[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6300647,"mediaKeyId","2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522","parentId",2492758,"title","Committee advances amendment allowing part‑time municipal counsel to receive governmental immunity","audioSeconds",613,"startMs",2802000,"endMs",3415000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522&start=2802&end=3415","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522/thumbnail_2802000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300647/Utah/Committee-advances-amendment-allowing-parttime-municipal-counsel-to-receive-governmental-immunity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300647-3c89814b8ef17871898117b110bd3ea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915989&Signature=orPms9zjZ-8uRps-Dqed1VXyOk-UJrgwRYEXqf-zYJMUndVOouQNh9I1dlvhy~wbPL7aOHPlWyaGaZpzk8s5iJ3sgWvq7fAYTbG-lUrrSdqZDygK5KgE8oKnAEEcWpgIhdQZouj9sWVGX5P~A-ngU7rFf2~nGeagrA~RSxyZB2Hp~qrCIaBIvfjsRTHV5dTxrB4rVARM-eN1OZlOtovGnEs6AFt-6rVcTXRyWIFWPMSoN0nGGLsYDcwEHwQAWS9bE0wRDUIL6JeaTym9E1WZUtl3TrBxc5gQWzMM5HCS5~2skUHwjL~mYUSUa3B89HyJ23eGQQKUo2Z-EcmTbMcj0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee on March 3 favorably recommended third substitute House Bill 364, a bill that would allow municipalities to extend governmental‑immunity protections to outside counsel who perform legal work on behalf of a city or town when acting within scope of municipal business.

Representative Christopher explained the proposal as an optional tool for smaller cities and towns that hire contract counsel but cannot afford a full‑time in‑house city attorney. Jared Taney, legal director for the League of Cities and Towns, and Ryan Peterson representing American Fork told the committee that smaller jurisdictions often cannot attract counsel who will accept work without the same benefits and protections available to full‑time municipal attorneys. Testimony described prior litigation in which a contract city attorney and firm were sued in connection with municipal litigation; the suit was ultimately dismissed but created a substantial defense burden for counsel and municipalities.

Opponents — including Senator McHale in committee remarks — expressed concern that the bill could create an unfair carve‑out from ordinary liability expectations and that insurance currently covers such matters. Senator McHale said she would oppose the measure because she believed established insurance markets and contractor requirements provide sufficient protections and that extending governmental immunity to outside counsel would shift risk from firms to taxpayers.

After public testimony and committee debate, the committee voted to favorably recommend the third substitute. The chair announced that the motion passed with a 4–2 vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee - March 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate committee favorably recommended third substitute House Bill 364, which allows cities and towns to extend governmental‑immunity protections to outside counsel working on municipal business, amid testimony that the change assists small jurisdictions that rely on contract lawyers.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300653,"Committee unanimously advances overhaul to public voter‑registration record rules",1114,1642000,2756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522&start=1642&end=2756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522/thumbnail_1642000.jpg","/articles/6300653/Utah/Committee-unanimously-advances-overhaul-to-public-voterregistration-record-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300653-2096e5c695e03ca91c137c12a4b5d0a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915989&Signature=FLzAxC16Sw2JazvPXQ0ApDJ3E5m6rpq6-OtBs97TBkSW2v5iuTIty67Lk5A5irW6ufctJY7cmAqvj2gDPCwqt5p2-Purh3hybRTLz-lt-rUyL7vSwhMKqgS2-4IHKx4CrMlW2deOWsGNN-PD056Z-QvmEKBZ-xbFfFpcNkfHkbx92oZjBd8mUaMdoepiRj4e9ePGYVK14NJ~QRAU3r~5nJvCHA75ZVxt7mw~G69O56hlwqhUbZBPNbKSIVvlLK8S5eKl6OWZwwGI7KRulINA6o-drCfaFpX0iLMaHgu2RIOqwd-0dEFb9AOfTwxNJzyRXizQX447vXbNpaAU~-urIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee on March 3 unanimously favorably recommended fourth substitute House Bill 270, a measure that revises how voter‑registration records are handled and who receives access to which fields.

Representative Lee and Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie presented the bill as the product of stakeholder negotiations among county clerks, political parties, candidates and the lieutenant governor’s office. The fourth substitute would notify voters currently marked as private about a future change and, beginning in January 2027 (coinciding with a planned new voter‑registration system), make certain registration fields public for voters who do not qualify as ‘‘at‑risk.’’ Publicly available fields would include voter ID number, address, party affiliation and election participation history. Political parties would receive names and age demographics for party‑related outreach; counties and clerks would retain processes to protect legitimately at‑risk voters (law‑enforcement officers, domestic‑violence victims, deployed military members and others) who meet statutory criteria.

McKenzie said the later 2027 effective date was purposeful: Utah is replacing its legacy voter registration system (VISTA) and the new system roll‑out reduces the number of software changes and fiscal impact. The Utah Republican Party’s chair and multiple county clerks testified in favor of the bill; a few public commenters — including veterans and privacy advocates — raised concerns about the removal of blanket privacy by default for some registrants and recommended protections for military personnel.

