Utah lawmakers launched into their 2024 general session on Tuesday with leaders at the helm of the state’s Republican supermajority promising to address what they described as Utah’s biggest issues: energy, housing, water, education and more.

Legislative leaders also acknowledged there will be tough conversations during a time when politics are more divisive than ever both nationally and locally — and they called for their fellow lawmakers to remain “civil” even when perspectives clash.

“Emotions are going to be wanting to rise, and we’re going to have different opinions on things, (but) the important thing is to remember the civility and keeping those things in balance and in check,” Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers said on the Senate floor in his own message to his fellow senators after Senate President Stuart Adams concluded his opening day speech. He offered some tips on how to disagree civilly, including having “genuine respect for different points of view.”

Vickers, R-Cedar City, noted he and Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, come from different backgrounds. He described himself as a “rural hick” from southern Utah, while Escamilla, an immigrant from Mexico, represents a more “diverse area” in Salt Lake City. He said they teach each other different things about their lives and perspectives, and they get along as fellow lawmakers even though they often disagree about policy issues.

Escamilla, in her message on the Senate floor, urged her Democratic colleagues to not give up on having “faith in humanity.” She said the past few weeks headed into the legislative session were “challenging, tiresome and testing for me,” which led her to do some “soul searching” about her role as a senator.

“When I was feeling hopeless,” she said she spoke with Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, who she said reminded her about “the importance of process, but more importantly the importance of hope.”

“Through that conversation, I was reminded of the importance of having faith in humanity, something we cannot lose,” Escamilla said. “We must believe and trust that people are inherently good and kind. And I choose to continue to have faith in humanity, even when addressing difficult or sometimes painful issues.”

However, civility is likely to be easier said than done during the 2024 session, given Utah lawmakers are already teed up to consider at least two polarizing issues, including efforts to change and restrict Utah’s current diversity, equity and inclusion practices — as well as legislation to restrict transgender individuals from accessing bathrooms and other facilities under the gender they identify with.

During their 45-day sprint through the part-time Utah Legislature’s general session, lawmakers will file hundreds of other bills, with many focused on weighty issues like the state’s housing affordability crisis, conserving and developing water resources as the Great Salt Lake shrinks, and tackling another top priority of Utah’s Republican leadership that both Schultz and Adams highlighted in their opening day speeches: “energy independence.”

Republican legislative leaders called for lawmakers to engage in the “Utah Way,” an often-used, catch-all phrase that’s meant to highlight state leaders’ efforts to find solutions and compromise in a collaborative and respectful manner. And Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, as chairman of the National Governors Association, has launched a campaign to urge Americans to “Disagree Better” to combat “hyperpartisanship and polarization.”

Utah legislators are also expected to spend their time on what critics have called “culture war” issues that have permeated national politics. So far political divides are already apparent especially around DEI and transgender restrictions, both issues that are expected to surface for debate in the first weeks of the session. Plus, it’s an election year not just for the next U.S. president, but also Utah legislators.

“But I’ve witnessed miracles in this chamber,” Escamilla told reporters in a media availability Tuesday when asked about calls for civility. “I won’t lose hope.”

House and Senate Democrats told reporters in a joint media availability Tuesday afternoon that broad bills targeting DEI practices and transgender restrictions — both of which have been prioritized by Utah’s Republican leadership — are difficult to contend with when they target groups of people based on who they are.

“We’re talking about people’s identities,” said House Minority Leader Angela Romero. “I’m concerned we as a state are trying to erase people, whether they’re transgender, whether they’re a person of color.”

Romero said she agrees “we want everyone to have the same opportunities” — citing Republican lawmakers’ reasoning for changing and restricting DEI practices to not be based on race or other characteristics — but she said state officials can’t ignore the U.S.’s discriminatory history that has been based on race, ethnicity, gender and other defining characteristics.

Senate Minority Assistant Whip Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, said Democrats “would really love to have nuanced and hard conversations and work through these issues,” but she said, for example, legislation that takes away bathroom access from transgender people “based on some anecdotal reports or some fear factor that’s been drummed up, it gets challenging.”

Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, also pointed to the bill to restrict transgender facility access and its proposed definition of biological sex “isn’t a call for civility; that is shutting down the conversation based on some false narrative that any person fits into a box.”

“To ask people who are by definition diverse, and beautiful for it, and pretending that you’re being civil because you’ve manufactured some definition of biology … I think it is the exact opposite of civility with just a requirement that we all stop talking about it. And no one here’s going to stop talking about it.”

