- Lawmakers introduced a record 86 criminal enhancement bills in the 2025 legislative session.
- Gov. Cox said the state Legislature needed to take a more coordinated approach to criminal justice.
- The House and Senate also introduced 59 election bills, resulting in reforms to vote by mail.
Utah
What Utah Gov. Cox said about the 2025 legislative session
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called for a more coordinated approach to the state’s tough-on-crime streak as the 2025 legislative session came to a close.
Lawmakers introduced a record 86 bills this year increasing criminal penalties — far more than at any other point in the past decade — with over half of them becoming law.
“The sheer numbers … are a little bit overwhelming,” Cox told the Deseret News on Friday night. “That’s why I honestly think you do have to take a holistic approach, and that can happen next session.”
Before the session even began on Jan. 21, House Republicans began introducing a slate of new bills to address the public safety impacts of historic immigration, persistent chronic homelessness and growing numbers of sexual offenses.
These are very real problems the legislature is responding to, Cox said. The reality and perception of increased criminal activity must be addressed — but it will be much more effective, and less costly, if criminal enhancement efforts advance an overall vision of how criminal justice needs to change in the state, Cox said.
“I’m not sure what we’re going to end up with at the end of the day, except maybe having to go to a new prison,” Cox said, “because if you keep stacking these things and adding them up, and every one might make sense, but how do they work in conjunction?”
A few years ago, the Legislature embarked on a yearslong mission to bring about comprehensive criminal justice reform, Cox recalled. This may have swung the pendulum too far one way, Cox said, and he wants to make sure lawmakers don’t swing it too far the other way by not coordinating their efforts.
This session, House lawmakers passed the Senate immigration bills enhancing criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution, human trafficking and gang recruitment; homelessness bills enhancing penalties for drug use in shelters and prohibiting syringe exchange programs in certain areas; and sexual assault bills enhancing penalties for repeat sexual offenders and creating new offenses for sexual abuse using virtual reality.
Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, told the Deseret News that Senate leadership went through each of the criminal enhancement bills at various points during the session to determine whether they were necessary, effective or overly broad.
“We were really careful this session,” Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, said, “making sure that we weren’t enhancing too much. … But you know those really egregious crimes where we were a little deficient, we did in that case where it was appropriate.”
Some bills — including proposals enabling police to impound cars of unlicensed drivers and expanding immigration enforcement for employers — reached dead ends despite extensive conversations with stakeholders.
While others, like a bill that would make immigrants convicted of some misdemeanors eligible for immediate deportation, faced serious revisions to narrow their scope before they passed through the Senate.
Steve Burton, a criminal defense lawyer, and the president of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, pointed out that increasing the severity of punishment is a far less effective deterrent to crime than increasing the swiftness and certainty of law enforcement responses.
But Burton credited the Legislature for working hard to balance its approach despite the record number of criminal enhancement bills.
“The Legislature made a more concerted effort than ever to try to identify ways to to be more targeted in their penalty enhancements,” Burton told the Deseret News. “But the problem is, when so many penalty enhancements are introduced in the first place, it’s difficult, even when it’s targeted, to keep the balance between being tough on crime and being smart.”
House Law Enforcement Chair Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, said he recognizes that criminal enhancements are “generally a one way ratchet” but he said there have been real increases in crime, particularly related to new technologies, that require new criminal justice remedies.
To counter the surge in penalty enhancements, which Wilcox acknowledged has been “out of whack,” Wilcox ran and passed a bill this session that would require state agencies to consider which criminal penalties under their purview are not needed.
Cox calls vote by mail reform ‘brilliant’
During a Friday night press conference, Cox told reporters that he thought this session’s bicameral election reform compromise bill was “brilliant.”
Following a contentious 2024 election cycle and two critical audits, House leadership proposed a bill, HB300, that would require ballots to be returned in-person with photo ID — fundamentally altering Utah’s mature vote-by-mail system.
But extensive negotiations with Senate leadership yielded a bill that would maintain most features of mail-in ballots but would require voters to place four digits of a state ID on their ballots, to opt-in by 2029 to continue receiving a ballot in the mail, and to get their ballot to county clerks by 8 p.m. on election night to be counted.
