House moves third-substitute Senate Bill 3,001 to top of third-reading calendar amid debate over $600,000 cost and single-primary timing

The Utah House moved the third substitute to Senate Bill 3,001, an election-law revision, to the top of its third-reading calendar after floor debate and a voice vote.

Supporters, including the bill—s floor sponsor, said the measure would let the state prepare for a possible Fourth Congressional District if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Utah—s favor. "If the supreme court gives us that Fourth District, then we're able to be in place and put it in the August 27 primary," the sponsor said, framing a possible additional $600,000 election cost as justified by the value of an extra congressional representative.

Opponents argued the state should avoid an added $600,000 expenditure as school districts and other state programs face revenue shortfalls. "I do think $600,000 is a significant amount of money," an opposing representative said, and added that a single, firm primary date is clearer for voters.

The bill also contains a provision that, according to the sponsor, would allow candidates to file simultaneously for a congressional race and a legislative or representative race without forfeiting their earlier filing, enabling a party to fill any vacated seat.

A procedural voice vote to suspend the rules and place the third substitute on the third-reading calendar produced repeated "aye" responses across the floor; the transcript records the vocal assent but does not include a roll-call tally. Before voting, several representatives announced conflicts of interest, noting family members in county races or their own upcoming primaries; the presiding officer recorded those conflicts on the floor.

During debate Representative McCartney asked a technical question about language in the draft; the sponsor said that the amendment (LS) sheet coming from the Senate cleans up buried language in line 278 dealing with candidate certification.

The presiding officer later announced voting was open on the third substitute; the transcript at that moment shows a reference to "third substitute senate bill 3,000," a discrepancy from earlier references to 3,001 that appears in the record and is noted here. The House also approved a motion authorizing the speaker to appoint a committee to wait on the Senate and the governor to inform them the body was ready to adjourn.

Next procedural steps: the third substitute was placed at the top of the House—s third-reading calendar for further action; the record shows voting opened on the substitute and the body moved on to housekeeping motions. The transcript does not include a later roll-call or final passage on third reading within the provided excerpt.