The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Utah’s 2026 Session

mars 12, 2026

Dear Friend,

The gavel has fallen on Utah's 2026 legislative session. After 45 days of testimony, committee hearings, floor debates, and a few late-night negotiations, the dust is finally settling.

Because of your support, Libertas Institute was at the Capitol every day of the session fighting for the policies that matter most to you.

Some of the reforms we championed will soon become law. Others we plan to bring back next year with renewed purpose.

Want to know how your lawmakers voted this session? Check out our 2026 Libertas Legislator Index, which rates every member of the legislature. Do any of these ratings surprise you? Let us know.

The Good: Reforms That Passed

SB 90: A Path To Work For Veterans

Sponsored by Sen. Heidi Balderree, this bill makes it easier for veterans to work by recognizing military-acquired skills and training when seeking occupational licenses. Utah is now the first state to pass a comprehensive reform aligning military and civilian occupations.

HB 126: Make It Easier To Start A Microschool

Sponsored by Rep. Ariel Defay, this bill makes it easier to start a microschool by clearly defining where microschools can operate and affirming that founders may convert a home into a microschool so long as basic standards are met.

HB 261: Strengthening 3rd Party Privacy

Sponsored by Rep. Jason Kyle, this legislation strengthens warrant protections, enforcing a check on the government's ability to access your personal data and maintaining your freedom of privacy.

SB 217: Expand Food Freedom

Sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimore, this bill modernizes Utah's legal framework for locally produced food, strengthening economic freedom for small producers while reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers.

SB 284: Legalize Backyard Cottages

Sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and incorporating language originally introduced by Rep. Jill Koford, this bill expands Utah's accessory dwelling unit law to include detached ADUs. During the session, Libertas Institute asked a simple question: Why can't grandma live in the backyard?

The Bad: Good Reforms That Didn't Make it Through

SB 262: Restrict Unmarked Police Car Traffic Stops

Sponsored by Sen. Daniel McCay, this bill would have placed limits on how law enforcement can use unmarked vehicles during traffic enforcement. It would have prohibited officers from using unmarked vehicles to initiate stops for routine traffic violations such as speeding or running a stop sign.

Unfortunately, the bill died in the Senate after advancing out of committee.

The Ugly: A Good Policy That Got Cut

HB 450: Truth in Surveillance

Sponsored by Rep. David Shallenberger, this bill originally required government entities to obtain legislative authorization before deploying high-risk surveillance technologies such as license plate readers, facial recognition systems, and large-scale data-sharing networks.

Unfortunately, that key safeguard was removed before the bill passed. Libertas Institute supports the remainder of the bill, but plans to champion our Truth in Surveillance idea over the interim.

Our work doesn't stop when the session ends. We'll continue working with lawmakers to implement good reforms, defend the freedoms we've secured, and prepare the next generation of ideas that will make Utah an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

None of this would be possible without your support.

In liberty,