Doug Welton

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Speaks in support, saying the companies affected earn hundreds of millions of dollars and that the bill provides funding for education and fighting harms to children.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Madam Speaker ProAm. I would also like to stand in support of this piece of legislation. This is an important piece of, of legisl of legislation, uh, that we're looking at. IIII, I struggle with the argument that we're taxing small businesses. We're talking, uh, companies who are making hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of them are making $60 million a quarter. These are not small companies that, that, uh, are, are being impacted here. Additionally, we've spent a tremendous amount of time this session dealing with addictive devices, which is where most of your targeting advertising is coming from. We recognize that devices are addictive. We are pulling electronics out of school. We are restricting targeting …

  ▶ Watch at 2:06:04

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Supports the bill, saying the affected companies earn hundreds of millions of dollars and that the bill would fund tools and education to address harms to children.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Madam Speaker ProAm. I would also like to stand in support of this piece of legislation. This is an important piece of, of legisl of legislation, uh, that we're looking at. IIII, I struggle with the argument that we're taxing small businesses. We're talking, uh, companies who are making hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of them are making $60 million a quarter. These are not small companies that, that, uh, are, are being impacted here. Additionally, we've spent a tremendous amount of time this session dealing with addictive devices, which is where most of your targeting advertising is coming from. We recognize that devices are addictive. We are pulling electronics out of school. We are restricting targeting …

  ▶ Watch at 2:06:04

• S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Presents Senate Bill 172, which updates aircraft registration requirements and airport licensing, establishes a process for lost property at regulated airports, and makes technical changes.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker Pot. This bill amends provisions relating to an airports and operations aircraft registration and loss, or missed hand or mislaid property at the airports. The bill updates definitions modifies aircraft based in the state thresholds for re for registration. Clarifies registration requirements for certain commercial operators, established as a uniform process for handling loss property at regulated airports updates, airport licensing requirements and makes technical and conforming changes. So basically if you lose your, uh, goods at the airport, you can get 'em back. And, uh, we require, uh, updates, licensing codes at airports.

  ▶ Watch at 26:01

• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Presented the bill, saying it clarifies educator licensing and discipline processes, provides proportional responses to technical violations, and keeps educators who harmed students out of classrooms.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find myself in an odd place being in opposition to the UEA on this bill. And if that doesn't wake you up from your slumber, let me just talk about this bill a little bit. Um, so in the current situation, we have PAC and, um, well, let's talk about u. SB 12 makes targeted improvements to Utah's educator licensing and discipline process. The bill clarifies how suspensions and disciplinary actions affect the teachers license and employment in our schools. It also ensures that the Utah State Board of Education and PAC have clearer guidance. One of the reasons why I'm supporting this bill is because there is lack of clear, clear guidance regarding certain …

  ▶ Watch at 39:46

• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Said the bill is not retroactive and would not let educators with suspended licenses return to teaching, though technical violations may allow non-teaching roles.

  Read what they said

  I will. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, representative. So, I'm, I'm just trying to clarify, and there's some discussion here on the floor. Under the provisions of this bill, if an educator is con is claimed to be, have been convicted of some sort of violation or offense on if this bill passes, will they be able to return back to the classroom? This bill is not retroactive. Uh, as far as my reading of the bill, I don't see that as a thing, that it is not a retroactive thing. It does not allow them to return to the classroom moving forward. If it is a technical violation, one that's not harmful to students, it, it would not allow …

  ▶ Watch at 44:55

• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Said the bill is a slight deviation that affects a very small, niche category of cases.

  Read what they said

  I, I don't believe it is, but I can honestly say gratefully that I have never been close to touching this area. So, uh, I don't know from experience, but my understanding is like, this is not a a, there's a slight deviation, uh, in that we do have this blanket provision that exists. But to the, to what the good sponsor from Illa said, I think this contemplates some nuance in circumstances where it warrants. This is, this is a very small portion of any, uh, instances that would take place with pac. It's a very, very small, very niche category.

