Verona Mauga

• H.B. 34 Victim Rights Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Introduces H.B. 34, saying it incorporates lessons learned from implementation, and offers to answer questions.

  Read what they said

  This incorporates lessons learned from implementation. Uh, be happy to answer any questions Mr. President.

  ▶ Watch at 32:03

• S.B. 248 Child Care Expansion Act · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend SB 248 and says she supports the bill because access to reliable childcare is a daily concern for parents.

  Read what they said

  Can I make a chair or am a motion? Mr. Chair? You may. Okay. I would like to make a motion to favorably recommend SB 2 48 Childcare Expansion Act. That motion is, or would you like to speak to it? Yeah, Just, I support the bill and I appreciate the sponsor bringing it forward. I mean, access to reliable childcare is something that parents face every day, and I think this is a great solution for partnership. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:56

• H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Presented HB 86, which would restrict possession of firearms for people found not guilty by reason of insanity or incompetent to stand trial regardless of whether the offense is a felony, to align Utah law with federal law.

  Read what they said

  I thank you chair and thank you committee. Uh, you know, this is a bill I actually brought to your committee last year and we passed here, um, but it died on the last night. It's a simple fix to our restricted person's statute right now in Utah. If someone is found guilty, um, not guilty by reason of insanity or found mentally incompetent to stand trial, they are restricted from possessing a firearm, but only if it's a felony. This bill closes that gap and aligns us with federal law. Um, if a court has already determined that someone is insane or not competent to stand trial, this just applies that same standard across the board and that's all …

  ▶ Watch at 1:36:51

• H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Gave closing remarks that the bill relies on a robust system for determining incompetence or insanity pleas and includes a clear pathway to restore firearm rights.

  Read what they said

  Thank you for your time, Mr. Chair and committee. I, I think just one last point I'll make is that, um, not only do we have a robust, um, system to determine if someone is mentally incompetent or if they're gonna plead insanity, um, but there is also a pathway to receive your, your rights back. And I, I think that's an important note. Um, because sometimes we are, um, sometimes we, there are situations or times in our life where we, we do need additional supports or, or we're incapable of, um, of, of standing trial in our own criminal case. And, um, and then you get better. And so I just wanna point that out that there is …

  ▶ Watch at 1:40:11

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Mauga said she would move to concur with the changes the Senate made to the bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to concur with the changes made in the Senate.

  ▶ Watch at 9:37

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Mauga said the bill addresses animals held in overcrowded shelters after impoundment in criminal cases, and that the Senate changes allow placement with the Humane Society, a family, or a friend, and asked for continued support.

  Read what they said

  Yes, just briefly. Um, this is my animal amendments bill. The issue that we are trying to solve is that once animals are impounded because they are part of a criminal case, um, they are stuck in limbo at our overcrowded shelters. Um, what our friends in the Senate did was they helped me clean this bill up a lot. And so if you look at the old bill and you look at the new sub, um, it just does a very simple thing. It still resolves the issue that we have, but it just makes it so that now there's an opportunity and options for animals to be placed not only in a shelter, but they can go to …

  ▶ Watch at 9:47

• H.B. 183 Sex Designation Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 26, 2026

  Thanks those who testified, says the substitute is improved but she still has concerns and will vote no.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, I also just wanna thank everyone who showed up. Uh, you know, it takes a lot to a lot of courage to come and be vulnerable. I appreciate everything you share today. Um, and I also wanna say to the Bill sponsor, I appreciate the improvements in this substitute. It's remarkably better than where it started under Ripley. Um, but my job is to look at how this affects all people. And, and so when I'm looking at this, I'm thinking about our entire state. I'm thinking about my district and I'm thinking about my trans brother-in-law who lives with me. I still have a lot of concerns in this bill. I think it opens us up …

  ▶ Watch at 2:36:38

• H.B. 331 Criminal Offenses Modifications · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Asks how unlawful road obstruction would be distinguished from people caught in a crosswalk during a protest.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, may I ask a question of the sponsor? Yes, thank you. Okay. I, I totally understand why you're running this bill. It makes sense to me. Um, but there are some things that I do have questions about. How do we distinguish between unlawful road obstruction and a protest where people are trying to follow the guidelines, um, but maybe they get stuck in the crosswalk and we know how it is when there's a lot of people crossing at the same time and the light turns. Um, we may have 50 people or so caught in the middle of the crosswalk. Do they now get a felony?

