SALT LAKE CITY — The Legislative Process Committee on a unanimous vote recommended a package of amendments to joint, senate and house rules designed to clarify drafting and procedural practices.

Megan Bolin of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel walked the committee through the changes, saying staff consolidated prior discussions and incorporated additional suggestions from the Senate. "We are going to go through the joint rules resolution amendments to joint rules," Bolin told members, explaining the package section by section.

Key changes include clarifying that each chamber publishes a draft journal for each day of the legislative session (even when the certified final journal is completed later), adding the term "extraordinary session" throughout the rules so it is clear which provisions apply, and defining "minority party" and related terms. The resolution also narrows the definition of "increased legislative workload" so fewer bills are held for end-of-session prioritization, removing language that would capture bills simply because a legislator can appoint another legislator to a board.

The proposal also adjusts the handling of veto-override polls: sponsors will continue to be told how each legislator responded to the poll but, per the amendment, will not automatically receive an itemized list in every case. Bolin described that as a technical change intended to preserve relevant information for sponsors while updating antiquated phrasing.

Members debated a repealer provision that affected how concurrent or joint resolutions convert if they fail or are unsigned. Staff warned conversions had created tracking complications in the past session. Representative Perucci moved to strike language in the repealer for lines 659–661; the motion carried with Senator Sandoval recorded in opposition.

Representative Filmore moved that the committee favorably recommend the joint rules resolution as amended; after waived summation the motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. The committee subsequently recommended related Senate and House rules amendments similarly by voice vote.

The committee’s recommendations will be transmitted as committee bills or committee recommendations to the next steps of the legislative process.