The 2018 Libertas Legislator Index


Index Key Vote agrees with Libertas' position Vote conflicts with Libertas' position Legislator was absent or did not vote Legislator sponsored the bill(awarded 2% if it's a bill we support,
docked 2% if we opposed)

While hundreds of votes are cast each year, Libertas chooses for its index the bills that directly relate to our mission to defend personal freedom, property rights, free markets, justice and due process, and limited and open government.

The overall ranking for the legislature for this year is .

Don't know who your Representative or Senator is? Use our lookup tool to find out.

Tip: You can hover over any of the bill numbers in the top row to learn more about it, and see which vote Libertas supports.
Click any table cell in the header to re-sort the entire table.

House of Representatives (view the Senate)

Legislator HB19Health Insurance Right to Shop Amendments

This bill requires the government public employee health care provider to split the difference with somebody on their plan to finds a cheaper option for select medical services, thereby creating an incentive to shop around.

This bill passed the House 51-22 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB125Duty to Assist in an Emergency

This bill would have created a crime for failure to report an emergency or commission of a crime. While moral or ethical concern is appropriate, it is wrong to criminalize non-action, especially when there may be legitimate reasons why a person would not be able to willing to call authorities in a particular circumstance.

This bill failed in the House 20-51. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB144Driver License Suspension Amendments

Before this bill, roughly 8,000 Utahns had their driver licenses suspended each year for drug offenses that had nothing to do with operating a vehicle. This bill eliminated that option, ensuring that driver licenses are only suspended in cases where the offense pertained to operating a vehicle.

This bill passed the House 50-16 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
HB181Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act

This bill establishes a process whereby food producers can directly sell their items to consenting customers without being subject to regulation, inspection, certification, and more. Informed consumers should be free to transact with one another without regulatory interference.

This bill passed the House 64-7 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB196Breastfeeding Protection Act

This bill violates property rights by forcing business owners to accommodate nursing mothers on their property. While this natural and important act should be encouraged, it is not the role of government to compel property owners to permit its conduct on their premises.

This bill passed the House 66-5 and passed the Senate 22-2.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
HB197Cannabis Cultivation Amendments

This bill puts the state in charge of growing cannabis for research and extremely limited use for those on their death bed. It also requires the government to determine the price of the cannabis. Utah's Constitution requires a free market and monopolies, such as the one established by this bill, are inherently problematic.

This bill passed the House 38-32 and passed the Senate 20-5. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB248Compensatory Service in Lieu of Fine Amendments

This bill provides all defendants of class B misdemeanors and below an option to choose community service instead of paying a fine. Indigent Utahns especially deserve an alternative options so they are not subjected to late fees, interest, and arrest for failure to pay.

This bill passed the House unanimously and passed the Senate 22-1. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
HB260Professional Licensing Revisions

This bill would have allowed law enforcement officers to access the controlled substance database without a warrant—a repository of private, sensitive medical information. This information should not be released without judicial oversight.

This bill passed the House 39-32 and failed in the Senate 9-18. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HB284Criminal Procedure Amendments

This bill would have created an opportunity for a jury to be informed of their power to acquit a defendant if a conviction would cause a manifest injustice to occur.

This bill failed in the House 30-39. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 6% of the Index score.
HB293Tax Rebalancing Revisions

This bill slightly lowers the income tax rate and increases the state's tax competitiveness by allowing select companies to choose a more simple tax formula, but it also contains property tax increases that result in a net tax increase of tens of millions of dollars per year. This tax increase is especially problematic since this year the state had a surplus of half a billion dollars.

This bill passed the House 50-23 and passed the Senate 25-3. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 1% of the Index score.
HB301Legal Notice Amendments

This bill would have allowed people to serve legal notices directly on a person if their location was known, rather than having to do so in a newspaper. These legal notices compel Utahns to subsidize newspapers, and should not be required if a person can be directly served another way.

