Utah Legislature 2026: Why I Reject the "Start at No" Philosophy

Representative Cory Maloy™ presenting a bill in the Utah House Chamber.

We're in the final stretch of the 2026 Utah Legislative Session, and I want to talk to you about something directly.

There's a message going around from some in our local party that Utah legislators should approach every bill with a default of "no." That we vote yes on too many things. That skepticism should be our starting posture, and that a good conservative Utah Republican legislator is the hardest one to convince.

I hear that argument. I understand where it comes from. And I think it's wrong.

Here's Where I Stand

Every bill at the Utah State Capitol was written by a real person. A fellow legislator who went back to their district, heard from their neighbors, identified a problem, and tried to do something about it. My job when I see that bill isn't to walk in the door already looking for reasons to say no. My job is to engage seriously, ask hard questions, help make it better if I can, and then decide.

Starting at "no" doesn't make you more conservative. It just makes you less useful.

A Fair Point Worth Acknowledging

I do want to be honest about something.

There is a legitimate conversation happening about whether Utah legislators introduce too many bills in the first place. And honestly? That's probably true. Many of us serving in the Utah House are committed to being more intentional going forward, focusing on genuine need rather than volume. I think that's right and I'm glad we're having that conversation.

But that is a completely different conversation from what I'm addressing here. Being more selective about what we introduce is discipline. Walking into your colleagues' bills with your arms already crossed before you've heard a word is something else. One is responsible governance. The other is obstruction dressed up as principle.

Utah has earned a national reputation as one of the best-governed states in the country. That didn't happen because Utah House Representatives defaulted to "no." It happened because people showed up, engaged honestly, and tried to solve real problems for real Utahns. That's the standard I'm going to keep holding myself to, even as we work to be smarter about what we file.

Not Every Bill Should Pass. And That's Fine.

Let me be completely clear: I don't think every bill that comes before the Utah Legislature should pass. Not even close. And here's the thing; they don't. Every bill goes through committee hearings, fiscal review, public comment, floor debate, and votes in both chambers, and a signature from the Governor. The process exists to filter out bad ideas. It does its job.

When a bill fails, there are usually very real reasons why. Budget concerns, unresolved policy questions, timing, or it simply needs more work. That's not a failure of the system. That's the Utah legislative process working exactly as it should.

But there is a meaningful difference between a bill failing because it didn't hold up to honest scrutiny, and a legislator who walked in pre-decided before they even heard the argument. One is principled. The other is just obstruction.

Who I'm Actually Accountable To

Party organizations do important work. They are supposed to support candidates, organize volunteers, and engage voters. I value all of that.

When someone in a party leadership position suggests that Utah legislators who work constructively to pass good bills are doing something wrong, I think they're misunderstanding what this job is, and honestly, I think they're misunderstanding their own role too. Party chairs don't write legislation, sit in committee at 8 in the morning or late into the night, cast votes on the Utah House floor, or answer to the people of District 52. I do, and I welcome that accountability completely. Judge me on whether I'm working hard, engaging honestly, and representing this district faithfully. That's the right standard. But the standard is not whether I've made it the hardest to say yes.

One More Week

We have one week left in the 2026 session. I'm going to keep engaging seriously on every bill that comes before me, keep helping my colleagues in the Utah Legislature move legislation that matters, and keep showing up for House District 52 the way you deserve.

I hope this gives you a clear picture of how I think about this job and why. If you want to push back, ask questions, or just talk -- reach out. That door is always open.

Thanks for reading. And thanks for trusting me to be your voice at the Utah State Capitol.

-- Cory

Representative Cory Maloy | Utah House District 52 | Utah State Legislature

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