Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House rejects constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds vote to approve statewide property tax
Summary
The House declined to send a two-thirds supermajority requirement for any future statewide property tax to voters, voting 32–38 on House Joint Resolution 1; supporters argued it would constrain future tax increases while opponents said it would unduly limit legislative flexibility.
The Utah House on February 22 debated House Joint Resolution 1, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have required a two-thirds House vote before the Legislature could enact a statewide property tax. Sponsor Representative Way told members the resolution would only send the question to voters and "does not do anything to education," and that the measure was intended to limit future growth in statewide taxation.
Supporters, including Representative Eurer, cited examples of other states that use supermajority thresholds and argued the change would not harm Utah’s bond rating. "What we're just saying is that we want this body two thirds, not just a simple majority," Eurer said in floor remarks backing the resolution.
Opponents urged caution. Representative Cox reminded colleagues that Utah has had a statewide property tax in the past and warned that a constitutional hurdle could "hamstring future legislators" who might need new revenue options. Representative Short questioned whether a statewide levy currently exists and whether the change was necessary.
After debate, the House closed voting. The clerk recorded the final tally as 32 yes and 38 no; because the measure was a proposed constitutional amendment it required a two-thirds majority to pass and therefore did not advance. The clerk noted the resolution will be filed following the vote.
The vote leaves current law unchanged; sponsors said the measure could be reintroduced or placed on a future ballot, but no further House action on HJR 1 occurred during the session.
