Meet Speaker Mike Schultz
Mike Schultz was born and raised in Weber County, and doesn’t want to live anywhere else. In 2015, he was elected to the Legislature to represent Utah’s 12th House District that includes Hooper, Roy, and West Haven. He has been Speaker of the House since November 2023.
Schultz learned the value of hard work at a young age by working on his grandfather’s cattle farm, selling worms to fishermen, milking cows at a neighbor’s dairy farm, hauling hay, and roofing homes. As a general contractor, Schultz owned and operated several small businesses, including his home building company, which he stepped away from in 2023. Schultz currently owns and operates a family ranch in Croydon, Utah.
Speaker Schultz has a passion for public service and has championed policies like increasing funding for Utah students, conserving Utah’s water supply, and investing in transportation infrastructure all while balancing the budget and cutting taxes. He’s known for building partnerships, creating wins through smart compromise, and he believes common sense and straight talk should guide the way.
Mike and his wife, Melissa, are the proud parents of six children and three grandchildren. When not busy with work, he can be found in the great outdoors hunting, fishing, snowmobiling or fixing something on the ranch.
Speaker Updates
Speaker Mike Schultz Emphasizes Importance of Local Food Processing
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz recently joined a coalition of rural lawmakers in Washington, D.C., pressing federal officials for meaningful support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across Utah.
“Growing up in a small town and running a family ranch, I’ve seen firsthand how agriculture, land, and water shape daily life, not just in Utah, but across the country,” Schultz said following the trip.
The delegation met with leaders from the U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture, where they shared feedback. Schultz highlighted a two-hour roundtable with USDA officials, including a direct dialogue with farmers and ranchers from across the country.
“We weren’t just talking. We were being heard,” Schultz said.
Schultz emphasized that Utah is advocating for reduced federal regulations and stronger investment in local food infrastructure, including processing and distribution systems.
“One of my top priorities is expanding Utah’s ability to produce and process more of our own food, so we don’t have to rely on other countries,” he said.
According to Schultz, the benefits of local food systems reach beyond agriculture. Many Utahns, he said, want to know where their food comes from, how it’s processed, and how they can support producers in their own communities.
“We have the land. We have the work ethic. We have the talent,” Schultz said. “What we need is the infrastructure.”
The Utah House aims to grow rural jobs and reduce the state’s reliance on out-of-state food processing. He called the visit to Washington a reminder of what makes Utah strong.
“This trip wasn’t just about meetings. It was a reminder of what makes Utah exceptional, and a call to protect and strengthen the way of life that defines us.”