With just five days remaining in the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers are entering the final sprint at the Capitol. Committees are moving quickly to advance their remaining bills, floor calendars are packed, and major policy decisions are being finalized before time runs out.
As always, you can follow the bills we’re tracking in real time through the Libertas Legislative Tracker.
Here’s your recap of what happened this week.
- House Bill 126, sponsored by Rep. Ariel Defay, which makes it easier to start a microschool in Utah, has passed the Senate. It has now cleared both chambers of the legislature and is heading to the Governor’s desk. This is a top priority for Libertas Institute. Here’s our full statement on this important win.
- HB 261, also a top priority of Libertas Institute, has passed the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee. It is sponsored by Rep. Jason Kyle. It will strengthen existing laws regarding warrant requirements for government to access your personal information from another entity. Our Director of Public Policy, Jason Chipman, testified in support of this legislation earlier in the session.
- Senate Bill 217, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimore, which modernizes and expands Utah’s legal framework for locally produced food, passed the Senate and then the the House Health and Human Services Committee this week. It is another Libertas Institute priority.
- HB 179, sponsored by Rep. Kristen Chevrier, expands access to raw milk. It cleared the Senate Business and Labor Committee. The Libertas Institute team put out an explainer video on the issue this week.
- HB 170, sponsored by Rep. Rex Shipp, which will expand public oversight of decisions made by local school boards cleared the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
- SB 275, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimore, cleared the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on Friday after passing the Senate earlier in the week. It will establish a “digital identity bill of rights” which guarantees individuals the right to manage and control their digital identity as a way to protect their privacy.
- SB 284, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and containing language originally introduced by Rep. Jill Koford, expands Utah’s existing statute governing accessory dwelling units to include detached ADUs. It has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House.
- SB 222, sponsored by Sen. Chris Wilson, will expand Utah’s Right to Try law to give seriously ill patients broader access to investigational medicines and devices. It passed the Senate earlier this week and the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday.
- SB 286, legislation that would reduce regulations on commercial interior designers, advanced out of the Senate. It is sponsored by Sen. Luz Escamilla.
- New legislation has been introduced that would repeal occupational licensing requirements for commercial interior designers, court recorders, deception detection practitioners, and music therapists. SB 327 is sponsored by Sen. John Johnson.
