Legislators / Jake Sawyer
Jake Sawyer
Republican · House District 9
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Jake Sawyer
- Email: jsawyer@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-641-5928
- Office: 350 N State Street, Suite 350, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114
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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.
Jake Sawyer serves on:
- Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee
- House Transportation Committee
- Business and Labor Interim Committee
- Transportation Interim Committee
What they've said
46 remarks on 25 billsH.B. 493 Consumer Products Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says the bill combines H.B. 493 and H.B. 442 to save time without changing substance, and describes its civil penalty schedule and timeline for a program with the Department of Agriculture; yields the rest of his time to a Utah County representative.
▶ Watch at 21:01Read what they said
Yes. Mr. Speaker, um, representatives. So this bill, in an effort to save time, we took HB 4 93 as well as HB 4 42, the feminine hygiene products by the good representative from Utah County and put them together. Um, this bill does not change anything. It was truly just in an effort to save time. So the beginning of the bill does the same thing as before. It establishes a schedule and timeline of civil penalties for the violation of waits and measure program, uh, with the Department of Ag. Uh, Mr. Speaker, I will yield the rest of my time to the good representative from Utah County.
S.B. 139 Notary Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Rep. Sawyer presents S.B. 139 as a technical cleanup that updates notary definitions, clarifies identity verification standards, and creates penalties for tampering with notary records, without expanding government authority or creating new programs.
▶ Watch at 28:25Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Uh, SB 1 39 is a technical cleanup of Utah's, uh, notaries Public Reform Act. It updates definitions to match current electronic and remote notarization processes. It clarifies identity verification standards to reduce fraud. It protects notary records by creating penalties for internet or intentional tampering and it does not expend government authority or create new programs. That is my presentation, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, I'm open to questions.
S.B. 307 Garnishment Fee Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Said they appreciate the bill but do not think it goes far enough and that more work could be done in this area.
▶ Watch at 44:03Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Maybe. There it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I appreciate the bill. Uh, frankly, I don't think it goes far enough. I think there's a lot of work in this area that we can clean up. Uh, but I appreciate you doing this. Save a lot Of time. Thank you.
S.B. 286 Interior Designer Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Moved to adjourn the meeting, which members approved.
▶ Watch at 1:47:57Read what they said
Uh, final motion Representative Sawyer. Motion adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you.
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks why the bill refers to funds for a park and ride facility and whether such a facility is planned.
▶ Watch at 1:04:50Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, can you help me understand on lines 2164, um, when it says use funds for construction of a park and ride facility, is there intentions to build a park and ride facility somewhere?
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks for the line reference for the next question.
▶ Watch at 1:05:25Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And one more question, if I may Remind me what that last line was.
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks whether the referenced language is the same in the second substitute. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:05:34Read what they said
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Then I take that back. Thank you very much. I'm on the second one. 24 70. 24 70 Is the, Is that where it's at? Same language, different Same language, isn't it? Okay.
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks why the electric vehicle weight threshold is set at 6,001 pounds and whether it would include half-ton electric pickups.
▶ Watch at 1:05:51Read what they said
Um, and then one more question. Um, when we're talking about the weight of the electric vehicles uhhuh, um, at 6,001 pounds, that actually is including like the F-150 lightning, like the, the half ton size pickup truck. I'm just wondering what, what is the need or want to lower that to, to include those commercial vehicles
H.B. 597 Alcohol Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Had a similar question about churches and schools, described an Ogden restaurant near an Episcopal church, and said more discussion with cities is needed while keeping alcohol away from schools.
▶ Watch at 1:08:39Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah. I had the same question as our vice chair. I, I found I was looking online, uh, 1020 and, and saw that same, that same thing, you know, churches in schools. But in my district, we have the same, we have the same issue. We have an Episcopal church, uh, on 24th Street in Ogden. And across the street. We have a, a restaurant there that I know has had to do some renovations, and they've got a, an awkward entrance going through a parking lot. Um, I, I understand the, the, uh, the desire to keep it away from schools and, and the distance there. I, I would prefer to see that we could …
S.B. 230 Consumer Credit Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend S.B. 230.
▶ Watch at 1:26:32Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend SB two 30 Consumer Credit Amendments.
S.B. 175 Health Insurance Revisions · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asked for the study report to be brought to the committee when it is available.
