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Wayne A. Harper
Photo: Kirstenfrankly, via Wikimedia Commons (Feb 26, 2014). License: CC BY-SA 4.0. File page: File:Wayne Harper.JPG. Cropped to head and shoulders and resized to 400 px wide; this adapted version is also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

State

Wayne A. Harper

Utah Senate (President Pro Tempore) · Senate District 16

OfficeUtah Senate (President Pro Tempore)DistrictSenate District 16PartyRepublicanTerm endsDec 31, 2028Next electionNov 2028RaisedNot yet verifiedServing since1997

At a glance

  • Utah Legislature since 1997 (House), Senate since 2013.
  • Senate President Pro Tempore; SD16 covers about 55% of Taylorsville.
  • Won 2024 with 57.5%; not on the 2026 ballot.
Open compare
Analytical assessment, not factMedium confidence
OverallConservative
FiscalConservative
SocialConservative
Very liberalModerateVery conservative

Conservative, mainstream/establishment Utah Senate Republican near the caucus median — fiscal: conservative (strong anti-tax scores) with pragmatic infrastructure/transit streak; social: conservative.

Evidence behind this assessment
  1. Party-line share: 88.1% (2025) / 89.2% (2026) on party-line votes, vs. Senate-GOP median ~90.7% — slightly below median (8th lowest of 23/22) (BYU 2025, 2026).
  2. Key votes with GOP majority: HB 257 & HB 261 (2024), HB 77 flags (vote), SB 296 judicial (vote), SB 1011 redistricting (vote), SB 134 court expansion (vote), HB 392 (vote), SB 60 tax cut.
  3. Key breaks: Nay on HB 267 public-union bargaining ban (vote); Nay on HB 300 election-law overhaul (vote); Nay on SB 287 targeted-ad tax (anti-tax direction) (vote).
  4. Scorecards: UTA 2025: 100%, Friend of the Taxpayer, 5-yr avg 85.23%; 2026: 80% (2025, 2026); Libertas 2025: 76% (index, snippet); UEA 2025: 60% (PDF); Alliance for a Better Utah 2025: F, −6/49 (PDF).
  5. X posts: No account found — no social-media signal.

Rating method

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Answers are estimates of likely positions based only on this official's public record (votes, bills, statements and posts) as stored on this site. They are not statements by the official and may be incomplete. Check the linked sources.

Ask your own question about Wayne A. Harper

Full details below are grouped by area. Facts link to public sources; "[COMPUTED]" marks derived dates.

Votes & record

Full sponsored-bill lists: 2024 · 2025 · 2026. He is one of the Legislature's most prolific sponsors, concentrated in transportation, taxation, retirement, housing/reinvestment zones and child welfare.

Session Bill Title Outcome
2024 SB 268 First Home Investment Zone ActWhat it does: Official summary: This bill enacts the First Home Investment Zone Act. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2024 SB 208 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions related to housing and transit reinvestment zones. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2024 SB 98 Online Data Security and Privacy AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions related to cybersecurity, breach notification requirements, and authorized domain name extensions. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2024 SB 182 Property tax valuation bill (see official title at link)What it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to property tax assessment. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2025 SB 71 Social Security Tax RevisionsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies the individual income tax credit for social security benefits. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2025 SB 174 Transit and Transportation Governance AmendmentsWhat it does: Would change the roles of the board and supervisors of large public transit districts. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2025 SB 26 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments (House sponsor: Rep. Dunnigan)What it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions relating to the Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Act. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2025 SB 164 Modifications to Election LawWhat it does: Would require a county clerk to coordinate with local post offices to handle ballots. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2025 SB 106 Utah-Ireland Trade CommissionWhat it does: Official summary: This bill creates the Utah-Ireland Trade Commission within the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor vetoed
2026 SB 197 Transportation Funding and Governance AmendmentsWhat it does: Would change the governance of a large public transit district to a transit commission. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2026 SB 237 Driver License Division and Motor Vehicle Division ConsolidationWhat it does: Official summary: This bill requires the Department of Public Safety and the State Tax Commission to conduct a joint study regarding the feasibility of consolidating certain motor vehicle-related divisions under a single umbrella agency. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2026 SB 123 Privacy and Cybersecurity AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to the Utah Cyber Center. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2026 SB 122 HOA AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions relating to homeowners' associations. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed
2026 SB 185 Child Welfare Parental Representation Program AmendmentsWhat it does: Would change how the executive director prepares the budget. le.utah.gov bill summary Governor signed

