Alliance for a Better Utah
@betterutah.bsky.social
Government watchdog | Progressive policy advocates | Occasional connoisseurs of snark | Holding politicians accountable
https://linktr.ee/betterutah
https://linktr.ee/betterutah
Reading proficiency by third grade is strongly linked to long-term academic success. Early support matters.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/E6Ebskr
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/E6Ebskr
Here’s a breakdown of Utah’s sweeping plan to hold back struggling third grade readers
SB241 would allow schools to hold back third graders who can't read at grade level. But it would also introduce more reading tests for younger students — and new supports. Here's everything that…
www.sltrib.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Reading proficiency by third grade is strongly linked to long-term academic success. Early support matters.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/E6Ebskr
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/E6Ebskr
Protection and advocacy organizations exist to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities, especially those in institutional settings or vulnerable situations.
🔗 KUER: buff.ly/zwHsGs0
🔗 KUER: buff.ly/zwHsGs0
Senate oversight effort sparks debate over Utah Disability Law Center’s work
The two-pronged approach starts with a nonbinding resolution asking the governor to review the Disability Law Center’s performance. The second is a bill that would add additional state reporting…
www.kuer.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Protection and advocacy organizations exist to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities, especially those in institutional settings or vulnerable situations.
🔗 KUER: buff.ly/zwHsGs0
🔗 KUER: buff.ly/zwHsGs0
At a time when Utah is debating affordability, education funding, and support for families, we should be asking whether doubling down on incarceration is the wisest long-term investment.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/bccQ1xi
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/bccQ1xi
Utah spent $1 billion to build a new prison. Now, lawmakers want $130 million more.
Less than four years after unveiling the new $1 billion prison, and during a tight budget year, lawmakers want $130 million to expand capacity at the prison.
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 1:11 AM
At a time when Utah is debating affordability, education funding, and support for families, we should be asking whether doubling down on incarceration is the wisest long-term investment.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/bccQ1xi
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/bccQ1xi
Housing is basic stability. It is not a culture war theater.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/h6U1Seu
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/h6U1Seu
Expansion of single-sex housing limitation is ‘legal discrimination,’ Utahns tell committee
A proposed bill would expand a law banning transgender students from living in public college dorms that align with their gender identity to also apply to private housing that’s similar to dorms.
www.sltrib.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Housing is basic stability. It is not a culture war theater.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/h6U1Seu
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/h6U1Seu
The Utah House passed a bill increasing penalties related to unlicensed drivers, focusing heavily on undocumented immigrant drivers.
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/34WbcbI
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/34WbcbI
Utah House OKs bill targeting unlicensed drivers, focusing debate on immigrants
The Utah House approved a bill allowing authorities to impound vehicles operated by unlicensed drivers, focusing much of the debate on its impact on immigrants.
www.ksl.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:11 PM
The Utah House passed a bill increasing penalties related to unlicensed drivers, focusing heavily on undocumented immigrant drivers.
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/34WbcbI
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/34WbcbI
The numbers tell a clear story. Utah’s vote-by-mail model works. High participation and low fraud are not accidents. They are the result of deliberate design and bipartisan support over many years.
🔗 FOX 13: buff.ly/18eh96U
🔗 FOX 13: buff.ly/18eh96U
Utah election records show high turnout and low fraud with vote-by-mail
Vote-by-mail has increased voter participation in Utah, with midterm election turnout jumping 30% after most counties adopted the system between 2014 and 2018.
www.fox13now.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The numbers tell a clear story. Utah’s vote-by-mail model works. High participation and low fraud are not accidents. They are the result of deliberate design and bipartisan support over many years.
🔗 FOX 13: buff.ly/18eh96U
🔗 FOX 13: buff.ly/18eh96U
Major election changes should not happen through surprise floor amendments. Transparency is foundational to trust.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/yFWiZ5i
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/yFWiZ5i
A simple voter registration bill flipped on the floor, drawing privacy breach concerns • Utah News Dispatch
A Utah voter registration bill took a turn when a provision was added allowing the lieutenant governor's office to use a verification tool.
utahnewsdispatch.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Major election changes should not happen through surprise floor amendments. Transparency is foundational to trust.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/yFWiZ5i
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/yFWiZ5i
When former members of the state’s highest court break their silence, that’s not routine. Judicial independence is not a partisan talking point. It is a constitutional safeguard.
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/MQtEwDq
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/MQtEwDq
Former Utah Supreme Court justices speak out against judicial overhaul bills
The four justices broke with tradition to criticize judicial overhaul bills as lawmakers push back on their assertions.
www.deseret.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:11 AM
When former members of the state’s highest court break their silence, that’s not routine. Judicial independence is not a partisan talking point. It is a constitutional safeguard.
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/MQtEwDq
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/MQtEwDq
Action Alert: Support Medical Decisions Being Left To Individuals & Parents buff.ly/dGylori
3 years ago, lawmakers placed a moratorium on gender affirming care for minors and ordered a study to determine the future of that pause.
3 years ago, lawmakers placed a moratorium on gender affirming care for minors and ordered a study to determine the future of that pause.