While Cox criticized those who spread inaccurate claims about mass fraud in Utah elections, he said steps are needed at the state level to ensure even election skeptics can trust the system.
“I’m concerned about the erosion of trust in elections,” Cox said. “We get the best of both worlds. We still have vote by mail for those who want to vote by mail. We have more security for those who are using vote by mail.”
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, spoke wearily of the 59 election bills introduced this session. Her office worked with countless bill sponsors to make sure changes were improving the election process and not decreasing access.
The biggest accomplishment?
“We saved vote by mail,” Henderson said. “Utahns love vote by mail. They trust vote by mail. They prefer vote by mail. There’s always things that we can be doing to improve the process, improve security, improve access and make voting better.”
In his review of the 2025 legislative session, Cox said the state had returned to pre-COVID-19 levels of spending and that despite the difficulty of a 45-day legislative work window, the different chambers and branches of government exemplified good process.
Cox touted the issues his office has led out on that the Legislature passed, including first-in-the-nation regulations for social media company data-sharing, app store accountability for young users and prohibitions on cellphones in school classrooms.
On the two priorities of his second term — increasing affordable homes by 35,000 units and doubling energy production over the next decade — Cox pointed to bills facilitating condo ownership and funding for nuclear energy development.
WASHINGTON — Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, inadvertently nodded off during a marathon budget markup very early Tuesday morning, resulting in a video clip that quickly went viral as he was shaken awake by his colleague.
It was nearly 5 a.m. EDT when the House clerk went through the roll call for House Ways and Means Committee members to cast their vote on a Democratic amendment. But the clerk was forced to pause on one name: Moore, who was softly snoozing in his chair.
Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., is then seen shaking Moore awake, who begins laughing as he votes against the Democratic amendment. Fischbach and Moore exchanged whispers as Moore gave a small bow.
It was a small moment, otherwise lost in the roughly 17-hour hearing that began at 2 p.m. the afternoon before. But in the digital age, nothing is completely missed.
The C-SPAN clip quickly went viral on social media as the camera pans over the lawmakers’ desks to Moore.
Moore wasn’t the only one caught sleeping during the marathon meetings. Both Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., were caught asleep during the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, which took place at the same time and also dragged on overnight.
The Ways and Means Committee concluded its hearing just before 8 a.m. EDT on Wednesday morning to advance its portion of President Donald Trump’s massive reconciliation bill. The Energy and Commerce Committee continued its markup well into Wednesday afternoon.
For the second time in three seasons, the Utah women’s basketball team is headed to the Mohegan Sun Arena for a high-profile nonconference matchup.
This time, the Utes will face defending national champion UConn in the 12th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Nov. 21.
The matchup was announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday.
For the first time, the Women’s Showcase will feature a four-team, tournament-style format, with Syracuse and Michigan also playing a first-round game on Nov. 21.
Each team will be ensured two games at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, with the championship and third-place games taking place on Nov. 23.
“We are excited to play in this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase,” Utah head coach Gavin Petersen said in a statement.
“It’s always an elite level of competition and a great opportunity to test ourselves early. This year is no exception and will prove to be a great event showcasing women’s basketball.”
This will be the first meeting ever between Utah and UConn. The Huskies beat South Carolina 82-59 in this past year’s national championship game to earn UConn’s 12th national title in the sport.
“The return of the 2025 NCAA women’s champions, UConn, highlights what promises to be the most exciting Women’s Showcase yet,” John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, said in a statement.
“With four outstanding programs competing in a tournament-style format for the first time, this event continues to elevate the platform for women’s college basketball and celebrate the exceptional talent of today’s student-athletes.”
The Utes have a 1-1 overall record against Michigan and have never faced Syracuse.
Two years ago, Utah took on South Carolina in the showcase. In that game, the Utes held tough against that year’s eventual national champions — behind 37 points from Alissa Pili — before the Gamecocks pulled away to win by nine.