This bill passed the House 42-26 but did not receive a Senate vote. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 6% of the Index score.
HB309Drug Distribution Induced Homicide

This bill would have allowed drug dealers to be charged with homicide if the drugs they sold or shared with another person caused that person to die. This bill violates "mens rea" by charging person with a crime they did not intend to commit.

This bill passed the House 45-23 and failed in the Senate 11-12. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HB323Licensing and Practice Acts Amendments

This bill provided some changes to occupational licensure, exempting a couple industries from licensure requirements. In the House, the bill also contained important legal changes to make it easier for Utahns to become a cosmetologist or barber through an apprenticeship, but these changes were removed before the Senate voted on it.

This bill passed the House 38-33. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HB327Rural Online Initiative

This bill spends over $2 million helping rural Utahns learn about existing job opportunities online. Taxpayers should not have to pay to educate Utahns in rural areas about online options that they can already learn about through their own work. This effort should be privately funded and operated using industry, religious, or nonprofit support. The sponsors of this bill have not even attempted to do this.

This bill passed the House 65-1 and passed the Senate 22-1. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB336Fine Amendments

This bill ensures that a person cannot be charged more than 25% in fines and interest compared to the original amount of a fee or citation they were charged.

This bill passed the House 71-2 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HJR20Joint Resolution Submitting a Question to Voters

This bill gives voters the option of raising the gas tax by 33% in order to generate over $120 million annually for public education and higher education. This was unnecessarily done in a year with a half billion dollar surplus, and only a few years after the gas taxes were previously raised.

This bill passed the House 55-17 and passed the Senate 24-4.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
SB30Aggravated Murder Amendments

This bill adds to the list of persons who, if killed by another, can lead toward the death penalty for the person who caused the death. Capital punishment is an ineffective deterrent and can lead to the execution of innocent people, and should be opposed. Expanding this list establishes a "second class citizen" of sorts by elevating some people and professions over others.

This bill passed the Senate 22-3 and passed the House 39-29. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB54Marriage and Premarital Counseling and Education Amendments

This bill takes an additional $20 from marriage licensure applicants and only returns it if they undergo pre-marital counseling or education.

This bill passed the Senate 23-4 and passed the House 44-24. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB57Police Service Animal Amendments

This bill made it a 2nd degree felony to kill a police service animal. This increased penalty is unnecessarily punitive and will not act as any sort of improved deterrent to dissuade a person from harming a law enforcement officer's dog.

This bill passed the Senate 20-6 and passed the House 43-24. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB65Child Neglect Amendments

This bill specifies that a parent cannot be charged with neglect simply because their children are independently walking to a store, playing at a park, or engaging in a similar activity. Parental rights should not be violated merely because a "concerned citizen" calls the police because they are worried about a child's safety.

This bill passed both the Senate and House unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB104Talent Development and Retention Strategy

This bill uses $2.5 million in taxes to incentivize adult-age college students into certain careers, unfairly benefitting some industries and companies over others. Adults should be free to choose what field they wish to study and not be enticed with taxpayer dollars.

This bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House 49-14. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB108Raw Milk Amendments

This bill lowers the barrier for Utahns to sell and buy raw milk. Individuals should be free to acquire this natural product if they wish, without regulatory roadblocks that make it difficult to obtain.

This bill passed the Senate 21-6 and passed the House unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB122Bond Elections Amendments

This bill ensures that taxpayers who vote for a bond are only required to repay the precise amount for which they were asked, and no more.

This bill passed the Senate 23-3 and passed the House 40-28. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB129Private Investigator License Revisions

This bill reduces some of the regulatory licensure barriers preventing private investigators from obtaining necessary permission to work.

This bill passed the Senate 27-1 and passed the House 38-30. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB136Transportation Governance Amendments

This bill reforms the Utah Transit Authority but in the process, increases registration fees by roughly $5 million per year by 2020. It also empowers local governments to raise sales taxes by 0.20%, leading to an increase in tax revenue of over $100 million per year.

