Utah Political Watch

Utah bill easing school vaccine exemptions stalls on tie vote Three Republicans vote with Democrats to halt Rep. Trevor Lee's proposal.

A bill to loosen Utah's public school vaccination requirements died in a House committee Friday after a tie vote.

Rep. Trevor Lee's HB152 sought to scrap the mandate that parents watch a 15-30 minute education module before receiving a vaccine waiver.

utahpolitics.news/utah-bill-ea...

Chaffetz floated for Homeland Security amid Noem fallout Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz is reportedly in the mix to replace Kristi Noem at DHS, potentially detouring a 2028 Utah governor run.

Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz surfaces as a potential successor to Kristi Noem at DHS.

If Chaffetz jumps, it could derail his expected run for Utah governor in 2028.

Full story:
utahpolitics.news/former-utah-...

Utah Supreme Court expansion bill takes unusual detour SB134 to expand Utah’s Supreme Court bypassed Judiciary and was rerouted to Business & Labor — a strategic committee move to smooth passage.

The bill to expand Utah's Supreme Court took a curious detour on Monday morning.

Instead of assigning it to the House Judiciary Committee, House leadership sent it to Business and Labor.

The move isn't about speed...it's about leverage.

Story 👇
utahpolitics.news/utah-supreme...

Utah's SB194 padlocks party-switch vacancies after Forward Party flip SB194 would prevent party flipping and, for unaffiliated seats, hand the shortlist to the GOP majority

The Utah Forward Party got a seat in the legislature after Sen. Daniel Thatcher switched from the GOP and got to pick his replacement when he resigned.

A new bill ties vacancy replacements to the party that the previous officeholder was in when first elected.

utahpolitics.news/new-utah-bil...

Utah's Article V term limits push meets conservative backlash Utah Sen. Stevenson's SJR4 seeks a convention of states for congressional term limits. Utah conservative organizations are warning of a "runaway convention."

Utah's SJR4 pushes an Article V convention for term limits.

Conservative groups call the proposal "dangerous."

Story:
utahpolitics.news/term-limits-...

Utah Prop 4 repeal update (Jan. 21): Signatures lagging Latest update on Utah’s Prop 4 anti-gerrymandering repeal: 2,354 new signatures, 50,682 total (36%); pace off track; zero Senate districts hit 8%.

📊 Today's Prop. 4 repeal update:

+2,354 signatures
50,682 verified (3%)
Needs 2,815/day to stay on track; recent pace ≈1,300/day.
Zero districts at the 8% threshold.

Full rundown:
utahpolitics.news/prop-4-repea...

"Show your papers" to vote in Utah? HB209 would create a two-tier system in Utah's elections

A Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation to make Utah voters show proof of citizenship to get a full ballot and let officials challenge a voter's citizenship.

We read the bill so you don't have to ➡️
utahpolitics.news/show-your-pa...

Repeal Prop. 4? Utah signature drive stalled at 34% The bid to scrap Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is crawling, not sprinting.

The push to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is lagging.

The campaign sits at ~34% of the statewide signature requirement.

Organizers need 2,801 signatures per day; they're currently doing 2,063.

They've also met the requirement in 0 of 26 districts.

utahpolitics.news/repeal-prop-...

Judge tosses Phil Lyman's NVRA lawsuit over Utah voter rolls A federal court tosses Lyman’s bid to access restricted Utah voter rolls under the NVRA, ruling he lacks standing.

Another L for Phil Lyman.

A federal judge tossed out his latest lawsuit over access to Utah's voter rolls.

utahpolitics.news/phil-lyman-l...

Spencer Cox's 2025 fundraising: 70% from 55 big donors Nearly half of Cox's 2025 fundraising total came from just 19 donors

Not exactly grassroots.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox raised more than $1.6M in 2025.

More than 70% came from just 55 donors. Ten $50K checks came from corporate heavyweights.

Full breakdown at the link:

utahpolitics.news/deep-pockets...

