The Salt Lake Chamber is pleased to present our 2020 Legislative Priorities Guide which was introduced at the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit. We are grateful for our members’ participation in the preparation of this guide and look forward to their continued involvement as we work with state government, business and communities leaders to promote these priorities when the legislature convenes in a few days.

The recommendations and priorities included in this year’s guide are the result of a comprehensive effort undertaken with Chamber membership, allied organizations and discussion with government leaders at the state and local levels. They also reflect the interests of Utahns in general, as determined in opinion surveys sponsored by the Chamber. The vital objectives outlined in this guide reflect our concerns and provide a blueprint for the work that will guide this year’s engagement with the legislature.

Among our highest priorities, we want to:

  • Sustain the business and economic environment that places Utah among the top of America’s best performing states;
  • Strengthen education at the pre-K, K-12 and secondary levels;
  • Build a workforce that meets the needs of our diverse industry sectors, and meet the needs of that workforce through policies that remove the gender wage gap and support employees and families;
  • Close the housing gap by supporting programs that provide technical assistance to local communities as they plan for growth and incentivize mixed-use developments that align with state and local transportation investments and critical funding to support housing affordability issues;
  • Support continued investment and long-term funding solutions for our State’s multimodal transportation network to expand capacity and accommodate Utah’s future growth;
  • Invest strategically in the continued development of a diverse energy infrastructure that meets growing need while appropriately addressing environmental concerns, specifically clean air and water; and,
  • Increase employees’ access to quality health care in ways that contain costs, increase transparency, and support access to mental health treatment and focus on suicide prevention.

Our priorities for 2020 will continue to promote those programs that have been working, to sustain our beautiful communities—from our vibrant and diverse cities to the grandeur and spirit of our mountains and urban areas. The Chamber will continue to support the continued development and funding of Utah’s recreational assets, including public transit solutions to ski resorts and the promotion of tourism and our world-class brand.

View the 2020 Legislative Priorities Guide here.

Please reach out to our policy team with any questions.