Key floor votes (links to official roll calls or bill pages):

Bill Subject Harper Tally Roll call
2024 HB 257 Sex-based designations for privacy/facilitiesWhat it does: Official summary: This bill establishes a standard regarding distinctions on the basis of sex and applies the standard in certain facilities and opportunities where designations on the basis of sex address individual privacy, bullying, and women's opportunities. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea — bill page
2024 HB 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives (DEI office changes)What it does: Official summary: This bill prohibits an institution of higher education, the public education system, and a governmental employer from taking certain actions and engaging in discriminatory practices. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea — bill page
2024 SB 57 Utah Constitutional Sovereignty ActWhat it does: Official summary: This bill enacts the Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea — bill page
2025 HB 267 Public sector labor union amendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions governing public employee, public safety, and public fire labor organizations. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Nay 16-13-0 vote
2025 HB 300 Election law (mail-ballot changes)What it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions relating to elections. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Nay 19-10-0 vote
2025 HB 77 Flag display restrictionsWhat it does: Would allow certain flags to be displayed on government property with some exceptions. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 21-8-0 vote
2025 SB 296 Judicial amendments (vetoed)What it does: Would modify the way the Supreme Court is run, including how its members are chosen and managed. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 17-12-0 vote
2025 S1 SB 1011 Redistricting standardsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill establishes statistical methods and standards to use in evaluating redistricting plans for compliance with state law. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 22-7 vote
2026 SB 134 Supreme Court expansion (5→7)What it does: Would increase the number of Utah Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and district court judges. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 21-8-0 vote
2026 HB 392 District court 3-judge panelsWhat it does: Would grant the attorney general the right to intervene in a civil action in the district court. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 22-7-0 vote
2026 SB 60 Income tax rate cutWhat it does: Would amend the corporate franchise and income tax rates and the individual income tax rate. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 22-7-0 vote
2026 HB 575 Fuel tax cutWhat it does: Would reduce the motor fuel tax rate. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 24-1-4 vote
2026 SB 287 Targeted advertising taxWhat it does: Official summary: This bill imposes a tax on targeted advertising in the state. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Nay (all three votes) 18-7-4; concurrence 23-6-0 3rd reading, concurrence
2026 HB 337 Nicotine product tax increaseWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to nicotine product taxes. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary Yea 27-0-2 vote

Party-line voting (independent academic dataset): party-line-vote support 88.1% (2025) and 89.2% (2026), near the Senate-Republican median (~90–91%); overall party support ~96% — Adam Brown, BYU, 2025, 2026.

Scorecards (third-party, from across the spectrum): Utah Taxpayers Association (fiscal/anti-tax) 2025: 100%, 5-yr average 85.23%, 2025 "Friend of the Taxpayer" (UTA 2025 PDF); UTA 2026: 80% (UTA 2026 PDF). Libertas Institute (libertarian) 2025: 76% (Libertas 2025 Index). Utah Education Association (teachers' union) 2025: 60% (3-2-1) (UEA PDF). Alliance for a Better Utah (progressive) 2025: F (−6/49) (ABU PDF).

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Key roll calls on Ask topics (2025–2026 general sessions; added Oct 12, 2026)

Selected final-passage and concurrence votes on the ten Ask topics, prioritising contested votes, from le.utah.gov roll-call records.