▶ Watch at 1:41:21Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I would just like to, to see this report as well. That's going to HHSI think that'd be very enlightening where we we're hearing this bill now. And just if you could bring that report here as well, I think that would, that would shed a lot of light on this.
S.B. 175 Health Insurance Revisions · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend S.B. 175 as a second substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:45:45Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend SB 1 75 health insurance revisions.
S.B. 175 Health Insurance Revisions · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Thanked the sponsor for her work and said the study is a useful option for families seeking testing and resources.
▶ Watch at 1:46:26Read what they said
Um, I appreciate the Senator Vickers Good work on this. Um, I know my family's had issues on this, trying to find some testing and some resources. So I think this is a great, great option. Thank you for doing this study.
S.B. 218 Constable Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asked on behalf of a constituent who would handle conflicts of interest for constables.
▶ Watch at 1:51:36Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I had a question from a constituent, just wondering who handles, uh, conflicts of interest? Would that be Doppel in this case?
S.C.R. 10 Concurrent Resolution Emphasizing Utah's Commitment to Advanced Air Mobility · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked how practical air taxis are, raised safety concerns about using unmanned aircraft to reach ski areas in winter, questioned their traffic relief value, and asked what need the resolution addresses; the sponsor described a future pilot program and the need for safety and privacy safeguards.
▶ Watch at 1:22:21Read what they said
Thank you. Thanks, Senator. Um, I, I just have a, a, a little trouble with, with these air taxis, I guess, um, thinking about the, the application of it, real world application of it, I've heard, you know, it can relieve traffic on I 15. It can get people up to ski resorts, it can do all these wonderful things. Um, I, I'm just concerned, I, I would never take an unmanned helicopter up to a ski lift in the middle of winter on a snow day. That, that just seems dangerous to me. I'd rather drive. Um, as far as going on I 15, I don't know how many people can fit in these unmanned helicopters to really, I …
H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield for a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 19:51Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor continue to yield Sponsor yield to a series of questions? I
H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks whether the study looks at housing affordability or housing availability.
▶ Watch at 19:57Read what they said
Um, so just to clarify again, is this, is this looking at a housing affordability or is this looking at housing availability?
H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks what adverse impacts the colleges and universities are having.
▶ Watch at 20:19Read what they said
What impact, um, are these colleges and universities having That's an adverse impact on the
H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and urges the body to support the bill.
▶ Watch at 20:28Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I applaud the sponsor on his good work here and, uh, I urge the body support
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Asks to yield to a series of questions from the sponsor. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:29:23Read what they said
Thank you. Will this sponsor yield to a series of questions? Will The sponsor yield to a series of questions? I will Go ahead. Thank you.
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Asks for clarification on what special district the bill refers to, which ties to another code section.
▶ Watch at 1:29:30Read what they said
Hey, I was just wondering, Mr. Speaker, on line 1 0 6, it talks about a special district and then it's tying back to code and then when I went on it, it tied back to another code. So I'm just wondering if I could get a little bit more clarification on what exactly this special district is.
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and asks whether there is a definition of low and moderate income housing.
▶ Watch at 1:30:10Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, and then also I, um, I'm, I'm wondering about the affordable housing aspect of it with low and moderate income. Do we have a definition of what that would actually be?
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Asks whether each agency or the board would define affordable housing through resolution.
▶ Watch at 1:31:33Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So, um, as we're talking about those affordable housing measurements being made in resolution through the agency, are we talking about in these community reinvestments, each agency being able to make their own definition about what affordable housing is? Or is this coming from the board itself making a resolution to do that?
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Expresses concern that the 80 to 120 percent range of area median income is too broad and asks that it be tightened.
▶ Watch at 1:32:18Read what they said
Okay, thank you Mr. Speaker. As I was looking at something, it tied to something that was talking about the board making a resolution of what affordable housing would look like. And so because there is that 40% swing between 80 and 120%, I just think if we are legislating and putting a lot of this in statute, we may think we're getting a low income housing or affordable housing and yet at 120% other people might not think that. So, um, I'm, I'm a little bit worried that we're not trying to tighten that up a little bit and leaving it to the discretion of, of these different developments. Thank you.
H.B. 553 Dog Attack Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says that in his practice with minor clients, attorneys often wait to see how injuries heal before seeking treatment and settlement.
