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Committee advances sweeping cleanup of election time‑computation rules
Summary
House Bill 299, a broad cleanup of the election code’s time‑computation provisions, was favorably recommended. Drafters said the bill simplifies and clarifies deadlines across the election code to reduce confusion for clerks and candidates.
Representative Peterson introduced House Bill 299, a comprehensive cleanup of the election code’s computation‑of‑time statute. The sponsor said a single ambiguous provision produced confusion about deadlines (for example, whether a two‑week deadline for signature submission ahead of a Saturday convention falls on the prior Friday or Monday) and that patchwork changes over the years made enforcement and drafting difficult.
Tom Vaughn of the Legislative Research and General Counsel’s office explained that the existing computation statute (20A‑11‑104) was repealed and replaced with clearer language that specifies business‑day and calendar‑day computations and includes explicit references to times of day where needed. Vaughn said he reviewed the revised code with the lieutenant governor’s office and county clerks to avoid unintended changes.
Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch, speaking for county clerks, testified that clerks had reviewed the revisions and that the clerks’ legislative committee supports the bill. Committee members asked whether the changes unintentionally restrict signature gathering or other election activities; the sponsor and staff said the bill does not add policy changes but clarifies timing rules and that signature gathering remains permitted under current law.
Representative Hayes moved to favorably recommend HB 299 to the full House; the committee approved the motion by voice vote and placed the bill on the consent calendar.
