State representative recounts first year, credits MAHA work and health-focused bills, cites $500 million in federal aid

An unidentified state representative told attendees at the Utah Eagle Forum that in her first year in office she filed and helped pass multiple health-focused measures and took part in federal meetings tied to the Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

The representative said she was elected in a special election on 12/07/2025 to the State House representing Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills and part of Suncrest Draper, and that within days of taking office “I filed 2 bills immediately on being elected.” She described one bill aimed at limiting what SNAP/EBT funds may purchase and another to remove synthetic food dyes and petrochemicals from school food, citing potential links to cancer, attention disorders and other health conditions.

She told the audience that the Department of Workforce Services initially advised the SNAP restriction would require a federal waiver and that the retailers association opposed the idea, warning it could “isolate Utah from the rest of the market.” The representative said she pursued the waiver and that the bills were ultimately run and passed with backing from the administration after outreach from Representative Lisonbee and Speaker Schultz.

On vaping policy, she said she ran a substitute amendment that defeated a bill intended to restore flavored vapes, and that the substitute passed: “we killed that bill,” she said.

The representative described participating in MAHA roundtables and press conferences with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (referred to in the remarks as “RFK” and “RFK Junior”) in Salt Lake City and later in Washington, D.C. She said she and legislative leaders met with staff in what she called “Secretary Kennedy’s” office and attended a White House MAHA roundtable, and quoted federal officials as saying Utah had “changed the game” by prioritizing prevention and health promotion over illness treatment.

She said, as a result of these efforts, Utah has been awarded “a huge amount of money, over $500,000,000 over the next 5 years” to promote health in rural areas and that some state actors are working with DHHS to guide how those funds are spent. She asked for prayers as officials and advocates “navigate competing interests” around those dollars.

The representative also said she and Sen. Colin Moore advocated for Dr. Kirk Moore, describing that he had faced what she called a “35 year jail prison sentence” for exercising conscience in medical practice; she said charges were later dropped.

She listed other policy proposals she is pursuing or supporting, including toxin labeling for feminine-hygiene products, nutrition education requirements for medical schools, expanded access to raw milk and requiring in-person businesses to accept cash.

In closing remarks the representative warned that political opponents were increasing spending in Utah, urged supporters to back favored candidates and asked listeners to sign a repeal petition available “at table 1.” She thanked the audience and urged continued vigilance and action.

No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript of these remarks.