SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Chamber recognized the exceptional legislators who advanced principles of free enterprise during the 2026 General Legislative Session. Honorees were recognized at the Free Enterprise Champion Awards Ceremony for their partnership with the Chamber in supporting policies that strengthen Utah’s economy and communities.

The 2026 session was historic. Lawmakers introduced more than 1,000 bills, passed over 540 pieces of legislation and appropriated a $31.63 billion budget. The Utah Chamber tracked and monitored 260 business-related bills and secured a 100% success rate on all of its 17 priority bills. Priorities advanced new tools to expand Utah’s housing supply, strengthened the workforce talent pipeline, accelerated responsible critical mineral development and supported long-term efforts to protect the Great Salt Lake; among others.

“Utah’s continued prosperity depends on leaders who show up, engage on the hard issues and stand for policies that strengthen our economy,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Utah Chamber. “This year’s Free Enterprise Champions did exactly that. We are grateful for their leadership and for the partnership that makes Utah the best place in the nation to live, work and do business.”

The Utah Chamber recognized the following legislators as 2026 Free Enterprise Champions (full bios and award details following this release):

  • Senator Scott Sandall
  • Senator Evan Vickers
  • Representative Doug Owens
  • Representative Karen Peterson

The ceremony also featured special recognition of Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power, a distinguished Chamber member whose leadership exemplifies these same values.

The awards were presented at the Rotunda of the Utah State Capitol. The event brought together Utah Chamber Board members and stakeholders, Salt Lake Chamber Circle-level members and policymakers for a focused opportunity to recognize leadership, express appreciation and strengthen the relationships that shape Utah’s economic future. Attendees received the Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Scorecard, which highlights key outcomes and provides insight into the 2026 Legislative Session. This event reflects the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to recognizing legislative leadership and strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors for Utah’s success.

For more information, visit the Utah Chamber website at utchamber.com/legislative-scorecard.

About the Free Enterprise Champion

The Free Enterprise Champion designation honors select legislators for their exceptional leadership in advancing the principles of free enterprise and for their partnership with the Utah Chamber in supporting policies that strengthen Utah’s economy and communities. In addition, the Utah Chamber also recognizes a distinguished Chamber member whose leadership exemplifies these same values.

About the Honorees

Senator Scott Sandall

Senator Scott Sandall represents District 1, covering all of Box Elder County and parts of Cache and Tooele counties. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2015-2018 before joining the Senate in 2019. He currently serves as the vice chair of Executive Appropriations.

Born and raised in Tremonton, Sen. Sandall graduated magna cum laude with a degree in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University. He is now a fourth-generation farmer and rancher, owning and operating Sandall Ranches in Promontory, Utah. Before joining the Legislature, he served as Box Elder County Farm Bureau president and as a Utah Farm Bureau State board member. He also volunteered with the Bear River High School community council and as a local Scout leader.

Sen. Sandall and his wife, Christie, have four children and 14 grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys golfing.

Senator Evan Vickers

Senator Evan Vickers represents District 28, covering Beaver, Iron, Juab, Millard and Washington counties. He was first elected to public office in 1987, serving on the Cedar City Council until 1999. In 2009, he was elected to the Utah House of Representatives and joined the Senate in 2012. He served as Senate majority leader from 2019 to 2025 and currently chairs the Senate Business and Labor Committee, where he has focused on small business regulation and rural Utah issues.

Born in Panguitch and raised in Beaver, Sen. Vickers graduated from the University of Utah College of Pharmacy in 1977. He and his family own six businesses, five in Cedar City and one in Richfield.

Sen. Vickers and his wife, Chris, have five children, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and live in Cedar City. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hunting and fishing at their family cabin near Panguitch.

Representative Doug Owens

Representative Doug Owens was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah and Yale Law School. He and his wife, Cynthia, have four children and live in Millcreek.

Rep. Owens has three decades of legal experience resolving complex commercial, environmental and employment issues. Early in his career, Rep. Owens took two years off to stay home with three small children while Cynthia finished her medical residency.

As the representative for House District 33 and House Minority Caucus Manager, Rep. Owens is committed to the preservation of the Great Salt Lake, reducing air pollution, strengthening public education and keeping public lands in public hands. In furtherance of that goal, Rep. Owens has sought to highlight the economic value those lands have as recreation resources. He founded Utah Outdoor Partners, a non-profit organization, to promote the creation of parks, trails and other recreation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth.

Representative Karen Peterson

Representative Karen Peterson serves House District 13, representing Clearfield, Clinton, Sunset and West Point. A longtime Clinton resident, Rep. Peterson brings deep experience in state and local government, having served on the Clinton City Council and worked as Legislative Policy Director for Governor Spencer Cox and an Education Advisor for Governor Gary Herbert. She has a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree from Southern Utah University. Known for her strong advocacy in education, she also champions policies that support strong families, thriving businesses and taxpayer transparency. Rep. Peterson and her husband, Eric, an engineer at Hill Air Force Base, have three children and an energetic Australian Shepherd.

Dick Garlish

Dick Garlish is president of Rocky Mountain Power, an electric utility serving over 1.2 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. In his role, Garlish is responsible for regional strategy and engagement, leads customer and community affairs and government affairs. Before joining PacifiCorp in 2020, Garlish served as senior vice president and general counsel at Peak Reliability. Earlier in his career, he held several senior positions at Idaho Power Company, including senior counsel, director and general manager. Garlish also served as senior corporate counsel at NorthWestern Energy. Garlish was raised and educated in the mining city of Butte, Montana, and received his bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College and his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law. Prior to entering the energy industry, he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Sam E. Haddon of Montana. Garlish lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About the Utah Chamber

The Utah Chamber is a statewide chamber of commerce, representing the diverse voices of the state’s 80,000-plus employers and their employees. The Chamber unites the voices of Utah businesses, local chambers and industry associations to build a stronger business environment, increase healthy job creation and support prosperous communities across the state.