Utah: National Recognitions Keep Coming

Because Utah is a great place to live, work, learn and play, all eyes are on the state. Our Beehive State is on a winning streak after a month of back-to-back-to-back significant announcements. The Winter Olympics will make a triumphant return to the state in 2034. Kingsbury Hall at the UofU will host the third and final general election presidential debate in 2024. Most importantly, Utah once again wears the crown for the most generous state in the nation—our fourth consecutive year.

All of these accolades are because of you and your involvement in our neighborhoods, our business community, education offerings (K-12, trade colleges and universities), nonprofits, churches, farmers and ranchers, cities, counties, and state government, principle based solutions to address problems, and the list goes on and on of how the state is working together. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and represent our communities in the State Legislature.

You’re Invited: Pre-Legislative Session Community Info Meetings

Residents of Utah House District 63 in Mapleton, Springville and Spanish Fork are invited to my 2024 Pre-Legislative Session Community Information Meetings. I will provide an overview of the upcoming Utah Legislative Session and will listen to your input on issues of importance to YOU!

Here are the details for each of the meetings. Please come to the one that is most convenient for you.

Our Community At The Capitol

It was an honor for me to host and be with talented home school children and their parents from our community at the Capitol. It was a great educational experience to interact with these students as we talked about Utah’s history, the freedoms we enjoy, and how the legislature and state government runs. After spending the afternoon with these bright children, I have a bright hope for our future.

Fall Town Hall – ESG

With ESG being such an important issue affecting our economic freedom, I’m grateful for everyone who came to my Fall Town Hall about ESG on November 2. As part of the Town Hall, I invited Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks to speak, who gave an excellent presentation. If you would like to review the slide deck, click here to download the presentation.

November Interim Meetings

My colleagues and I met for our last interim meetings of the year in November. You can watch the full recordings of the meetings at le.utah.gov or click here to read the highlights. I look forward to taking what I have learned throughout the interim process to pass meaningful legislation for our communities in the upcoming 2024 general legislative session that starts January 16, 2024.

A few items of note in relation to questions I’ve received from you in our House District:

School Safety: The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, which I serve on, approved a committee bill for the 2024 General Session legislation, “School Safety Amendments” which would establish a system for school safety incidents.

Mental Health Services for First Responders: The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, which I also serve on, approved a committee bill for the 2024 General Session “First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program”, which would: 1) expand eligibility for the grant program, and 2) expand the institutions at which recipients may use the grant program.

Audit of Utah Attorney General: This month, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee gave approval for an audit of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. Through unanimous vote, legislative leadership tasked the Office of the Legislative Auditor General with auditing recent allegations involving the Utah Attorney General. Legislative auditors expect the process to take anywhere from 10-12 months.

Special Session

During the November interim meetings, the House convened a Special Session to officially instate our newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Schultz. In stark contrast to Washington, D.C., we did this unanimously, on the first vote, with the motion being made by the Minority Leader. We also passed a Resolution of Supporting the State of Israel. While of the world fails to acknowledge the full scope of horrors committed against the Israeli people, Utah continues to stand with Israel as we pray for peace.

Utah's Budget Process: Leading the Nation

This November, Pew Charitable Trusts recognized the Beehive State for comprehensive and sustainable budget practices, including the deployment of long-term budget assessments and budget stress tests.

An early adopter to budget sustainability tools, Utah is one of only eight states to harness both practices and one of two states in the nation to boast a AAA credit rating. These assessments help the Utah Legislature craft a balanced budget year after year.

Long-term budget assessments project revenue and spending several years into the future to determine where the state of Utah is likely to face chronic budget deficits. Stress tests estimate the size of budget shortfalls from potential recessions or other economic events to gauge preparedness. The strategies paid off during the pandemic, allowing the Legislature to balance the budget “while minimizing harm to residents and the economy.”

Pew recommended other states follow Utah’s lead. “States could implement Utah’s strategy of paying for infrastructure with cash in most years to retain borrowing capacity for downturns,” says the report. “One advantage of Utah’s approach is that the state avoids some of the trade-offs between saving and spending, instead putting its dollars to work through the economic cycle rather than having them sit unused in an account potentially for years.”

Taxpayer Receipt

Utahns deserve to know how the state spends their tax dollars. A decade ago, the Legislature authorized the creation of the tool that reasonably estimates how much you paid in taxes and what those dollars fund in state government.

The Taxpayer Receipt – an easy-to-use online tool – has been revamped for Utahns. Get an estimate for your household here.

Stay Up to Date

Want to know more about the Inland Port Authority? In the latest episode of our House podcast, Executive Director Ben Hart joins us to discuss their on-going projects and the long-term economic development plans for the state. Listen here.


