[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6577524,"mediaKeyId","3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe","parentId",3136984,"title","Utah lawmaker summarizes immigration, driving and enforcement bills; some measures stalled in Senate","audioSeconds",844,"startMs",2532000,"endMs",3376000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe&start=2532&end=3376","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe/thumbnail_2532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577524/Utah/Utah-lawmaker-summarizes-immigration-driving-and-enforcement-bills-some-measures-stalled-in-Senate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577524-956dbd7cafda1c656f173a788ab251b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553346&Signature=dyNQ04OiaAj6tbpCVYU6yMM2qgc7D0FVgrin1eB8qiPq5Nge5Ykw9WWnLvVHfy6A34Mx1mezol9SeIsmJC3JfKz8fUUDUysvviH74qQz51hf2AsP6b1J16dWpqMd1mEdl~nzqCWITb2g4-BStl0hxDAhwqGB0rtLoTX0Cg3cTF1Tg~r2ioGMYlXBL-P5NV2fJlx5Eb3cS0dSs-gMQjM4ixoTZBWtQVpenKyLvORSo2dafKVcmOiAJKwFBoyyRKsCuECHwdjZlabAdhPWdIPPsMVSqQZpEOO4XYuL7TCCJ0kPjEDwnyCVo7elx9-DOMuqjZn9DZGPQGjaSOWGiawSMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-28T00:00:52Z","article","Carrie Ann Lisenby, majority whip of the Utah House of Representatives, described a set of bills and proposals developed during the 2024 interim and legislative session to address public-safety concerns the Legislature associates with undocumented immigration.

Lisenby said lawmakers opened a bill file and coordinated with colleagues and local law enforcement to draft measures covering: stronger penalties for driving without a license, impoundment of vehicles used by unlicensed drivers, explicit penalties for vehicle owners who knowingly let unlicensed drivers use their cars, and the option for law enforcement to take biometric samples to identify uncooperative individuals.

\"The issue is when we pull individuals over who don't have a license, they refuse to identify themselves,\" Lisenby said. She described a provision that would allow officers to take a biometric (fingerprint or buccal swab) when a motorist fails to identify to the officer's satisfaction. Lisenby said the bill also included a penalty for owners of communal cars who permit unlicensed people to drive.

Legislative outcomes described on the podcast:
- Lisenby said the pedestrian/driver enforcement bill was drafted, passed out of the Utah House, and then died on the Senate floor on the final day of the session. \"We passed the bill out of the house and it went to the senate and it died on the senate floor on the last day of the session,\" she said.
- She said some components of the broader package became law during the session; she described that a \"significant portion\" of the package passed, while other measures did not.
- On sentencing and deportation, Lisenby described a change limiting misdemeanor maximums to 364 days so federal authorities could work with state convictions to pursue deportation for serious misdemeanors (the change she attributed to prior reforms and negotiations). She said the change was among the hardest fights of the session but that it ultimately passed for the most serious misdemeanor offenses.

Data and local impacts cited by Lisenby included assertions that law enforcement in West Valley City reported that about half of last year's accidents there were caused by unlicensed drivers, and that officers encounter drivers who do not speak English and who do not understand U.S. traffic signage. Lisenby said exemptions for farm work and youth farm drivers had been included in the bill language to address concerns raised in debate.

What remains unresolved: Lisenby said enforcement and the balance between impoundment and incarceration remain policy questions. She framed impoundment as a less punitive alternative than incarceration and said the Legislature would continue to work on related bills in future sessions.

Ending: Lisenby said the package targeted individuals whose conduct creates safety problems for Utah residents and that work on the topic will continue in future sessions. She described the debates as politically and procedurally contentious in the Senate and said lawmakers will return to parts of the package in later work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ep. 5 The Real Story Behind Utah Voting, Abortion, and Activist Judge Battle!","oneSentenceSummary","Utah House Majority Whip Carrie Ann Lisenby outlined a package of bills aimed at addressing public-safety concerns tied to driving by undocumented residents, including impoundment, penalties for vehicle owners, and biometric identification at traffic stops; she said some measures passed while others failed in the Senate.","taxTitle","God and Country Podcast with Uriah Kennedy and Ingrid Bettridge, Citizen Journalism , Utah Citizen Journalism, Elections, Utah","taxId",79919,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6577528,"Utah majority whip urges special session, outlines draft to verify citizenship on voter rolls",1285,965000,2250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe&start=965&end=2250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe/thumbnail_965000.jpg","/articles/6577528/Utah/Utah-majority-whip-urges-special-session-outlines-draft-to-verify-citizenship-on-voter-rolls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577528-87ef1e9605e3dec1211a73ce6006190e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553346&Signature=J3cTAamWS-Z1Aah02I6eL27w6xKZ0e6uyyqOWQC~QENOE0u9gKFLMyh~q3YieV2mt-c32tx3wBwlXruoFpLF4d0QIn5Efmfl4bCmXg~Lf2stdBKPxtS8NB-9J5qhl1OJHILyPf8n4pugdWoSmFJa0TeFJGGWz4sYq~xKHLqdU6z4q0uKC8ctSX2IcavB9KOQZSJKBfdy4FOJiutiNN~VptE2XFAYUKupa9I6ZsH1WUY0n5CSOFhzXZBLCx17wAQmR1zQhxGBv3fp6ZZ31kNZ95kN19-bjmdqXIILPKclZ2YAo86gq-hbJAYhm0rnc6DNZDQKMKo6T8CITq52G5PbUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carrie Ann Lisenby, majority whip of the Utah House of Representatives, said she is urging state leaders to call a special legislative session in May to change how county clerks verify voter eligibility and to prevent noncitizens from casting ballots in Utah elections.