▶ Watch at 1:25:11Read what they said
Thank you. And I just wanted to add some clarity there as well. Um, I, I handle a few of these cases in my practice. Um, the last couple I've handled are minors. And so with the minors, a lot of times you wanna wait the maximum amount of time just to see what the lasting damage is. Um, you know, the last one I had was some long lasting. It was a really, really deep bite mark to the thigh and it was causing a lot of gait issues. And so we wanted to see if that was something that would resolve itself over time or not. Um, same thing with scarring. The one I handled before that was …
S.B. 160 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend S.B. 160.
▶ Watch at 55:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the work you're doing on this. Uh, I move that we favorably recommend, uh, SB one 60.
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asked what keeps insurers from always choosing cheaper aftermarket parts over OEM parts.
▶ Watch at 57:30Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, question if, if the insurance companies can, um, decide, or, or however that decision is made to use aftermarket parts instead of the OEM, what is, what is keeping them in any policy using OEM parts instead of just going the cheaper route aftermarket all the time?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asked why the bill adds a right of action against insurers when auto body shops are already licensed and regulated.
▶ Watch at 59:36Read what they said
Okay. Uh, one more question, Mr. Chair for me. Sure. Um, so if we license and regulate autobody shops, um, to, to do the work correctly in the way that it should be done, what's the reason for adding an option for people to come at the insurance companies for a right of action?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Restated his question on why a right to sue insurers is needed when repair shops are regulated.
▶ Watch at 1:00:36Read what they said
Yeah, so in Utah we regulate and license auto repair facilities and the people doing the work so that we know that the work is done professionally, accurately, all of that. So if, if we have regulation here to make sure the work is done, why are we adding a route to go and sue the insurance company who's not the ones actually doing the wrenching on the car?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Expressed concern that allowing lawsuits against insurers raises premiums, noting he pays extra for OEM coverage himself.
▶ Watch at 1:06:22Read what they said
Sure. And so I, I think, yeah, I, uh, I, I think, I think where I, I still have heartburn is that we're, we're allowing people to sue an insurance company. And I, I think anytime we allow that, we all see our, our policy rates go up, we all see, uh, things just get more expensive across the board. I'm all for people getting their cars fixed the way they need to be fixed. Um, but I know on my policy, I choose OEM parts, right? I, I pay a premium to, to have that. Um, if I, if I didn't want those OEM parts on my car, I could save money myself by just not paying for that …
H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moves to adopt the first substitute to H.B. 385.
▶ Watch at 2:15:40Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I move, we favorably recommend HB 3 85. We need to move the first time, or sorry. Thank you. Actually take that back. I move that we adopt sub one.
H.B. 387 Kratom Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked what additional regulations Mr. Locke would want for kratom.
▶ Watch at 1:09:55Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice-Chair. I curious about your comments. You said you're in favor of more rules for this, correct? Uh, I know you mentioned a few of them there, but what other regulations would you want around Kratom to help keep it safe?
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks how many pre-2009 trucks government fleets own and says he has trouble with exempting government from rules that apply to citizens.
▶ Watch at 1:10:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you for bringing this bill. My question is, um, do you happen to know how many vehicles pre 2009 that the government currently owns that this would affect or I guess not affect? So, um, when we talked to the Utah Trucking Association over the past, uh, summer and the past years, most, uh, most of these trucks, most of these fleets have been upgraded. What I'm particularly worried about is, as, as I mentioned, as the blue states around us, as they start to push their trucks in here, this, I'm, I'm, I'm hoping to prevent that. Um, I'm gonna pull up the fiscal note here because the fiscal analyst did estimate that. …
H.B. 130 Employment Medical Examination Expense Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether an employer must pay for a fitness evaluation if an injury occurred on the job.
▶ Watch at 51:00Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, love the bill. I think this is a great idea. Uh, just wanna clarify on what you said. If somebody breaks their arm and they need a, a fitness test to get back to work, the employer wouldn't be required to pay for that fitness or for that evaluation. But I wanna make sure if that injury happened while they were on the job, the employer would still be required to, to cover that.
H.B. 130 Employment Medical Examination Expense Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the employer covers exams tied to work functions versus recreational activities, and thanked the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 51:27Read what they said
Did it occur while they were working as a part of their work related function? Or did it occur outside of their regular working hours as part of say a recreational function? Yeah, correct. Thank you very much appreciate the work you did.
