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House debate narrows on SB 52, amendment removes municipalities from voter‑approval rule
Summary
Representative Schwartz's bill to reinstate voter approval for tax rate increases sparked a lengthy floor debate. An amendment removing municipalities from the requirement passed (36‑25); the bill was later circled for coordination on overlapping amendments.
The Utah House took up Senate Bill 52, a measure intended to reinstate voter approval when an entity seeks to raise a certified property‑tax rate. Representative Schwartz, the bill sponsor, said the measure would restore voter approval for rate increases above the certified rate and described why the change was needed after a sunset earlier in the year.
Representative Curtis moved an amendment to remove municipalities from the requirement, arguing municipalities needed time to assemble budgets and would be unduly constrained. Supporters of the amendment said the change returned authority to the governmental level closest to citizens, while opponents warned that removing cities would strip voters of oversight and lead to incremental erosion of taxpayer protections.
The House saw extended floor debate with several speakers urging caution and noting practical fiscal consequences. The amendment on the pink sheet passed on a recorded vote, 36 yes to 25 no. Subsequent amendments were filed; Representatives raised concerns about coordination between amendments that would modify the same section. The body ultimately moved to circle the bill to allow stakeholders to reconcile competing amendments.
Clerk records show the amendment vote and subsequent procedural actions; the bill was not finally resolved on the floor during this sequence and was circled for future work.