  ▶ Watch at 46:01

• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Gave closing summation, saying the bill was reviewed by several members and stakeholders, does not allow educators who harmed students back into schools, and allows nuance for technical violations; urged support.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, this bill did come about very quickly. That's why we circled it last night and, and we let it sit so we could have some, some serious policy discussions. We had several members of this body come and work on it, as well as other stakeholders. And so I appreciate that things were moving fast and I, and I appreciate the, the concerns of my, my good colleague and, and former teacher from Salt Lake City. Um, I do think that, that this has reached a good place. And, uh, I just just wanna reiterate, sorry, this touches on a, on a, on a hard piece for me. Um, for my colleagues who have engaged …

  ▶ Watch at 48:31

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Explains that the Senate amendments were requested after meeting with members of a group, add a parent opt-out option, specify state-specific rather than national curriculum options, and recommends concurrence.

  Read what they said

  Are actually amendments that, that I requested after meeting with a couple members of higher ground and they brought out some, some good points. This creates a Parent Optout option. It also specifies that we're looking at state specific and not national curriculum options. And so I appreciate their discussion with me. I think this, this makes the bill even better than it was before and I would make the motion to or recommend that we concur with the Senate amendments.

  ▶ Watch at 2:14:16

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Presents H.B. 502, which asks the State Board of Education to create a citizenship grade framework, sets up a tax-deductible scholarship fund, and creates a test-out option with an opt-in for districts and an opt-out for parents, and describes changes made in the substitute.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee. This is, uh, not where I thought I'd be going and probably not what you thought you'd be hearing today, uh, in your committee, but, uh, this is an issue I've been working on for probably two years. Um, it's an issue that I brought before the Education Interim Committee presented kind of this idea, uh, early on, uh, in, in the set, in the, in the process to bring as many people together to talk about the issue. And it's been out there for a long, long, long time. Um, we've had a few people that have come to the, the table in the last couple of days that have, uh, some concerns, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:53

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Says the committee may decide whether a motion is needed, and that the changes are good policy though not strictly necessary.

  Read what they said

  You're looking for? Um, if, if the body, I think it's, I think it's good policy. I think there's some, some good concerns that were brought up. Um, I don't know that it's necessary, but I think it's good policy.

  ▶ Watch at 1:45:35

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Says he does not have an answer and did not poll districts.

  Read what they said

  That's a good question, and I don't have that answer. I did not take a poll of, of LEAs.

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:38

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Says the bill has been funded on the House side.

  Read what they said

  This has been funded, yeah. On the house side, this has been funded. Okay. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:55

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Says the fiscal note covers the test-out option. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  This is for the test out option. That's what the fiscal note is for. Okay, thanks. Yep.

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:58

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Gives closing summation saying the bill aims to support educators, parents, and educational outcomes while protecting those with concerns.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I've really tried to work hard to, uh, find a path that supports teachers and parents try to use the scalpel and not a sledgehammer on this. And, uh, provide protections for those with concerns to make sure that we weren't going beyond the scope. And so, um, this will support our educators, it'll support educational outcomes. And I would, uh, thank you for your consideration.

  ▶ Watch at 1:50:41

• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Echoed the praise for the chair and vice chair.

  Read what they said

  I, I would echo that and say Chair and vice chair. You've both done a phenomenal job and we appreciate both of you. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 2:11:24

Show all 177 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. 12 Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 17 Public Infrastructure District Meeting Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 93 Goshen Bay Waterfowl Management Area · Governor Signed
• H.B. 142 School Fee Waiver Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 266 Highway Designation Changes · Did not pass
• H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · Governor Signed
• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Governor Signed
• H.B. 518 School Curriculum Amendments · Did not pass
• H.B. 526 Student Welfare Check Amendments · Did not pass
• H.J.R. 6 Joint Resolution Regarding School Activities and Practices · Did not pass
• H.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution Regarding LEA Reporting Requirements · House/ to Lieutenant Governor

Carried in the House as floor sponsor

• S.B. 6 Transportation and Infrastructure Base Budget · Governor Signed
• S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · Governor Signed
• S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · Governor Signed
• S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · Governor Signed

About

In office since

January 1, 2021

Counties

Utah

Affiliations

Utah Debate Coaches Association; Utah Association of Japanese Teachers; Payson Library Board; Southern Utah Valley Power Systems

Education

Utah Valley State College - History Education, B.S.; Southern Utah University - Educational Leadership, M.S.

Honors and awards

2017 UHSAA Speech Educator of the Year; 2016 4A Coach of the Year; 2019 Sundance District Coach of the Year; National Speech and Debate Association Double Diamond Coach

Committees

• Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Education Committee
• House Government Operations Committee
• Education Interim Committee
• Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee

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