H.B. 130 Employment Medical Examination Expense Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether pre-employment drug tests are included in the bill.
▶ Watch at 51:40Read what they said
Uh, yeah. Uh, one question. I, I'm seeing something, uh, right, it says, uh, pre-employment, they're saying if, if, if they have a requirement to, for a drug test before pre-employment is, is that included?
H.B. 130 Employment Medical Examination Expense Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked how applicants who fail a required pre-employment test, such as a lifting test, would be compensated.
▶ Watch at 52:30Read what they said
Yeah. So I, um, I think most of this bill's pretty good, but I think the, the pre-employment I, I've worked in manufacturing, I've hired a lot of people on a, on the job application, it'll say, you have to be able to lift 50 pounds. Right? And so we're just gonna make sure that you can. And so if they can't, they don't get hired into the system, is it easy to pay that person and just kind of trying to walk through the logistics? Right. So you require a test, um, they don't pass that test so they don't get hired. How, how do you, how do you compensate that person? Or do you, are you required to …
H.B. 171 Physician Assistant Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Says he supports the bill, that physician assistants met with him this week about it, and that he likes removing the apostrophe.
▶ Watch at 59:59Read what they said
Representative Sawyer? Yeah. Thank you very much. Uh, love the bill. Thank you for doing this. I had a group of, uh, PAs from Weaver State in my office this week talking to me about this. Um, so I appreciate them being there and, and sharing this with me. I, I love that we're taking the apostrophe out. Uh, these people don't belong to the physician and they are their own right. And we appreciate them and everything they're doing. So thank you for the bill.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the continuing education applies to employees or only the general contractor.
▶ Watch at 1:11:54Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um, question for you, does this, um, CE education, does that pertain to the employees doing the work themselves as well? Or just the gc
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the sponsor plans to add other employees later.
▶ Watch at 1:12:32Read what they said
Okay. Is it your, is it your plan to add in the other employees as well later, or try and put them in as into this later? I'm,
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the bill could create barriers to entering the workforce.
▶ Watch at 1:12:54Read what they said
Do you feel like this, uh, potentially could add any barriers of entry into the workforce for people?
S.B. 84 Department of Commerce Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Sawyer asked why there is a fee for business information that he remembers being free to look up.
▶ Watch at 1:42:21Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, please correct me if I'm wrong, uh, but if I remember a number of years ago in my professional life, I could look up all of this information and it was free. Uh, can you help me understand why we're putting a paywall in front of that?
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Sawyer asked what the safety course would look like and whether it provides roadway instruction like a driver's course.
▶ Watch at 1:36:36Read what they said
Chair. I've got two questions, if that's all right. Sure. Uh, thank you for doing this. I appreciate it. The first question that I've got is the safety course. What, what does that look like for kids going through that? And does that give, you know, the same kind of roadway instruction that, that a driver's license course would give
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Sawyer said this answered his question about visitors renting scooters.
▶ Watch at 1:38:07Read what they said
Okay, perfect. And you, you actually answered my second question. I was worried with, with visitors coming to Salt Lake, like when I go to a different city, my favorite thing is to hop on a lime scooter and, and go around. And so you've answered that, that the timing would be 20, 30 minutes for a class and then they could download that to their phone and have it, and,
H.B. 120 Tail Light Obstruction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked whether the bill affects small trailers and said agricultural equipment already uses red triangles for safety.
▶ Watch at 2:06:09Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just wondering, does this affect small trailers? I see a lot of small trailers around that are open single axles that don't have rear tail lights or anything like that. We haven't really addressed them on this. We're talking o only the carriers here. Just the carriers. Okay. But, uh, I, I think we're, I think that's already covered, but I'm, I'm not, I'm not really up on that. Uh, okay. But, But this is just for those Carriers. But it is a concern, you know, uh, us in agriculture, we, we have an opportunity. We can have some of our, uh, farm equipment and stuff that, that doesn't have that, but we need to. …
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked the reason for ending special interest plates, noting their revenue significance.
▶ Watch at 2:43:40Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um, I'm wondering if you can help me understand what the reason is for ending the special plates. That that was a big revenue thing, the black and white plate that people loved here in Utah. And I'm just wondering what's the reasoning for ending those plates?
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.