A Resolution of the Utah Republican Party’s State Central Committee Calling for Extensive Ethics Reform

Cristy Henshaw

WHEREAS, strong ethics standards are essential to preserving public trust, protecting the separation of powers, and ensuring that Utah’s government serves the people rather than private interests; and

WHEREAS, public office is a temporary trust, not a personal possession, and betrayal of that trust is serious civic offense; and

WHEREAS, public confidence in the Utah Legislature remains a serious concern, as reflected in recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics polling showing the Legislature’s approval rating at approximately 44% approve and 45% disapprove (August 2026), and earlier citizen efforts for ethics reform through a 2009–2010 initiative ultimately did not succeed, leaving the need for stronger standards unresolved; and

WHEREAS, although there are many dedicated and honorable legislators, sound systems and clear rules are still necessary to restrain natural human tendencies toward self-interest and to protect the public from conflicts of interest; and

WHEREAS, the fact that something is made legal by statute does not mean it is constitutional, moral, or just—slavery, child labor, internment camps, women’s right to vote, forced Native American removal, and other historical practices were all legal at one point—and Utah’s particular culture may erroneously lead some elected officials to believe that positions of power are accompanied by divine financial blessings, a belief that is both incorrect and incompatible with true public service; and

WHEREAS, Utah’s current one-year lobbying restriction (Utah Code Title 67, Chapter 24) contains a significant loophole that allows former officials to begin lobbying immediately if the activity is not their primary or full-time business—an interpretation used by a former state senator and others—and this exception undermines the entire purpose of a cooling-off period and the curtailment of revolving doors; and

WHEREAS, the public should be protected from those who possess insider access, relationships, and knowledge, and who may use that advantage to secure governmental benefits for themselves or their interests; and

WHEREAS, current elected officials should not serve as leaders, chairs, CEOs, or board members of NGOs or non-profits whose primary purpose is to lobby for specific causes or agendas, as such dual roles create inherent conflicts of interest and undermine public confidence; and

WHEREAS, elected officials who appropriate public money should not also be the same individuals who determine how that money is spent, as combining the power of appropriation with the power of expenditure creates inherent conflicts and undermines proper separation of powers; and

WHEREAS, an elected official should never be found to be the beneficiary of publicly subsidizing costs while privatizing profits for anyone; but particularly, themselves or any member of their family; and

WHEREAS, the practice of appointing sitting legislators to executive-branch positions while they continue to serve and vote in the Legislature creates the appearance of dual loyalty and potential conflicts of interest, even when the formal start date is delayed until after the session; and

WHEREAS, while money or benefits given before an official action are widely recognized and prohibited as potential bribes; contributions, tokens, or donations given after an advantage is conferred still creates impropriety and erodes public trust; and

WHEREAS, many salaries in certain government and quasi-governmental positions are extremely lucrative, often exceeding $200,000 and even $300,000, and while such compensation may attract highly qualified individuals, it may also be perceived as a reward system that prioritizes personal gain over true public service; and

WHEREAS, the practice of elected officials recusing themselves from votes that directly benefit or create bias for themselves or their immediate family due to conflicts of interest should be restored as a common and expected standard of ethical conduct; and

WHEREAS, clear rules and regulations are needed to address the practice of granting lobbyists a small ownership interest or stakeholder status in a company in order to obscure or circumvent lobbying disclosure and restriction requirements; and

WHEREAS, an elected official should not own or operate a consulting business that advises clients on how to capitalize on an industry while simultaneously serving as chair, or a member of a legislative committee, that directly regulates that same industry; such dual roles create an unacceptable conflict of interest, and the official should either divest from the business or resign from the committee position or the elected position altogether; and

WHEREAS, the longstanding practice of allowing specific lobbyists to rent dedicated space in the basement (between the Capitol and the Senate Building) further illustrates the privileged relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers and underscores the need for robust ethics reform; and

WHEREAS, Utah’s legislator conflict-of-interest disclosure form (Utah Code § 20A-11-1604) allows certain vital information—including real property interests and other potential conflicts—to be left optional or incomplete, and even required sections are frequently left blank or filled with vague descriptions, limiting transparency and public accountability;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Utah Republican Party’s State Central Committee urges the Utah Legislature to enact extensive ethics reform, including:

1. A two-year cooling-off period for most inter-branch employment transitions;

2. Elimination of the loophole allowing former officials to lobby when it is not their primary business, and extension of the lobbying cooling-off period to two years;

3. Stronger conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements;

4. Restrictions on dual roles with lobbying organizations and consulting businesses tied to regulated industries;

5. Ensuring that elected officials who appropriate public money are not the same individuals who determine how that money is spent, in order to preserve the separation of powers and prevent conflicts of interest;

6. Suggested salaries not to exceed double the average school teacher’s salary;

7. Addressing dual loyalty when legislators are appointed to executive positions while still serving; and

8. Reducing lobbyists’ privileged access, including dedicated Capitol space.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon adoption, a copy of this resolution shall be emailed to every member of the Utah Legislature and to the heads of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, the Utah Association of Counties, the Utah Coalition of Cities and Counties (UC3), and the Governor’s Office.

Such reforms would strengthen ethics, preserve the separation of powers, restrain self-interest, and help restore public confidence. Legality and justice are not the same, and a legal process does not automatically confer moral legitimacy.

ADOPTED by the Utah Republican Party State Central Committee this _____ day of _______________, 2026.

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Chair, Utah Republican Party

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Secretary, Utah Republican Party

Sponsor: Cristy Henshaw, 801-822-4082, [email protected]

Co-sponsors: Jen Garner, Mike Carpenter, Marilyn Momeny, Wendy Hart, Patty Sprunt, Tina Cannon, Chief Joseph Levi,