Karen M. Peterson
State representative, House District 13 · Republican
Office held
| State representative | House District 13 | Source |
Voting record
Utah House, 2026 sessions
The official record lists Karen M. Peterson's vote on 838 roll calls in the 2026 sessions. The latest:
- Voted: Yea6th Sub. HB 492: Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments
- Voted: Yea1st Sub. SB 156: Constable Amendments
- Voted: Yea1st Sub. SB 47: Reauthorization of Administrative Rules
- Voted: Yea3rd Sub. HB 125: Department of Natural Resources Related Modifications Amendments
- Voted: Yea3rd Sub. HB 377: Real Estate Amendments
- Voted: Yea5th Sub. HB 119: Automotive Repair Business Amendments
- Voted: Absent or not voting3rd Sub. SB 181: School Discipline Amendments
- Voted: Absent or not voting3rd Sub. HB 591: Nuisance Amendments
- Voted: Absent or not voting4th Sub. HB 535: Disposition of Public Property Modifications
- Voted: Absent or not voting2nd Sub. SB 165: Economic Mobility Initiative
Career and education
Karen M. Peterson earned an undergraduate degree at Utah State University and a Master of Public Administration at Southern Utah University. Her House biography describes work as legislative policy director for Gov. Spencer Cox and deputy education policy adviser for Gov. Gary Herbert. It also records community-development work at Sunrise Engineering and adjunct teaching at Southern Utah University, combining executive-branch, education and local-development experience. [1]
Public service and district
Peterson was selected in December 2021 to fill a House vacancy, with legislative service beginning January 5, 2022, according to the roster. She represents District 13 in Davis County, including Clearfield, Clinton, Sunset and West Point. Her biography records two terms on the Clinton City Council. Those local and executive-branch roles preceded her House work, adding earlier policy experience to her district responsibilities. [1]
Documented legislative work
The Legislature records Peterson's 2026 HB373, Higher Education Innovation, and HB352, Higher Education Alignment, as signed by the governor. Her sponsor record also includes signed measures involving special education, local-government fees, tax notices and initiative procedures. The range connects education governance with public administration and elections, while the individual records supply the evidence for each measure's action rather than establishing an overall effect on student outcomes or public costs. [2]
In the 2026 General Session, Karen M. Peterson was chief sponsor of H.B. 143, Special Education Amendments. It requires a local education agency to give a parent written notice in specified special-education situations, with one exclusion. The governor signed it on March 19, 2026. [3]
In the 2026 General Session, Karen M. Peterson was chief sponsor of H.B. 236, Truth in Taxation Amendments. It makes a taxing entity that is proposing a property tax rate increase state its plans at a public meeting first, clarifies notice rules for towns without websites and spells out the Tax Commission's power to reject a proposed rate. The governor signed it on March 23, 2026. [4]
Committee and budget responsibilities
Current assignments include House Education, House Political Subdivisions and House Rules, where the roster identifies Peterson as vice chair. She also serves on Higher Education Appropriations and interim education and transportation committees. That portfolio links her earlier education-policy and city-government experience with university spending, legislative procedure and local-government questions. The Rules leadership position is a committee responsibility alongside her elected district seat. [1]
Profile sources
From the Legislature's roster
- Profession
- Policy Analyst
- Education
- B.A. Utah State University; M.P.A. Southern Utah University
- Committees
In the news
No Utah Ledger stories name Karen M. Peterson yet.