The 2026 general session of the Utah Legislature adjourned Friday at midnight, and politicos’ tongues have been wagging ever since. As veterans of the legislative process, we offer our observations.
What are the trends and themes that will define this session? What were the surprises and expected outcomes? Was this the “best session,” as described by Gov. Spencer Cox?
Cowley: Several predictable issues surfaced this session, as no great shock to political observers. Groundhog Day continues for the Legislature’s judicial reform. Legislators passed a series of bills on this topic, including measures to create a constitutional court and increase the number of Supreme Court justices. The next few decisions by these judicial bodies will determine whether this tumult is resolved or the war wages on. The Legislature’s continued examination of election security was also fairly predictable. They advanced a bill requiring proof of citizenship to cast a ballot and funded a study of vote-by-mail security. The Legislature continued to thread the needle, addressing unauthorized immigration by rejecting the expansion of E-Verify and preserving the Utah Compact while passing a bill targeting unauthorized immigrant drivers.
The most unexpected event this session was Trump’s direct engagement, both for and against Utah legislation. He expressed his support for making the Great Salt Lake great again and his disapproval of an AI bill that undermines his executive order.
One can always expect the unexpected in the final, late-night hours of the session. This year’s drama du jour was the Hail Mary bill supporting the GOP’s initiative against Better Boundaries, which would make it illegal to supply initiative signers with prepaid envelopes to withdraw their support. Campaign consultants have tried and tested the tactic of supplying voters with prepaid envelopes. Each time, I witnessed it being ruled impermissible.
Was this really the best session ever? If you enjoy political theater like watching legislators debate the merits of Android vs. Apple, then absolutely!
Pignanelli: “Democracy is a small, hard core of common agreement, surrounded by a rich variety of individual differences.” — James B. Conant
After four decades of intricate involvement in the legislative process as a lawmaker and lobbyist, I remain amazed and invigorated by our representative democracy. For 45 days, 104 lawmakers, their staff, multitudes of lobbyists, local officials, special interest groups and the general public engage in a successful decision-making process that feels like organized chaos.
Yes, the Legislature breeds frustration, anger and disappointment. Yet, these emotions are counterbalanced with enlightenment, compassion, vision and practical deliberation. Usually, lawmakers get it right, but sometimes there are missteps. These are usually corrected by referendums or after strong public opinion is expressed.
Because Utah is a representative democracy, the Legislature embodies a cross-section of interests across the state and often reflects countrywide trends. The economic populism percolating at the national level was evident in many legislative measures. This included gas tax restructuring, employment agreements and the regulation of professions. The shifting ideologies of the major political parties were mirrored at the Capitol. However, many of the extreme proposals grabbed media attention but not ultimate support.
Every session brings results that each citizen likes and dislikes. Thus, the “best session” depends on personal perspective.
Fortunately, the constant fundamental themes of each session are bipartisan commitments to fiscal integrity, quality management and efficient government.
A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted prior to the session revealed that 49% of voters approved of the Legislature, and 39% disapproved. Will Utahns’ opinions change as a result of what happened in the last seven weeks?
Cowley: These numbers are far more interesting when compared to previous survey findings. It’s been a tumultuous year for the Legislature. A multifront war on redistricting, a reversal on the public union bill and a protracted battle for judicial reform have all spurred headlines and drawn criticism from detractors, leading some to assume legislative approval would plummet. In fact, their approval hasn’t changed one single percentage point compared to polling from April of last year. The Legislature remains popular because they champion what Utahns care about most — a strong economy and family-first values. Success on these priorities far outweighs other political potholes.
Pignanelli: Utah lawmakers suffer, or perhaps enjoy, the same dynamic as members of Congress. Citizens may dislike the body but usually approve of their individual representative. Our state has a well-deserved reputation for efficient management and quality governance because of an almost universal commitment to these ideals. However, the legislative branch rarely receives credit for these award-winning results. Future polls and elections may reflect greater concern about national issues, which could affect swing districts.
What issues remain unresolved that the Legislature will likely cover in interim committees and special sessions this year?
Cowley: Housing is the No. 1 issue for voters. Although legislative leadership identified it as a top policy priority, and they made strides in some general affordability issues, I’m hard-pressed to point to a bill that substantially moved the needle on this issue. Solving this growing concern will take more than just passing a bill.
Pignanelli: Utah is entering a new phase of economic development and energy calculations, and we can expect more deliberations on those. As our state expands, growth issues, especially water and housing, will dominate discussions.
