The Hinckley Report

With week 3 of the session in the books, lawmakers make major moves to reshape Utah's courts. Host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how this will impact the state's judiciary. Plus, as legislative leaders consider additional tax cuts, state agencies defend their budgets.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ⚖️ The bill that added two new justices to the Utah Supreme Court and also added judges to the Utah Court of Appeals and the district courts has passed the legislature and has already been signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox. Opponents of the bill describe is as "packing" the Supreme Court, while supporters say this simply gets Utah on the same level with similarly sized states.
• ✍️ Utah Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens have filed a lawsuit in federal court over a Utah judge's ruling in a redistricting lawsuit. They claim the court-imposed map causes "irreparable harm". At the same time, an initiative effort to overturn the state's independent redistricting commission has one more week to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. We discuss whether organizers will meet the thresholds, and some controversy over alleged fraud on the part of signature gatherers.
• In a year with tight budgets, some lawmakers are pushing to cut income taxes for a sixth straight year. We look at the impact this would have on taxpayer pocketbooks, plus how some state programs could be negatively affected.
• Sen. Mike Lee is pushing for changes at the federal level to require proof of citizenship before voting in federal elections. Many of the provisions in his bill are already law at the state level in Utah.
• ️ Pres. Donald Trump has called for nationalizing some elections. The proposition has received bipartisan opposition, including from Utah's Republican Lieutenant Governor, Deidre Henderson.
• A bill to ban Kratom in Utah is making its way through the State Senate. We hear from people on both sides of the argument, and from from lawmakers about why this proposal has bipartisan support.

️ FEATURING:
• Sen. Jen Plumb – (D) Salt Lake City, Minority Assistant Whip
• Sen. Mike McKell – (R) Spanish Fork, Majority Assistant Whip
• Daniel Woodruff – Politics Reporter, KSL

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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

Week two of the 2026 Utah Legislative Session is in the books, and funding priorities are coming into view. Host Jason Perry speaks with our expert panel about which state budgets could be given more money or be trimmed, and they break down several bills now being debated on Capitol Hill. Plus, national headlines around ICE are rippling across Utah.

THE DEEPER DIVE:

FEATURING:

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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 2026 Utah Legislative Session officially under way, host Jason Perry leads a discussion on how lawmakers are pushing for their priorities. It's expected to be a tight budget year, so how will that affect things on Capitol Hill? Plus, Gov. Cox delivers his annual State of the State address.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• From big-picture priorities like AI, critical minerals, and long-term infrastructure to a potentially record number of bill filings, we break down the session's opening week.
• In his State of the State address, Governor Spencer Cox focused on efforts to improve childhood literacy, housing affordability, and homelessness. We also explore his call for greater unity and less political divisiveness.
• ⚖️ Tensions between the judicial branch and legislature may be at a tipping point. Chief Justice Matthew Durrant addressed the issues in rare public comments. We discuss the changes lawmakers are considering for Utah's judiciary.
• What bills are our political experts watching? From water-use reporting and Great Salt Lake protections to alcohol policy changes and some quirky proposals, our panel brings you into the conversation.

️ FEATURING:
• Kate Bradshaw – Mayor, Bountiful City
• Dennis Romboy – Deseret News
• Ben Winslow – Fox 13 News

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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 Utah lawmakers prepare for the 2026 General Legislative Session to start next week, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about which issues will get the most attention. Plus, new polling offers a closer look at what matters most to Utah voters.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ️ Utah Legislature Prepares for 2026 Session: Lawmakers preview major policy debates—including affordability, housing, and tax reform—as the state enters a year with a tighter budget and shifting economic conditions.
• Housing Affordability Takes Center Stage: Panelists highlight rising housing costs, zoning challenges, infrastructure gaps, and property tax pressures, describing affordability as the top concern among Utah residents across political parties.
• Budget Constraints Drive Tough Decisions: With revenues flat due to the One Big Beautiful Bill and mandated 5% budget‑cut exercises, legislators grapple with funding priorities in higher education, criminal justice, and essential state services.
• Key Policy Battles Ahead: The session is set to debate high‑impact bills on non‑compete agreements, K–3 literacy, income tax rate reductions, and property tax restructuring, each carrying significant implications for Utah workers, families, and businesses.
• ️ Redistricting & Elections Shape Political Landscape: Momentum builds around a ballot initiative to repeal the independent redistricting commission, while Utah sees an unprecedented 285 candidates running for 90 legislative seats, signaling heightened civic engagement and competitive races.

