Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Initiative Fiscal Disclosure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves bill requiring fiscal sources and advertising rules for citizen initiatives
Summary
Senate Bill 73, as amended, would require backers of citizen initiatives to identify funding sources for initiative costs above statutory thresholds and applies advertising/notice requirements; the committee passed the third substitute 6–3.
Senator Fillmore presented third substitute Senate Bill 73, describing it as two principal changes: requiring initiative backers to identify a funding source for implementation costs that exceed thresholds used in legislative budgeting, and applying advertising/notice standards consistent with constitutional requirements the courts have identified.
"It simply requires that when initiatives are on the ballot... the backers of the initiative just need to identify a source. Where is this money going to come from?" the sponsor said, explaining the proposal is meant to align citizen initiatives with the state's balanced budget requirement.
Under the third substitute, the advertising requirement would be delayed until a later effective date (January 1, 2027, in the substitute) to give the public and officials time to determine how to provide cost‑effective notice; the sponsor suggested internet‑based approaches could minimize advertising costs.
Public commenters were divided. Supporters—such as Jen Brown of Utah Citizens for the Constitution—said the measure would ensure voters learn the fiscal consequences of initiatives. Opponents, including Lehi Woodruff and Katie Wright, said current law and administrative rules already address fiscal disclosure and warned the added requirements and notices would make citizen initiatives harder for grassroots groups.
Representative McPherson moved the committee to adopt the third substitute and then moved the bill out favorably. After floor discussion the committee conducted a roll call; the clerk recorded a 6–3 vote in favor. Senator Fillmore said the bill aims to give voters better information about the budget consequences before they decide on citizen‑led measures.