Vickers said it’s “OK to disagree with policy,” but it’s “not OK to disagree with the person.” He said he didn’t know “if this session is going to be any worse than any others” when it comes to civility, but it’s “always there.” But lately, in legislative bodies across the country “it’s becoming more and more common to see the decorum break down, to see an individual attack an individual,” he said.

“I think as we handle sensitive subjects, it’s just important that we keep that in mind,” Vickers said.

Senate president, House speaker speeches

The Senate president and House speaker’s opening day speeches outlined their priorities while painting an optimistic picture of Utah’s future and calling on lawmakers to not shy away from forward-thinking decisions to maintain the state’s quality of life.

In both of their speeches, the Republican leaders quoted former President Ronald Reagan and applauded his focus on limited government and a free-market society.

“President Reagan stood for something. In my opinion, he stood for the principles that have made America great,” Adams, R-Layton, said. He quoted the former president’s description of his administration: “This government of ours was created to be a convenience for the people, serving at the behest of the people. It was not supposed to be the master of the people.”

“Let us all honor and further President Reagan’s vision as we dedicate our service not to the growth and expansion of government overreach, but to limit the government’s role, empower individuals and protect the opportunities for all to succeed and prosper in the great state of Utah,” the Senate president said.

Schultz, R-Hooper, began his first session as speaker urging lawmakers to “think big, act boldly, and secure a bright future for Utah.”

“I keep hearing people saying they’re nervous for me to be the speaker — and they should be. This isn’t going to be business as usual. Some of you may like that. Some of you may hate it. And I’m OK with that,” said Schultz, telling the House that “the people of Utah will come first.”

Schultz said Utahns need leaders who aren’t afraid to “go against the status quo” and who are willing to play the long game. He criticized leaders in Washington, D.C., accusing the federal government of not getting “its act together.”

“Utah can and should lead the nation in restoring trust in the government,” he said. “We need leaders who will be accountable for their decisions no matter what anyone in the press or on social media is saying.”

Schultz, touting what he called Utah’s “elite economy,” “abundant natural resources,” and “unmatched opportunities,” laid out some of the House’s priorities heading into the session.

Among them are creating an Environmental Stewardship Caucus to protect the “state’s natural resources for future generations while also supporting responsible energy and resource development.”

The House will also take on higher education reform, Schultz said, hoping to work with the Board of Higher Education “to ensure our colleges and universities are focusing on their core missions of embracing academic excellence, fostering innovation, and preparing students for prosperous lives.”

On Wednesday, a committee of lawmakers is set to consider a broad bill that could restrict or at least reorganize diversity, equity and inclusion programs around the state, and directs Utah schools to remain politically neutral. It’s one of several controversial, education-focused bills that will move through the legislature this session.

“Let’s get back to just educating our students,” Schultz said, to applause from lawmakers.

The House will also continue to invest in housing, transportation and infrastructure, Schultz told the chamber.

“Utah’s focus on families, commonsense solutions, fiscal prudence, and long-term thinking

remain foundational to our success and prosperity,” he said, closing out his opening speech.

Adams outlined his priorities as “four key pillars that will create an unshakeable foundation of success and prosperity” in Utah. He listed them as “energy, education, water,” and “community and family-friendly culture.” To accomplish the latter, Adams said lawmakers need to focus on lowering the cost of housing, tackle social media restrictions for children, and continue to lower taxes, among other priorities.

For energy, Adams said for the “first time ever” last year, “Utah used more power than we produced,” and that was “really concerning” to him. “We must become energy independent once again,” he said, alluding to another major policy focus expected for the 2024 session.

Adams said the “mismanagement of energy” has caused “instability” in neighboring states including California, Texas and Oregon, pointing to rolling blackouts and high energy prices.

“Let me be clear. We will not pay for the mistakes of other states, and we will not stand by and pay the price or suffer the consequences of their poor policy decisions,” Adams said, calling on lawmakers to “keep reliable and affordable energy as a key priority, which will help Utahns, the West and the United States.”

For water, Adams noted the Utah Legislature has allocated nearly $1 billion over the last two years for water conservation efforts and development. He called on lawmakers to “have the same hundred-year vision” as those who planned and built reservoirs that currently serve Utahns, like Echo, Wanship, Jordanelle and Willard Bay.

“Solving our water issues will be a combination of working together with our neighboring states, putting together innovative policies and programs, and continuing our conservation efforts — ensuring the security of our water for generations to come,” Adams said.

To conclude, Adams pointed to Utah ranking as the No. 1 best state by U.S. News and World Report. He said Utah is “the best-managed state,” and it has a “great legacy to uphold.”

“Now,” he said, “let’s get to work.”

Utah News Dispatch is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news source covering government, policy and the issues most impacting the lives of Utahns.

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