- Ron Winterton
- 6 days ago
- 11 min read
Friends and neighbors,
Week four of the 2026 General Session is complete, and the Capitol is moving at full speed as we pass the halfway point. Committees are meeting daily, floor debates are in full swing and we are working diligently on policies that strengthen our great state.
This week, we welcomed students and healthcare professionals to the Capitol and made meaningful progress on priorities that matter most to Utahns. As we consider policy, I am guided by a simple principle: strengthening Utah families and communities.
Below are a few highlights from the week.
Priority Spotlights
Securing America’s Critical Minerals—With Utah Leading the Way
From smartphones and cars to clean energy and national defense, modern life depends on critical minerals. Today, America faces a serious vulnerability: one foreign nation controls roughly 60% of global mineral extraction and nearly 90% of critical mineral refining. That dependence threatens our economy, our industries and our national security.
But here’s the good news. Utah is uniquely positioned to lead the solution.
Utah contains 50 of the 60 critical minerals identified as essential to the United States. With the right strategy, our state can help supply up to one-quarter of the nation’s critical mineral needs right here at home.
S.B. 254 Critical Minerals Amendments provides the coordinated strategy needed to strengthen America’s supply chain and advance Utah’s economic future.
What It Does
Reduces U.S. dependence on foreign-controlled mineral supply chains that are vital for strong national security
Expands in-state processing to keep good-paying jobs and economic value in Utah while streamlining permitting timelines to under 18 months through coordinated agency reviews–all without weakening environmental protections.
Creates a Critical Minerals Council and a statewide Minerals Atlas to guide responsible development.
Establishes Critical Minerals Zones to focus infrastructure workforce training and investment.
Launches the MINES Center to train workers, attract federal grants, pilot new technologies and compete for a national critical minerals laboratory in Utah.
Why It Matters
Positions Utah as a national leader in research and next‑generation mineral technology to keep the high-paying jobs and economic benefits in-state that come with increased rare earth mineral development.
By providing clearer timelines, supporting workforce training and maintaining strong environmental standards, this bill positions Utah to lead in next-generation mineral development while strengthening both our state economy and national security.
On the Hill
Celebrating Utah’s Outstanding Student Artists
Each year, the Utah All-State High School Art Show celebrates the extraordinary creativity and passion of high school juniors and seniors from every corner of our state. This year, 1073 pieces of artwork were submitted, representing 109 Utah high schools and 352 outstanding student pieces were selected for exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art. These students represent the very best of Utah’s emerging artists.
The Senate also selects pieces to highlight those who receive special honors and recognition on the Senate floor. Through their beautiful works of art, these students share their voices, strengthen their confidence and enrich communities across our state. I commend each of these talented young artists for their hard work, creativity and courage in sharing their work.
Red Acre Center Day on the Hill
Red Acre Center Day on the Hill brought together Utah farmers, ranchers and agricultural organizations at the Capitol to highlight the vital role local food plays in Utah’s economy and way of life. From fresh produce and bread to honey, salsa, jams, dairy and meat, small farmers and home producers provide high-quality, locally made foods through farmers’ markets and other direct-to-sale locations across the state.
Utahns are increasingly choosing to support local agriculture. In 2024, Utahns spent an estimated $3 to $7 million at just six Utah farmers’ markets. With more than 45 farmers’ markets operating statewide, that support continues to grow, strengthening small businesses, preserving Utah’s agricultural heritage, and supporting local communities. Click here to see more photos of this incredible event.
Legislation Highlights
S.B. 117 Occupational and Professional Licensing Amendments
What It Does
Ensures barbers, cosmetologists and other licensed professionals can keep doing the work they’ve built their careers on without being forced into new or duplicate licenses because of technical updates in the law.
Creates a legacy cosmetology and barbering license so that long-time professionals aren’t forced to obtain multiple new licenses when they previously held just one.
Modernizes and updates licensing laws by removing outdated terms, correcting errors and cleaning up more than 5,000 lines of code in Title 58.
Why It Matters
Barbers and cosmetologists who run small businesses, trained apprentices and support families shouldn’t have to worry that technical changes in the law could disrupt their livelihood.
Makes Utah’s licensing code easier to understand and enforce, improving clarity for workers, educators, regulators and the public.
By protecting existing professionals and simplifying code, this update gives workers peace of mind and keeps the focus on what they do best: serving clients, mentoring the next generation and keeping local businesses strong in communities across the state.
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion AmendmentsUtah’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program has more than 58,000 students enrolled and helps them access advanced, college-level language courses after passing the AP exam, usually in 9th grade. Over the past two years, the Legislature, State Board of Education, and education stakeholders have collaborated on this bill to expand these opportunities for more students.
What It Does
Requires state universities to offer advanced concurrent-enrollment language courses so that DLI students who pass the AP exam can continue into upper-level college courses.