November 2023 Legislative Newsletter Representative Stephen Whyte Utah: National Recognitions Keep Coming Because Utah is a great place to live, work, learn and play, all eyes are on the state. Our Beehive State is on a winning streak after a month of back-to-back-to-back significant announcements. The Winter Olympics will make a triumphant return to the state in 2034. Kingsbury Hall at the UofU will host the third and final general election presidential debate in 2024. Most importantly, Utah once again wears the crown for the most generous state in the nation—our fourth consecutive year. All of these accolades are because of you and your involvement in our neighborhoods, our business community, education offerings (K-12, trade colleges and universities), nonprofits, churches, farmers and ranchers, cities, counties, and state government, principle based solutions to address problems, and the list goes on and on of how the state is working together. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and represent our communities in the State Legislature. You’re Invited: Pre-Legislative Session Community Info Meetings Residents of Utah House District 63 in Mapleton, Springville and Spanish Fork are invited to my 2024 Pre-Legislative Session Community Information Meetings. I will provide an overview of the upcoming Utah Legislative Session and will listen to your input on issues of importance to YOU! Here are the details for each of the meetings. Please come to the one that is most convenient for you. Our Community At The Capitol It was an honor for me to host and be with talented home school children and their parents from our community at the Capitol. It was a great educational experience to interact with these students as we talked about Utah’s history, the freedoms we enjoy, and how the legislature and state government runs. After spending the afternoon with these bright children, I have a bright hope for our future. Fall Town Hall – ESG With ESG being such an important issue affecting our economic freedom, I’m grateful for everyone who came to my Fall Town Hall about ESG on November 2. As part of the Town Hall, I invited Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks to speak, who gave an excellent presentation. If you would like to review the slide deck, click here to download the presentation. November Interim Meetings My colleagues and I met for our last interim meetings of the year in November. You can watch the full recordings of the meetings at le.utah.gov or click here to read the highlights. I look forward to taking what I have learned throughout the interim process to pass meaningful legislation for our communities in the upcoming 2024 general legislative session that starts January 16, 2024. A few items of note in relation to questions I’ve received from you in our House District: School Safety: The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, which I serve on, approved a committee bill for the 2024 General Session legislation, “School Safety Amendments” which would establish a system for school safety incidents. Mental Health Services for First Responders: The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, which I also serve on, approved a committee bill for the 2024 General Session “First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program”, which would: 1) expand eligibility for the grant program, and 2) expand the institutions at which recipients may use the grant program. Audit of Utah Attorney General: This month, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee gave approval for an audit of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. Through unanimous vote, legislative leadership tasked the Office of the Legislative Auditor General with auditing recent allegations involving the Utah Attorney General. Legislative auditors expect the process to take anywhere from 10-12 months. Special Session During the November interim meetings, the House convened a Special Session to officially instate our newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Schultz. In stark contrast to Washington, D.C., we did this unanimously, on the first vote, with the motion being made by the Minority Leader. We also passed a Resolution of Supporting the State of Israel. While of the world fails to acknowledge the full scope of horrors committed against the Israeli people, Utah continues to stand with Israel as we pray for peace. Utah's Budget Process: Leading the Nation This November, Pew Charitable Trusts recognized the Beehive State for comprehensive and sustainable budget practices, including the deployment of long-term budget assessments and budget stress tests. An early adopter to budget sustainability tools, Utah is one of only eight states to harness both practices and one of two states in the nation to boast a AAA credit rating. These assessments help the Utah Legislature craft a balanced budget year after year. Long-term budget assessments project revenue and spending several years into the future to determine where the state of Utah is likely to face chronic budget deficits. Stress tests estimate the size of budget shortfalls from potential recessions or other economic events to gauge preparedness. The strategies paid off during the pandemic, allowing the Legislature to balance the budget “while minimizing harm to residents and the economy.” Pew recommended other states follow Utah’s lead. “States could implement Utah’s strategy of paying for infrastructure with cash in most years to retain borrowing capacity for downturns,” says the report. “One advantage of Utah’s approach is that the state avoids some of the trade-offs between saving and spending, instead putting its dollars to work through the economic cycle rather than having them sit unused in an account potentially for years.” Taxpayer Receipt Utahns deserve to know how the state spends their tax dollars. A decade ago, the Legislature authorized the creation of the tool that reasonably estimates how much you paid in taxes and what those dollars fund in state government. The Taxpayer Receipt – an easy-to-use online tool – has been revamped for Utahns. Get an estimate for your household here. Stay Up to Date Want to know more about the Inland Port Authority? In the latest episode of our House podcast, Executive Director Ben Hart joins us to discuss their on-going projects and the long-term economic development plans for the state. Listen here.
Springville Mapleton Chamber Newsletter - 2023 December Springville-Mapleton Chamber of Commer