Inside Voices: What you see changing in Utah in 2025

Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

Happy new year, readers! To help ring in 2025, I asked you to share what you see happening — or what you’d like to see happen — in our state this year.

Here’s what you said:

• “Utah is one of only nine states to tax Social Security income. The earnings on which it is based have already been taxed. It is an embarrassment to the state to show this disregard for its senior population, many who are on limited fixed incomes.” — Dayle, Vineyard

• “I would like to see the new redistricting maps put into use. Obey the judgement of the citizens’ initiative.” — Sharon, Bountiful

• “Have the Legislature focus on the big issues facing Utah: water availability, air quality, achievement gaps in public and higher education, and affordable housing.” — Richard, North Salt Lake

• “I would like to see progress on the 2018 referendum for apolitical voter districts.” — Susan, Sandy

I also asked several leaders and influencers in Utah to share their predictions:

Utah will have to face three major public lands battles.

• “If the U.S. Supreme Court accepts the lawsuit, the decision will have far-reaching implications for federal lands, particularly in the West, where 12 other states have signed on to the lawsuit,” writes Kelly Goonan, Ph.D., an associate professor at Southern Utah University. “If the Supreme Court upholds federal management of land without a specific special planning designation, Utah and other states could effectively be blocked from future efforts to acquire land from the BLM except through purchase or land swaps.” Read more.

Utah can thrive by moving beyond a zero-sum approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.

• “Anti-diversity, equity and inclusion legislation echo the zero-sum logic of restricted access to public pools, grossly assuming that expanding fairness and opportunity occurs at the expense of majority groups. Eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion harms all students. Reduced campus diversity limits exposure to different viewpoints, hindering critical thinking and preparation for a global workforce. Further, weakened accountability mechanisms for bias, discrimination and harassment foster unwelcome or hostile campus environments,” writes Tamara N. Stevenson, the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, chief diversity officer and associate professor of communication at Westminster University. “As the nation and Utah become more racially and ethnically diverse, colleges and universities must be prepared to serve larger, more varied groups of students for a global marketplace.” Read more.

Utah will prioritize diversity and ensure every child sees their potential reflected in their teachers.

• “In 2025, Utah can show that diversity is a strength and commit to ensuring that every child sees their potential reflected in their teachers,” writes Utah Teacher of the Year Sayre Posey. “As Utah’s landscapes inspire adventure, its classrooms inspire action to prioritize diversity. The beauty of both is why I love Utah.” Read more.

Utah’s policy will focus more on preventing societal challenges.

• “In the year ahead, I envision leveraging our state’s collective resources — our pooled tax revenues, along with our time and energy — to focus more on preventing societal challenges,” writes Emily Bell McCormick, founder of The Policy Project. “By prioritizing solutions with the greatest potential to benefit our communities, we can ensure our resources are used for the widest and most meaningful impact.” Read more.

Great Salt Lake will face a combination of megadrought and climate change.

• “A shallow lake subjected to the megadrought-climate-change combo means we have to work extra hard on creating more inflows to Great Salt Lake, and we have to move quickly,” writes Bonnie K. Baxter, Ph.D., director of the Great Salt Lake Institute. “The next decade promises to be dry and warm, and we will have to be courageous stewards of the lake to create the inflows of water needed to sustain it.” Read more.

LDS women may see another half-inch of progress. Exclusions apply.

• “Even as I no longer actively identify as such, I will always care about Latter-day Saint women and the issues that affect them,” writes Rosemary Card. “LDS women are and always will be my flesh and blood. I will be happy about any change that improves their situation but, in 2025, I refuse to pretend that table scraps are meaningful while watching others enjoy the feast in plain sight.” Read more.

There will be even more reality TV shows about Utah.

• “We’ll all get our shot at reality fame next year,” writes Brian Higgins. “The networks will be strategic about it, of course. They’ll ease people into it with the tried and true ‘wives’ theme. ‘Keeping Up With Utah Jazz Wives’ will premiere first … After that, we’ll slowly move away from the upper class. It’s time for ‘The Real Ski Bum Condo-Wives of Salt Lake City.’” Read more.

Utah restaurants will focus on international flavors and local produce.

• “Looking ahead, I hope to see more growth in the form of restaurants with open-air spaces and patios, as well as more spots offering shared plates for a communal dining experience,” writes Urban Hill executive chef Nick Zocco. “I would like to see more energy in and around the downtown areas, more patios and places for people to gather outside during specific times of the year.” Read more.

The editorial board shared their own predictions about the Legislature, a Utah Drag Queen Hall of Fame and more — you can read those here.

Thanks to all who shared their predictions! Let me know what you see happening — or would you like to see happen — in Utah in 2025.

Utah Voices

The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.

Leaving Utah

• “I am a proud member of our local queer community, and I’m a proud Utahn,” writes Luca Whittington. “But living in Utah scares me. I’ve worked as a state employee, gone through the state education system and I have long been an active member in our community, but I feel unsafe in the place I once called home — and, because of this, I had to leave.” Read more.

Gravel mining

• “Would-be gravel miners have been claiming that an impending gravel shortage threatens the Salt Lake area economy unless they are permitted to tear up the Wasatch wherever gravel deposits are found,” writes Malin Moench. “Two recent studies conclude that this looming gravel shortage is a myth.” Read more.

Tribune numbers

• “Dozens of Tribune journalists work to share reporting with you every day, and you see their bylines and cutlines, as well as their podcasts and newsletters,” writes Lauren Gustus. “What you don’t see are some of the numbers behind these stories. Here’s a look at The Tribune — by the numbers — in 2024.” Read more.

Share Your Perspective

Utah’s general legislative session will begin soon. What do you see as the Legislature’s most important challenge?

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.