SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Rep. Jason Kyle, one of Weber County’s newest representatives, is on track to notch his first legislative triumph.

A measure he sponsored that addresses what he terms “overly broad restrictions” on use of prescription medication while carrying a firearm sailed through the Utah House and Utah Senate without a single no vote and now awaits Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature.

Beyond that, serving in the House — he marked four weeks as a lawmaker on Tuesday — has been a great experience. “My colleagues on both sides of the aisle have been excellent to work with,” he said in a message to the Standard-Examiner on Tuesday.

Kyle, a Republican from Huntsville, is one of two freshman representatives from Weber County in the Utah House along with Rep. Katy Hall. He was elected last November to the District 8 Utah House seat, which covers the Ogden Valley, northern North Ogden, north-central Ogden, including part of the East Bench, and a small part of Morgan County.

Kyle defeated Democrat Monica Hall and took over from Steve Waldrip, a Republican who held the post for two terms but didn’t seek reelection in 2022. Katy Hall, a South Ogden Republican, defeated incumbent Rep. Kelly Miles to take over the District 11 seat.

In his campaigning, Kyle said big concerns were inflation and taxes. Now as a House member, he said taxes are among the key issues for lawmakers this session.

“The key priorities for this session are to make Utah more affordable by reducing the tax burden, safeguarding our natural resources and laying the foundation for the future through infrastructure and education,” he said. Kyle voted with other GOPers in passing two of the more controversial measures approved so far this session, Senate Bill 16, which prohibits minors from getting transgender surgery, and House Bill 215, which boosts teachers’ salaries and creates a school voucher program.

As for the measures he has put forward, H.B. 103 received approval from the Senate in a 26-0 vote last Friday. The House passed it in a 74-0 vote on Feb. 2. The measure would amend provisions in state law governing use of prescription medications and carrying of firearms.

“This bill does not permit one to handle a dangerous weapon if after taking a controlled substance the actor is a danger … or if they are incapable of safely handling a dangerous weapon,” Kyle said.

Rather, it allows for carrying of arms when taking prescription medications that don’t have those sorts of debilitating effects. “It allows Utahns to make the best decisions for their health and not be forced to give up their 2nd Amendment rights,” he said.

Another measure he’s sponsoring that’s received broad support so far, H.B. 257, would tweak the rules governing so-called greenbelt property, ag land that is assessed differently by tax officials to encourage its use in growing crops. The House approved the proposal without a single no vote and it awaits Senate consideration.

More specifically, H.B. 257 would reduce the minimum size requirement for land to classify under greenbelt provisions — now 5 acres — if part of the property is taken by a public entity through eminent domain. “Losing land by eminent domain significantly changes the investment made by property owners and losing the greenbelt designation is adding insult to injury,” Kyle said.

Kyle is also pursuing a measure, H.B. 214, that would require runoff elections after certain primaries when no candidate musters more than 50% of the vote. If the top candidate in such a contest didn’t get at least 60% backing at the party convention, the hopeful would face the second-place primary hopeful in a runoff. If the top candidate did get 60% or more backing at the party convention, he or she would be deemed the primary winner.

The thinking underlying the measure, Kyle said, is that “if a candidate has already won significantly at convention and with the most support in the primary, then there is already likely broad support for the candidate and not a mandate for them to win a third time to be the party’s nominee.”

H.B. 214 remains in committee and may not be heard, he said, because a similar measures is also getting consideration.

Kyle said he’s heard from constituents on everything from taxes to the proposal to change Utah’s flag. He welcomes input. “We make better decisions when all stakeholders come to the table,” he said.

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