Committee advances constitutional resolution to require 60% to approve tax‑imposing ballot initiatives

Senator Fillmore sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 2, a proposal to ask voters whether the state constitution should require a 60% approval threshold for ballot initiatives that create or increase taxes or impose fiscal obligations on the state.

Sponsor remarks framed the measure as a question of fairness and accountability: raising taxes, he said, can be decided only by a broader consensus because citizens cannot remove or directly vote out neighbors who may initiate a tax on others. Billy Hesterman of the Utah Taxpayers Association testified in favor, noting that many recent local tax questions have passed with more than 60%. Mary Anne Christensen of Utah Legislative Watch also supported the measure and cited Medicaid expansion as an example where the ballot outcome had large fiscal implications.

Opponents — including Mallory Wheat of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, advocacy groups and multiple members of the public — urged the committee not to make citizen initiatives harder to pass. They argued the ballot initiative process is already rigorous in Utah, that raising the threshold would weaken direct democracy and that the initiative is a fundamental tool for the electorate.

Committee debate reflected those divisions. Senator Escamilla said she supported ballot access and described concerns about imposing a higher threshold for initiatives while the legislature retains ordinary majority authority; she said she would vote no. Senator Brammer spoke in favor of letting voters decide whether to adopt the threshold via constitutional amendment.

The committee voted 4–1 to recommend SJR 2 favorably to the Senate. Committee members who opposed cited parity concerns (that the legislature would remain bound to a simple majority while initiatives would be more difficult) and said voters should be able to use initiatives without a higher bar. The sponsor said the measure was intended to give Utah voters a choice about the difficulty of raising taxes by initiative.

Why it matters: If the resolution is enacted by the legislature and the voters approve the constitutional change, future citizen initiatives that would impose or increase taxes would require a 60% approval vote rather than a simple majority. Supporters said the line provides broader consensus for fiscal measures; opponents said it would unduly strengthen incumbents and reduce citizen power.

Vote at a glance: Motion: Recommend favorably SJR 2 — Passed 4–1 in committee