WFRC previews 2025 legislative session, highlights housing plan and transportation funding context

Miranda Jones Cox, government affairs lead at the Wasatch Front Regional Council, briefed the Regional Growth Committee on Jan. 16, 2025, about the upcoming Utah legislative session and the intersecting policy issues likely to affect regional planning, notably housing and transportation.

Miranda said the 2025 session is being framed as a "socks and underwear" year—legislative shorthand for limited new appropriations—and that tax cuts, higher‑education reform, housing and energy policy are expected priorities. She noted that WFRC will play three roles during session: serve as a technical expert, convene partners, and advocate for policies and appropriations that support the Wasatch Choice Vision and the Regional Transportation Plan.

"There has been a significant amount of investment into transportation over the last four years," Miranda said, estimating roughly $5 billion in one‑time transportation investments in recent years and observing that legislators and the administration have prioritized those investments. She added WFRC will continue to watch appropriations and policy files, and will circulate weekly legislative updates and bill trackers during the session.

Laura Hanson, senior adviser to Governor Cox for long‑range planning, summarized the governor's second‑term strategic plan, which includes a goal to support building 40,000 new housing units within centers identified by regional visions like Wasatch Choice. Hanson described the state's housing plan work as a two‑phase effort: Phase 1 catalogs existing supports and compiles possible tactics; Phase 2 will screen tactics for impact, feasibility and consensus.

Committee members asked about bills and policy areas to watch; staff listed potential topics including technical changes to Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones (HTRZ) and first‑home investment zones, adjustments to station area planning reporting and implementation, advanced air mobility, local option sales tax changes, and condominium/ownership policy work. Miranda said more detailed federal updates would be provided at the council meeting the following week.

WFRC staff asked members to engage with their legislators, and announced that the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate (both with transportation experience) were expected to be engaged in session discussions that affect transportation priorities. Staff also encouraged committee members to use WFRC resources (weekly updates, bill tracker, appropriations tracker) and to request briefings or follow‑up on particular files.

The committee did not take a formal position on any bills at the Jan. 16 meeting; the briefing was framed as information and planning for the upcoming legislative session.