Happy Election Day! 🇺🇸
Polls have closed but I hope you got your ballot in as communities in every part of Senate District 14 have candidates on the ballot. Election results have already begun to roll in this evening — you can view the results online at the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office or at electionresults.utah.gov.
I’m checking in this evening with another legislative and community update. A couple weeks ago the House and Senate met for October Interim meetings. I visited with a few schools in our district, met with the Utah Food Bank, and got to join in for the biggest, gayest party in town (Allies Gala!). Here’s the latest on my policy work, interim committee meetings, community events, and the continued fight for fair boundaries.
What Is Legislative Interim?
Even though the general session ended in March, the Utah legislature works throughout the year. Both the House and Senate convene for Interim committee meetings held monthly from May to November (excluding July). These meetings provide a chance to evaluate and discuss policy proposals, hear from experts and community members, open committee bill files, and prepare budget requests for the 2025 general session. You can view the Interim committee meeting schedule here, and explore the list of approved 2025 interim study items here.
October Interim Updates
I sit on two appropriations subcommittees, and two interim committees: Business & Labor Interim Committee and Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Interim Committee.
Business & Labor Interim Committee
In the Business & Labor Interim Committee, we discussed recent issues involving unfair and deceptive seller pricing. The committee opened a bill file that would prohibit hidden fees by requiring that sellers give the clear and conspicuous disclosure of the total price in an offer or an advertisement for a product. The bill would also give the Division of Consumer Protection the authority to enforce the law and would allow for court relief for any violations.
I support this legislation because I believe Utah consumers deserve honesty and transparency in pricing. Hidden fees and deceptive pricing practices erode public trust and make it harder for Utahns to compare products and services fairly. This bill ensures that suppliers clearly disclose the total price up front — so what you see is what you pay. It is a commonsense measure that protects consumers and promotes transparency for suppliers doing business in Utah.
Our committee also discussed a legislative audit on the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services and heard an annual review from the Office of Professional Licensure.
Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Interim Committee
This month, our committee focused on improving Utah’s criminal code and supporting those who work in the criminal justice system. We reviewed several pieces of draft legislation, including updates to clarify criminal offense definitions, language on assaults and threats of violence, and changes to the human trafficking statutes. Additionally, we heard a presentation from the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice regarding the 2025 Collateral Consequences Guide, which provides an overview of legal and regulatory restrictions for individuals who are convicted of criminal offenses.
Finally, we considered 2026 General Session draft legislation, “Digital Evidence Amendments,” which would require that cities and counties either have a digital forensics laboratory, contract to use one, or pay an annual fee to utilize the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL). Doing so would ensure each city and county has, or is paying their fair share for, adequate investigative resources.
As we get closer to session, our interim committees have been more focused on reviewing draft legislation for the 2026 legislative session. I will continue to monitor these proposals closely to for fiscally responsible, data-driven measures that promote good, just outcomes.
Other Topics Discussed at October Interim
Although I only serve as a voting member on the two committees listed above, I track the policy discussions happening in other committees. Interim proposals often become fast-tracked bills for the upcoming legislative session, so it’s important to pay close attention to these discussions as they develop. Some of the issues that stood out to me include:
👉 Audit on School Library Books (heard in the Legislative Audit Subcommittee)
- A recent legislative audit reviewed a selection of school library books and found that most contained material that could be considered “sensitive” under Utah Code. The report concluded that local school districts (LEAs) need clearer, more proactive policies for selecting and reviewing books, rather than relying solely on community challenges to identify questionable content. While the audit highlights the importance of protecting children from explicit materials, it also raises important questions about how to strike the right balance between safeguarding students and avoiding unnecessary censorship.
🚨 This continues a concerning trend of limiting speech and access to diverse ideas. I believe we can ensure age-appropriate materials in schools while also protecting students’ freedom to learn, think critically, and explore a wide range of perspectives. I believe we should trust our librarians and educators to use their professional expertise and judgment in building collections that serve all students.
👉 Statewide Housing Plan (heard in the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee)
- This past legislative session we passed HB 37, which requires the Governor’s Office to develop a statewide housing plan. Utah is currently in a major housing crisis. We have 35,000 fewer homes than needed to meet demand, and are projected to need 274,000 additional homes over the next 10 years. The 106-page report presented a very detailed strategic plan with a phased approach to improving housing availability, affordability, and stability. The approach heavily relies on public-private partnerships and collaboration across sectors. I will be keeping a close eye on future updates in this conversation. If you’re interested, the full report by the Governor’s Office can be found here.
