Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics And Disclosures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill closing disclosure gap for midterm vacancy candidates and broadening candidate financial filings
Summary
House Bill 504 would require financial and conflict of interest disclosures for candidates in midterm vacancies and expand filing requirements for local and municipal races; the committee passed the bill unanimously.
Representative Shepherd presented House Bill 504 to require that candidates for midterm vacancies and certain local offices file financial disclosure and conflict‑of‑interest statements similar to regular candidates. Shepherd said the bill fills a loophole that left some special election candidates exempt from disclosure requirements.
Under the bill, election candidates—including those filling midterm vacancies—must file conflict and financial disclosure statements by specified deadlines (the bill tracks existing state deadlines for similar disclosures). The measure also allows limited redaction for certain spousal employer/address information to address privacy and safety concerns raised by local officials.
Clerks’ offices did not express opposition to the reporting requirement; Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch told the committee clerks did not object, and Utah County Chief Deputy Clerk Brian Vokes spoke in favor, saying the change closes an existing transparency gap. Representative Keltner and other committee members praised the sponsor for addressing the loophole and for stakeholder consultation.
Representative Welton moved that the committee favorably recommend HB 504 to the full house; the committee adopted the bill by voice vote without recorded opposition. The measure will proceed with a favorable recommendation.
