Doug Owens

Doug Owens is the second-oldest[3] child of Wayne Owens, a former Utah Congressman.[4] Owens is a member of the LDS Church,[5] and graduated from the University of Utah,[3] and Yale Law School.[6]

Owens spent twenty years as a practicing attorney[4] in business and environmental law.[3] When his father, Wayne Owens, ran for governor in 1984 (a race he lost to Republican Norm Bangerter), Owens managed the campaign.[6]

Rep. Owens supports the Great Salt Lake preservation efforts. He said that "I hope people understand the urgency of the situation. It is nothing short of an emergency that we make sure we conserve that incredible place, not only for air quality, industry, and ecology, but it is part of our identity as a state." Rep. Owens called for all legislators to observe the conditions of the Great Salt Lake first hand from the air by helicopter, of which the Legislative leadership agreed.[11]

In 2021, Owens voiced his support for restoring the size of Bears Ears National Monument to the original size. He also sponsored a bill with Rep. Phil Lyman "that would create a task force to explore the creation of a visitor center in the Bears Ears area."[12] The passed the Legislature and was signed by the Governor into law.[13]

He served on the Public Utilities and Technology committee, the Economic Development & Workforce Services committee, and the Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environmental Quality committee in the 2021 legislature.[14] During the 2022 Legislative Session, Rep. Owens served on the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, the House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee, the Legislative Water Development Commission, and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee.[15]