Stuart Adams
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jabez Stuart Adams (born 1954) is the Republican senator for the Utah State Senate's 7th District. Prior to redistricting, he represented the 22nd District. Adams was appointed to the Utah House of Representatives in 2002 and then to the Senate in 2009. In 2012, he was chosen to be the Senate majority whip.[2] In 2018, he was chosen to be Senate president.
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7th district (2023–present)
Stuart Adams | |
|---|---|
Adams in 2022 | |
| President of the Utah Senate | |
| Assumed office January 28, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Wayne L. Niederhauser |
| Member of the Utah Senate | |
| Assumed office September 16, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Bell |
| Constituency | 22nd district (2009–2023) 7th district (2023–present) |
| Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 16th district | |
| In office June 19, 2002 – December 31, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Garn |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Garn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 or 1955 (age 71–72)[1] |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Utah (BS) |
Personal life, education, and career
Adams graduated from Layton High in 1972[3] and earned his BA from the University of Utah in business finance.[4] He is a businessman by profession.[4] Adams is married to his wife, Susan, and they have four children together.[5] In 2002, he received the Business Person of the Year award from the Utah State Chamber of Commerce and the Builder of the Year award from the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association.[6] Adams previously served as the President of the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association.[6]
Political career
Adams is a former chairman of the Utah State Transportation Commission. He served as chairman of the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA).[6] Prior to his legislative service, Adams served nine years on the Layton City Council.[6]
Adams served for over four years in the Utah State House of Representatives (June 19, 2002 – December 31, 2006). He commenced his service in the Senate on September 16, 2009.[7] He was appointed to both of these positions.[4] In 2004, then-Representative Adams was named the 2004 Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the 2004 Legislator of the Year by the International Code Council, and the 2004 Representative of the Year by the Davis County Republican Women.[6]
In 2016, Adams served as the majority whip.[4] He has also served on the following committees:[8]
- Executive Appropriations Committee
- Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
- Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
- Senate Business and Labor Committee
- Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee
Sexual Activity Law
In 2024, he suggested a law change that meant an eighteen-year-old, if enrolled as a high school student, who engaged in sexual activity with a thirteen-year-old could be charged with unlawful sexual activity rather than child rape (the former being a third-degree felony while the latter is first-degree).[9] The law was adopted by Utah as part of SB 213.[9] This allowed Adams's eighteen-year-old granddaughter to avoid serious punishment for raping a child. Adams denied that his family relationship was the reason he promoted the law change.[10]
COVID response controversies
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Utah, Adams supported legislation to stockpile the experimental medication hydroxychloroquine.[11] Soon it emerged that Utah had purchased $800,000 worth of the drug, at vastly inflated prices, from a local pharmacy with personal connections to Adams.[12][13]
In 2022, Adams, as the Utah Senate president, opened the 2022 general session of the 64th legislature in person, without a mask. Having contracted COVID-19 the week before, Adams said he had recovered before speaking to the Senate at the start of the session. It was later revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 twice that morning. Adams continued his legislative duties unmasked, conversing in close contact with fellow senators, staff, and dignitaries, only masking when meeting with members of the media.[14]
2021 congressional redistricting
In 2018, an independent redistricting commission was formed to better represent the public's voice when it came to redrawing Utah's congressional maps. A bipartisan group was formed to recommend congressional, state senate, state house, and state school board district boundaries based on public feedback and a strong focus on representation of "communities of interest."[15] On November 1, 2021, the commission delivered its 12 recommendations that were vetted through 16 public hearings across the state to the legislature. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave favorable reviews to the maps the council drew.[16] The state legislature, under the leadership of Senate President Stuart, ignored the commission's recommendations and drew and approved their own maps. They divided Salt Lake County, the largest and most diverse county in the state, into the four congressional districts.[17]
Elections
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J.Stuart Adams | 22,454 | 72.1 | |
| United Utah | Kimberly Wagner | 8,703 | 27.9 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J.Stuart Adams | 32,765 | 100 | |
| Total votes | N/a | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stuart Adams | 16,605 | 73.3 | |
| Democratic | Kip Sayre | 4,417 | 19.5 | |
| Libertarian | Brent Zimmerman | 1,643 | 7.2 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J.Stuart Adams | 16,638 | 70.09 | |
| Democratic | Charlie Parker | 4,597 | 19.37 | |
| Constitution | David A. Hansen | 2,028 | 8.54 | |
Legislation
2016 sponsored bills
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Bill Status |
|---|---|---|
| S.B. 80 | Infrastructure Funding Amendments | Governor Signed 3/25/2016 |
| S.B. 115 | Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act | Governor Signed 3/29/2016 |
| S.B. 130 | Tattoo Removal | Governor Signed 3/29/2016 |
| S.B. 154 | Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations | Governor Signed 3/29/2016 |
| S.B. 161 | Highway Signage Amendments | Governor Signed 3/25/2016 |
| S.B. 203 | Immunity Amendments | Governor Signed 3/22/2016 |
| S.B. 222 | Professional Licensing Amendments | Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016 |
| S.B. 231 | Waste Management Amendments | Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016 |
| S.B. 246 | Funding for Infrastructure Revisions | Governor Signed 3/22/2016 |
| S.B. 251 | Water Infrastructure Funding Amendments | Governor Signed 3/25/2016 |
| S.C.R. 12 | Concurrent Resolution Recognizing the Importance of Utah Sport and Olympic Legacy Efforts | Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016 |
| S.C.R. 19 | Concurrent Resolution on Education | Governor Signed 3/22/2016 |
2017 sponsored bills
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Bill Status |
|---|---|---|
| S.B. 79 | Waste Management Amendments | Governor Signed 3/24/2017 |
| S.B. 167 | Bail Amendments | Governor Signed 3/15/2017 |
| S.B. 179 | Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week | Governor Signed 3/14/2017 |
| S.B. 196 | Health Education Amendments | Governor Signed 3/20/2017 |
| S.B. 197 | Refinery Sales and Use Tax Exemption Amendments | Governor Signed 3/25/2017 |
| S.B. 202 | Parent-time Amendments | Governor Signed 3/17/2017 |
| S.B. 228 | Water Infrastructure Revisions | Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/9/2017 |
| S.B. 262 | Upstart Amendments | Governor Signed 3/28/2017 |
| S.B. 270 | Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act | Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/9/2017 |
| S.B. 273 | Energy Development Amendments | Governor Signed 3/28/2017 |
| S.J.R. 13 | Joint Resolution Supporting Creation of Citizens Equity Funds | Governor Signed 3/16/2017 |