Utah has been making strides towards a more family-friendly legislative environment, with over 50% of freshman House representatives having young children at home. Lawmakers welcomed 4-month-old Joey Matthews, son of Rep. Ashlee Matthews, onto the House floor, making debates feel more lighthearted and negotiations smoother. This shift is part of a nationwide trend, with more moms with young children entering state legislatures.
In Utah, 8.6% of lawmakers are mothers with minor children, ranking the state 23rd out of 50. The number of mothers in the Legislature decreased slightly from 10 to 9 over a two-year period. However, the Utah House and Senate are seeing more young families, with 43% of representatives having children under 18. This change is attributed to a culture shift as more young lawmakers enter office.
Efforts to make the Capitol more family-friendly include setting up a “family room” during the session’s final night and adding changing tables and a staff mother’s lounge. Lawmakers are advocating for even more changes, such as adding changing tables to men’s bathrooms and even launching a daycare operation within the Capitol.
Having children in the Capitol offers a welcome reprieve from the seriousness of legislative work, according to lawmakers. It also highlights the challenges of balancing child care and public service roles. The increased presence of young families in the Legislature is changing the culture and fostering a more inclusive and family-oriented environment.
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