Rees Empey serves as State Policy manager at Pacific Legal Foundation, forging partnerships with legislators and stakeholders throughout the Western United States to safeguard constitutional rights and enable individuals to thrive in pursuit of their own vision of prosperity.
Prior to joining PLF, Rees was senior director of State Government Affairs at Libertas Institute, spearheading policy initiatives across the state legislatures. There, he drafted legislation, provided testimony, and cultivated coalitions that drove reforms in more than a dozen states, tackling reforms related to Fourth Amendment privacy and regulatory burdens. Before working across the states, he was at the Utah Justice Coalition advancing the abolition of the death penalty in Utah, laying the foundation for his multi-state advocacy.
Rees graduated from Utah State University with a degree in political science and a minor in religious studies.
Born in Utah and raised in Missouri, he now lives in the Albuquerque area of New Mexico. When he’s not working, you can find him fishing, hiking through the West’s stunning landscapes, or diving into history books—the topic depends on whatever rabbit hole has captured his attention at the moment.