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House rejects immediate pay increase for legislators, votes down Senate Bill 64
Summary
After debate over timing and amounts, the Utah House voted 33–42 against Senate Bill 64, which would have raised legislators’ per‑diem. Lawmakers cited concerns about optics, rural representation, and adherence to citizen salary commission recommendations.
The Utah House of Representatives voted down Senate Bill 64, a measure to increase legislator compensation, after extended debate over timing, amounts and constitutional limits. The roll call on the amended measure returned 33 affirmative votes and 42 negative votes, and the bill was returned to the Senate.
Supporters argued the modest increase would help middle‑class and rural legislators participate in a ‘citizen’s legislature’ without undue financial hardship. Representative Dimitrich, who moved numeric amendments to reduce the per‑diem change, said the proposed $80 per day level would represent “a $15 salary increase” and framed it as a compromise to make service feasible for more citizens.
Opponents countered that raising pay now risked poor public perceptions and that the citizen salary commission — a body created to recommend compensation levels — should guide changes. Representative Bishop warned about the political optics of an immediate pay increase, urging the House to defer or to let voters “ratify that decision.” Representative Wright said Utah’s legislature has a record of strong performance and questioned whether pay drives that quality.
The House adopted procedural motions earlier to reconsider and place SB 64 at the top of the third‑reading calendar, and members filed multiple amendments and substitute language addressing effective date and dollar amounts before the final roll call. The transcript records arguments over cost estimates (one member cited $8,150 for the current fiscal year and $124,700 for fiscal 1992 under a previously adopted amendment) and whether the Legislature may increase its members’ salaries absent the commission’s process; one member read from the Utah Constitution’s language on legislative compensation.
With the bill defeated, no increase from this measure will take effect; proponents said they would pursue further amendments or alternative timing if needed.