The committee adopted a fourth substitute and then voted to favorably recommend the measure to the full Senate; the committee chair announced the substitute passed unanimously.","The Senate committee unanimously advanced fourth substitute House Bill 270, a negotiated change to voter‑registration record rules that notifies private registrants and will make selected fields public beginning in January 2027 unless a registrant qualifies for an at‑risk withheld status.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300664,"Senate committee rejects bill clarifying how public employees address gender identity",1729,51000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522&start=51&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522/thumbnail_51000.jpg","/articles/6300664/Utah/Senate-committee-rejects-bill-clarifying-how-public-employees-address-gender-identity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300664-d289f9d1094f94e36e84e0cd516877fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915989&Signature=SW1LsRQAmbUBayT-AVUqlG4-WVhY2PjU28PUK5RwfFApi4RUIa-eJfyvarSPAnib02-aTdd10MQXBy2R6U2VC9kUaygapeGp8pcG2ESqvoHX3QLJz8P5F2nhf6THthmqO0azdQSJPDRTgY9aiV30wKypQxAS2xDFDtfjNWAapqcd9aYYeI1vuiz0u6Tml6Nsz4Ps33lQe5F5GCOeSnXOf-BsV-oHwxBb4H1cHyJnd6UfTOlW0AuKcaNdhvd-TP7xZVpu14BIvV9zItT5zA28aRt9HyGS4PJjIBbpMSNuYyNzqg7CW1HLj~Mpkw1Yg3kDQoPob8wRrLMP~7WA-nQQow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee on March 3 declined to favorably recommend first substitute House Bill 250, a measure that sought to clarify how public employees — particularly teachers — may address students’ gender identity while protecting employees’ religious-liberty claims.

Supporters said the bill provides ‘‘clarity and consistency’’ so teachers know how to respond when a student requests a different name or pronoun and when a parent’s stated preference differs from the student’s request. Representative Miranda Peck introduced the first substitute and said the measure includes a ‘‘good faith’’ protection so employees are not disciplined for accidental mistakes and language drawn from the so‑called Utah Compromise to preserve employees’ First Amendment rights.

Representative Jimenez and Tooele Junior High teacher Carlos Jimenez told the committee that school staff receive inconsistent guidance from districts and need uniform procedures. ‘‘We need to have some consistency with the protocols of what to do in that situation so that we’re protecting the individual student as well as meeting the wishes of the parents,’’ Carlos Jimenez said.

Opponents — including Equality Utah, prominent parents, and transgender community members — urged the committee to reject the bill. Marina Lowe of Equality Utah said existing state law (the Utah Compromise) already balances free‑speech and religious rights and that the bill ‘‘seemingly targets the transgender community.’’ Multiple public commenters said the bill could be used to justify intentional misgendering or harassment.

Committee members debated whether the measure would protect only accidental mistakes or could be relied on to excuse intentional demeaning conduct. Senator Thatcher expressed concerns that the bill would permit punitive inaction: ‘‘If a teacher isn’t intentionally and deliberately trying to impose and force their beliefs on someone else’s child, I find that wildly inappropriate,’’ she said, but later acknowledged the draft contains language to prevent harassment.

After public comment and committee discussion, Senator Vickers moved to favorably recommend the first substitute. The committee voted and the chair ruled the motion failed by a 2–3 tally. The committee record does not list a roll‑call attribution in the transcript; the chair announced the vote as failing 2 to 3.","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee on March 3 declined to favorably recommend first substitute House Bill 250, a measure that sought to clarify how public employees — especially teachers — address students’ gender identity while protecting employees’ religious‑liberty claims.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300646,"Votes at a glance: action by Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee, March 3, 2025",4371,1000,4372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522&start=1&end=4372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522/thumbnail_1000.jpg","/articles/6300646/Utah/Votes-at-a-glance-action-by-Senate-Government-Operations-Political-Subdivision-Committee-March-3-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300646-7802e65025105a8c17fd199a1ad94677/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915989&Signature=jIPIR0BRxFyYHqELoF4U2-e3CrwSOKe7L58W~MxfTsHufm2U9w6rSn4DLr4d97RwLcHhM4Cfj7KMdzyd5NBNDvsfn08LcwxGFkKfbOPBcFSDDIhTzMZ9OBHjWkTN2-VK90971F0FjnKQq1XurrCTTOt8zZzPpmyscdtntgg0UiKkrIASg5oj7ZSHQf0chw4DuSl7jKSFS03Y-kR8QO6054IK-JeqLvUtYlfPy00hTQpA8Wt1AJpyHkaYzxu4huqRB-ywnU3RgKRZCkoP0mjswj3b3d5JRZdxf594lhA-zD7pdqb0ntvzRXn-JnN8EyTBza6dAdX7C22jaONz6yUT5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee took formal action on multiple bills during the March 3 hearing. Below are the committee’s recorded actions and outcomes as reflected in the hearing transcript.

Votes at a glance

- First substitute House Bill 250 (public employee gender‑specific language requirements): Motion to favorably recommend failed, 2–3. (Outcome: failed in committee.)

