Speaker Updates
How Utah is Redefining Education
In recent years, Utah Speaker Mike Schultz has made Career and Technical Education (CTE) a top priority. “We are giving more students opportunities to learn in a way that makes sense for them — and help them succeed after graduation,” said Speaker Schultz.
In 2024, the Utah Legislature created a grant program for schools to create their own CTE programs and provide opportunities for kids across the state. In Utah, CTE is producing great outcomes for our kids. The Utah State Board of Education reported that 99% of kids who complete a CTE program graduate high school, compared to the 89% statewide graduation rate.
Now with increased grant funding, over $100 million is going to 29 school districts and charter schools across Utah, bringing new opportunities to students in every region of the state. Watch to see how these opportunities align with students’ natural aptitudes and create hands-on, career-connected pathways built for real-world success.
For the sixth year in a row, taxes were cut, bringing the total income tax reduction to 11%. That’s a sustained commitment to helping Utahns keep more of what they earn. We also expanded the Child Tax Credit and made childcare more affordable and accessible, providing real support for working families.
Starting July 1, 2026, a 15% gas tax cut will deliver immediate savings every time Utahns fill up their tanks.
But this session wasn’t just about lowering costs. It was also about strengthening families for the long term. Investments in youth mental health, early intervention, and education will help ensure children have the support they need to succeed. We also prioritized early literacy, public education, and career and technical training — recognizing that opportunity starts both in the classroom and through hands-on learning.
This session we lowered costs, strengthened families, and protected our kids to secure a brighter future for Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 23, 2026) – Today, state leaders and industry partners announced strategic agreements to enhance fuel supply, support refining capacity, secure water resources, and reduce the state gas tax to provide direct relief and make life more affordable for Utah families.
H.B. 575, sponsored by Rep. Cal Roberts, streamlines permitting and reduces regulatory barriers for pipelines entering the state to increase fuel supply. While structural improvements take time, Utah drivers will see immediate relief. Beginning July 1, Utah’s gas tax will be reduced by 15%, providing direct savings to families every time they fill up at the pump. Additionally, the state and industry will look to expand pipelines and storage opportunities, allowing refineries to increase seasonal supply and support elevated demand. The agreement will strengthen Utah’s position as a reliable energy-producing and refining state while supporting economic growth and consumer affordability.
Utah state leaders have also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Idaho to address constraints and explore opportunities to provide long-term, sustainable water supply on the Bear River system. By working across state lines, we’re strengthening regional cooperation and securing vital water resources for Utah.
“Utah is choosing an abundance mindset,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “That means we don’t wait for problems to hit families at the pump or communities in a dry year. We build the partnerships and the infrastructure that keep life affordable and our state resilient. We owe our kids a future that is reliable, affordable, and firmly in our hands.”
“We are cutting taxes for families for the sixth year in a row while strengthening the foundation of our strong economy,” said President J. Stuart Adams. “Through collaboration, we are expanding fuel supply, securing long-term water security and a reliable energy future, and stabilizing the essentials Utahns rely on. When there is reliability, businesses invest and families can plan their future with confidence today and for generations to come.”
“Utah families are feeling the impact of high gas prices, and they deserve real solutions,” said Speaker Mike Schultz. “If you want lower prices, you have to increase supply. It’s that simple. This agreement will bring in nearly 800,000 additional gallons of fuel into the market every single day, boosting competition and putting real downward pressure on prices at the pump. This win-win solution will boost supply, lower prices, and provide much-needed relief right away to Utah families.”
“We are committed to our employees, our communities, our neighbors and the State of Utah,” said Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President of Utah Petroleum Association. “We look forward to a productive working relationship with the State of Utah to continue to grow refined product output and to further solidify Salt Lake City as a leading fuels hub and energy provider for Utah and the Intermountain West.”
“Whether it’s flowing water down the Bear River or the flow of fuel through our refineries, Utah is committed to leading out with our partners,” said Executive Director Joel Ferry of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. “By creating bold and innovative solutions with the petroleum industry and our neighbors in Idaho, we are ensuring Utah remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
For Utahns, election security is about trust. Trust that every vote counts and every election is fair. Over the last few years, the Legislature has taken meaningful steps to increase election security and build trust for Utah voters. These measures include implementing a rigorous audit process, strengthening ID requirements for voting, and ensuring that mail-in ballots are only sent to active voters.
Recent research shows that eighty-three percent of Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, support showing ID to vote.
“Utah has been a leader in vote-by-mail for years, and it’s popular for good reason. We’re not changing that,” said Speaker Mike Schultz.
This session, Representative Jefferson Burton sponsored House Bill 479, which builds on what works in vote by mail by adding one simple safeguard: showing an ID when you drop your ballot off.
That small step goes a long way toward building voter confidence. We can make sure that every vote counts and every election is fair.
Utah families know what it means to live within a budget. When costs rise, they step back and ask the hard questions: What do we really need? What’s working? And what can we live without? It’s a reasonable expectation that government should do the same.
As legislators, there is no responsibility more important than being good stewards of your hard-earned dollars. That’s why we’ve asked every state agency and appropriations committee to take a close look at their budgets — identifying programs that are underperforming, duplicative, or no longer serving their purpose.
This isn’t about cutting what matters. Core services will always be funded. But at a time when life is getting more expensive, we have a duty to eliminate spending that doesn’t deliver real value — and either reinvest those dollars in programs that do or return them to the people who earned them.
We’ve already seen this approach work. Last year, higher education institutions saved more than $60 million by trimming administrative costs and low-performing programs. Those savings were redirected to strengthen workforce-focused education and, in some cases, reduce costs for students.
Utah’s approach is unique: we balance our budget every year, and every legislator plays a role in shaping it — ensuring voices from across the state are heard.
That’s what responsible government looks like: leaner, more accountable, and focused on results — so more money stays where it belongs, with Utah families.
Strong families are the backbone of Utah. They’re what make our state such a great place to live, work, and raise kids. That’s why families are our top priority this legislative session. Utah families today are facing real challenges. Rising costs of living, housing prices, and property taxes are putting pressure on everyday budgets. That’s why we’re focused on making it easier for families to stay here, put down roots, and keep more of what they earn.
We’re also committed to protecting our kids in a rapidly changing world. Technology like social media and artificial intelligence brings opportunity, but also real risks. Parents deserve a voice, and kids deserve safeguards.At the same time, we’re strengthening education by expanding career and technical pathways so every student has a clear path to success, reducing classroom distractions like cell phones, and ensuring college students get real value for their investment.
At the end of the day, it all comes back to one goal: putting families first and making Utah the best place to start, grow, and raise a family.