This bill passed the Senate 17-10 and passed the House 40-32. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB146Technology Summit Incentives

This bill proposed to give $1 million (later cut to $250k) to Silicon Slopes to help boost their annual conference. Taxpayer dollars should not be given to a private organization for their event.

This bill passed the Senate 18-9 and passed the House 57-15. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB167Food Truck Regulation Amendments

This bill adds additional restriction to last year's Food Truck Freedom law, streamlining regulations and protecting property rights to ensure mobile food operators can more easily engage in commerce without undue interference from city bureaucrats.

This bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House 67-1. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 2% of the Index score.
2018 Rating
Acton, C.K. (R)YesYesYesxNoxYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes65%
Albrecht, C. (R)YesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYes46%
Arent, P. (D)YesNoYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYes37%
Barlow, S. (R)NoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYes59%
Briscoe, J. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYes37%
Brooks, W. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYes63%
Chavez-Houck, R. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesxNoNoNoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesxYesNoNoYes38%
Chew, S. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesxNoYesYesYesNoYesNoNoNoYesYes52%
Christensen, L. (R)YesYesYesYesxYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesNoNoYesx46%
Christofferson, K. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYes62%
Coleman, K. (R)YesYesxYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYes86%
Cutler, B. R. (R)NoYesxYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoxNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesxYesYesNoYesNoYes44%
Daw, B. (R)YesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYes36.5%
Duckworth, S. (D)NoNoYesYesNoNoYesxNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNox31%
Dunnigan, J. (R)NoYesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYes43%
Edwards, R. (R)NoYesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYes24.5%
Eliason, S. (R)YesYesNoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoYesYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYes43%
Fawson, J. (R)YesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesxYesYesNoYesNoNoYesxYes57%
Froerer, G. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesxxYesYesYesNoYes73%
Gibson, F. (R)NoYesxYesNoNoYesYesYesYesxYesYesxYesxxNoYesxNoYesYesxYesNoYes72.5%
Greene, B. (R)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes99.5%
Grover, K. (R)xYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoYesxNoYesYesxNoNoYes59%
Hall, C. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoxNoxYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYes68%
Handy, S. (R)YesYesNoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNox31%
Hawkes, T. (R)YesYesxNoNoNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYes48%
Hemingway, L. (D)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx0%
Hollins, S. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesxNoxNoxYesxxYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYes47%
Hughes, G. (R)NoxYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoxxNoxxYesxxNoNox47%
Hutchings, E. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNo56.5%
Ivory, K. (R)YesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes80%
Kennedy, M. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYes72%
King, Brian S. (D)YesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesxNoYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYes38%
Knotwell, J. (R)YesYesYesYesxYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesxYesYesxYesYesYesxNoYes86%
Kwan, K. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoxNoNoYes39%
Last, B. (R)YesYesNoYesNoNoYesNoxYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNoxYesNoxxYesNoNox42%
Lisonbee, K. (R)YesYesYesYesYesNoxYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes84%
Maloy, A. Cory (R)YesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes77%
McCay, D. (R)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes97.5%
McKell, M. (R)YesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoxYesxYesxYesxYesNoNoYes71%
Miles, K. (R)NoYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYes50%
Moss, C. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoxNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYes35%
Moss, J. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesxYesYesYesYesNoYes91%
Nelson, M. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesxYesNoNoNoYesYes39%
Noel, M. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoxYesxNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYes50%
Owens, D.R. (R)YesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesNoNoxNoNoxYesNoNoNoNoxNoYesNoYesNoNoYes43%
Perry, L. (R)YesNoNoYesxNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYes30%
Peterson, J. (R)YesNoYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoxxxxYesNoNoNoYesxYesYesNoYesNoYesYes55%
Peterson, V. (R)YesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYes60%
Pitcher, D. (R)YesNoYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYes51%
Potter, V. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoxYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYes48%
Poulson, M. (D)NoNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYes29%
Pulsipher, S. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYes63%
Quinn, T. (R)YesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoxYesxYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNox79%
Ray, P. (R)YesYesxYesNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesxYesYesNoNoNoYes38.5%
Redd, E. (R)YesNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesNoNoxYes34%
Roberts, M. (R)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesxYesYesYes100%
Robertson, A. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYes72%
Romero, A. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoxYesNoxYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYes49%
Sagers, D. (R)NoYesNoNoNoNoxYesNoNoNoxYesNoYesNoNoxNoYesNoYesYesNoxNoYes35%
Sandall, S. (R)YesYesxNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYes28%
Schultz, M. (R)YesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesxNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoxxYesxxYesYesNoNoYes56.5%
Seegmiller, T. (R)xxxxNoxYesxYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesxYesYesNoNoYesYesYes67%
Snow, V. L. (R)NoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoxNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYes32.5%
Spendlove, R. (R)YesNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoYesxYesYesxNoNoYes44%
Stratton, K. (R)YesNoNoYesNoNoYesYesxNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYes64%
Thurston, N. (R)YesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes84%
Ward, R. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoxNoNoYesNoYesxNoNoNoYes50%
Watkins, C. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesxNoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYes52%
Webb, R. C. (R)NoYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesYesNoYesNoNoNoYesYes39%
Weight, E. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYes36%
Westwood, J. (R)NoYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYes38%
Wheatley, M. (D)NoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoxNoxxYesNoNoNoNoYesxYesNoYesNoNoYes43%
Wilde, L. (R)YesYesYesNoNoxYesNoNoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYes52%
Wilson, B. (R)NoxxYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesxYesxYesNoNoNoxxNoYesYesNoNoNoYes46%
Winder, M. (R)YesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYes66%

