The Legislative Circus is Back in Town
The Utah State Legislature Presents: Chaos on Capitol Hill
Good morning!! The Utah Legislature’s 45-day marathon begins today, and this year is already shaping up to be a head-turner. With over 80 education bills, more tax cuts in the works, and a proposed reimagining of higher education, this season promises enough drama to rival the best binge-worthy TV. Let’s dive into the preview for the season premiere of Utah’s 2025 legislative session, where the stakes are high and the plotlines are bold.
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This legislative session, we’re doing more than just watching from the sidelines—we’re bringing you the highlights, lowlights, and behind-the-scenes action every week. We will be there so you don’t have to.
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Plotlines and Power Plays: What to Watch This Session
To make this a little more fun, think of this legislative session as your new favorite TV show. Sure, it’s no Severance—you definitely won’t be able to fully separate your brain from it—but we do have big characters, dramatic storylines, and enough chaos to keep things interesting. So get ready, grab some taffy (more on this later), and jump in.
Legislative Power Players: The Good, the Bad, and the Questionable
Mike Schultz, House Speaker
A self-proclaimed “very, very, very conservative” leader raised in Hooper. He’s big into cutting “bloat” in higher ed—by “bloat,” he means things people actually need—and championing tax cuts for literally anyone who will applaud. But don’t let the “aw, shucks” cowboy persona fool you: He’s a millionaire who isn’t shy about funneling money into PACs that take cheap shots at Democrats. So yes, the boots are real—but so is his power to bulldoze opposing voices and get almost anything he wants.
Stuart Adams, Senate President
Adams is a real estate developer turned career politician who talks about fairness while dodging transparency. Accused of hiding over $500,000 in campaign expenditures, he’s focused on nuclear power, AI expansion, and infrastructure that benefits his business allies. His so-called Utah Compromise on LGBTQ rights? Critics say it’s more about protecting corporations than equality. Behind the policy wonk exterior lies a mega-conservative ideologue whose legislative priorities often sound like they came straight from ALEC playbooks and Heritage Foundation fever dreams.
Governor Spencer Cox
Fresh off his second-term inauguration, Governor Spencer Cox is doubling down on his favorite balancing act: awkwardly straddling pragmatism and pandering. His Social Security tax elimination plan will take center stage, alongside higher education reforms and a proposal to "clean up voter rolls" that critics argue is a prelude to voter suppression. After spending the 2024 GOP primary cautiously distancing himself from Trump, Cox is back in the ultraconservative fold, cozying up to Governors DeSantis and Abbott. Expect more dad jokes, thinly veiled national ambitions, and a whole lot of cognitive dissonance from Utah’s “everyman” governor.
The Small but Mighty Democrats (But not for long)
Think of them as the scrappy underdogs in this drama, armed with clever tactics and a lot of determination. They’re trying to push back against the avalanche of bad bills while still making steps toward progress. Whether it’s getting bills quietly killed in Rules, getting projects funded through Appropriations, working behind the scenes in committee meetings, or proposing amendments to soften the blow, they’re proof that even a small team can make an outsized impact. They may not have the numbers, but they’ve got grit.
Supporting Characters
Trevor Lee:
Trevor Lee is Utah’s culture warrior-in-chief, known for inflammatory comments about LGBTQ+ people and controversial policies targeting marginalized communities. His latest bill seeks to ban Pride flags in classrooms, with lawsuits for non-compliance, and he’s floated barring undocumented children from public schools. Lee’s history of far-right rhetoric includes calling Pride Month "satanic," using slurs against transgender people, and posting Islamophobic content. Critics call his agenda cruel and divisive; Lee calls it “free speech.” … he’s the worst–although he’s got some tough competition for that title.
Karianne Lisonbee:
Karianne Lisonbee also loves a good culture war—and by "good," we mean completely unnecessary. She’s the mastermind behind Utah’s near-total abortion ban, a new bill that would allow 18-year-olds openly carry guns anywhere and everywhere, and a defender of landlords who want to ban firearms in rental properties—because apparently, property rights trump common sense. But her pièce de résistance? Publicly advising women to “control the intake of semen,” which we will bring up any chance we get. Between performative cease-and-desist letters to abortion providers and her relentless pursuit of policies nobody asked for, Lisonbee is here to remind us that some lawmakers are more interested in pandering than progress. We will see what fresh hell she has in store for us this year.
Dan McCay:
The guy who has brought us abortion bans, healthcare restrictions, and the most annoying campaign for the new “woke” flag. What’s on his agenda this session? Mysterious bill files labeled “election amendments” and “election fundraising modifications”—which, let’s be honest, sounds ominous. We hate it. But credit where it’s due: his Twitter game is weirdly funny. Too bad his policies aren’t.
Nicholeen Peck:
Imagine a mom-blogger turned apocalypse-prepper who happens to wield legislative influence. Newly elected Freshman Peck is the type of "advocate" who considers background checks for homeschooling parents to be Big Brother overreach and thinks the real enemy of education is, well, everyone else. Her radical activism follows the blueprint of past far-right provocateurs but cranks up the intensity, making her a true wild card this year. Watch out.
Ken Ivory:
The “Snake-oil Salesman of Utah”, Utah’s king of manufactured crises, and the go-to guy for Utah Parents United’s latest moral panic. Whether it’s banning books, claiming schools are secret porn hubs, or writing environmental policies straight out of the 1950s, he’s always ready to prioritize bad ideas. But friends, this district is ripe for a Democratic win. Let’s make it happen.
Fan Theories
Schultz 2028? Governor Cox’s obsession with tax cuts may not just be about helping retirees—it could be paving the way for House Speaker Mike Schultz to launch his own gubernatorial campaign. After all, nothing says “future governor” like making rich donors richer.
A Lieutenant Governor Power Grab? Word on the street is Schultz might try to strip the Lieutenant Governor of her election oversight duties. Why? To kneecap her influence, of course, just in time for his rumored governor bid.
Supreme Court Showdown? After the court’s decisions on Amendments A and D, could the Legislature fight back by trying to curb judicial independence? Rumors are swirling about potential moves to limit the judiciary’s power, shift to electing judges, or make it even harder for citizens to run ballot initiatives. It’s giving “checks and balances are overrated”—will the Legislature go full steam ahead and undermine our collective power altogether?
Higher Ed Culture Wars? With sweeping reforms targeting higher education, could we see the Legislature turn liberal arts programs into a battleground? Don’t be surprised if discussions about funding start to sound suspiciously like a Fox News segment.
Salt Lake County Power Play? The Legislature has been eyeing ways to weaken Salt Lake City and County’s economic independence, potentially redirecting more tax revenue to state control. Translation: the GOP isn’t done flexing on Utah’s liberal hub.
Episode Guide
Every week, we’ll bring you a new episode guide with the highlights, lowlights, and behind-the-scenes drama of Utah’s 45-day legislative session. Think of us as your favorite recap podcast—minus the annoying ads for meal kits.
Stay tuned for:
Policy breakdowns and hot gossip from the Capitol.
Deep dives into the bills shaping Utah’s future (for better or worse).
The occasional Speaker-in-cowboy-boots meme, because, let’s be honest, we all need a laugh.
Drop your questions, hot takes, or fan theories in the comments—because this season’s shaping up to be a wild one, and we’re here to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
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