Lisenby said draft language she placed in a bill file — described in the interview as ‘‘HB332 language’’ — would require clerks to verify citizenship documents for registrants and create separated lists so that people without proof of citizenship could be limited to federal-only ballots until documentation is produced. \"So I'm currently actually pushing to try to get that on special session agenda for May to get that fixed now,\" she said on the God and Country podcast.

Why it matters: Lisenby and several county clerks discussed what she described as blind spots in the voter-verification process. She said clerks often treat the signed attestation on a registration form as proof of citizenship rather than requiring documentary proof, and that the state's electronic checks against driver's-license databases can return an empty result rather than a noncitizen flag when registrants lack a driver's-privilege card or a populated citizenship field. \"We should be verifying citizenship documents,\" she said.

Details from the interview:
- Lisenby described a situation in which a person with a driver's-privilege card had been voting in Utah for four years and should not have been allowed to register or vote. She said staff later confirmed the status and that clerks had treated the signed registration attestation as adequate proof.
- She said about 30% of noncitizens obtain a driver's-privilege card; the remaining roughly 70% would not trigger a citizenship check in the driver's-license database, producing an empty result when clerks ping that system.
- Lisenby cited the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) as the federal overlay that limits how states handle registrations for federal elections. She described the Arizona approach of maintaining two distinct voter lists — a federal-only list and a state-eligible list — and said Utah could adopt a similar structure so that people without verified citizenship would be restricted to federal-only access until documentation is provided.
- She said Judicial Watch and other outside parties have signaled potential litigation over Utah’s permissive registration code, and that fixing code language now could avoid taxpayer expense defending lawsuits.

Process and next steps: Lisenby described the interim and special-session process: the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate assign interim topics to committees, but legislators can add items at the first interim meeting. She said the HB332-style language is already drafted and that she is prepared to discuss and amend it based on county clerks’ input.

Context and limits: Lisenby emphasized she does not assert that any single official or office is solely to blame and noted the interplay between state law and federal NVRA requirements. She said the proposed change would allow removal of a registrant if the state obtains proof that the person is not a citizen — a step she said Arizona already takes under its procedures.

Ending: Lisenby told the hosts she has been in contact with the governor and county clerks about getting the language onto a May special-session agenda, but she cautioned that a call for a special session is not finalized. \"I don't think that's something we have the luxury of waiting to act on, personally,\" she said about the voter-verification fixes.","Utah House Majority Whip Carrie Ann Lisenby said she is pushing for a May special session to add code language to require clerks to verify citizenship for registrants and to adopt a two-list system for federal vs. state-only voters, citing gaps she says the National Voter Registration Act and current practice leave open.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6577514,"Utah lawmaker: recent gun recodification clarifies rights, did not expand open-carry for 18-to-20 age group",263,6632000,6895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe&start=6632&end=6895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe/thumbnail_6632000.jpg","/articles/6577514/Utah/Utah-lawmaker-recent-gun-recodification-clarifies-rights-did-not-expand-open-carry-for-18-to-20-age-group","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577514-3294111aa436ef10323bcdcbfc102265/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553346&Signature=gIxBEd3lTPdrn~EJfFm8S0kZaO0n-eW~EbpnBvxDidfQlYcCDA5rx64a0H~l4nVCY3XlOnOwh-QELz~XEOH0z~pf1Nm0HHbq6XZ62EBtzh4S0HOUgoH7TjJxrRC8SIFqju~itwvOWid8vbsVTLtoMGsCk4LAXwRlz3Jn~i34z~~ZKucD4zxeybNPGmBO6e7j9NXD-WVlJ9hbT44YDmVVbIDtPH3u-VWWY~d51FP8tsS6oLePkKQTVs2CaqCoC6A5B1cJ-~-SZVvPxGJKaSgIPs7IEa6Ch~cf6f~YJPT6X~qgOgg5u8DfBZ7LDLULMgQ5m0C7eDdWSxI8DMEUqN5Wtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carrie Ann Lisenby, majority whip of the Utah House of Representatives, told the God and Country podcast that recent changes to Utah’s firearms code were a recodification intended to clarify existing rights rather than to create a new, broader entitlement for 18-to-20-year-olds to carry loaded firearms.