️ FEATURING:
• Rep. Karen Peterson – (R) Clinton, House Rulse Vice Chair
• Rep. Grant Miller – (D) Salt Lake City
• Chris Bleak – RRJ Consulting

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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 candiadate filing deadline for the 2026 elections closes, some elected officials gear up to face challengers while others decide not to seek reelection. The major issues of the 2026 Utah legislative session emerge including water usage for AI data centers, homelessness, and childhood literacy.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ✍️ Utah elected officials decide whether to face challengers in their reelection campaigns or to drop out of the race.
• ️ Legislators gear up for the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins on January 20th and runs through March 6th.
• Major issues come to the forefront as legislators begin to file bills including water usage by AI data centers, homelessness, and how to fix poor childhood literacy rates among Utah's elementary school students.

️ FEATURING:
• Sean Higgins – Politics Reporter, KUER
• McKenzie Romero – Editor, Utah News Dispatch
• Marty Carpenter – Partner, Northbound Strategies

LINKS:
The Future Is Watching: Understanding Utah's Early Literacy Landscape. Report on childhood literacy in Utah by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EarlyLiteracy-Jan2026-Final.pdf

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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 a turbulent year in politics comes to a close, our panel of experts reflect on the biggest political headlines of the last 365 days. What decisions had a significant impact? Which messages resonated with voters? And what major events will have long-term effects?

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ️ The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and subsequent security-heavy events have intensified conversations about civility, student engagement, and the future of political discourse in the state and nation. We examine where the nation goes from here.
• ️ A landmark court ruling overturned Utah's 2021 Congressional Map, creating a Salt Lake County–focused district that leans Democratic, setting the stage for competitive races and potential shifts in national power. Our expert panel discusses what comes next for the legal case, and how things could still shift in 2026.
• ✊ Following large protests and over 300,000 signatures for a referendum, lawmakers reversed a controversial bill eliminating collective bargaining rights for public sector employee unions, signaling ongoing battles over labor policy. We explore what impact this could have on the upcoming legislative session.
• The 43-day federal government shutdown tied to Affordable Care Act subsidies ended up being the longest in history. We discuss whether the end result will lead to skyrocketing healthcare costs and how it may influencing upcoming elections.

️ FEATURING:
• Heidi Hatch – Anchor, KUTV 2News
• Jeff Parrott – Politics Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune
• Daniel Woodruff – Reporter, KSL 5 News

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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

Lawmakers will likely expand the size of the Utah Supreme Court. On this episode of Utah's favorite political podcast, host Jason Perry leads a discussion examining the arguments for and against adding additional justices. Plus, how are Utah leaders responding to Pres. Trump's executive order on artificial intelligence? And will Congress act to extend ACA subsidies?

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ⚖️ The size of the Utah Supreme Court has remained the same for more than 100 years, since it was set at five justices back in 1917. Would adding two more amount to court packing? Proponents of this plan say many states of a similar size already have larger supreme courts and that expanding would allow the Court to get through a backlog of cases more quickly. On the other side, critics argue there are more affordable ways to move cases along and this is simply a political move.
• Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies are set to expire in January unless Congress extends them. Utah is the 4th highest recipient of subsidies in the nation, so there would be a big impact here if they go away. Will Republicans and Democrats in Washington, DC come together to find a solution? Or will healthcare continue to be a political football?
• ✍️ In the past year, Congress has only passed 57 pieces of legislation, yet Pres. Trump has issued 221 executive orders. Critics of this dynamic claim the legislative branch has given up too much power to the executive branch. We examine how this is impacting our government and whether it defies the intention of the Constitution.
• Utah leaders are pushing back on an effort by Pres. Trump to control artificial intelligence regulations at the federal level. Should it be an issue managed by the states? Or does that create a marketplace that is too difficult for tech companies to navigate?

