my sponsored legsislation
During the 2025 General Legislative Session, I served on the following:
Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
House Political Subdivisions Committee
School Security Task Force
During the Session, I sponsored and passed several pieces of criminal justice and law enforcement legislation. Here is a list of my bills and what they proposed:
My Sponsored Legislation
HB21 - Criminal Code Recodification and Cross References - This bill cleaned up and standardized the criminal code.
HB22 - Prostitution Offense Amendments - This bill reorganized and adjusted provisions and penalties concerning prostitution offenses, specifically as they related to prostituted children.
HB78 - Criminal Offenses Amendments - This bill ensured that individuals convicted of an attempted first-degree felony aren't released directly to probation, as they had still intended to commit the felony.
HB82 - Law Enforcement Modifications - This bill requires for an officer to be notified if they're going to be a Brady impeachment issue (aka impeached as a witness in a case based on previous acts) and ensures an officer cannot be fired by the agency solely because they're a "Brady problem."
HB87 - Drug Trafficking Amendments - This bill classified trafficking fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances as a first-degree felony. I'm proud to say this bill had almost 70 other House Representatives as co-sponsors.
HB105 - Criminal Code Modifications - This bill increased the penalties for certain criminal offenses and prohibits high school teachers, admin, and other individuals occupying positions of special trust in a high school to engage in sexual relations with adult high school students.
HB128 - Dangerous Weapon at a School Amendments - This bill clarified the crime of possession of a dangerous weapon on or about school premises.
HB339 - Law Enforcement Investigation Modifications - This bill exempts an officer from wearing a body camera if they are assigned to a narcotics unit or task force that is engaged primarily in narcotics investigations.
Floor Sponsored Legislation
SB6 - Criminal Justice Base Budget (Sen. Brammer) - This bill outlines the appropriations to be used for criminal justice for fiscal year 2025-2026.
SB20 - Utah Retirement Systems Amendments (Sen. Harper) - This bill would have modified the contribution provisions of the New Public Employees' Tier II Contributory Retirement Act.
SB41 - Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry Amendments (Sen. Grover) - This bill recodifies the statutes applicable to the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry.
SB114 - Veteran Access to State Parks (Sen. Kwan) - This bill would have created a program to offer a discounted annual pass to state parks to qualified veterans who are residents of the state.
CO-Sponsored Legislation
HB38 - Criminal Offenses Modifications (Rep. Wilcox) - This bill clarifies and improves the criminal law framework, ensuring penalties and procedures align with current standards.
HB81 - Fluoride Amendments (Rep. Gricius) - This bill revises rules for adding fluoride to public water systems.
HB158 - State Sovereignty Amendments (Rep. Shepherd) - This bill would have ensured that an international organization would not have any jurisdiction or legal authority in Utah, especially in the case of the declaration of a state of emergency.
HB197 - Criminal Offenses Modifications (Rep. Defay) - This bill amends the crime of enticing a minor and provisions related to the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry.
HB199 - Substance Use Treatment and Enforcement Amendments (Rep. Clancy) - This bill repealed Section 78B-6-1105 on tobacco smoke, aligned definitions with HB355, and clarified cost recovery in nuisance abatement cases.
HB252 - State Custody Amendments (Rep. Lisonbee) [PASSED] - This bill asserts an inmate does not have the right to initiate specific treatments relating to transgender healthcare while in state custody.
HB464 - State Sovereignty Fund (Rep. Elison) - Establishes the State Sovereignty Fund and mandates that a portion of surplus income tax revenue be transferred to this fund.
HB519 - Health Care Access Amendments (Rep. Eliason) - This bill would have prohibited pharmaceutical manufacturers from restricting 340B entities' access to discounted drugs and allowed Utah’s Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program to adjust its business practices to mitigate financial impacts.
HCR8 - Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance (Rep. Strong) - This resolution would have urged the federal government to grant states greater flexibility to innovate and experiment with social safety net programs, allowing families receiving government benefits to transition more effectively into work-based self-reliance while addressing disincentives like the "benefits cliff" and "benefits plateau."