(From left to right) Democratic Representative Angela Romero of House District 25, Sandra Hollins of House District 21, Senator Luz Escamilla of Senate District 10, and Senator Jen Plumb of Senate District 9 spoke at a legislative preview meeting sponsored by the Westside Coalition. The Westside’s lone Republican state lawmaker, Senator Todd Weiler of Senate District 8 was unable to attend. Photo by Ben Trentelman.
The 2026 legislative session has officially begun — the Utah Senate and Utah House gaveled in at the State Capitol on January 20th — and lawmakers hit the ground running. Many spent months preparing ahead of time, finalizing bills, educating themselves on issues, and meeting with their constituents.
Ahead of the session, state lawmakers who represent the Westside came together for a Q&A session with locals. The event, hosted by Westside Coalition and catered by All Chay, took place at the State Fairpark earlier this month.
While there, the lawmakers who represent this area also briefly discussed some of the bills and initiatives they will be working on this session. Democratic Senators Luz Escamilla of Senate District 10 and Jen Plumb of Senate District 9, along with Democratic Representatives Angela Romero of House District 25 and Sandra Hollins of House District 21 were in attendance. The Westside’s lone Republican representative, Senator Todd Weiler of Senate District 8 was unable to attend.
During the 45-day session, legislators will review roughly 1500 pieces of legislation spanning dozens of interests; some of these may impact Westside neighborhoods more than others. One of the biggest topics on the minds of Westsiders during the Q&A focused on safety along the Jordan River Trail and in Westside Parks. Residents also voiced concerns with how to efficiently communicate with lawmakers during the session, any bills targeting DEI and anti-immigration, and what key pieces of legislation Westside residents should be especially paying attention to during the 6-weeks lawmakers debate and vote on Capitol Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla answers questions about the proposed 1300-bed homeless campus to be built on the Westside while Senator Jen Plumb looks on. Photo by Ben Trentelman.
But perhaps the most pressing concern for the Westsiders in attendance dealt with the proposed homeless campus. Senator Escamilla commented that the current plans for the homeless campus aren’t likely to happen without changes. Representative Hollins echoed this sentiment, noting that there isn’t enough specificity in the plans for long-term treatment and long-term solutions. The cost and logistics involved are not feasible for the size, location, and proposed services at the campus, according to Escamilla.
Representative Romero also noted that she would be traveling to Miami to learn more about an alternative model addressing homelessness that has seen success — one that focuses on connecting individuals with services they may need rather than holding individuals without a clear path for helping them meet those needs, which many feel is the case with Utah’s plan.
One resident spoke up during the Q&A, saying, “Most people won’t benefit from something like this if they’re not ready and wanting it for themselves, so telling someone ‘you’re going to stay here until you get cured’ is a pretty counterproductive way to actually help someone get better”. The comment was met with nods of agreement from both the audience and those on the panel.
As for the parks and the Jordan River Trail access points in Salt Lake City, Representative Romero pointed out that the city has jurisdiction over issues related to park and trail safety, and let residents know how to find their city representatives.
House Minority Leader Angela Romero spoke passionately about the need to fight for residents who often feel “disenfranchised.” Representative Sandra Hollins, who’s finishing her final term in the House, looks on. Photo by Ben Trentelman.
One of the final questions asked for the night was centered around DEI and immigration. Senators Escamilla and Plumb noted that DEI is gone, and that Utah is the worst state for DEI as of now. “Hate is really having a moment,” said Plumb. Escamilla also noted that they are still working to protect school curriculum as much as possible.
When it comes to immigration, the legislators noted that there will be more emphasis on protecting children in particular than there may have been in previous sessions. All legislators voiced their deep concerns for this issue, noting that it will be difficult to unify around it without having support on both sides of the aisle.
The Democratic caucus’ theme for the 2026 session is For the Love of Utah, and many of the bills being put forth by Democratic leaders appear focused on protecting vulnerable groups or increasing access to services. Representative Romero said, “We’re always fighting for people who are disenfranchised, we all were advocates before we became policy makers and we continue to fight for social justice at every level we can.”
Another resident asked a question that garnered tangible advice from the panel: How do we let representatives know about bills we want them to support? In regards to that, lawmakers on the panel had several suggestions and ideas:
Showing up to hearings in numbers is powerful.
Most public comments are limited to 30 seconds to one minute, but legislators say it is very important to take the opportunity to participate in public comment.
Start with your specific representative and make sure they know you’re their constituent when communicating with them. This includes writing them emails, sending text messages, or calling them. They recommend using respect when contacting lawmakers; rudeness and profanity will likely cause the rest of the message to be ignored.
Utah has one of the smallest pools of staffers and interns in the country so sometimes responses can be slow, so always be sure to follow up.
Westside residents listen as state lawmakers representing the area preview the 2026 Legislative General Session. Photo by Ben Trentelman.
They also recommend picking a couple of issues to start with, saying it’s especially helpful when voters begin participating in the legislative process. The lawmakers also warned that it’s up to the committee chairs to allow public comment and that they will 99% of the time. But ultimately, allowing public comment during the hearings is up to the committee chair’s discretion.
As the 45-day legislative session plays out, make sure you’re staying up-to-date on the bills being discussed on Capitol Hill. You can read each of the bills — along with fiscal notes indicating how much each proposal would cost taxpayers — by visiting https://le.utah.gov/billlist.jsp?session=2026GS.
Also of note for local voters is that Representative Sandra Hollins, who has represented parts of the Westside since 2015, will be stepping down at the end of her current term to care for family. We thank her for her service and wish her well in her future endeavors.
Contributing: Andy Cupp