Alliance for a Better Utah
actionnetwork.org
February 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Action Alert: Support Medical Decisions Being Left To Individuals & Parents buff.ly/dGylori
3 years ago, lawmakers placed a moratorium on gender affirming care for minors and ordered a study to determine the future of that pause.
3 years ago, lawmakers placed a moratorium on gender affirming care for minors and ordered a study to determine the future of that pause.
Action Alert: Protect the Disability Law Center! buff.ly/mMQiN6f
SJR7 is a resolution that would ask the Governor to take away the Disability Law Center’s designation as the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the State of Utah.
SJR7 is a resolution that would ask the Governor to take away the Disability Law Center’s designation as the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the State of Utah.
Alliance for a Better Utah
actionnetwork.org
February 6, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Action Alert: Protect the Disability Law Center! buff.ly/mMQiN6f
SJR7 is a resolution that would ask the Governor to take away the Disability Law Center’s designation as the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the State of Utah.
SJR7 is a resolution that would ask the Governor to take away the Disability Law Center’s designation as the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the State of Utah.
The Great Salt Lake is not optional. Its collapse would mean toxic dust, worsening air quality, and long term harm to Utah’s economy and health. Public pressure is growing for real water conservation and accountability, not half measures.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Nearly 1,000 rally at Utah's Capitol to save the Great Salt Lake
Roughly 1,000 people sang, danced and demonstrated on Utah's Capitol Hill on Saturday to save the Great Salt Lake.
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 1:11 AM
The Great Salt Lake is not optional. Its collapse would mean toxic dust, worsening air quality, and long term harm to Utah’s economy and health. Public pressure is growing for real water conservation and accountability, not half measures.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Support Your Right To Access Democracy- Say No To Voter ID Laws! buff.ly/2IobfiN
HB209 would require every eligible voter to provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, to vote in state elections.
HB209 would require every eligible voter to provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, to vote in state elections.
Let the People Vote | Stop HB209
Take action with ACLU!
secure.ngpvan.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Support Your Right To Access Democracy- Say No To Voter ID Laws! buff.ly/2IobfiN
HB209 would require every eligible voter to provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, to vote in state elections.
HB209 would require every eligible voter to provide proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, to vote in state elections.
Snowpack is Utah’s largest reservoir. Continued declines mean tougher choices ahead for agriculture, cities, and the Great Salt Lake. Climate driven water scarcity is no longer theoretical. It is already shaping policy decisions.
🔗 Deseret News:
🔗 Deseret News:
Utah to set a new record-low snowpack mark; officials monitor potential water impacts
Utah's statewide snowpack is on track to be the lowest early-February total yet.
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Snowpack is Utah’s largest reservoir. Continued declines mean tougher choices ahead for agriculture, cities, and the Great Salt Lake. Climate driven water scarcity is no longer theoretical. It is already shaping policy decisions.
🔗 Deseret News:
🔗 Deseret News:
Immigration enforcement choices ripple through schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. When policies rely on fear rather than fairness, entire communities feel the impact.
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/Ioedmtb
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/Ioedmtb
Utahns demonstrate, walk out of school, shut their businesses to protest immigration crackdown
Students walked out of school, people demonstrated and some businesses shut their doors Friday as part of national protesting against the federal immigration crackdown.
www.ksl.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Immigration enforcement choices ripple through schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. When policies rely on fear rather than fairness, entire communities feel the impact.
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/Ioedmtb
🔗 KSL: buff.ly/Ioedmtb
Utah’s own reviews have found no evidence of noncitizens voting. Policies that add barriers without evidence risk disenfranchising eligible voters while undermining trust in elections.
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/gokONp1
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/gokONp1
Mike Lee’s bill to ban noncitizens from voting gains momentum as he adds ID requirements
Almost every Republican senator has co-sponsored the bill as Lee pushes Senate leaders to schedule a vote on the legislation.
www.deseret.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Utah’s own reviews have found no evidence of noncitizens voting. Policies that add barriers without evidence risk disenfranchising eligible voters while undermining trust in elections.
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/gokONp1
🔗 Deseret News: buff.ly/gokONp1
Housing stability is essential for student success and mental health. Singling out transgender students for restrictions does not improve safety. It increases isolation and risk.
🔗 KSL TV: buff.ly/1Suzeo4
🔗 KSL TV: buff.ly/1Suzeo4
ksltv.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Housing stability is essential for student success and mental health. Singling out transgender students for restrictions does not improve safety. It increases isolation and risk.