️ FEATURING:
• Maura Carabello – President, Exoro Group
• Jay Evensen – Opinion Editor, Deseret News
• Chris Bleak – Partner, RRJ Consulting

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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 a special session this week, the state legislature tweaked election law and sent a strong message to the Utah judiciary. On this episode of Utah's favorite political podcast, host Jason Perry leads a discussion examining the reaction coming from candidates, political parties, and voters themselves. Plus, some Utah leaders find themselves on the national stage.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• ️ The Utah Legislature repealed a bill that had banned colelctive bargaining for public employee unions. When lawmakers originally passed HB267 in early 2025, a coalition of union organizers spearheaded a citizen referendum. That effort secured more than 320,000 signatures and qualified for the ballot in 2026. Our panel explores what led to the repeal and what could come next.
• ️ Multiple bills during the special session were in response to the recent court rulings on Utah's Congressional map. One of the biggest changes involves pushing back the candidate filing deadline from January to March. We discuss why some lawmakers felt the change was necessary and how it impacts the future of redistricting litigation.
• ⚖️ SB2002, allows election-related court cases to be expedited directly to the Utah Supreme Court. We evaluate why some in the legislature felt the change was unnecessary.

️ FEATURING:
• Doug Wilks – Executive Editor, Deseret News
• Rep. Jefferson Burton – (R) Spanish Fork
• Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost – (D) Salt Lake City

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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

Governor Spencer Cox unveiled his proposed budget for the next year. On this episode of Utah's favorite political podcast, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about what this suggests about the governor's policy priorities and how it could influence the Legislature. Plus, the fight over Utah's congressional boundaries is taking another turn.

THE DEEPER DIVE:

• The governor is required by state law to present a budget to the state legislature, but lawmakers aren't required to take his recommendations. This year his $30.7 billion proposal is largely "flat" from last year, something Gov. Cox attributes to lower revenue due to Pres. Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill".
• Homeless services would receive $25 million next year under this proposal. The governor described this issue as his top policy priority, including the construction of a new homeless services campus in Salt Lake City. Building this facility in Utah's capital city has received criticism. We evaluate arguments from both sides of the debate.
• Money to support improving child literacy in the state is another big policy priority. As is enhancing school safety programs.
• For the first time since Gov. Cox took office, his budget proposal does not include an income tax cut. He believes the cuts included in the "Big Beautiful Bill" will still help Utahns.
• ️ The ongoing fight over Utah's Congressional Maps will return to Capitol Hill next week. In a special session, the lawmakers will consider a plan to change the filing deadline for candidates. That woudl allow the Legislature more time to appeal the map selected last month by a judge. We examine what impact this could have on the races.

️ FEATURING:
• Rep. Hoang Nguyen – (D) Salt Lake City
• Brigham Tomco – Deseret News
• Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox – (R) North Ogden

Rapid growth has pushed Utah's housing market to a breaking point, but that's not the only factor making real estate unaffordable. On this episode of Utah's favorite political podcast, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about what's causing the Utah's housing crisis. Plus, what policies and solutions are on the table to secure the state's housing future?

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• Utah is expected to add 2 million more residents over the next 40 years. That's on top of the 18.4% growth the state has seen over the past decade. How does this impact housing affordability? And how should the state respond?
• The median price of homes in Utah is 6X that of the median income. That's double the number economists recommend as a healthy balance. With the cost of homes continuing to outpace wage growth, what can be done to make Utah more affordable?
• The median age of a first-time home buyer is much higher now than the historical average. We explore what this means for young people and their ability to accumulate generational wealth.
• Are zoning policies throughout the state to blame for the housing shortage? Our experts discuss the various barriers to increasing supply, and how the state government may get involved.
• ️ Construction costs grew quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic and never really returned to pre-2020 levels. What further impact do tariffs and immigration policies have on the cost of building housing?

️ FEATURING:
• Steve Waldrip – Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
• Natalie Gochnour – Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah
• Steven Bond – Founder of the Utah-based non-profit HomeOwnership4U.org

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund 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