Date Bill Title Stage Vote Tally Topics Source
3/3/2026 2026 SB 97 Tax Revenue AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to tax revenue. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 14-15-0 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
2/18/2026 2026 SB 65 Minimum Basic Tax Rate AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions related to the minimum basic tax that school districts impose. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 18-11-0 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
2/23/2026 2026 SB 62 School Funding AmendmentsWhat it does: Would change the flexible allocation to teacher and classroom salary support. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 17-12-0 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
3/3/2026 2026 SB 314 Sleep Disorders Education AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses public health education related to sleep disorders. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 16-12-1 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
3/6/2026 2026 SB 284 Local Land and Water ModificationsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to local land use and water. This vote decided whether to accept the other chamber's version. A Yea vote supported accepting it. le.utah.gov bill summary concurrence Yea 24-3-2 (yea-nay-absent) water vote
3/3/2026 2026 SB 262 Law Enforcement Usage of Unmarked VehiclesWhat it does: Official summary: This bill prohibits a law enforcement agency from using an unmarked law enforcement vehicle for certain purposes. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 8-18-3 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
2/27/2026 2026 SB 169 High School Graduation AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill ensures students meeting graduation requirements can participate in graduation ceremonies. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 13-12-4 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
2/10/2026 2026 SB 137 Homeless Services Board AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends the membership of the Utah Homeless Services Board. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 13-11-5 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
3/6/2026 2026 HB 84 Dangerous Weapon AmendmentsWhat it does: See the linked official text. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 18-5-6 (yea-nay-absent) guns / firearms vote
3/5/2026 2026 HB 76 Data Center Water Transparency AmendmentsWhat it does: Would require large data centers to report water use and communicate with water providers. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 13-15-1 (yea-nay-absent) water vote
2/20/2026 2026 HB 60 Water Rights AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses water rights and the state engineer's actions related to water rights. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 18-7-4 (yea-nay-absent) water vote
3/5/2026 2026 HB 546 Public Lands Duty of Care AmendmentsWhat it does: Would direct the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office to map landscape-scale public lands. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 17-7-5 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
3/4/2026 2026 HB 502 School Attendance ModificationsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill creates citizenship grade standards, attendance-based grading, and a test-out option for core classes. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 12-16-1 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
3/5/2026 2026 HB 48 Criminal and Juvenile Justice ChangesWhat it does: Would make changes to the criminal and juvenile justice system's laws and procedures. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 20-7-2 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
2/20/2026 2026 HB 404 Sex-Designated Housing AmendmentsWhat it does: Would allow a landlord to restrict housing to individuals of the same biological sex. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 19-7-3 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
2/20/2026 2026 HB 314 Firearm Purchase AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses provisions related to the purchase of a firearm. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 18-6-5 (yea-nay-absent) guns / firearms vote
3/5/2026 2026 HB 259 Parental Access to Children's Medical Records AmendmentsWhat it does: Would require health care facilities to give parents free access to their child's medical records. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 22-6-1 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
3/4/2026 2026 HB 241 Charter School AmendmentsWhat it does: Would give charter schools the same right as other eligible entities to buy old school property. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 10-17-2 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
3/6/2026 2026 HB 170 School Board Referendum AmendmentsWhat it does: Would let voters who live in a school district hold a referendum on a law passed by the local school board, including a law that raises a tax or creates a new tax. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 9-15-5 (yea-nay-absent) education vote
2/12/2025 2025 SB 78 Homeless Individuals Protection AmendmentsWhat it does: Would create an ombudsman within the Office of Homeless Services. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 18-8-3 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
2/20/2025 2025 SB 37 Minimum Basic Tax Rate AmendmentsWhat it does: Would require school districts to remit tax revenue to the state and cover program costs with state funding. This vote decided whether to accept the other chamber's version. A Yea vote supported accepting it. le.utah.gov bill summary concurrence Yea 20-8-1 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
3/4/2025 2025 SB 310 Transportation Utility Fee AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill deals with a municipality's or county's ability to impose a transportation utility fee. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Absent/not voting 17-8-4 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
2/5/2025 2025 SB 31 Refugee Services AmendmentsWhat it does: Would create the Refugee Services Office within the Department of Workforce Services. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 28-0-1 (yea-nay-absent) immigration vote
2/24/2025 2025 SB 197 Property Tax AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to property tax. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 15-10-4 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
3/7/2025 2025 SB 149 Natural Resources ModificationsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to hunting and public lands under the Department of Natural Resources. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Nay 16-11-2 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
2/12/2025 2025 SB 140 Law Enforcement DNA AmendmentsWhat it does: Would allow DNA processing 60 days after a warrant is issued if it remains outstanding. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 20-8-1 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