Ensures these courses are taught by highly qualified instructors from either universities or school district partners.
Extends the state’s language-proficiency assessments from grades 3-8 to grades 3-12, giving families and teachers a clear picture of student progress all the way through high school.
Allows school districts to partner with another university if their assigned institution cannot provide a qualified instructor in time, preventing disruptions to student learning.
Why It Matters
Strengthens Utah’s nationally recognized immersion program and helps students achieve true bilingual proficiency and college readiness.
Creates consistent, statewide access to advanced language courses for students in every community.
Supports Utah’s growing bilingual workforce, preparing graduates for careers in education, business, diplomacy, public service and other global fields.
S.B. 226 Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Amendments
What It Does
Establishes a clear and consistent process for toxicology testing when a fatal crash occurs and a surviving driver is at fault.
Directs the investigating peace officer to seek a warrant to test for drugs or other impairing substances.
Ensures testing is conducted lawfully, respectfully and uniformly across the state
Why It Matters
In the aftermath of a fatal crash, loved ones are left with painful questions about what happened.
This bill helps determine whether impairment played a role, providing transparency during an unimaginably difficult time.
It establishes a consistent process that promotes accountability while respecting due process.
By reducing doubt and relying on facts rather than assumptions, the bill brings greater confidence and potential closure for victims, families and all those involved.
S.B. 217 Local Food Amendments
What It Does
Expands options for Utahns to access locally produced foods from merchants they know and trust.
Gives local producers the choice and flexibility to contract with other vendors to sell their goods on their behalf while maintaining ownership of their own products.
Levels the playing field for local farmers and home-based food entrepreneurs, ensuring they can compete in a market often dominated by large, multinational corporations.
Homemade foods sold at direct-to-sale venues will be exempt from state sales tax, helping food dollars stay within Utah’s communities and reducing barriers for small producers.
Why It Matters
Small farmers, home producers and families throughout Utah are vital to our economy. They strengthen it by offering a diverse range of locally produced goods, including homemade bread, jams, honey, salsa, fruits, meats and dairy products at farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer sales locations.
Building healthy communities begins with health freedom and improved access to locally produced food. This bill is a win-win for both producers and consumers.
Utah’s farmers' markets and home kitchens bring neighbors together, support family incomes and keep local traditions alive. This helps strengthen those connections by making it easier for Utahns to produce, share and purchase locally made foods.
S.B. 222 Right To Try
What It Does
For Utahns living with serious or progressive health conditions, hope can fade when standard treatments stop working.
Expanding access to emerging treatments gives patients and their doctors another path to consider.
The goal of this bill is simple: when options are limited, patients should have the option or “Right to Try” to pursue emerging treatments that may help.
This bill clarifies the process so doctors and patients can work together to decide whether an investigational treatment is appropriate, keeping decisions patient-centered and medically guided.
Why It Matters
Gives families more options when they’re facing severe or progressive conditions by allowing earlier access to innovative treatments that could improve quality of life, even when approved therapies no longer work.
S.B. 86 Firearm Safe Harbor Amendments
What It Does
Makes it easier for individuals or families to temporarily store firearms with local law enforcement during a mental health crisis, giving them a safe option during difficult moments.
Requires agencies to report how many firearms are being held in voluntary safekeeping so the state can understand demand and ensure enough storage and support are available across Utah.
Protects privacy by clarifying that firearms in voluntary safekeeping are exempt from GRAMA searches, while directing the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) to compile statewide data to identify trends and resource needs.
Why It Matters
When someone is facing a mental health crisis, having a trusted, temporary place to store firearms can provide peace of mind and prevent tragedy.
Many Utah families already rely on voluntary safekeeping, but without good data, it’s hard to know where additional storage space, staffing or outreach may be needed.
This bill strengthens a compassionate, voluntary tool that helps people take responsible steps during tough times when they’re needed most.
S.J.R.7 Joint Resolution Regarding Utah's Protection and Advocacy Agency
What It Does
This resolution initiates a long-overdue review of the Disability Law Center to ensure Utah’s primary disability-advocacy agency is transparent, accountable and meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities statewide.
Why It Matters
For many Utahns with disabilities and their families, advocacy services can be a lifeline when navigating complex systems. The DLC has not undergone a review since 1978, and taking time to evaluate how it’s working today helps ensure it continues to meet modern needs.
A review will help determine whether all communities, including those with higher support needs and those in rural or underserved areas, are being effectively represented.
Strengthening statewide engagement leads to better advocacy, clearer communication and a system that reflects the needs of Utahns with disabilities, giving families more confidence that their concerns are being heard.
S.B. 186 Charter School Base Funding Amendments
What It Does
Provides $16 million in one-time funding to help charter schools cover required administrative, reporting and compliance costs.
