With the growth of artificial intelligence and more data centers being built in Utah, the state's electricity needs are expected to increase exponentially in the coming years. That growing demand has some politicians in the Beehive State worried that production won't be able to keep up. Governor Spencer Cox has proposed big changes through his "Operation Gigawatt". And the Utah State Legislature has responded by passing several bills in recent years that seek to shore up Utah's energy position.

Our expert panel discusses how the new laws impact our overall energy equation, and how innovation will play a role in the future.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Derek Miller, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber — Natalie Gochnour, Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah — and State Sen. Scott Sandall, a Republican from Tremonton and Vice Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

The deadline has passed for Governor Spencer Cox to sign legislation from the 2025 General Session. He ended up vetoing 7 bills this year, and allowed two more to become law without his signature. Our expert panel examines some of the thought processes that go into making these executive decisions.

Of the bills he vetoed, SB296 (sponsored by Sen. Chris Wilson, R-Logan) would have hanged the way the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court is appointed. Currently, the sitting justices choose amongs themselves who will be Chief. But this bill would have required the Governor to nominate a Chief Justice, and the Senate to approve that nomination every four years. Gov. Cox had concerns this could politicize the role. Legislative leaders are now frustrated, because the final version of this bill came about through negotiation with members of the judicial branch. Lawmakers could call themselves into special session to override the veto, but that would require a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate.

Utah statute allows bills to become law if the Governor doesn't sign them within 20 days after the end of the legislative session. The Governor utilized this tool by not signing two bills this year. One bans fluoride from being added to state water systems. The other specifies which flags can be flown at public buildings, effectively banning pride flags from classrooms and government property. In a letter to legislative leadership, the governor highlighted his concerns with both bills. We discuss why he likely opted not to veto these two pieces of legislation.

Plus, we remember the legacy of former Congresswoman Mia Love. The two-term represenative from Utah's 4th Congressional District passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025 following a three-year battle with brain cancer.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Doug Wilks, executive editor of the Deseret News — Mara Carabellow, president of the Exoro Group — and Sean Higgins, politics reporter with KUER News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has less than a week left so sign or veto bills from the 2025 General Legislative Session. This year lawmakers passed 582 proposals and resolutions, a number the governor believes is far too high. Cox says he may veto some of the measures, but there are others that he will still sign even though he isn't in 100% agreement with the legislation. Our expert panel discusses why the governor may, or may not, use his constitutional authority to override the legislature.

At the federal level, executive power is also in the limelight. This week, Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the U.S. Dept. of Education to begin shutting down. Gov. Cox has been a vocal proponent of this move, saying that education should be under the perview of states. Opponents of this idea worry it will leave at-risk students without access to important funding. But the president insists key programs will still be administered by other federal agencies.

There is also growing friction between the executive branch and the federal judicial system. Pres. Donald Trump has suggested the federal judges who rule against his executive orders should face impeachment. This led U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robers to issue a rare public statement, affirming the independence of the courts. We discuss what is playing out on the national stage, and how prominent Utahns are entering the discussion.

Across the country, members of Congress are facing angry constituents at town hall meetings. Frustrated citizens are showing up in large numbers, apparently upset about the actions of the Trump administration. That same dynamic played out in Salt Lake City where Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT2) and Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT3) held a town hall.

Plus, should federally-managed public lands be used to build affordable housing? It's an idea Utah Senator Mike Lee has pushed for years, and now there seems to be growing support within Pres. Trump's administration.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Heidi Hatch, anchor with KUTV 2News — Brigham Tomco, politics reporter with the Deseret News — and Marty Carpenter, partner with Northbound Strategy.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

The Utah Legislature passed 582 bills in the 2025 General Session, only nine shy of the record set last year. In response, Governor Spencer Cox is calling on lawmakers to decrease that number in the future. He believes too much legislation prevents Utahns from engaging in the process. Our expert panel discusses whether or not we're likely to see any changes next year.

We also explore the major themes of the session, including changes to higher education funding. Utah's public universities and colleges face a 10% budget cut unless they redirect funding to programs that are considered high demand.

Gov. Cox has 20 days to sign, veto, or allow bills to become law without his signature. He is getting pressure from groups to veto some legislation, including HB77. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Davis County), effectively bans pride flags from flying at schools and government buildings in the state. Organizers of the Sundance Film Festival are reportedly concerned about the message the bill sends to members of the LGBT+ community. This comes at a time when the festival is considering moving to another state, and on the hills of the legislature appropriating $3.5M in an effort to get the festival to stay in the Beehive State.