👉 Adoption Amendments Draft (heard in the Judiciary Interim Committee)
- This draft bill is an initial attempt to address serious gaps in adoption practices in Utah. With strict abortion laws in many states and Utah’s comparatively lenient regulations on private adoptions, Utah has increasingly become a destination for out-of-state adoptions, even being called a “human marketplace.” The proposal aims to update several areas of law, including agency liability, advertising standards, reporting requirements, the transportation of birth mothers into the state, and judicial procedures related to consent.
The committee chose not to vote on the bill at this time, noting that significant revisions are still needed—particularly regarding the judicial process and other complex provisions. This is an issue the committee expects to continue working on in future meetings. I will be tracking its progress.
The Latest in the Fight for Fair Maps
A little over two weeks ago, the Utah Republican Party launched an ‘indirect initiative’ (also known as a legislative initiative) in an attempt to repeal Prop 4, the citizen’s initiative on independent redistricting. The indirect initiative would have required sponsors to collect over 70,000 valid signatures — half as many as what’s required for a regular ballot initiative. If the threshold amount of valid signatures are met, it would then require the legislature to take an up or down vote on repealing Prop 4.
The plaintiffs fighting to keep Prop 4 in place sued, arguing that the legislative initiative is not in the Utah Constitution and cannot be used in place of a direct ballot initiative. The Lieutenant Governor agreed, and the Utah Republican Party then withdrew the indirect initiative proposal.
Now, the Utah Republican Party is pursuing a ballot initiative to repeal Prop 4. To meet one of the requirements for a ballot initiative, next Monday, November 10, the sponsors will hold seven public meetings across the state. Despite the disproportionate impact the redistricting debacle has had on Salt Lake County — and our senate district in particular — none of these initial meetings will be held in Salt Lake County. Instead, the meeting locations and schedule are as follows:
Additional meetings are expected to be announced in the coming week.
If you want to defend Prop 4 and protect independent redistricting in Utah, here’s what you can do:
➡️ Attend a public hearing and share you thoughts on the ballot initiative to repeal Prop 4, the impact the current gerrymandered congressional maps have had in your community, or the benefits of independent redistricting in Utah.
➡️ Decline to sign. Paid signature gatherers will be knocking on doors over the next few months in an attempt to gather the required signatures that would put the repeal of Prop 4 on the ballot in 2026. They need to gather 140,000 signatures in 26 of the 29 senate districts by February 15, 2026. Decline to sign the petition.
➡️ Tell a friend. Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about this harmful effort to repeal Prop 4 and share why fair political districts are important to you.
SNAP Benefits Update
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments have been at risk for the month of November. Yesterday, the federal government announced it will use emergency funding to cover partial payments this month. These partial payments are not expected to last more than a couple weeks, leaving thousands of Utah families with a lot of uncertainty about how to put food on the table and meet their families’ basic needs.
During this difficult time, if you are able, I encourage you to help us address hunger in our community by donating to the Utah Food Bank, an essential resource for our neighbors facing hunger. You can drop off non-perishable food items at their Salt Lake location (3150 S 900 W, SLC), or you can make a direct financial contribution here.
If you or your family need food assistance, you can locate the closest food pantry here.
Recent Community Events
Visits with Churchill Jr High and Skyline High School
Recently, I got to spend some time at Churchill Jr High and Skyline High School to visit with school leaders, learn more about issues facing educators, and better understand the student experience. I was also able to sit in on a couple classes and join some eighth graders for an interactive lesson on gravity. I’m so impressed by the incredible academic programs and welcoming culture at these schools. Our district is lucky to have some of the very best public educators, and I can’t wait to see the impact our students make in the years ahead.
2025 Allies Gala
Last month I joined 2,000+ friends for the best party and gay-la in town, the Equality Utah Allies Gala. Allies is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s a space for individuality, acceptance, allyship and love. The Allies Gala helps fund Equality Utah’s critical work on Capitol Hill — focusing on advancing pro-LGBTQ legislation, blocking harmful policies, and building a brighter future for LGBTQ Utahns and their families. Equality Utah is a powerful bridge builder in an era where the political discourse has become increasingly divisive. I’m proud to support their work.
Dialogue with Utah Women Run
Last month I also had the opportunity to meet with this year’s cohort at Utah Women Run — an amazing group of female leaders looking to make a difference in their community. We discussed the different paths to public service and the myriad ways to get politically and civically involved.
Let’s Connect
Thank you for taking time to read this month’s newsletter. Your engagement and feedback make all the difference, and I hope these updates inspire you to stay involved and connected. Please reach out with your thoughts on the issues that matter to you and what policies you think our state legislature should be focusing on this coming session. You can contact me anytime:
Cell: (385) 272-8032
Email: stephanie@electstephanie.com
Follow my policy work on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and TikTok.