol. 

House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss steps behind the mic for the kickoff episode of our new podcast takeover series, Majority Report. He is joined by fellow Representative Cory Maloy as they discuss this week's interim meetings and special session.See all episodes

In this episode, the Legislative Auditor General, Kade Minchey, and his team join us to discuss the findings of  two recently completed audit reports into:The mineral extraction industry on the Great Salt LakeThe efficiency of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services