An effort to overturn Utah's new ban on collective bargaining for public employee unions is kicking off this weekend. A coalition of union organizers is attempting to get a referendum on the ballot to undo HB267. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-Salt Lake County), passed in the legislature with bipartisan opposition. Gov. Cox has already signed the legislation into law. In order to make it on the ballot, referendum organizers need to secure more than 140,000 signatures from around the state.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Rep. Hoang Nguyen, a Democrat from Salt Lake County and member of the PBS Utah Advisory Board — Rep. Jefferson Moss, a Republican from Utah County and House Majority Leader — and Max Roth, anchor with Fox 13 News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

With the 2025 Utah Legislative Session coming to a close, our expert panel examines the common themes. From a battle between state vs. local control, to proposed reforms of Utah's judicial and electoral systems, it has been a busy 45 days on Capitol Hill.

A bill that impacts how the state's capital city manages its own streets is now on the way to Governor Cox's desk. SB195, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Harper (R-Salt Lake County), passed the legislature this week. An earlier version of the bill would have placed a moratorium on Salt Lake City implementing any traffic-calming measures. After pushback from the city and other groups, a modified version now gives UDOT veto power over plans that could potentially slow down traffic.

A coalition of public labor unions is launching a referendum to overturn the new law that prevents public employees from collective bargaining. Lawmakers passed HB267, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-Salt Lake County), earlier in the session and Gov. Spencer Cox signed it into law shortly thereafter. In order to qualify for the ballot, referendum organizers have to gather more than 140,000 signatures from around the state. If they reach that threshold, voters will have the final say on whether or not this law remains on the books. The bill faced bipartisan opposition in both the House and Senate, and was the subject of large public protests at the Capitol.

Another bill that also received bipartisan opposition would have created a new state agency to oversee large development projects that have statewide impact. SB337, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimiore (R-Salt Lake County), would have established the Beehive Development Agency within Gov. Spencer Cox's administration. The agency would have had significant taxing authority to help raise funds for major development projects like nuclear power plants, large manufacturing facilities, and potentially even retail and residential projects. But critics worried the proposal usurped too much local control from cities and towns, and bill sponsors say it will not be moving forward this session. Our panel discusses whether it is likely to return in the future.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Ben Winslow, politics reporter with Fox 13 News — Lindsay Aerts, anchor with ABC4 News and host of Inside Utah Politics — and Jeff Parrott, Statewatch Editor for The Salt Lake Tribune.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

With just a week left in the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, lawmakers still have a lot of bills to debate and consider. Several deal with elections and ballots in the Beehive State.

HB563 is sponsored by House Speaker Mike Schultz and changes how ballot titles and analysis are written for proposed constitutional amendments. Currently, legislative leaders craft the language, but this bill would shift that responsibility to non-partisan lawyers who work for the legislature. The move follows a Utah Supreme Court opinion in Fall of 2024 that found the ballot language used on Amendment D was "inaccurate". Our expert panel discusses how this proposal actually puts back in place an old system.

Lawmakers are also debating changes to the state's vote-by-mail system. HB 300, sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Burton (R-Salem), would require Utah voters to opt-in to receive ballots in the mail. We examine the timeline it would take to implement, and why proponents say the bill will increase election security.

This week the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court delivered a letter to legislative leadership in which he expressed concern about efforts to change the state's judicial branch. We explore the arguments for and against HB512, a bill sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee (R-Davis County) that would allow the legislature to weigh in on judicial performance evaluations.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Karen Peterson, a Republican from Davis County and House Vice Rules Chair — Representative Greg Miller, a Democrat from Salt Lake County — and Dr. Damon Cann, a political science professor at Utah State University.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

As the Utah Legislature prepares to pass a final budget, they will have less money to work with than originally estimated. Lawmakers received new estimates this week showing that projected revenue for the state is down about $112 million total. Our expert panel discusses what this means for state programs, and where cuts could be made.

Plus, will there still be a tax cut? Governor Spencer Cox had been hoping to eliminate Utah's portion of the income tax on social security benefits, but that could be in limbo now. While legislative leaders say a cut is still possible, we evaluate the likelihood of one passing.

