Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Gov. Spencer Cox says priorities for him this cycle include boosting energy production and reducing taxes for seniors.
- Nuclear energy, he said, needs to be a bigger part of Utah's energy portfolio.
- Cox favors eliminating the tax on Social Security income, a likely focus of debate, which would benefit some 150,000 seniors.
SALT LAKE CITY — Bolstering energy production and reducing taxes for the elderly are priorities for Gov. Spencer Cox this session.
The 2025 legislative session kicked off on Tuesday, and Cox offered up his thoughts on the issues as lawmakers start wading through a multitude of bills up for debate this cycle. GOP House and Senate leaders also say boosting energy production is a priority and include nuclear power in the mix.
"Energy is a big deal for us," said Cox. "We need double energy production over the next few years."
Cox mentioned geothermal projects in the works and said the state needs more natural gas-fired power plants. Nuclear power also needs to be part of the equation. HB249, up for debate this session, calls for creation of an advisory body on nuclear power development, among other things. "All of the above — we've got a big focus on nuclear," Cox said.
He cited the energy needs, in particular, of artificial intelligence data centers. "Even if they're not locating here, the energy draw is so big, it's going to impact us from other states as more and more of the power that's generated that is crossing state lines and available on the open market is now being taken off and dedicated directly ... to these AI plants and where they house their servers," he said.
Trimming taxes, too, ranks high on his list, and he favors reducing the income tax on Social Security income. Utah's GOP legislative leaders have touted a broader income tax cut.
"There's no reason that we should be taxing Social Security benefits," said Cox, noting that Utah is just one of eight states to do so. He hopes lawmakers will "do the right thing and the easy thing and the popular thing. This is a big political win for them to get that tax off Social Security."
Some 150,000 seniors in Utah pay the tax, Cox said, and eliminating it would save each of them around $900 to $1,000 a year. A broader income tax applicable to more people, by contrast, would reduce taxes by perhaps $20 to $25 per filer. "I would much rather help our seniors. They've earned it, and they need it," Cox said.
According to House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, some $165 million in revenue has been set aside for possible tax cuts.
