Utah lawmakers gathered for a press conference at the governor’s mansion Tuesday, April 15 to accept Utah’s No. 1 ranking on the ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index of Rich States, Poor States. This will be Utah’s 18th consecutive first-place finish.
Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz accepted the award from Jonathan Williams, president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Rich States, Poor States ranks each state’s economic outlook based on factors such as corporate income tax rates, minimum wage and tax expenditure limits. Utah ranked first due to its lack of estate taxes, minimum wage of $7.25 and anti-union “right to work” legislation. Factors such as public education expenditures and access to healthcare are not included in the ranking.
Cox commended state legislators for “[rejecting] the zero-sum mindset” and considering the long-term effects of economic policy. He tied Utah’s ongoing success to policies enacted decades prior, including Utah’s flat tax on individual income.
“This doesn’t happen by chance,” Adams said. “This is by choice. It’s policies.”
Utah Senate bills passed in the 2025 legislative session include SB277, which severely undermines citizen access to public records. Failed bills include SB81, which prevented sexual abuse by care providers.
Speaker Schultz praised Utah’s low taxes, low government spending and family values. The Utah House passed several bills in 2025, including HB265, which slashed higher education budgets, HB106, which decreased the individual income tax rate by .05% and HB77, which banned pride flags on government property.
Despite positivity by lawmakers, Utah will have to work to maintain its top spot. Internally, Cox cited the rising cost of housing, energy, and “the toxicity of our politics” as growing issues. A March 2025 Utah Public Opinion Pulse poll stated one-third of Utahns had considered leaving the state due to housing prices.
External competition comes from Tennessee, which moved from sixth to second place between 2024 and 2025.
“Competition is a great thing, and I look forward to other states pushing us,” Adams said.
