Cheryl K. Acton

Office held

Voting record

All votes by Cheryl K. Acton

Writing, research and public-sector work

Cheryl K. Acton grew up in Kansas and Arizona, spent a year in Denmark through Rotary and graduated from Brigham Young University with an English degree. Her House biography describes work as a law librarian, freelance writer and editor, researcher and newspaper reporter. It also records employment with the Census Bureau and Defense Department, giving her career a mix of communications and government experience. ^[2]

West Jordan representation

Acton was appointed to the Utah House in September 2017 and represents District 38 in Salt Lake County. Her official biography identifies West Jordan as her longtime home and lists service with the Jordan River Commission and DDI Vantage. The current roster places her on House Health and Human Services and House Judiciary, combining health-policy and legal responsibilities with representation of her district. ^[2]

Her argument for legislative transparency

In a January 30, 2026 guest opinion, Acton argued that voters should use legislative recordings, bill histories, public comment, budget information and audit reports to hold government accountable. She defended Utah's existing safeguards and called public oversight important to confidence in government. Those are her published views; the profile does not adopt her assessment as an independent finding that all safeguards are effective. ^[1]

In the 2026 General Session, Cheryl K. Acton was chief sponsor of H.B. 123, Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registration Amendments. It confirms that someone convicted of an offense elsewhere that would require registration under Utah's Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry must register in Utah. The governor signed it on March 26, 2026. ^[3]

In the 2026 General Session, Cheryl K. Acton was chief sponsor of H.B. 134, Offender Transfer Amendments. It changes the fee for probationers and parolees who apply to transfer supervision to another state under the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and clarifies how transfers out of Utah work. The governor signed it on March 26, 2026. ^[4]

Child welfare and criminal-justice funding

Acton's current record includes Criminal Justice Appropriations, the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel and interim assignments in health, judiciary, and retirement and independent entities. Those responsibilities extend beyond floor debate into the funding and review of public programs. They provide specific settings in which residents can follow her work on vulnerable children, justice agencies, health services and the administration of state institutions. ^[2]

Profile sources

Profile refreshed October 20, 2026. Candidate statements describe the candidate's own experience or positions; official records and reporting are labeled separately.

1. Cheryl Acton — January 30, 2026 guest opinion in Deseret News · Official record
2. Utah Legislature — official member biography and assignments · Official record
3. Utah Legislature, H.B. 123 Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registration Amendments · Official record
4. Utah Legislature, H.B. 134 Offender Transfer Amendments · Official record

From the Legislature's roster

Profession

Writer/ Homemaker

Education

B.A., English, BYU

Committees

• Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Health and Human Services Committee
• House Judiciary Committee
• Health and Human Services Interim Committee
• Judiciary Interim Committee
• Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee
• Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel

As listed by the Utah Legislature.

In the news

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