Insights & Takeaways is Sutherland Institute’s official blog that informs the public and policymakers alike. The blog addresses important issues through the two distinct yet complementary lenses of the seasoned policy professional and the engaged citizen.
Insights: analysis, research, and informed commentary from Sutherland experts. For elected officials and public policy professionals.
Takeaways: the most important things voters need to know. For civically engaged citizens.
InsightsUtah’s path to leadership on Artificial Intelligence in education
Utah is positioned to be a leader in AI and should continue to find ways to lead in the area of AI in education as well.
TakeawaysLegislative wrap-up: Five key victories for Utahns
Sutherland worked closely with Utah policymakers to protect and strengthen the important pillars of faith, family and freedom.
CommentaryUtah advanced parent-driven education but left reforms on the table
Legislators should explore improvements to open enrollment transparency for parents and find innovative ways to increase parent access to classroom curriculum.
CommentaryNew Evidence on the Social Safety Net, Marriage, and Work
Any policy intervention to address benefits cliffs, plateaus, or other disincentives needs to first seek to identify where there are perception gaps vs. structural gaps in the social safety net.
InsightsSutherland Institute supports Utah’s new high school civics bill
Americans are faced with issues that make them wonder how our government works, but too few are equipped to engage meaningfully in the civic processes that surround us.
Press ReleaseSutherland releases survey data on 2025 voter priorities
Sutherland Institute released new survey data highlighting Utah voters' priorities for legislators as the 2025 session moves toward its close.
InsightsNew report and survey data highlight areas for open enrollment reform
Utah voters strongly support making information about open enrollment more transparent to parents.
CommentarySafety net or snare? Reassessing the impact of public assistance
If you work harder and earn more, your family should be better off. But for some recipients of public benefits, the opposite might happen.
CommentaryOriginal public meaning, not subjective intent, should guide Utah judge’s evaluation of scholarship law
The court can make a great contribution by getting the legal issues right.
Sutherland releases survey data on 2025 voter priorities
Sutherland Institute released new survey data highlighting Utah voters' priorities for legislators as the 2025 session moves toward its close.
New report and survey data highlight areas for open enrollment reform
Utah voters strongly support making information about open enrollment more transparent to parents.
Original public meaning, not subjective intent, should guide Utah judge’s evaluation of scholarship law
The court can make a great contribution by getting the legal issues right.
Sutherland releases new open enrollment policy reform recommendations
Sutherland Institute released a new research publication evaluating open enrollment, with proposed reforms to the law and its implementation.
HB 390 would protect religious student groups in higher ed
Utah’s universities must be places of free and open dialogue about religion, politics and ideologies.
Election law amendments bill requires changes to reflect constitutional principle and evidence
The spread of vote by mail in Utah has expanded the base of regular Utah voters, which has strengthened the constitutional role of elections as laid out by the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
Utah considers a modest step in restoring federalism – and more can be done
Utah has an opportunity to strengthen the framers’ vision with a bill aimed at restoring some of the much-needed balance between the states and Washington.
Why the Ninth Circuit unanimously tossed the Huntsman tithing lawsuit
Four judges in concurring opinion say the case was a “transparent fight about the current course of the Church masquerading as a civil lawsuit.”
What do academic scores on the ‘Nation’s Report Card’ tell us?
Students haven’t made up for the learning loss from the pandemic, and in many cases, they are still declining. But there are some wins and promising trends.
