The Utah State Capitol was packed on Tuesday as the 2025 Legislative Session began. Over the next 45 days, bills will be discussed – some passed, others defeated – as lawmakers do their best to represent the state.

“It’s exciting to start over,” said Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. “You never quite know what the session will bring.”

Energy, education and transportation will probably be the top three biggest topics, he said. “There will be a lot of discussion on election reform too. There are about 30 bills (on that) in the House. Some I think are OK and some are unnecessary in my opinion.”

Weiler said he hopes the session isn’t a repeat of last year’s, with controversial bills like transgender bathrooms, etc. “It can be divisive and hurtful to some segments of the community.” 

(Alex Jenkins/City Journals)

However, some lawmakers have already proposed legislation surrounding transgender rights, with a rally taking place on the Capitol steps the first day.

He’s also excited to see a change in the policy on cell phones in the classroom. “It would default to not allow them in schools. Districts could override it but the default would be for them to be banned. Evidence shows they are a disruption and that they impede learning.”

Education is always at the top of the list during the session. 

“Across Utah, students fill college classrooms, preparing for careers that will shape their lives and livelihoods,” said House Speaker, Mike Shultz in his opening remarks. “But, for many, that dream is delayed. A traditional four-year degree increasingly stretches into five years or more, and the cost of that extended education can weigh heavily on students and their families.”

At the same time, there is a need for more engineers, nurses, teachers, mental health professionals, and more, he said. “We have the tools to change this. By partnering with our universities, we can streamline operations and refocus resources where they matter most.”

Shultz said in addition to preparing students for the workforce, the state must ensure that those kids can build a life here in Utah. “Homeownership is one of the top concerns for Utahns. It’s the topic of conversations around kitchen tables, the subject of endless budgeting, and a barrier for too many young families striving for stability.” 

Long seen as the cornerstone of the American dream, owning a home feels increasingly out of reach, he said. “The Legislature has taken significant steps to turn the tide, like introducing programs that provide a foothold for first-time buyers. But our work is far from over. If we don’t get housing right, Utah’s number one export will not be its products. It will be our kids and grandkids. The American dream will be exported from Utah.”

Tax bills are sure to come up as well. “Just as those before us secured for us a prosperous future, we must do the same for future generations,” said Senate President J. Stuart Adams in his opening remarks. “This means strengthening the Utah Dream and the American Dream, which have always been centered around families being able to afford and secure, prosperous lives.”

Reducing tax burdens helps Utah families keep more of what they have earned, enables them to stretch and strengthen their budgets and fortifies the economy today and for many, many more tomorrows, said Adams. “Year after year, we’ve delivered tax cuts. And this year, we’re set to reduce the income tax for the fifth consecutive time. We are ready to do it, again and again and again and again and again. And this year, we can cut taxes again.”

These cuts are about making sure that every family can access the security and opportunities that lie at the heart of the Utah Dream, he said. “Together, we are building a future where families can do more than just live or survive; they can thrive.”

The Rotunda was also packed with Charter school students. “I think it’s quite interesting to see how the laws are made,” said David Odea, a student at Spanish Fork Junior High. “It’s also interesting to see how many legislators there are for just one state. There’s like 100 in the legislature.”

Odea said he’s interested in politics or possibly the military. “I want to help support people.”

“Our future is bright,” said Adams. “And the Utah dream is alive and well. We know America is the hope of the world. I believe Utah, the Utah Dream and our republic, is the hope of America, and thus, we are the hope of the world.”λ