\"I really appreciate the question, and I'm glad for the opportunity to address. So that headline does not represent the actual policy that is in the gun recod bill,\" Lisenby said. She noted that under existing law 18-year-olds in Utah can already openly carry a pistol but cannot lawfully purchase one until age 21 under federal law; the recodification focused on clarifying what possession and carrying mean and aligning state definitions with federal restrictions on National Firearms Act (NFA) items.

Lisenby described legislative process details: a stand-alone bill (HB133) failed in a Senate committee after media attention and misreporting, but its language was later incorporated into another measure that passed. She and other lawmakers framed the effort as a cleanup of conflicting and confusing statutes so that Utahns and attorneys can clearly read the code and understand what is and is not permitted.

The bill also clarified NFA-device treatment in state law to align with federal law and added enumerations so state statute reflected existing federal prohibitions and requirements.

Ending: Lisenby said the purpose of the effort was to provide clarity to Utah residents about their rights. \"In order to exercise your right to defend yourself or your family or others, you need to know what that right is and isn't,\" she said.","Rep. Carrie Ann Lisenby said a recent recodification of Utah's firearms statutes was designed to clarify existing rights and align state law with federal definitions, not to broadly expand open-carry by 18-to-20-year-olds. She said a separate bill’s language was folded into another measure that passed after initial committee failure.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6577520,"Judge blocks Utah Fits All scholarship; majority whip says state will appeal and plans working group on judicial retention information",765,5475000,6240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe&start=5475&end=6240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136984-988164bb4f7896adf1f1459275aa4abe/thumbnail_5475000.jpg","/articles/6577520/Utah/Judge-blocks-Utah-Fits-All-scholarship-majority-whip-says-state-will-appeal-and-plans-working-group-on-judicial-retention-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577520-3accd0d439e2d36073e1748349c8281a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553346&Signature=P5SN29Ry5hAcdLwwlhjm5vvUPytvbo3Qs1DWTwcrPz6iYMFT~6EKYv3NpJ3OQKc~4xh8yMAGA73ogs6UOO21oG~yDQ4hESTBpBw4dX7VSGsMZ8Em8dQMBHwXwriQpO7DlIgaY5odgxCz0r1hN3vpMW5RgiCPkYisdu0RDBAWsSaFRt7m4DO~jdg68oExagwjZ6wU~OjMK1fMcI1GoRBIyQFXm9cBRV72N~hU0D6SRhRNsJsF-QHUZqz6foLT4aZIFIRm9pZSgEa6LpyaGfuINzqUPEqa4hsiES2OIG5j~L1BnB0o4ekU-N7AQstg86WvlOGTRmekvcKIVDBDSSAtaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Utah district judge has ruled the Utah Fits All scholarship program unconstitutional, and state lawmakers plan to appeal, House Majority Whip Carrie Ann Lisenby said on the God and Country podcast.

Lisenby described the program as a parent-directed scholarship in which funds go to parents, who then choose where to enroll their child. She said the judge’s decision — which sided with the Utah Education Association’s challenge — raised questions about the legislature’s constitutional powers over education and could affect other targeted scholarship programs if left in legal effect.

\"Her decision brings into question so many different programs that do not we spend so much on education,\" Lisenby said, noting the Carson Smith scholarship and other specialized programs that serve subsets of students. \"Her decision in my opinion would encompass that program as well and many other programs like that. So it's a nonsensical decision that we are planning to appeal.\"

Lisenby also described HB512, a bill she sponsored to provide greater information to voters in judicial retention elections. She said HB512 (and related conversations) was intended to give voters \"pertinent information\" about judges so voters can make informed retention choices. Lisenby said she convened a working group for the interim that will include members from the courts, the Legislature, the executive branch, the bar and local government to craft what information is provided to voters and how.

Context and controversy:
- The Utah Education Association argued the scholarship program siphoned public money from public education; the judge agreed and enjoined the program in a ruling Lisenby characterized as siding with \"special interests.\" A media clip played during the program quoted an education-advocacy voice calling the ruling \"a significant victory for public education.\"
- Lisenby said the Fits All program had passed the Legislature with veto-proof margins (two-thirds majorities in both chambers) and that she and other lawmakers view the decision as overturning the will of a broad legislative majority.
- On HB512, Lisenby said the working group will examine how to get more pertinent information to voters — possibly through the voter information pamphlet rather than ballot text — and that including the courts, bar and local officials in the working group should reduce vulnerability to legal challenge.

Ending: Lisenby said the state will appeal the Fits All ruling and that conversations about judicial-retention information will continue in the interim, with an aim to produce material voters can use without creating a legally vulnerable process.","A district court judge struck down the Utah Fits All scholarship program; Carrie Ann Lisenby said the state will appeal and described HB512 and related proposals to provide more information to voters about judicial retention decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Utah lawmaker summarizes immigration, driving and enforcement bills; some measures stalled in Senate

Utah majority whip urges special session, outlines draft to verify citizenship on voter rolls

Utah lawmaker: recent gun recodification clarifies rights, did not expand open-carry for 18-to-20 age group

Judge blocks Utah Fits All scholarship; majority whip says state will appeal and plans working group on judicial retention information