Senate

Legislator HB19Health Insurance Right to Shop Amendments

This bill requires the government public employee health care provider to split the difference with somebody on their plan to finds a cheaper option for select medical services, thereby creating an incentive to shop around.

This bill passed the House 51-22 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB144Driver License Suspension Amendments

Before this bill, roughly 8,000 Utahns had their driver licenses suspended each year for drug offenses that had nothing to do with operating a vehicle. This bill eliminated that option, ensuring that driver licenses are only suspended in cases where the offense pertained to operating a vehicle.

This bill passed the House 50-16 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
HB181Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act

This bill establishes a process whereby food producers can directly sell their items to consenting customers without being subject to regulation, inspection, certification, and more. Informed consumers should be free to transact with one another without regulatory interference.

This bill passed the House 64-7 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB196Breastfeeding Protection Act

This bill violates property rights by forcing business owners to accommodate nursing mothers on their property. While this natural and important act should be encouraged, it is not the role of government to compel property owners to permit its conduct on their premises.

This bill passed the House 66-5 and passed the Senate 22-2.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
HB197Cannabis Cultivation Amendments

This bill puts the state in charge of growing cannabis for research and extremely limited use for those on their death bed. It also requires the government to determine the price of the cannabis. Utah's Constitution requires a free market and monopolies, such as the one established by this bill, are inherently problematic.

This bill passed the House 38-32 and passed the Senate 20-5. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB248Compensatory Service in Lieu of Fine Amendments

This bill provides all defendants of class B misdemeanors and below an option to choose community service instead of paying a fine. Indigent Utahns especially deserve an alternative options so they are not subjected to late fees, interest, and arrest for failure to pay.

This bill passed the House unanimously and passed the Senate 22-1. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB260Professional Licensing Revisions

This bill would have allowed law enforcement officers to access the controlled substance database without a warrant—a repository of private, sensitive medical information. This information should not be released without judicial oversight.

