2025 UT Legislative Scorecard

HB267 revokes collective‑bargaining rights for all public‑sector unions—teachers, firefighters, police, and others—by banning government employers from recognizing unions or negotiating contracts. It also imposes stricter financial reporting, limits union use of public resources, and prohibits non‑public‑employer union staff from accessing the state retirement system. The bill allows unions to continue existing membership but strips them of formal negotiating powers; it also requires public employees’ associations in the retirement system to “soft‑freeze” and pay withdrawal costs by July 1, 2027.

The Utah State Senate passed HB267 on February 6, 2025 by a vote of 16 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because collective bargaining in the public sector undermines individual liberty and accountability. Forcing employees to negotiate through unions infringes upon their freedom of association and their right to negotiate terms independently. This legislation restores individual choice, limits taxpayer-funded union privileges, and reduces government entanglement with politically driven labor organizations.

HB81 prohibits adding fluoride to all public water systems in Utah. It also repeals existing laws that permitted fluoridation by request or in emergencies. To maintain oral health, the bill authorizes pharmacists to prescribe fluoride supplements under a statewide standing order, with required patient counseling on proper use. No public funding is provided.

The Utah State Senate passed HB81 on February 21, 2025 by a vote of 18 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the government should not be in the business of mass medicating the public through public drinking water. Fluoride remains accessible through voluntary means—via prescription and with pharmacist guidance—without being forced on all residents. In 2020, 72.7 percent of U.S. municipal water systems contained fluoride. However, a 2012 article by The New American cited a Harvard study showing that fluoridated water “significantly” lowers children's IQ, and new research continues to confirm fluoride’s link to neurotoxicity and other serious health concerns. Government-mandated fluoridation is not only a violation of individual liberty, but increasingly shown to be a public-health risk.

HB67 allows the state treasurer to invest up to 10% of certain public funds—including budget reserves and the Disaster Recovery Account—into precious metals. It also permits the treasurer to deduct related administrative expenses (such as vaulting and delivery fees) from investment earnings.

The Utah State Senate passed HB67 on March 3, 2025 by a vote of 19 to 6. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill is an important step toward restoring constitutional money and returning to the gold standard in compliance with Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution.

HB100 expands access to free school meals—extending no-cost lunch (and in some cases breakfast) to additional students who qualify for reduced-price meals. Around 40,000 more students will now be eligible for free lunch, and schools will participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program to help families when school lets out.

The Utah State Senate passed HB100 on March 5, 2025 by a vote of 26 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because taxpayers should not be funding meals for all public-school students. This bill expands government spending and further entrenches federal involvement in state education through programs like the Summer EBT, which come with federal strings attached. By shifting the responsibility of providing meals from families to the state, it erodes personal responsibility and increases dependence on government programs, undermining both state sovereignty and parental duty.

HB380 strengthens the state’s claim to broad jurisdiction over matters within Utah. It establishes a legal presumption that state rather than federal law governs most areas—including natural resources, water rights, agriculture, education, and energy—unless the U.S. Constitution explicitly assigns authority to the federal government. The bill places the burden on federal authorities to prove federal jurisdiction.

The Utah State Senate passed HB380 on March 7, 2025 by a vote of 19 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill reasserts Utah’s constitutional authority to govern in areas not expressly delegated to the federal government. Under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people, and the 9th Amendment affirms that individuals retain rights beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution. HB380 upholds state sovereignty by requiring the federal government to justify its authority when intervening in state-level matters.