🔗 KSL TV: buff.ly/1Suzeo4
🔗 KSL TV: buff.ly/1Suzeo4
Homelessness is a housing problem, not a crime problem. Models built around control rather than care often deepen trauma and fail to reduce homelessness long term.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/AXlrFiE
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/AXlrFiE
A nationwide coalition wants to prevent federal funding to Utah’s massive homeless campus
Five U.S. House representatives said the Trump administration should refrain from sending federal tax dollars to Utah's planned homeless campus.
www.sltrib.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Homelessness is a housing problem, not a crime problem. Models built around control rather than care often deepen trauma and fail to reduce homelessness long term.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/AXlrFiE
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/AXlrFiE
Courts are meant to serve as a check on political power, not a branch reshaped when rulings become inconvenient. Expanding the court in the middle of ongoing political disputes sends a clear signal that judicial independence is conditional.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/SCWO7VY
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/SCWO7VY
Utah State Bar warns against lawmakers’ ‘aggressive’ moves to change courts • Utah News Dispatch
The Utah State Bar voiced concern about the timing of the Utah Supreme Court expansion while reiterating opposition to bills that change the court system.
buff.ly
February 4, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Courts are meant to serve as a check on political power, not a branch reshaped when rulings become inconvenient. Expanding the court in the middle of ongoing political disputes sends a clear signal that judicial independence is conditional.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/SCWO7VY
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/SCWO7VY
The Great Salt Lake is a public health issue, not just an environmental one. Toxic dust, shrinking water supplies, and climate pressures are converging. Buying a polluter without clear accountability or long term water reform is not a solution by itself.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/gk3avBx
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/gk3avBx
Utah set to buy one of the state’s major polluters in $30M ‘commitment’ to Great Salt Lake
The plant had been shut down since 2021 but continued to pump large amounts of water from the Great Salt Lake. One state leader described Utah's acquistion of the plant as a "$30 million commitment…
www.sltrib.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:11 AM
The Great Salt Lake is a public health issue, not just an environmental one. Toxic dust, shrinking water supplies, and climate pressures are converging. Buying a polluter without clear accountability or long term water reform is not a solution by itself.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/gk3avBx
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/gk3avBx
Infrastructure choices shape growth for generations. Approving major highways without fully reckoning with air quality, water use, and public lands reflects an outdated growth at all costs mindset that Utah can no longer afford.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Bureau of Land Management approves Northern Corridor highway in St. George area
The construction of a controversial new highway in southern Utah has been approved by the federal government.
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Infrastructure choices shape growth for generations. Approving major highways without fully reckoning with air quality, water use, and public lands reflects an outdated growth at all costs mindset that Utah can no longer afford.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Homelessness is not a moral failure. It is a policy failure. Evidence consistently shows that housing first approaches save money and reduce suffering.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/whjLwal
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/whjLwal
Utah’s new debate over how to handle homeless people: a forceful hand or a better funded one?
Utah plans to build a massive homeless campus. Experts differ on how it should work and whom it should serve.
www.sltrib.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Homelessness is not a moral failure. It is a policy failure. Evidence consistently shows that housing first approaches save money and reduce suffering.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/whjLwal
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: buff.ly/whjLwal
Transgender youth already face higher risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Policies that erase their identities or deny care send a clear message about whose lives are valued.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/RXYleWJ
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/RXYleWJ
Transgender Utahns and supporters march through Capitol to show lawmakers ‘we’re not going anywhere’ • Utah News Dispatch
Protesters rallied at the Capitol to show support for transgender Utahns as lawmakers consider anti-trans legislation for a fifth year.
utahnewsdispatch.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Transgender youth already face higher risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Policies that erase their identities or deny care send a clear message about whose lives are valued.
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/RXYleWJ
🔗 Utah News Dispatch: buff.ly/RXYleWJ
Heavy handed enforcement tears at community trust and public safety, while a lack of federal reform leaves states stuck managing the fallout. Utah’s long stated commitment to being welcoming and humane is being tested in real time.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Utahns flood streets for anti-ICE protest, day after second fatal shooting in Minnesota
A protest is taking place in downtown Salt Lake City Sunday afternoon, with demonstrators showing their opposition toward actions of ICE agents across the country.
buff.ly
January 29, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Heavy handed enforcement tears at community trust and public safety, while a lack of federal reform leaves states stuck managing the fallout. Utah’s long stated commitment to being welcoming and humane is being tested in real time.
🔗 FOX 13:
🔗 FOX 13:
Calls for unity ring hollow when paired with legislation that undermines courts, marginalizes vulnerable communities, or blocks meaningful solutions on housing and homelessness. Values matter most when they guide hard decisions, not just speeches.
🔗 Deseret News:
🔗 Deseret News:
What will save U.S. politics? Utah governor says make virtue cool again
Gov. Cox wants fewer laws, better leaders and a return to moral virtue.
buff.ly
January 29, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Calls for unity ring hollow when paired with legislation that undermines courts, marginalizes vulnerable communities, or blocks meaningful solutions on housing and homelessness. Values matter most when they guide hard decisions, not just speeches.
🔗 Deseret News:
🔗 Deseret News:
Gerrymandering and voter suppression thrive on distrust, not facts. A healthy democracy depends on fair maps, equal representation, and confidence that every eligible voter counts.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune:
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune:
Trump urges Utahns to get behind GOP ballot measure to restore gerrymandering
President Donald Trump wants Utahns to support Republicans' effort to let the Legislature gerrymander the state's congressional districts.
buff.ly
January 29, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Gerrymandering and voter suppression thrive on distrust, not facts. A healthy democracy depends on fair maps, equal representation, and confidence that every eligible voter counts.
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune:
🔗 The Salt Lake Tribune: