Christmas is a season for gratitude—for family, community, and the values that make a good life possible. It’s also a fitting time to reflect on the policies that quietly shape those things for the better.
In Utah, progress doesn’t always come from flashy new programs or sweeping mandates. Often, it comes from thoughtful restraint, principled lawmaking, and a willingness to trust people over systems. This year, we asked a few members of the Libertas Institute team to share the policies, and policy choices, they’re especially thankful for.
Their answers highlight why Utah continues to stand out as a place where innovation is welcomed, freedom is respected, and lawmakers still take their responsibilities seriously.
 Jon England: I am thankful for the Utah Fits All and Utah’s cutting edge microschool laws. This has created an explosion of innovation in education. New school models are better meeting the needs of students who don’t fit in the traditional model. These two laws combined have made Utah a leader in education. I’m super grateful to both Rep. Pierucci and Sen. Cullimore who championed Utah Fits All, and Sen. Fillmore and Reps. Gracious and T. Peterson who passed the microschool bill. |
 Lee Sands: I’m grateful for the things Utah chooses not to do. In some states, it’s normal to face local income taxes layered on top of state taxes, price controls that distort markets, and dense regulatory regimes that reach deep into everyday economic life. Utah has avoided some of the worst choices other states have made, and that absence matters more than people often realize. Not every good policy shows up as a new program or reform, sometimes it’s simply the decision not to make life more complicated or more constrained than it needs to be. |
 Devin McCormick: Utah’s regulatory sandbox is a policy I’m genuinely thankful for this Christmas season. Instead of slowing innovation with layers of unnecessary rules, the state created a flexible framework that lets builders test new ideas quickly and responsibly. It’s a practical, disciplined approach that keeps the government in a support role rather than an obstacle course. In a year when most states are tightening the screws on tech, Utah consistently chooses a smarter path. A path that gives tech innovators room to maneuver and deliver real value to the public. It’s a small but meaningful reminder that good policy can actually clear the way. |
 Jason Chipman: One thing I am genuinely thankful for in Utah is that the Legislature still takes its authority seriously. While Congress and many state legislatures have grown comfortable deferring hard decisions to governors, presidents, and unelected agencies, Utah lawmakers generally insist on doing the job voters sent them to do. They write the laws, debate them in public, and take responsibility for the outcomes instead of outsourcing power to the executive branch. That matters because separation of powers is not just a theory, it is a safeguard against concentrated authority and unaccountable rulemaking. When legislators govern, policy decisions remain closer to the people and more responsive to public pressure. Utah’s approach is not perfect, but it reflects a healthy respect for constitutional roles. In an era of legislative abdication, that is something worth appreciating and protecting. |
Taken together, these reflections point to a deeper truth about what makes Utah work. Good policy isn’t just about what the government does—it’s also about what it allows, what it avoids, and how seriously it treats its role. Whether it’s expanding education options, clearing space for innovation, resisting unnecessary complexity, or respecting constitutional boundaries, Utah’s best policies share a common thread: they put people first.
As we head into the new year, gratitude and vigilance go hand in hand. The policies worth celebrating are also worth protecting. This Christmas season, we’re thankful not only for the progress Utah has made, but for the opportunity, and responsibility, to keep pushing for a state where freedom and opportunity continue to grow. 🎄