Other bills moving forward on Utah's Capitol Hill include a proposal to disband the State Records Committee, and a change in how Utah school districts receive their funding. SB277, sponsored by Senator Mike McKell (R-Utah County), would replace the State Records Committee with an administrative law judge. Under current law, people requesting access to public records can appeal state decisions to a committee made up of volunteer community members. Sen. McKell believes that group takes too long to make decisions, and centralizing the process with a single political appointee would be better. Meanwhile, SB37 would funnel property tax revenue levied by local school district to the state general fund before that money is reallcoated back to the districts. The money could then also be used to pay for other state needs.

A bill that would have kept Utah clocks from moving back and forth twice a year appears to be dead. The proposal from Rep. Joe Eliason (R-Washington County) would had Utah join Arizona and Hawaii on permanent standard time, unless Congress passed a law to move the nation to permanent Daylight Saving Time. HB120 had passed the Utah House of Representatives with bipartisan support, but a Senate committee voted to "table" the bill, meaning it likely won't move any further this year. But could it make another appearance in the future? Our panel discusses the possibility.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Doug Owens, a Democrat from Salt Lake County and Minority Caucus Manager in the Utah House of Representatives — Representative Ariel Defay, a Republican from Davis County — and Daniel Woodruff, a reporter with KSL 5 News.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

The Utah Legislature is considering a potentially historic number of constitutional amendments this year. One appears to be in direct response to decisions made by the Utah Supreme Court in the Fall of 2024 regarding a requirement that proposed amendments be published in newspapers. Another would change the percentage of "yes" votes needed to approve some voter ballot measures. Our expert panel examines the proposals and discusses why we are seeing so many.

We are now officially past the halfway point of the 2025 Utah Legislative Session. Lawmakers have drafted nearly 1,000 bills but have, so far, passed fewer than 100 of them. We discuss what bills could still be coming, and what the legislature is likely to prioritize in the session's final weeks.

Finally, there are a number of bills that would modify the judicial branch of government in the Beehive State. One would increase the number of justices on the Utah Supreme Court. Another would increase the threshold for judges to be retained in retention elections from 50% support to 67%. We evaluate how these proposals could reshape the judiciary, and discuss what is the likely motivating factor behind the bills.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Senator Chris Wilson, a Republican from Cache and Rich Counties and Majority Whip in the State Senate — Representative Sahara Hayes, a Democrat from Millcreek and Minority Assistant Whip in the Utah House — and Holly Richardson, editor of Utah Policy.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

In the third week of the Utah Legislative Session, lawmakers passed a controversial bill that bars public employee unions from collective bargaining. Debate over the proposed legislation had been extensive, with union members negotiating behind the scenes for a better version of the bill. But in the end, the original bill passed the Utah House and Senate. Advocates are now urging Governor Spencer Cox to veto the measure. Our expert panel discusses whether we could see that happen, and whether or not union organziers will launch a referendum campaign to let Utah voters decide the bill's fate.

Utah lawmakers are also considering bills to reform elections in the Beehive State. One proposal would require most voters to turn in mail-in ballots in person and show ID when doing so. Opponents of the measure worry this will disenfranchise voters in rural Utah, older Utahns, and people with disabilities from engaging in the democratic process. We evaluate the likelihood of this bill passing, and whether it has support in both chambers of the legislature.

Plus, with Pres. Donald Trump issuing numerous executive orders dealing with immigration, some Utah lawmakers are seizing the opportunity to enact reforms here at home as well. We discuss some of those proposals, and the significance of Utah's newly elected Attorney General wading into the debate over birthright citizenship.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Representative Steve Eliason, a Republican from Sandy and Parliamentarian in the Utah House — Senator Jen Plumb, a Democrat from Salt Lake City and Minority Assistant Whip in the Utah Senate — and Robert Gehrke, a reporter with The Salt Lake Tribune.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

In Week 2 of the 2025 Legislative Session, Utah lawmakers work to allocate funds in a tight budget year after extra federal spending from the COVID-19 pandemic has dried up.

Proposed legislation could affect how voters pass ballot initiatives and how the state manages elections. Lawmakers also discuss shoring up the state's resources as Federal grant and loan funding for state and local programs is thrown into question by executive orders from DC.

Utah State Majority Assistant Whip Sen. Mike McKell and Minority Whip Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost join KUER politics reporter Sean Higgins and host Jason Perry on this episode of The Hinckley Report.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.