2026 General Legislative Session - Week 5

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Every. Voice. Matters.

Week 5 with Rep. Matt MacPherson

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone had a great Presidents Day weekend! With only a few weeks left in the 2026 General Legislative Session, the pace at the Capitol is accelerating quickly. As we enter this final stretch, I'm focused on making sure the bills moving forward reflect the needs and values of District 26. Many proposals are reaching critical decision points, and the coming weeks will play a major role in determining which ideas will advance through the legislature. Here's a look at what we've been working on this week.

Session Week 5 Update

Updates on My Legislation

This week brought significant progress on several of my bills as we move into the final stretch of the session. HB 82 Judgement Information Amendments passed the Senate unanimously and is now headed to the Governor. This bill updates the information required to file a judgment lien against real property when the debtor is an individual, replacing full Social Security numbers and full birthdates with only the last four digits of the SSN and the month and year of birth.

Additionally, HB 148 Tax Return Donation Amendments also passed the Senate unanimously and is on its way to the Governor. This bill creates a School Meals Debt Relief Fund and allows taxpayers to designate contributions to it through their state income tax return. It also requires the State Board of Education to collect and verify school meal debt data from LEAs and distribute funds proportionally to help pay down outstanding student meal balances.

HB 314 Firearm Purchase Amendments advanced through the Senate and is likewise moving to the Governor for final consideration. In the House, HB 302 Government Speech Neutrality Amendments passed the House Government Operations Committee and is now on the House 3rd Reading Calendar.

HB 539 Public Safety Modifications received unanimous support in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and was also placed on the House 3rd Reading Calendar. This bill updates several public safety statutes by expanding and clarifying definitions related to domestic violence, modifying venue rules for criminal cases, and refining standards for battered‑person mitigation and pretrial release. It also revises protective‑order procedures, adjusts jail‑release requirements, and includes coordination clauses to align with other pending legislation.

We also saw a major milestone this week as HB 392 District Court Amendments was officially signed by the Governor. Additionally, HB 487 Legislator Autonomy Amendments was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, and HB 581 Autonomous Vehicle Amendments was numbered and waiting to be assigned to a House committee.

Honoring the Legacy of Jon Absey

Both chambers of the Utah Legislature honored Jon Absey with an Official Citation of Recognition for his remarkable contributions to Utah’s cultural and civic life. I was proud to bring the motion forward and to help ensure that Jon’s legacy as the original Utah Jazz Bear and a beloved figure in our community was formally recognized. Shana, Jon’s wife, accepted the citation on his behalf, and the standing ovations she received in both chambers were a powerful testament to how deeply Jon was loved and how far his impact reached.

Thank you for staying connected to the work happening at the Capitol and for continuing to share your thoughts as the session progresses. If there’s anything you’d like to discuss or bring to my attention, reach out to me. I'm grateful for the trust you place in me to represent District 26, and I look forward to keeping you updated as we move through the final weeks of the session.

Thank you,

Matt MacPherson
Representative, House District 26

My Legislative Page

During my service in the Utah House, my priority has been to pass legislation focused on firearm safety, criminal justice, and government efficiency.

To view my legislative page and information about my role in the Utah House, click here.

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