Ben Winslow

The House of Representatives issued a rare censure against a judge over comments he made at a sentencing on child sexual exploitation: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

A bill that would have offered more children in need reduced price or free school lunches is not going to pass the legislature: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Rep. Eliason's "omnibus" bill on homelessness issues FAILS in a close 34-37 vote in the House: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Bill may not be dead yet. #utpol #Utah

a man says that seems like a lot in front of a christmas sign ALT: a man says that seems like a lot in front of a christmas sign

A lawmaker asked me how many bills I was tracking this session. As of tonight? 888 pieces of legislation. #utpol #Utah

Sen. Weiler's bill to require the Utah State Board of Education publish meeting notices 48 hours in advance is HELD in committee: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... #utpol #Utah

Rep. Peck's bill to require insurance companies that provide gender-affirmation care for transgender people to also cover "de-transition" procedures PASSES the legislature: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... #utpol #Utah

Sen. McCay's bill to ban police from using unmarked police cars for minor traffic stops FAILED in the Senate on an 8-18 vote: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... #utpol #Utah

Senate Minority Leader Escamilla's bill to allow child care facilities in some state buildings (starting with one as a pilot) PASSES out of a House committee 5-3: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... Off to the full House. #utpol #Utah

Sen. Grover's bill for euthanasia in an animal shelter as a last resort PASSES a House committee, 5-4: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... Off to the full House. #utpol #Utah

Sen. Pitcher's bill to require state purchases of landscaping equipment be electric-powered PASSES a House committee: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... Off to the full House. #utpol #Utah

Senate Majority Whip Wilson's bill to have a state agency oversee school construction instead of the USBE has PASSED the legislature: le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/... Off to Gov. Cox. #utpol #Utah

Rep. Thurston's bill to repeal a restaurant tax on convenience store foods FAILS in a 21-52 vote in the House: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... #utpol #Utah

Sen. Buss' bill on school districts dealing with massive growth (originally offering grants, now offering plans) PASSES the Senate UNANIMOUSLY: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Off to the House. #utpol #Utah

I love that you found that and used it. It feels like ol' Twitter days (the GOOD times)

Rep. Koford's bill to require data centers to report their water use is moving forward in the Utah legislature. A Senate committee voted UNANIMOUSLY to support the bill: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Off to the full Senate. #utpol #Utah

Bills like this one don't fail in the Utah legislature — but it just did The omnibus transportation bill is designed to be fail-proof. But against all odds, Senate Bill 242 failed to pass the House Transportation Committee on a tied 4-4 vote.

I told you bills like this don't fail. But this one did. And then it didn't. After some concessions (in the form of amendments) the omnibus transportation bill PASSES a House committee 9-1: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Off to the full House. Background: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

I Will Remember You

Hello to all my friends in the 801 & 435! I'm seeing so many bills being "returned to Rules" which is pretty much the kiss of death this legislative session.

Let's pour one out for all the bills that didn't make it and enjoy a little #MusicToSaunterTo: open.spotify.com/track/0HWP0z...

Against all odds, Rep. Okerlund's bill to put some serious restrictions on those sprinklers that seem to water everything but plants is PASSING the legislature: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Off to the full Senate for a final vote. #utpol #Utah

A pretty noteworthy bill shaking up how the Utah Attorney General's Office calculates (and bills) legal services for state agencies PASSED a Senate committee UNANIMOUSLY: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... Off to the full Senate. #utpol #Utah

Vote-by-mail bill is in legislative limbo A bill that would have modified Utah's popular vote-by-mail system is officially in limbo after a Senate committee voted to advance to the next item on the agenda.

The latest on the vote-by-mail bill being sent to legislative Purgatory: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

BREAKING NEWS: A bill to tweak Utah's vote-by-mail system (you must use a dropbox and show ID) is in limbo. Senate GovOps Committee voted to move to the next item on the agenda. That may kill it this legislative session, but it's officially in Purgatory: le.utah.gov/Session/2026... #Utpol #Utah

ICYMI, bills like the omnibus transportation bill in the Utah legislature don’t fail. But this one just did: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

"I've said things... I regret saying. I think we all have. What comes next is you stand up, own it and apologize. You don't double-down," Speaker Schultz says, calling the actions and comments "indefensible."

Censure PASSES 67-3.

"It's wrong. And for not even a public apology," Speaker Schultz says, adding he met with the courts and asked them "to do something about it."

"Instead, all we hear is excuses and defense come to Judge Torgerson."

Speaker Schultz notes that when the comments were brought to light? The courts criticized the media and prosecutor.

"This isn't about the sentence itself... this is about the comments that was made."

Rep. Pierucci says she doesn't take this lightly, but it's entirely appropriate for censure.

Speaker Schultz has left the dais to speak on the censure.

"You can't defend what was said," he says. "What was in that video I can't even say on this House floor."

House Majority Whip Pierucci says when we talk about the other judges? They were removed from the bench. The Courts investigated Judge Torgerson and he got a "gentle reprimand."

She notes the context of his "I've seen worse" comment was a video of a child being sexually abused.

Rep. Teuscher says he supports the censure, but says it's not about the sentence the judge handed down. Instead, it's about the "inappropriate comments the judge made and the lack of remorse we've seen."

Rep. Miller says "context here matters."

"I hope this chamber can also afford some grace," he says, noting the intent may be to either influence a retention election or encourage the judge to resign.

He asks where the censures were of judges who were arrested? He opposes being a body of censure.

Rep. Grant Amjad Miller says he opposes the censure.

He says this is not a public figure, this is a public employee. He says he doesn't have context and they haven't heard from Judge Torgerson nor do they know what notice he had.

"I want to know what his mindset was when he said it," he says.