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Utah Senate unanimously confirms judicial and executive appointments in first extraordinary session
Summary
At a one-day extraordinary session in April 2025, the Utah Senate consented to multiple gubernatorial appointments, including Thaddeus "Tad" May to the Third Judicial District and three cabinet-level agency heads; one transportation appointment was removed from the consent list for a later committee hearing.
The Utah Senate convened a first extraordinary session called by Gov. Spencer J. Cox in April 2025 and unanimously consented to a slate of gubernatorial appointments, including the confirmation of Thaddeus "Tad" May as a judge of the Third Judicial District Court and approvals of new executive directors and agency commissioners.
Senate President Adams presided over the session after the governor's proclamation calling the Senate into extraordinary session "for the senate to consent to appointments made by the governor to positions within state government." Several standing confirmation committees had previously reviewed nominees and issued favorable recommendations to the full Senate.
The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, chaired by Senator Todd Wyler, reported a favorable recommendation for Thaddeus "Tad" May. Senator Brammer moved that the Senate vote to consent to May's appointment. The motion passed by roll call: 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent. After the vote, May—who introduced his family to the chamber—said, "I just want to express my great gratitude and my humility in this vote today," and thanked the governor, the judiciary committee and the Senate for the confirmation.
Senator Stevenson moved a single consent action that covered three executive-level appointments: Tim Davis as executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality; Jared Garcia as executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections; and Sean Barrett as commissioner of the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. Committee reports from the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Confirmation Committee (chair: Senator Darren Owens), the Senate Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Confirmation Committee (chair: Senator Dawn Ibsen), and the Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee (chair: Senator Luz Escamilla) accompanied those nominations. The Senate consented to those three appointments by roll call: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent.
The Senate then considered an omnibus list of additional board and advisory appointments (Air Quality Board, Board of Aging and Adult Services, Board of Economic Opportunity, Board of State History, Utah Geological Survey, Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, Southwest Technical College Board of Trustees, and others) as read by staff. After committee reports recommending favorably for several nominees, the Senate voted to consent to the appointments as read by staff; the tally reported for that omnibus consent was 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent.
During the omnibus voting, Senator Harper raised a procedural concern about one Transportation Commission nominee, Tom Jacobson, noting Jacobson had not gone through a confirmation committee hearing. Senators agreed to remove Tom Jacobson from the list and bring him back after a committee hearing. A motion to rescind Jacobson's inclusion passed unanimously; the Senate recorded that the nomination will be returned for committee consideration.
Senate officers announced formal notification of the session's completion to the governor's representative, and the Senate adjourned sine die.
Votes at a glance
- Thaddeus "Tad" May — Consent to appointment as judge, Utah Third Judicial District Court. Vote: 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent. Outcome: confirmed. - Tim Davis — Consent to appointment as Executive Director, Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Vote: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. Outcome: confirmed. - Jared Garcia — Consent to appointment as Executive Director, Utah Department of Corrections. Vote: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. Outcome: confirmed. - Sean Barrett — Consent to appointment as Commissioner, Utah Department of Financial Institutions. Vote: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. Outcome: confirmed. - Multiple board and advisory appointments (Air Quality Board; Board of Aging and Adult Services; Board of Economic Opportunity; Board of State History; Utah Geological Survey; Great Salt Lake Advisory Council; Southwest Technical College Board of Trustees; Transportation Commission; others) — Consent to appointments as read by staff. Vote: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. Outcome: confirmed (Tom Jacobson removed from list for later committee hearing).
Why it matters: These confirmations install leadership at multiple statewide agencies and boards that set environmental regulation, corrections policy, financial oversight and other administrative priorities. The removal of a Transportation Commission nominee for committee consideration underscores that the Senate is using confirmation committee review as a check on certain appointments.
What happened next: After the roll call votes and brief remarks by newly confirmed Thaddeus May, Senate officers notified the governor's representative that the Senate had concluded its business and adjourned sine die.
