Libertas Institute

Legislation to reduce Utah's income tax, once again, has been signed into law! 💵

No permit required 🍋

Occupational licensing reform happens incrementally, and Utah keeps moving in the right direction 💪 The 2026 session showed that policymakers are willing to modernize outdated rules, recognize real-world experience, and build a system that works for workers and consumers alike. More progress is on the horizon 👏

Another state will allow gig workers to receive benefits without losing their status as an independent worker. This time its Georgia 🍑

Utah just cut red tape for interior designers! SB 286 expands the scope of practice for commercial interior designers and reduces unnecessary regulations, making it easier for qualified professionals to do more work without jumping through extra hoops. That means: ✅ Fewer licensing barriers ✅ More opportunities for designers to work independently ✅ Lower costs and more competition in the marketplace ✅ Less government interference in skilled professions This is a step toward a more open, flexible economy where people can use their skills without unnecessary restrictions. 👏 Freedom to work just got stronger in Utah.

Utah just legalized backyard cottages statewide! SB 284 has been signed into law. It will ensure that cities allow detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), meaning homeowners can build small backyard homes or convert space into additional housing. That means: ✅ More affordable housing options ✅ New opportunities for families to live closer together ✅ Extra income potential for homeowners ✅ Fewer government barriers to using your own property With strong public support and growing demand for flexible housing, this is a major step toward solving Utah’s housing shortage while restoring property rights.

What happened during Utah's 2026 legislative session?

Utah just strengthened its Right to Try law! SB 222 has been signed into law. It expands access to life-changing treatments by allowing more patients, not just those with terminal illnesses, to pursue investigational medicines and devices after initial safety testing. That means: ✅ More hope for patients facing serious illnesses ✅ Fewer barriers to cutting-edge treatments ✅ Greater freedom to make personal medical decisions

Utah's Right to Try law will now give seriously ill patients broader access to investigational medicines and devices. When time is short and options are limited, patients—not bureaucracies—should have the final word on what treatments they can pursue ❤️‍🩹

🇺🇸 SIGNED INTO LAW: A Path to Work for Veterans 🇺🇸 Utah is breaking down barriers for those who served. SB 90 ensures that military training and experience are recognized when veterans apply for professional licenses, helping them get to work faster without unnecessary red tape.

Portable benefits are now legal in Idaho! 🔥 This will allow for gig workers to receive benefits without losing their status as an independent worker.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 🍀

Utah's tax burden got a little lighter this session. A lower income tax rate, a gas tax break, and new transparency requirements for local governments, plus one reform we're still fighting for.

Big win for privacy: HB 261 cleared both chambers. This bill strengthens existing warrant requirements so government agencies can't access your personal information, held by third parties, without going through the proper legal channels first. Your data is yours. The government should have to prove they need it before they get it.

Utah is doing a lot right on education freedom. But the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program is capped at funding only 12,000–15,000 students. That means thousands of qualifying families get turned away. Not because they don't qualify, but because lawmakers set an arbitrary limit. Parents know their kids best. The funding should follow the child, not the whims of a budget line.

Wyoming is empowering independent workers with portable benefits that allow gig workers to build benefits that follow them from job to job. Curious how portable benefits work? 👉 libertas.institute/our-impact/emp…

The 2026 Utah legislative session is officially over. ✔️ Some major freedom-friendly reforms passed ⚠️ Some important bills stalled ❗ And a few proposals raised serious concerns Here’s our full recap of the good, the bad, and the ugly from this year at the Capitol. 👇 libertas.institute/utah/the-good-…

I was honored to receive the 2026 Defender of Liberty Award from the Libertas Institute. Libertas publishes an annual index evaluating how legislators vote on issues related to the principles of life, liberty, and property. Their work helps bring transparency and accountability to the legislative process and highlights the importance of protecting the freedoms that make Utah such a great place to live. While I do not serve in the legislature to chase awards or scorecards, I do appreciate organizations that take the time to carefully evaluate policy and the work being done at the Capitol. I am grateful for the recognition and even more grateful for the opportunity to represent the people of House District 44. I will continue working to defend individual liberty, protect families, and keep Utah a place where freedom and opportunity can flourish.

👏 Congratulations Rep. Jordan Teuscher, 2026 Defender of Liberty! See more: libertas.institute/resources/legi… #utpol @jordanteuscher

👏 Congratulations Rep. Jake Sawyer, 2026 Defender of Liberty! See more: libertas.institute/resources/legi… #utpol