As a state and as a Legislature, we have long been aware of the steady decline in fertility rates nationwide. Year after year, we have watched the fertility rate line on the graph steadily drop. While this trend is concerning across the country, what is most alarming to us as Utahns is that Utah is following the same trajectory.
Historically, Utah has proudly held the distinction of having higher fertility rates and a strong cultural emphasis on family. That value is part of our state’s DNA and has helped shape the economic and social success we enjoy today. So, when lawmakers were presented with the most recent fertility data, many of us were genuinely startled to see that Utah is now declining at a similar pace to the rest of the nation and, according to some studies, has fallen below the fertility rates of several other states.
In response, members of the Utah House of Representatives formed a pro-family working group to better understand the root causes of declining fertility rates and to consider whether state government has a role in supporting strong families. What we learned is that there is no single cause. Family decisions are influenced by many factors, but two themes consistently rose to the surface: the cost of living and the structure of today’s workforce. These pressures weigh heavily on parents as they decide whether and when to have children.
We shared these findings with the full Legislature, and as a Republican caucus, we made “strong families” a core policy pillar for the 2026 legislative session.
I do not believe government can reverse fertility trends through a single policy, nor can it single-handedly reshape culture. However, I do believe government can help remove barriers and create conditions that allow families to have as many children as they desire. We can support parents through policies that make it easier to have and raise children in Utah.
This session, I am sponsoring House Bill 329, extending paid maternity leave for state employees from six weeks to 12 weeks. I was a state employee when I became a first-time mother, and returning to work after just six weeks and leaving my newborn at home was incredibly difficult.
Science now confirms what parents have long known intuitively: The first months of a child’s life are critical. The first 12 weeks, spent in the care of a loving parent, help lay a strong emotional and mental foundation that can benefit a child for years to come.
Studies also consistently show that extended maternity leave improves maternal health outcomes, both mentally and physically. For mothers who want or need to return to the workforce, it provides stability rather than forcing an impossible choice. Many women today choose to work and share their talents, skills and leadership in their professions, and policies should support those goals while also honoring the importance of early caregiving. Research shows that extended maternity leave can reduce workforce turnover by as much as 70%. In a world where rising costs often require two working parents, this approach supports mothers’ well-being and personal aspirations while strengthening children, families, employers and the state alike.
More than anything, extending maternity leave through HB329 is a tangible way for the state to show families that we are serious about supporting them. By investing upstream in the health and well-being of both mother and baby, we send a clear message that strong families matter in Utah.
We want to eliminate barriers that undermine family stability. As a state and as a Legislature, we will continue striving to ensure that families remain the cornerstone of our society. Giving mothers and babies the best possible start to life is one meaningful way we can support families and begin shifting our culture back toward one that allows families to grow as they choose.