Utah HB196: Republican to rename Harvey Milk Blvd for Charlie Kirk Rep. Trevor Lee, who represents Layton in the legislature, is sponsoring legislation to rename Harvey Milk Blvd. for Charlie Kirk.

Stripping away local control to own the libs.

Utah Republican Trevor Lee, who lives in Layton, wants to rename Salt Lake City's Harvey Milk Blvd. for conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in Orem last year.

utahpolitics.news/rep-trevor-l...

Utah lawmaker proposes term limits for elected officials HJR3 would impose 8-year limits on legislators and statewide officers but wouldn't count any years served before January 2027

Remember when Utah lawmakers quietly repealed the state's term-limits law in 2003?

Now, a Utah lawmaker is proposing an 8-year limit for elected officials. If approved, it would be much tougher to wriggle out of.

utahpolitics.news/lawmaker-pro...

Utah porn tax: SB73 slaps 7% on adult content for teen mental health SB73 targets adult sites and could rope in platforms like OnlyFans or Reddit

A Utah GOP lawmaker wants a 7% porn tax to fund teen mental health services.

The proposal would tax adult content and force platforms to register with the state or face fines of $1,000/day.

utahpolitics.news/utah-gop-law...

Rob Bishops 2026 election could be a Utah political first Former Congressman Rob Bishop chases a Utah first

Former Congressman Rob Bishop wants back in. If he pulls it off, it would be a Utah political first.

utahpolitics.news/reverse-migr...

Utah 2026 midterms: 5 filing-day takeaways Stuart Adams finally gets a real primary, Jill Koford eyes the Senate, ten lawmakers bow out, and Ken Ivory’s “safe” seat wobbles.

The first day of candidate filing for Utah's 2026 midterm elections got spicy 🌶️

Stuart Adams might be vulnerable, 10 incumbents bowing out, and Ken Ivory's "safe" seat wobbles.

Five big takeaways at the link 🔗

utahpolitics.news/utah-2026-mi...

Utah judge challenges Legislature's appeal in redistricting case At a tense hearing, Judge Dianna Gibson cast doubt on the Utah Legislature’s bid to fast‑track an appeal in the Prop 4 redistricting fight—jeopardizing a 2026 map reset and a quick trip to the Utah Su...

"What if I told you I disagree?"

Third District Judge Dianna Gibson flatly rejected a key argument from Utah legislative attorneys, signaling trouble for their efforts to appeal her rulings in the redistricting case.

utahpolitics.news/judge-signal...

Spencer Cox's 2028 trial balloon: Big tech, book, buzz Could Cox turn anti-Big Tech bluster into a 2028 presidential run?

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says he's not running for president in 2028, but the number of what seem to be trial balloons are starting to pile up.

Could Cox's anti-Big Tech stance give him a lane in 2028?
#utpol #politics #spencercox

utahpolitics.news/another-spen...

Utah earns "F" on gun laws Utah got an "F" on the Giffords Gun Law Scorecard, citing open carry for 18-20-year-olds, no red flag law, and firearm deaths above the U.S. average.

Utah just got an "F" on gun laws after lawmakers expanded open carry on college campuses this year.

A new report ranks Utah's gun regulations 27th in the U.S.

Full breakdown at the link:
utahpolitics.news/utah-earns-a...

On Monday morning, the Legislature announced a hastily scheduled meeting of the Government Operations Interim Committee to hold a hearing on proposed legislation for Tuesday's special session.

Utah special session freezes out the public: No hearings, fast votes Utah’s GOP-led Legislature will skip hearings, fast-track legislation—leaving voters no chance to weigh in before Tuesday’s votes.

Tuesday's special session: speed over scrutiny.

Utah lawmakers are bypassing committee hearings and public testimony to rush through big changes.

Full story: dub.sh/Y0CbxjE

Lee joins push to curb First Amendment challenges to Ten Commandments in schools Utah Sen. Mike Lee joined an amicus brief led by Rep. Chip Roy supporting Texas’s Ten Commandments classroom law and urging courts to reject “offended observer” lawsuits, arguing parents lack Article ...