3/6/2025 2025 HB 77 Flag Display AmendmentsWhat it does: Would allow certain flags to be displayed on government property with some exceptions. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 21-8-0 (yea-nay-absent) LGBTQ / transgender vote
3/6/2025 2025 HB 562 Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to law enforcement and criminal justice. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 17-11-1 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 542 Economic Development AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill amends provisions of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 17-9-3 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
3/6/2025 2025 HB 378 Department of Natural Resources Funding AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses revenue and expenditures related to funding state accounts within the Department of Natural Resources. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 20-6-3 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 37 Utah Housing AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill deals with housing development and housing policy. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 22-6-1 (yea-nay-absent) growth / housing vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 355 Mining and Critical Infrastructure Materials AmendmentsWhat it does: See the linked official text. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Absent/not voting 17-7-5 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 311 Watershed AmendmentsWhat it does: Would clarify when a water commissioner is treated as a regular full-time employee. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 21-4-4 (yea-nay-absent) water vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 274 Water AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses regulations related to water. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 17-10-2 (yea-nay-absent) water vote
2/21/2025 2025 HB 264 Tax Incentives AmendmentsWhat it does: Would limit income tax credits for clean energy systems to those placed in service before January 1, 2035. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 16-7-6 (yea-nay-absent) taxes vote
3/5/2025 2025 HB 249 Nuclear Power AmendmentsWhat it does: Would create the Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Utah Energy Council. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 22-6-1 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
3/6/2025 2025 HB 226 Criminal AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses criminal offenses and repercussions from those offenses. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 21-8-0 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
3/5/2025 2025 HB 207 Sexual Offense RevisionsWhat it does: Would change certain laws and sentencing for repeat and habitual sex offenders. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Absent/not voting 16-10-3 (yea-nay-absent) public safety / policing vote
2/20/2025 2025 HB 201 Energy Resource AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill modifies provisions related to the evaluation of integrated resource plans by the Public Service Commission. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 21-6-2 (yea-nay-absent) environment / Great Salt Lake vote
3/3/2025 2025 HB 195 Firearm Retention AmendmentsWhat it does: Would require law enforcement to return seized firearms to individuals if they are not charged with a crime. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 21-6-2 (yea-nay-absent) guns / firearms vote
3/7/2025 2025 HB 104 Firearm Safety in Schools AmendmentsWhat it does: Official summary: This bill addresses firearm safety instruction in public schools. A Yea vote supported passing it. le.utah.gov bill summary final passage Yea 19-6-4 (yea-nay-absent) guns / firearms, education vote
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Campaign finance
  • Filing folder: disclosures.utah.gov/…/FolderDetails/1070. The folder page showed "No Reports Have Been Filed for 2026" when viewed (not an election year for SD16).
  • 2024-cycle totals and top contributor categories: not retrieved — the portal blocked automated retrieval with a CAPTCHA (see Gaps). Third-party aggregators (Follow the Money) also could not be loaded.
Disclosures
  • Annual Conflict of Interest disclosure filed 1/6/2026 — disclosures.utah.gov folder 1070.
  • Older Senate CofI form (Dec 2018) on le.utah.gov — HARPEWA.pdf: employer Taylorsville City (Economic Development Director); owner of Wayne Harper Consulting; board roles including the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board, NCSL executive committee, and Jordan Valley Medical Centers.
  • Context (neutral): Sen. Harper sponsors many economic-development, tax and community-reinvestment bills while disclosing municipal economic-development employment; Utah law requires disclosure. Current (2026) form text not retrieved.
Election history
Year Office Result Source
2024 SD16 general Harper (R) 24,923 (57.47%) def. Monnica Manuel (Unaffiliated) 18,447 (42.53%) SL County 2024 canvass
2012–2020 Senate general elections Won Ballotpedia
1996–2010 House general elections Won Ballotpedia
Lobbying & ethics
  • Lobbyist ties: Lobbyist expenditure reports naming legislators are filed at disclosures.utah.gov; not retrieved (CAPTCHA). No other public-record lobbyist ties identified.
  • Ethics complaints: No complaint against Sen. Harper before the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission or a Senate ethics committee was found in public news or legislative sources.
Office & term
Item Detail Source
Office Utah State Senate, District 16 (Salt Lake County, incl. Taylorsville) le.utah.gov legislator data
Party Republican le.utah.gov
Leadership Senate President Pro Tempore le.utah.gov
Service Utah House Jan 1, 1997 – Dec 31, 2012; Utah Senate since Jan 1, 2013 le.utah.gov
Current term 4-year term won Nov 2024; runs through Dec 31, 2028 Salt Lake County 2024 canvass; Ballotpedia
Next election November 2028 (SD16 is not on the 2026 ballot) 2026 General Election Certification
Committees (2026) Criminal Justice Appropriations; Transportation & Infrastructure Appropriations; Political Subdivisions Interim; Retirement & Independent Entities Interim; Transportation Interim; Senate Revenue & Taxation; Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy & Technology; Senate confirmation committees le.utah.gov
Stated affiliation
Item Detail Source
Party registration / ballot label Republican (2024 ballot) SL County 2024 canvass
Self-description Official profile describes his profession as "Taylorsville City; Business and Economic Development Consulting" and lists economic-development and archival affiliations; no explicit ideological self-label found in official sources reviewed. le.utah.gov
Caucus memberships Senate Republican caucus (majority); elected leadership (President Pro Tempore). le.utah.gov
Professional affiliations listed officially Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board (President); Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board; Utah State Capitol Preservation Board; Utah Alliance for Economic Development; International Economic Development Council; International Council of Shopping Centers; past West Jordan City Council member le.utah.gov
Contact (official)
Known gaps

