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House sends municipal campaign-disclosure bill to Senate after unanimous vote
Summary
House Bill 47, authored by Representative Karen B. Smith to encourage cities and counties to require pre-election financial disclosures and in-kind reporting, passed the House 69–0 and was transmitted to the Senate.
The Utah House on Feb. 2 passed House Bill 47, a measure from Representative Karen B. Smith that asks municipalities and counties to enact ordinances requiring financial disclosures before local elections. The House voted 69–0 to send the bill to the Senate.
Representative Karen B. Smith described HB47 as the product of more than a year of work with the League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties. The bill would (1) encourage jurisdictions to require disclosure prior to elections (defined in the bill as within two weeks before the election), (2) allow small contributions under $50 to be reported in aggregate rather than by donor, and (3) require disclosure of in-kind contributions.
Supporters said the bill fills a gap in local elections where late, large infusions of money can prevent voters from seeing financing information before they cast ballots. Several members said local governments that already have stricter ordinances would not have to change them; the bill sets a statewide public-policy statement in state election law to encourage pre-election disclosure.
After sponsors and backers spoke, the House opened and closed the vote. The clerk announced House Bill 47 had received 69 yes votes and 0 no votes and passed to the Senate.
The bill will next be considered by the Senate; implementation would depend on local ordinances adopted under the statute if it becomes law.
