Legislators / James A. Dunnigan
James A. Dunnigan
Republican · House District 36 · Speaker Pro Tempore
Where they land
17th most liberal of 71 House members · 3rd most liberal of 57 Republicans
- Democrat
- Republican
- Rep. James A. Dunnigan
Placed only by their own votes: we took the 87 contested House floor votes of the 2026 session (where at least 10% voted on the losing side) and found the main line that divides how members vote, the same idea political scientists use to score Congress. No bill is labeled liberal or conservative by us; the conservative end is simply the side where most Republicans fall. More on how this works
See every House member in order
- Nicholeen P. Peck (R-28)
- Mark A. Strong (R-47)
- Michael J. Petersen (R-2)
- Jason B. Kyle (R-8)
- Candice B. Pierucci (R-49)
- Kay J. Christofferson (R-53)
- Stephanie Gricius (R-50)
- Tiara Auxier (R-4)
- Rex P. Shipp (R-71)
- Jill Koford (R-10)
- Mike L. Kohler (R-59)
- Kristen Chevrier (R-54)
- Ken Ivory (R-39)
- Lisa Shepherd (R-61)
- Casey Snider (R-5)
- Walt Brooks (R-75)
- Jordan D. Teuscher (R-44)
- Scott H. Chew (R-68)
- Katy Hall (R-11)
- A. Cory Maloy (R-52)
- Mike Schultz (R-12)
- Ryan D. Wilcox (R-7)
- Troy Shelley (R-66)
- Val L. Peterson (R-56)
- Karianne Lisonbee (R-14)
- Logan Monson (R-69)
- Bridger Bolinder (R-29)
- Doug Fiefia (R-48)
- Carl R. Albrecht (R-70)
- Joseph Elison (R-72)
- Colin W. Jack (R-73)
- Stephen L. Whyte (R-63)
- Nelson T. Abbott (R-57)
- Jake Sawyer (R-9)
- Stewart E. Barlow (R-17)
- Matt MacPherson (R-26)
- Thomas W. Peterson (R-1)
- Jason E. Thompson (R-3)
- R. Neil Walter (R-74)
- Cheryl K. Acton (R-38)
- Jon Hawkins (R-55)
- David Shallenberger (R-58)
- Calvin Roberts (R-46)
- Melissa G. Ballard (R-20)
- Ariel Defay (R-15)
- Christine F. Watkins (R-67)
- Steve Eliason (R-43)
- Tracy Miller (R-45)
- Karen M. Peterson (R-13)
- Paul A. Cutler (R-18)
- Raymond P. Ward (R-19)
- Doug Welton (R-65)
- Norman K Thurston (R-62)
- Anthony E. Loubet (R-27)
- James A. Dunnigan (R-36)
- Clinton Okerlund (R-42)
- Leah Hansen (R-51)
- Ashlee Matthews (D-37)
- Andrew Stoddard (D-40)
- Verona Mauga (D-31)
- Jake Fitisemanu (D-30)
- Carol S. Moss (D-34)
- Grant Amjad Miller (D-24)
- Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D-22)
- John Arthur (D-41)
- Hoang Nguyen (D-23)
- Sahara Hayes (D-32)
- Doug Owens (D-33)
- Angela Romero (D-25)
- Sandra Hollins (D-21)
- Rosalba Dominguez (D-35)
Most conservative first.
Do their actions match their words?
Rep. James A. Dunnigan measured against their own campaign promises and claims.
- 3 Waiting on votes
- 2 Too early
- of 5
Claim about their recordSays he co-sponsored data center water transparency legislation. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundWaiting on votes
H.B. 76 (sponsored by Rep. Jill Koford) passed and was signed. Co-sponsor lists are not yet in our data.
Claim about their recordSays he has opposed increases in food, gas, and property taxes. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundWaiting on votes
Depends on his votes, which are not yet in the compiled record.
Claim about their recordSays he chaired the House investigation into former Attorney General John Swallow. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundWaiting on votes
Dates to 2013–2014, outside our legislative data. Needs a linked source (news coverage or the committee report) before it can be marked accurate.
Taxes and housingKeep working to lower taxes, cut regulations and fees, and expand housing supply. Said: nothing found Bills: on the record Votes: not compiled yetToo early
Stated in October 2026. In 2026 he was House floor sponsor of S.B. 221 (Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments), which did not pass.
WaterSupport better measurement and transparency for major water users. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundToo early
Stated in October 2026. Will be checked against the 2027 session.
✓ matches · ✕ goes against it · ● spoke on the record · … not compiled yet · – nothing found. Tap a row for the evidence. Full details and sources · How we score
Do they follow their party's stated positions?
Rep. James A. Dunnigan measured against the Utah Republican Party platform.
- 5 Sided with it
- 1 Mixed
- 2 No record on it
- of 8
Right to lifeWe strongly support adoption and oppose abortion, except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: H.B. 232.
Right to workWe support the Utah Right to Work Law. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: S.B. 178.