This bill passed the House 39-32 and failed in the Senate 9-18. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 6% of the Index score.
HB293Tax Rebalancing Revisions

This bill slightly lowers the income tax rate and increases the state's tax competitiveness by allowing select companies to choose a more simple tax formula, but it also contains property tax increases that result in a net tax increase of tens of millions of dollars per year. This tax increase is especially problematic since this year the state had a surplus of half a billion dollars.

This bill passed the House 50-23 and passed the Senate 25-3. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 1% of the Index score.
HB309Drug Distribution Induced Homicide

This bill would have allowed drug dealers to be charged with homicide if the drugs they sold or shared with another person caused that person to die. This bill violates "mens rea" by charging person with a crime they did not intend to commit.

This bill passed the House 45-23 and failed in the Senate 11-12. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HB327Rural Online Initiative

This bill spends over $2 million helping rural Utahns learn about existing job opportunities online. Taxpayers should not have to pay to educate Utahns in rural areas about online options that they can already learn about through their own work. This effort should be privately funded and operated using industry, religious, or nonprofit support. The sponsors of this bill have not even attempted to do this.

This bill passed the House 65-1 and passed the Senate 22-1. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
HB336Fine Amendments

This bill ensures that a person cannot be charged more than 25% in fines and interest compared to the original amount of a fee or citation they were charged.

This bill passed the House 71-2 and passed the Senate unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HJR11Joint Rules Resolution on Base Budgeting Provisions

This bill would have required legislative committees to begin utilizing zero-based budgeting for a portion of their budget each year, to provide closer scrutiny of each use of taxpayer resources.

This bill passed the House unanimously but failed in the Senate 12-12. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
HJR20Joint Resolution Submitting a Question to Voters

This bill gives voters the option of raising the gas tax by 33% in order to generate over $120 million annually for public education and higher education. This was unnecessarily done in a year with a half billion dollar surplus, and only a few years after the gas taxes were previously raised.

This bill passed the House 55-17 and passed the Senate 24-4.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
SB30Aggravated Murder Amendments

This bill adds to the list of persons who, if killed by another, can lead toward the death penalty for the person who caused the death. Capital punishment is an ineffective deterrent and can lead to the execution of innocent people, and should be opposed. Expanding this list establishes a "second class citizen" of sorts by elevating some people and professions over others.

This bill passed the Senate 22-3 and passed the House 39-29. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB54Marriage and Premarital Counseling and Education Amendments

This bill takes an additional $20 from marriage licensure applicants and only returns it if they undergo pre-marital counseling or education.

This bill passed the Senate 23-4 and passed the House 44-24. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB57Police Service Animal Amendments

This bill made it a 2nd degree felony to kill a police service animal. This increased penalty is unnecessarily punitive and will not act as any sort of improved deterrent to dissuade a person from harming a law enforcement officer's dog.

This bill passed the Senate 20-6 and passed the House 43-24. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB65Child Neglect Amendments

This bill specifies that a parent cannot be charged with neglect simply because their children are independently walking to a store, playing at a park, or engaging in a similar activity. Parental rights should not be violated merely because a "concerned citizen" calls the police because they are worried about a child's safety.

This bill passed both the Senate and House unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB104Talent Development and Retention Strategy

This bill uses $2.5 million in taxes to incentivize adult-age college students into certain careers, unfairly benefitting some industries and companies over others. Adults should be free to choose what field they wish to study and not be enticed with taxpayer dollars.

This bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House 49-14. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB108Raw Milk Amendments

This bill lowers the barrier for Utahns to sell and buy raw milk. Individuals should be free to acquire this natural product if they wish, without regulatory roadblocks that make it difficult to obtain.

This bill passed the Senate 21-6 and passed the House unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
SB122Bond Elections Amendments

This bill ensures that taxpayers who vote for a bond are only required to repay the precise amount for which they were asked, and no more.

This bill passed the Senate 23-3 and passed the House 40-28. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB129Private Investigator License Revisions

This bill reduces some of the regulatory licensure barriers preventing private investigators from obtaining necessary permission to work.