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:57

• H.B. 172 Food Safety Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 18, 2026

  Presented HB 172, which moves the food safety manager certification cycle from three to five years to match the national standard and clarifies that licensed food businesses donating food to nonprofit fundraisers do not pay duplicate fees, and asked the co-presenters to introduce themselves.

  Read what they said

  Yes, I do. Is it okay, Mr. Chair, if they present with me? Certainly. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair and committee. Um, HB 1 72 Food Safety Amendments is a bill that actually came from a small business owner, um, Chad Pritchard, who is sitting right here. Um, he expressed to me, um, that certifying multiple food safety managers every three years was being costly. As a restaurant owner myself, um, I could totally relate to it. Spoke with other restaurant owners and, um, this was something they were also fill, filling in their pockets. As I looked into this issue, I learned that the certification exam updates every four years, which is why the national standard for this …

  ▶ Watch at 1:26:50

• H.B. 172 Food Safety Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 18, 2026

  Said the bill addresses a gap in the food safety code and aligns Utah with the national standard.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, this just addresses a gap in our food safety code and, and again, it just aligns us with the national standard. Thank you for your time.

  ▶ Watch at 1:32:48

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Presented HB 87 to create a court process for judicial review of custody of lawfully impounded animals while criminal cases are pending, saying it keeps due process and does not expand seizure authority.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. And committee HB 87 addresses a gap in current law involving animals that are lawfully impounded in connection with criminal animal cruelty cases. When someone is charged with an animal with animal abuse, the criminal case can take months or even years to resolve. During that time, the animal involved often remains in a shelter with no clear legal mechanism to determine long-term placement. This places a strain on already. Overcrowded shelters impact the wellbeing of the animal and can become a significant burden on taxpayers. In some cases, the cost to house and care for a single animal during a case can reach tens of thousands of dollars. This bill creates a defined court process …

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:55

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said she did not believe it was a higher standard, noting the process goes through an actual court hearing.

  Read what they said

  Um, I, so this is, I I don't believe so. And, and hopefully I I think there's others in the room who might be able to answer it better than I can. Um, but this actually goes through an actual court hearing. I believe when it has to do with the children, it doesn't, there's a judgment that can be made that doesn't go through trial. And, and this does go through a court procedure,

  ▶ Watch at 1:22:42

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said the court can transfer those rights only if the animal rights were already forfeited as part of the criminal case.

  Read what they said

  Well, it does, but it says in line 2 98. Only if, if they have already ordered the animal rights to be forfeited as part of the criminal case. But yeah, you're, if, if, if they do go through that, it does say that.

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:12

• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said the bill addresses animals involved in animal cruelty cases so courts can address their placement sooner.

  Read what they said

  So, so what we're, what we're wanting to address in this is if the animal is involved in an animal ac cruelty case and it's, it's been abused. And so while the case is pending, the judge, the courts are able to address this part that would normally be addressed. Um, it just makes it so we can address it sooner than later.

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:52

• H.B. 335 County Employment Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 12, 2026

  Asks whether limiting appeal rights could create fiscal or legal litigation risk. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, just a question around possible fiscal or, or legal risks. I mean, any, any time we, um, seek to remove or limit or amend, um, rights to appeal, um, are we opening perhaps any litigation risk in this case?

  ▶ Watch at 1:24:18

Show all 37 remarks →

From the official recordings' automatic captions, with speakers and summaries identified by AI. Use the ▶ links to check the recording before you rely on a quote.

How they voted

Their full voting record, attendance, and party-line score are still being compiled from the official roll calls. Each bill page shows their vote on that bill.

Bills they sponsored

• H.B. 34 Victim Rights Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · Did not pass
• H.B. 87 Animal Crime Victim Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 166 Open Carry of a Firearm Amendments · Did not pass
• H.B. 172 Food Safety Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 237 Stalking Amendments · Did not pass
• H.B. 541 First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program Amendments · Did not pass

About

In office since

January 1, 2025

Counties

Salt Lake

Profession

Owner/Executive Director of My Choice Utah; CSagato Bakery & Cafe, Owner; Business Owner

Education

Alta High School

Honors and awards

None listed in their official profile.

Committees

• Economic and Community Development Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
• House Judiciary Committee
• Judiciary Interim Committee
• Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

Profile details come from the Utah Legislature's official legislator data.