House debates HB 328 to restore elected constables; amendment exempts counties with fewer than 100,000 residents

Representative Davis introduced House Bill 328, saying the bill would undo earlier changes that removed constables as elected county officers and would restore district-based election of constables (with countywide elections possible in smaller counties). Davis said the existing arrangement "advantages a very, very few people with a large reward" and argued restoring elections would better serve residents.

During debate, an unidentified speaker who said he is an attorney and regularly deals with constables argued that the current county-selected system has produced more qualified officers and that the change to elections could reintroduce prior problems, including unqualified candidates. Representative Yardley proposed a friendly amendment to exempt any county with fewer than 100,000 people from the election requirement; Davis accepted the amendment and the House voted to adopt it, amending the bill. Representative Brown questioned historical experience, noting that elected constables in Salt Lake County were once prevented from serving because of contracting arrangements and warning that returning to elections could re-create costly or dysfunctional contests.

The transcript records the sponsor’s explanation, several questions from members, the accepted amendment exempting smaller counties, and subsequent procedural efforts to circle the bill (which failed) before the House adjourned. The record does not show a final passage vote on HB 328 in the provided transcript.