Senate President opens Utah’s 2022 session, calls for major water projects, tax cuts and mental-health investment

Senate President Adams called the Utah State Senate to order on Jan. 17 and used his opening address to set the chamber’s agenda for the 2022 legislative session, urging lawmakers to focus on water infrastructure, tax relief, transportation and mental-health investments. "We need to build the Bear River and the Lake Powell water projects," Adams said, framing water development as essential to Utah’s future.

Adams said the Senate will pursue larger tax cuts this year while continuing to fund education at "historic levels," and he pressed for transportation investments including electrification and corridor preservation for FrontRunner commuter rail. On mental health, he cited a recent appropriation of $90,000,000 toward the University of Utah’s translational research facility at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and said the state should continue expanding services and treatment options.

On COVID-19 policy, Adams said treatments must be prioritized alongside vaccines and emphasized a balanced approach that preserves personal choice: "Government should not mandate health care decisions," he said. He also warned about inflation and urged vigilance on economic policy as gas prices had risen from about $2.20 a gallon last year to roughly $3.42 at the time of his remarks.

The president thanked a long list of public servants, staff and military families, acknowledged the recent death of a Utah service member, and relayed that Senator Karen Maine was recovering from surgery after a fall. He closed by urging collegiality and collaboration across the chamber as senators craft legislation over the coming weeks.

What happens next: Adams’ remarks were moved for inclusion in the Senate journal and adopted for the record. The Senate recessed for lunch and planned to take up its long list of first-reading bills and resolutions after the break.