This bill passed the Senate 27-1 and passed the House 38-30. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB136Transportation Governance Amendments

This bill reforms the Utah Transit Authority but in the process, increases registration fees by roughly $5 million per year by 2020. It also empowers local governments to raise sales taxes by 0.20%, leading to an increase in tax revenue of over $100 million per year.

This bill passed the Senate 17-10 and passed the House 40-32. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 3% of the Index score.
SB146Technology Summit Incentives

This bill proposed to give $1 million (later cut to $250k) to Silicon Slopes to help boost their annual conference. Taxpayer dollars should not be given to a private organization for their event.

This bill passed the Senate 18-9 and failed in the House 30-37. Libertas supports a "nay" vote.

This vote accounts for 5% of the Index score.
SB154Prohibition of Law Enforcement Quotas

This bill prohibited police quotas in Utah.

This bill passed the Senate 23-2 and passed the House unanimously. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
SB167Food Truck Regulation Amendments

This bill adds additional restriction to last year's Food Truck Freedom law, streamlining regulations and protecting property rights to ensure mobile food operators can more easily engage in commerce without undue interference from city bureaucrats.

This bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House 67-1. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 2% of the Index score.
SB172Medicaid Waiver Amendments

This bill aimed to acquire waivers for Medicaid from the federal government to operate this welfare program with increased flexibility and efficiency.

This bill passed the Senate 20-6 but was not considered by the House. Libertas supports a "yea" vote.

This vote accounts for 4% of the Index score.
2018 Rating
Adams, J. Stuart (R)YesYesYesxNoYesNoNoNoxYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes52.5%
Anderegg, J. (R)YesYesYesNoYesxYesNoxxxYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes74%
Bramble, C. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesxNoNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes59%
Buxton, D. G. (R)YesYesYesNoNoxNoNoxNoxNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYes35%
Christensen, A. (R)YesYesYesxNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYes47%
Dabakis, J. (D)YesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoNoYesNoNoYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesNo58%
Davis, G. (D)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesxYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoYesYesNoNoxYesNo46%
Dayton, M. (R)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesx81%
Escamilla, L. (D)YesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesxYesYesYesNoYesYesNo68%
Fillmore, L. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesxYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes77%
Harper, W. (R)YesYesYesNoNoxYesNoxxxNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes48.5%
Hemmert, D. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYes66.5%
Henderson, D. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoxYesxxNoNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYes67%
Hillyard, L. (R)YesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYes37%
Hinkins, D. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoNoxYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYes61.5%
Ipson, D. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYes50%
Iwamoto, J. (D)YesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNo61%
Knudson, P. (R)YesYesYesxNoYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYes52%
Mayne, K. (D)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo49%
Millner, A. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoxYesYesYesNoNoYesxYes39%
Niederhauser, W. (R)YesYesYesNoxxxNoxNoxxNoNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoxYesYes51%
Okerlund, R. (R)YesxxxxxxxxxxxxNoNoNoYesNoYesxYesxNoYesYesYes56%
Stephenson, H. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYes74.5%
Stevenson, J. (R)xxxxNoYesNoNoNoNoxNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoxYesYesYes37%
Thatcher, D. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoYesxYesNoNoYesYesYes47%
Van Tassell, K. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes54%
Vickers, E. (R)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes83%
Weiler, T. (R)YesYesYesNoNoxYesNoYesNoYesxNoNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNo62.5%
Zehnder, B. (R)YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesNo49%

Note: We award one point for each bill we asked a legislator to sponsor, but that did not make it on the index. We also award half a point to floor sponsors of bills on our index we support, and deduct half a point from floor sponsors of bills on our index we oppose.

Note: Like any legislative index, this one is based on a limited sampling of an elected official's voting record. It is important to do your own in-depth research when determining whether or not to support a candidate for office and consider other factors, including unreported committee or subcommittee service and constituent interaction.