With the draft lottery done, we have a template of the selection order ready for the 2025 NHL Draft. Unless Radim Mrtka breaks things up in the top 5-7, we expect a run on forwards early in the draft, especially with so many good centers available. The order in which these forwards go is the most interesting thing about this draft and will be debated by teams and fans in the coming weeks. This mock is my best attempt to project how I think the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will transpire on June 27.
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL)
Schaefer gives the Islanders a true No. 1 defenseman prospect to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come and he is highly likely to be the pick despite the limited number of games he played this season.
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)
Misa’s elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term. He can break games open with his skill and vision and will be a foundational offensive piece for a rebuilding Sharks squad.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)
Frondell brings high-end skill and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago’s need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard, who may end up as a long-term winger in the NHL.
4. Utah Mammoth: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)
Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man. It’s easy to envision him next to Logan Cooley on a top line for the next 10 years.
5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (Hockey East)
Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if his game needs more inside presence. He brings the potential to be a major point producer and address a critical need for the Predators at center, even if not every NHL scout is convinced he’s an NHL center.
6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
Desnoyers’ stock continues to rise with his great playoff run for Moncton. He’s a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.
7. Boston Bruins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
O’Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits and address Boston’s massive need for a center who can drive play and create offense.
8. Seattle Kraken: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game that complements all the skill Seattle has drafted in recent years while also bringing plenty of puck play himself and the ability to be a top-six forward, be it at center or wing.
9. Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL)
Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Buffalo a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside. He compares to a Sabres pick from a long time ago in Tyler Myers.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)
A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren’t for a concerning back injury. With superb young talent in the organization, Anaheim can afford the gamble on McQueen.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL)
Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh’s system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman.
12. New York Rangers: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Rangers’ forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential and addressing an important need at center.
13. Detroit Red Wings: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)
Eklund’s speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system while continuing with a trend of prioritizing compete in its picks.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL)
Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. I could see him or Jackson Smith as the Jackets’ pick here as they try to add young depth to their blue line.
15. Vancouver Canucks: Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season. He theoretically gives Vancouver a much-needed young center of the future, although not everyone in the league is convinced he’s a pro center.
16. Montreal Canadiens: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Montreal’s top six.
17. Montreal Canadiens: Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL)
Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Canadiens blue-line pipeline as they continue to build a very strong group of young defensemen.
18. Calgary Flames: Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds a scoring element and high-energy game to Calgary’s top six, even if he’s slightly redundant with someone like Matt Coronato.
19. St. Louis Blues: Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues’ system, even if his compete level still draws some debate.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Columbus can afford to take on a second first-rounder.
21. Ottawa Senators: Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton (WHL)
Fiddler’s size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted. Ideally, the Senators would add some skill to their forward group, but a run on forwards before their pick left them without any of the top-tier forward prospects.
22. Calgary Flames: Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo (Sweden Jr.)
A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the forward group.
23. Carolina Hurricanes: Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Hensler fits the type of defenseman Carolina has liked to target: He’s mobile, has skill and can make a reliable pass.
24. Philadelphia Flyers: Daniil Prokhorov, LW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
Prokhorov’s size and physicality fit the typical Flyers draft pick, and he has enough touch and speed to complement their skilled forwards.
25. Philadelphia Flyers: Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University (Hockey East)
One of the better-skating defensemen in the class, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well.
26. Nashville Predators: Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick as Nashville builds out its center depth in this draft.
27. Los Angeles Kings: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, LW, Luleå (Sweden Jr.)
The Kings take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer.
28. San Jose Sharks: Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London (OHL)
Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Sharks system that needs quality blueliners.
29. Chicago Blackhawks: Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He’s not the flashiest forward but he has legit enough talent to play in a middle six.
30. Nashville Predators: William Horcoff, C, Michigan (Big Ten)
A big, skilled forward with great hands, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a 17-year-old.
31. Washington Capitals: Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (NCHC)
Potter’s great skating and puck skill give Washington a dynamic, high-upside forward, but his size and perimeter play does worry teams too.
32. Winnipeg Jets: Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Winnipeg’s forward pipeline.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos of Porter Martone, Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
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