SALT LAKE CITY – Last week, the Republican Majority Caucus in the Utah House released a statement on its priorities for the general session of the Legislature that began this morning.
House Speaker Mike Schultz (R-Hooper) touched on those same priorities in his opening address to House members, including education, affordability, infrastructure, safe communities and accountable government.
“This session,” he told members of the Utah House, “we have a chance to expand opportunities by giving students the tools they need to succeed in a world that values practical skills and innovative thinking.”
Schultz opened his remarks by emphasizing that education isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor, by recalling his meeting with two high school seniors who are completing training at the Davis Catalyst Center, a magnet school where innovation, collaboration and education meet with industry partners.
“Those student aren’t just preparing for graduation,” he added. “They’re stepping directly into the workforce with job offers in-hand. Both have secured $80,000-a-year positions with local companies.
“Let’s invest in our kids and put them in the driver’s seat for (similar) success.”
Schultz also acknowledged that homeownership is one of Utah’s top concerns, with too many families seeing the goal of owning their own homes as out of reach.
“The Legislature has taken significant steps to turn that tide,” he said, by introducing programs benefiting first-time homebuyers in 2024.
“But our work is far from over,” the House speaker added. “We must continue to collaborate with local governments to address planning and zoning challenges, empower the private sector to innovate and find ways creative ways to make housing more affordable and accessible.”
The GOP majority also cited infrastructure as one of its priorities, including transportation and water improvements as well as investment in robust energy programs.
Schultz agreed, noting that Utahns at White Mesa Mill in the southeast corner of the state have recently developed groundbreaking methods of extracting and refining rare earth minerals.
“By unlocking the power of these minerals,” he explained, “Utah can help the U.S. reduce dependence on other nations … including China … and secure a brighter, more self-reliant future.”
On the issue of providing safe communities, the GOP majority emphasized policies aimed at deterring crime, holding offenders accountable and reducing recidivism.
Both Schultz and Gov. Spencer Cox are on-board with those goals.
Thanks to the Biden administration’s four-year failed experiment with open borders, state officials say the Utah has already felt the impact of illegal immigration both in terms of public safety and tax dollars.
The cost of incarcerating Illegal aliens — the majority of whom have committed murder, drug and sex offenses — in the Utah prison system is about $16 million a year.
In late November, Cox announced a new state initiative to willingly cooperate with the incoming Trump administration to identify, incarcerate and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes or pose a threat to public safety.
Finally, Schultz also concurred with Republican colleagues on the topic of fighting back against federal overreach, particularly on public lands.
Despite a recent Supreme Court decision denying Utah’s attempt to reclaim its public lands, Schultz told House members that “… it’s time for Utah to manage Utah.”
“No one knows or loves this land more than we do …” the speaker argued. “In fact, we’d like to petition the federal government to allow Utah to stand as a national experiment, allowing us to keep a portion of our federal tax dollars, run the (public lands management) programs and discontinue federal oversight.”
Schultz concluded his remarks by reminding lawmakers that the issues facing Utah are not Republic or Democratic, not rural or urban concerns.
“These are Utah issues,” he said. “The people of this state expect us to come together, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
The 45-day general session of the Utah Legislature is slated to continue until Friday, March 7.