Sen. Mike Lee joined with nearly 50 other Republican lawmakers in support of Texas's Ten Commandments classroom law, urging courts to reject "offended observer" lawsuits, which could make it harder to bring Establishment Clause challenges to religious messages in public schools.

dub.sh/P6RQv0c

Utah House Republicans $26,584 resort retreat billed to taxpayers Utah House Republicans charged taxpayers $26,584 for a Zermatt resort retreat, including catered meetings. Records raise questions about funding choices.

Utah taxpayers picked up a $26,584 tab for a House GOP retreat at a swanky resort.

The bill included rooms for legislators, staffers and more than $10,000 in catering costs.

Details here: dub.sh/Eh1MIE7

John Curtis's Hegseth vote faces fallout after Caribbean strikes Utah Sen. John Curtis’s vote confirmed Pete Hegseth. After reporting on a “kill everybody” order and a second strike, war crimes questions mount.

Utah Sen. John Curtis's yes vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense comes due.

If the reporting that Hegseth ordered a second strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat -a possible war crime- holds, the consequences of that vote are here.

Story: dub.sh/upq8ALa

Kash Patel's Utah raid jacket allegations shake the FBI A report alleges Kash Patel refused to exit plane in Provo until an FBI raid jacket with patches arrived as agents searched for Charlie Kirk’s killer.

A report alleges FBI Director Kash Patel wouldn't deplane in Provo while agents were hunting for Charlie Kirk's killer because he didn't have the right jacket with the correct patches.

dub.sh/Lsqmbzx

Utah Prop. 4 repeal: $4.35M dark money blitz Securing American Greatness is the sole donor to the Utah GOP's effort to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law—$4.35M in five weeks.

One donor. $4.35M.

A Trump aligned dark money group just dropped another $1 million into the effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law.

So far, Securing American Greatness is sole donor behind the repeal push.

Story: dub.sh/RIPdyDA

Bernie Sanders endorses Nate Blouin in Utah Democratic primary race Bernie Sanders backs Nate Blouin in Utah’s 1st Congressional District. How the endorsement could shape the Democratic primary.

Bernie Sanders drops into Utah's 1st Congressional District race, endorsing state Sen. Nate Blouin.

Will Sanders' nod move votes, or just headlines?

Story: dub.sh/6WJ994w

Utah GOP fringe lawsuit seeks to oust Cox, Curtis, Brown A small cadre of Utah GOP dissidents filed a federal suit alleging racketeering and election fraud, aiming to remove statewide winners and seat convention picks over signature‑gathering candidates.

Utah has its very own "In re Gondor" suit filed last month. Reporting by @utahpoliticalwatch.news
The docket: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71644...
Cc @questauthority.bsky.social @kathryntewson.bsky.social

Heritage Foundation Crisis: Staff Revolt; A Utah Republican? Kevin Roberts’ defense of Tucker Carlson’s Nick Fuentes interview sparked “open revolt” at Heritage. Why a shake‑up could elevate a Utah conservative to the top job.

The Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025, is reeling after its leader, Kevin Roberts, defended Tucker Carlson's interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

A prominent Utah Republican could be waiting in the wings.

Story at the link:

www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/the-heritage...

PAC routed $14.2K from far-right pastor to Ogden campaign A political action committee donated more than $14K to Ogden City Council candidate Jase Reyneveld. Records link cash to Christian nationalist pastor.

Records show a PAC funneled $14K in campaign donations from an Arizona Christian nationalist pastor to an Ogden City Council candidate in a scheme to get around campaign contribution limits.

www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/pac-routed-1...

Utah's toothless election ad disclosure law Utah election law requires disclosures on political ads, but enforcement is minimal. Liberty Champions PAC and House Speaker Mike Schultz skipped them in a local school board race.

Utah requires certain disclosures on political ads.

House Speaker Mike Schultz and a PAC linked to Sen. Mike Lee skipped those disclosures on ads in a local school board race.

Penalty? Basically none.

Story at the link:

www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/utah-electio...