Gaps

  • 2024 campaign-finance totals and contributor breakdown; 2026 CofI form text; lobbyist expenditure reports — all on disclosures.utah.gov (public, CAPTCHA-gated; retrieve manually).
  • Earlier election margins (2012–2020) were not individually verified against canvass documents.
  • Ethics complaint records: GRAMA request to the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission (staffed by the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel), subject to confidentiality rules for dismissed complaints.
  • Libertas score from a search snippet of the Libertas index page (page blocked automated fetch); verify.
About this office: Utah House and Senate member

Part-time citizen legislators who write and pass Utah's laws and the state budget in a 45-day session each winter. The House has 75 members (two-year terms) and the Senate 29 (four-year terms).

Role
State legislator (House: 2-year term; Senate: 4-year term)
Hours
Part-time
Pay
$301/day; typical total about $25k–30k a year
Typical week
In session six days a week from late January to early March; interim committee days about once a month the rest of the year; constituent work year-round

Responsibilities and powers

  • The Legislature holds the state's legislative power. Representatives serve two-year terms and senators four-year terms (Utah Constitution Art. VI, Sec. 1 and 3; Legislature roster).
  • Passes laws and the annual state budget (appropriations acts), sets judges' salaries (for example S.B. 8, 2026), and the Senate confirms the governor's appointments, including judges (Utah Code 67-8-2).
  • Session: the annual general session begins "the first Tuesday after the third Monday in January" (Utah Code 36-3-201) and lasts 45 calendar days (Utah Constitution Art. VI, Sec. 16).
  • Taylorsville is split among House Districts 31, 35, 36 and 37 and Senate Districts 12 and 16.

A typical week

  • During the session (late Jan to early Mar): floor time and standing committees most of the day, Monday through Friday, plus some Saturdays, with appropriations subcommittees early in the session [INFERRED from the 45-day calendar; see the Legislature's session calendar].
  • Interim (spring to fall): legislators are paid for "interim days (designated by the Legislative Management Committee)" and other approved committee, task force and commission meetings, plus up to 10 training days (Legislative Compensation Commission report). Interim days are usually held about once a month [INFERRED].
  • Year-round: one representative told the Compensation Commission, "I consistently spend at least 20 hours per week during the interim responding to constituents, attending events and committee meetings, and working on legislation—without any compensation" (same report, p.47).

Time commitment

  • Part-time, but heavy: essentially full-time for seven weeks of session, then about 10–20+ hours a week in the interim [INFERRED from the Commission's survey]. Most legislators keep their regular jobs.

Staff and budget

  • No personal district staff. Legislators rely on the Legislature's shared nonpartisan offices (legislative research and general counsel, fiscal analyst, auditor general) and caucus staff [INFERRED from the Legislature's structure; survey comments in the Compensation Commission report].

Pay

  • $301 a day for authorized legislative days: the 45-day session is paid as a $13,545 lump sum in January. Typical total is about $25k–30k a year (FY2025). Receipted lodging, meals and mileage are reimbursed, plus a phone allowance; leaders get a $3k–5k stipend. The rate rises to $316 a day on Jan 1, 2027 unless lawmakers reject it (Compensation Commission report; Transparent Utah).

Sources

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Sources