- House Bill 270, fourth substitute (voter registration record amendments): Fourth substitute adopted; committee favorably recommended unanimously (chair announced unanimous passage). (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 423 (voter registration amendments — hunting/fishing licensing integration): Committee favorably recommended (unanimous). (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 435, first substitute (building code amendments — high tunnels/hoop houses): Committee favorably recommended unanimously. (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 445, second substitute (timely election results reporting): Committee voted to send the bill to interim study, 6–1. (Outcome: referred to interim study for additional work; not forwarded to floor.)

- House Bill 364, third substitute (governmental immunity amendments for outside counsel): Committee favorably recommended third substitute; chair announced the motion passed 4–2. (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 270 (population data amendments / House Bill 379 first substitute in transcript): Committee favorably recommended (unanimous). (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 369, second substitute (elections office / task force for gubernatorial oversight): Committee took a recorded voice vote; the motion failed on a 2–5 tally as reflected in the transcript. (Outcome: did not advance from committee.)

- House Bill 351, fourth substitute (election day amendments / state holiday): Committee favorably recommended the substitute (voice vote recorded; committee chair announced passage). (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

- House Bill 504, first substitute (financial and conflict‑of‑interest disclosures by candidates): Committee favorably recommended unanimously. (Outcome: advanced to Senate floor.)

Notes: vote tallies are taken from committee announcements in the hearing transcript. Where the transcript only records an announced tally (for example, “fails 2 to 3” or “passes unanimously”), those announcements are reported verbatim. The transcript does not always list roll‑call vote names for each action; if a roll‑call was not read, the committee‑announced totals are recorded here.","This roundup lists formal committee actions and vote outcomes recorded during the March 3 hearing; it includes adopted substitutes, committee recommendations, and bills referred to interim study.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300659,"Committee sends revisions to election law to interim study after split testimony on faster results",176,2112000,2288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522&start=2112&end=2288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492758-683d6de4e199566e4e91bef07e0bd522/thumbnail_2112000.jpg","/articles/6300659/Utah/Committee-sends-revisions-to-election-law-to-interim-study-after-split-testimony-on-faster-results","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300659-6e42f00f814ab673d70dde3fc7a24913/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915989&Signature=m85VERFlCg5ZYeJnmVJSMsvuOwBR7DlPlHv5ZjsvEK5MEpwkiSu0jI1LDzfckVd0cWAYpjnjWtlmNNo19FqFWOUtBRURCMNjKxd6CjcKvoKovkSlSmYFCw23lclKwdt1Kyw7YJnZKYbW935a3P1wwnpz0Ixc2iLva~oRAlGpqcesLJDluoq2mB6y2DFzFU3Z8hHR208IOgxO3HJm8hkwaOKmC8BIW4mJb-gN0pnDDJ000fJmfqkmY~vNIV6m-HwJzZ5otugZnFvwG~MGJ-5u65kxmWBJ5J-Hm4g6oPEM8Y~TzfMrMhSg1l-v8aea-3NwvRTozDzs5anTJgQs7uNtxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee on March 3 voted to place second substitute House Bill 445, a measure aimed at accelerating election‑night results reporting, on the committee’s interim study list.

Representative (sponsor) described the bill as a package of reforms developed with county clerks and other election officials. The sponsor said the bill sets clear timelines for registration and ballot processing, cleans up reconciliation procedures, and allows clerks flexibility to finish batches rather than stopping processing at a fixed time. The bill also moved the voter registration deadline to 21 days before election day and the ballot request deadline to 14 days before election day; same‑day registration would remain available in person or during early voting, the sponsor said.

County clerks and the Utah Association of Counties opposed the measure in its present form. Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch and Salt Lake County Clerk Lanny Chapman told the committee the bill would impose large upfront and ongoing costs on counties — estimates given included roughly $7 million in one‑time statewide costs and $2.3 million ongoing for Salt Lake County alone — to expand facilities, staffing and equipment to meet tighter processing timelines. Clerks also cautioned that pushing to meet strict deadlines on election night could increase error rates and described existing long hours for election staff.

Other public commenters were split: the League of Women Voters, Mormon Women for Ethical Government and others opposed the bill, citing potential voter confusion, added costs and the risk of disenfranchisement; the Utah Republican Party and several county clerks and citizens testified in favor and urged adoption of best practices to restore public confidence.

Senator Thatcher moved to put HB 445 on the interim study list to further refine fiscal and operational details; the motion passed on a 6–1 vote. The committee’s action sends the bill to interim study rather than forwarding it directly to the Senate floor.","Senators split on legislation aimed at speeding election‑night reporting and restructuring processing deadlines. Sponsors said the changes would increase public confidence; county clerks and election officials warned of large unfunded local costs and operational risks. The committee voted to send the bill to interim study, 6–1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances amendment allowing part‑time municipal counsel to receive governmental immunity

Committee unanimously advances overhaul to public voter‑registration record rules

Senate committee rejects bill clarifying how public employees address gender identity

Votes at a glance: action by Senate Government Operations Political Subdivision Committee, March 3, 2025

Committee sends revisions to election law to interim study after split testimony on faster results