Utah Gov. Spencer Cox urged a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing crime as the 2025 legislative session came to a close. 

Lawmakers introduced a record 86 bills this year increasing criminal penalties — far more than at any other point in the past decade — with over half of them becoming law, Brigham Tomco reported. 

“The sheer numbers ... are a little bit overwhelming,” Cox told the Deseret News. “That’s why I honestly think you do have to take a holistic approach, and that can happen next session.”

Here are three key points:

• Criminal justice and penalty enhancements: This session, House lawmakers passed through the Senate immigration bills enhancing criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution, human trafficking and gang recruitment; homelessness bills enhancing penalties for drug use in shelters and prohibiting syringe exchange programs in certain areas; and sexual assault bills enhancing penalties for repeat sexual offenders and creating new offenses for sexual abuse using virtual reality.
• Election reforms: A bill originally proposed requiring in-person ballot returns with photo ID, but negotiations resulted in requiring voters to include a state ID number on mail ballots.
• Social media regulation: Cox highlighted the adoption of first-in-the-nation regulations on social media data sharing and app store accountability for minors.