Immigration enforcementWe believe that current laws against employing illegal immigrants should be vigorously enforced Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesMixed
Voted with this plank 1 of 2 times. Bills checked: H.B. 294, H.B. 386, H.B. 287.
Parental rightsWe affirm that parents have the fundamental right and primary responsibility to direct the upbringing of their children Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 259.
Lower taxesHowever, we recognize that the power to tax is also the power to control… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 2 of 2 times. Bills checked: S.B. 60, H.B. 235.
Right to bear armsWe support the individual constitutionally-protected right of the people to keep and bear arms… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: H.B. 84, H.B. 214, H.B. 101.
Religious freedomWe claim freedom of religion for every citizen and expect the protection of government… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: S.B. 174, H.B. 204, S.B. 268.
Work requirements for welfareWe support requiring welfare recipients to work towards self-sufficiency. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 471.
✓ matches · ✕ goes against it · ● spoke on the record · … not compiled yet · – nothing found. Tap a row for the evidence. · How we score
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. James A. Dunnigan
- Email: jdunnigan@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-840-1800
- Office: 3105 W 5400 S STE 6, TAYLORSVILLE, UT, 84129
Constituents get priority, so say you live in their district. Writing about a specific bill? Open it and use Take action for a ready-to-send message.
Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
James A. Dunnigan serves on:
- Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee
- House Political Subdivisions Committee
- Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
- Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
- Legislative Process Committee
Did they show up for voters?
Candidate questionnaires
- ✓ Answered: Salt Lake Tribune 2026 candidate survey
Town halls
None recorded yet.
Floor votes missed
Being compiled.
Answering voter questionnaires and holding public meetings are ways Rep. James A. Dunnigan can be reached outside the Capitol. A missed vote can have a good reason, such as illness or a family emergency.
2026 General Session.
Bills they wrote
All 10 →- H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · Became law
- H.B. 58 Insurance Code Modifications · Became law
- H.B. 280 Third Party Litigation Funding Amendments · Became law
- H.B. 414 Dental Hygienist Amendments · Became law
- H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · Became law
What they've said lately
All 245 →H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that the Senate removed a growth development plan requirement for certain second class counties, adds Utah County and council-manager counties to the bill's provisions, and lets those counties change who they delegate accounting services to.
▶ Watch at 13:30Read what they said
Yes. Uh, Senate did a couple things. Uh, one thing is there was a, a portion in the bill that required second class counties bordering first class counties, which have been in Summit Illa to do a growth development plan that's been taken out. So that's no longer required since it passed the house. Utah County said they want in, uh, to the p provision for second class counties. So their city's contacted me and their county contacted me. So they're included in this inner city island, uh, annexation and then also for counties with a council manager form of government, which are Twila Summit and Wasatch. It allows them the ability to change who they delegate accounting services to. …
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says substitute four was never adopted and the notice language has not changed.
▶ Watch at 16:05Read what they said
We never adopted sub four. The language about notices and all that. There's no, that's still in there that was not changed. Sub four was never adopted.
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says affected residents will receive mailed notice, the county must post notice, and officials will be notified before annexation occurs.
▶ Watch at 16:22Read what they said
Mr. Speaker. Everybody will receive it's impacted, will receive a notice to their mail. The, the county has to post it and they can notify the, the officials. So they'll they'll have notice before it happens and they can respond to it.
About
- In office since
- January 1, 2003
- Counties
- Salt Lake
- Profession
- Insurance Agency Owner
- Affiliations
- Taylorsville City Council, 1996-2002; Taylorsville/Bennion Community Council, 1991-1996
- Education
- B.S., Business Management, University of Utah
- Honors and awards
- Friend of the Taxpayer, Utah Taxpayers Association; Utah Small Business Champion of the Year, National Federation of Independent Businesses
- jdunnigan@le.utah.gov
Money and conflicts of interest
- Campaign finance reports (who donated to their campaign, from the Lt. Governor's disclosure site)
- Conflict-of-interest disclosures (jobs, businesses, and boards they must report each year): latest, earlier 1, earlier 2, earlier 3, earlier 4, earlier 5, earlier 6, earlier 7
Coming next: their top donors and disclosed interests shown next to the related votes.
Official biography
Representative Dunnigan began his legislative service in 2003. He represents Utah House District 36, which includes a portion of Salt Lake County. Representative Dunnigan currently serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore.<br><br> Jim received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Utah. Representative Dunnigan was honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Champion by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. He was named the Utah Small Business Champion of the Year from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Utah Business Coalition presented him with the Top 30 Business Friendly Legislator Award, and he was awarded the Meritorious Service to the Community as a Legislator Award from Taylorsville City and Legislator of the Year by the Utah Health Insurance Association. He is an officer of the National Council of Insurance Legislators and is the Vice Chair of the Financial, Services Committee for the National Conference of State Legislators.<br><br> Jim and his wife Vicki are 47-year Taylorsville residents. They are the proud parents of two wonderful children who graduated from Taylorsville High and have now blessed them with 6 grandchildren. When not working or doing legislative business, Representative Dunnigan enjoys playing competitive volleyball and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Profile details come from the Utah Legislature's official legislator data.