Utah Senate confirms Third District judge and a slate of state board appointments during sixth extraordinary session

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate met in its sixth extraordinary session in October 2025 and voted to confirm several of Governor Spencer J. Cox’s appointments, including Todd Hilbig to the Third District Court and a set of nominations to state boards and commissions.

The session, convened by a gubernatorial proclamation calling the Senate to the Utah State Capitol in October 2025, was limited in scope: senators met to consider and vote on confirmations. The chamber adopted the same Senate, joint and interim rules previously used during earlier special sessions before taking up the appointments.

The most prominent action was the senate’s consent to the appointment of Todd Hilbig as a judge of the Third District Court. Governor Spencer J. Cox’s written communication notifying the Senate of the appointment was read on the floor. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee reported a favorable recommendation, and the full Senate approved the appointment by roll call: 24 yay, 0 nay, 5 absent. After the vote, Hilbig addressed the chamber and thanked the Senate, Governor Cox and Lieutenant Governor Deidre M. Henderson; Hilbig said, “the first duty of society is justice,” and pledged to “do my very best to contribute to the positive reputation and work of the judiciary, to promote justice, to apply and uphold the law.”

Senators also considered several other appointments transmitted by the governor in a separate communication that referenced Utah Code § 67-1-1 and § 67-1-2. The nominations included:

- Jeremy Andress (Board of Economic Opportunity), who received Senate consent by roll call (23 yay, 2 nay, 4 absent). - Andrea Wilson (reappointment, Real Estate Commission), Mark Packard (reappointment, State Money Management Council), Nate Marshall (state charter school board), Jess Dalton and Kevin Hinton (Board of Aging and Adult Services), Josie White (Utah Behavioral Health Commission), Robert Goldberg (Board of State History), and Brett (surname recorded variously in the transcript as “Veroz,” “Veros,” and “Voorhees”) to the Board of Pardons and Parole. The Senate placed the remaining listed appointments on the consent calendar as a single motion and approved them by roll call (25 yay, 0 nay, 4 absent). Committee chairs reported unanimous or favorable recommendations for those nominees prior to the floor vote.

Procedurally, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to receive comments from Judge Hilbig following his confirmation, then dissolved the Committee of the Whole and completed the remaining consents. Senators directed Senator Johnson to notify the governor’s representative both at the opening and at adjournment that the Senate had convened and concluded its business in the sixth extraordinary session.

The session concluded after the Senate gave unanimous approval to adopt the previously used rules and after consenting to the appointments; the president then adjourned the Senate.

Votes at a glance: Todd Hilbig — consented (24–0; 5 absent). Jeremy Andress — consented (23–2; 4 absent). Remaining gubernatorial appointments read by Senate staff — consented (25–0; 4 absent).

The session record shows committee dates and letters transmitting the appointments (committee reports dated between late September and mid-October 2025). No other legislation, budget actions or policy items were taken up during the extraordinary session.