Addresses a documented gap in base funding, as charter schools are held to the same reporting, compliance and accountability standards as school districts but receive significantly less funding to meet those obligations.
Establishes the Utah Charter Resource Center (UCRC) as a voluntary, charter-governed organization that allows charter schools to share services such as compliance support, financial management and operational guidance.
Requires the UCRC to become self-sustaining through member dues, rather than ongoing state funding.
Does not impact existing public school funding.
Why It Matters
Charter schools educate thousands of Utah students while operating with at least $25 million less annually in base funding than school districts, with the total gap nearing $50 million when additional factors are considered.
This one-time funding provides temporary relief as policymakers evaluate longer-term funding solutions.
Shared services reduce overlap, keep more funding in classrooms and promote fairness and transparency in education funding.
S.B. 165 Economic Mobility Initiative
Because Utah ranks among the top states in the nation for upward mobility, we know the power of strong communities, good schools and meaningful opportunities. S.B. 165 builds on that success, ensuring that every Utah child, regardless of zip code, has the same chance to succeed. Research from the Gardner Policy Institute shows that when communities better align the resources they already have, outcomes improve. This bill helps strengthen that coordination so more families benefit from the opportunities living in Utah provides.
What It Does
Creates the Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope (REACH) Initiative, which establishes a two-phase grant program: planning grants to develop data-driven action plans and multi-year implementation grants to carry them out.
Funding is prioritized for communities with demonstrated need, such as low graduation rates or limited access to key services and tied to clear benchmarks across education, workforce participation and family stability.
Why It Matters
Strong communities do not happen by accident. When schools, employers and service providers don’t work together, families can struggle to navigate disconnected systems.
This bill focuses on better results, not bigger bureaucracy.
By aligning local efforts and tying funding to measurable progress, Utah can make smarter use of its existing investments.
S.B. 165 empowers communities to lead solutions that fit their unique challenges while strengthening workforce readiness and long-term economic growth across the state.
S.B. 54 Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments
Every child learns differently, and for many families of students with disabilities, flexibility and specialized support can make all the difference. The Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship helps families of students with disabilities customize their child’s education by providing scholarships that can be used for private school tuition, therapies and other approved educational services. The program offers flexible support tailored to each child’s needs.
What It Does
Ensures scholarship award amounts are awarded based on the severity of a student’s disability instead of a flat award or family income
Clarifies that eligibility is determined by disability status, not family income.
Why It Matters
At its core, this program is about making sure students with disabilities receive the support they need to learn, grow and succeed.
92% of funding goes directly to families rather than administrative costs.
The program continues to see strong demand, serving more than 1,400 students this year and distributing over $13 million in scholarships.
Students with more significant disabilities often require specialized services that come at a higher cost. Tiered awards help ensure funding better reflects those needs.
By better aligning scholarship amounts with the level of care and services a child requires, this bill helps ensure students receive meaningful, individualized support.
S.B. 85 Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications
Our incredible teachers make a lasting difference in students' lives. In 2024, the Legislature created the EXCELS program to reward Utah’s highest-performing teachers who go above and beyond in the classroom. That law emphasized excellence, leadership and measurable classroom impact. S.B. 85 builds on that framework so that more outstanding teachers have access to participate.
What It Does
Allows eligible teachers to self-nominate for bonuses of up to $20,000 even if their local education agency does not participate in the program.
Keeps the program optional and performance-based, without requiring district participation.
Why It Matters
Supports and retains excellent teachers who make a difference in the classroom every day.
Ensures that high-performing teachers are not excluded from recognition because of district-level participation decisions.
Allows self-nomination, expanding access while maintaining high performance standards.
Gives more outstanding educators a fair opportunity to be recognized for their results and leadership, no matter where they teach in our state.
Reinforces Utah’s commitment to rewarding excellence and supporting educators who drive student success.
H.B. 78 Nuclear Regulatory Amendments
What It Does
Positions Utah to better meet future energy needs safely and responsibly by creating a Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office within the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control.
Creates a dedicated state office to oversee nuclear energy development.
Improves coordination with federal partners helping streamline regulation while maintaining rigorous environmental standards.
Establishes safety rules and licensing fees to support effective oversight.
Strengthens state expertise to support innovative technologies, including advanced and small modular reactors.
Why It Matters
As Utah works to increase its energy supply to meet growing demand, particularly from emerging industries like AI, this framework helps ensure the state is prepared to regulate advanced nuclear technologies safely and responsibly.
Establishing a centralized regulatory framework helps ensure public safety, environmental protection and transparency as new technologies are evaluated.
By building in-house expertise and coordinating closely with federal partners, the state can more effectively oversee emerging technologies while avoiding regulatory gaps or duplication.
Establishing this framework better positions Utah to support energy innovation, strengthen reliability and meet growing long-term demand responsibly.
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Best,
Ron Winterton
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