House approves measure to let Wendover residents vote on proposed boundary change

Representative Eli Anderson told the House the purpose of House Bill 5,003 is to allow a federally required local vote for residents of Wendover and West Wendover on November 5, 2002, related to a proposed interstate compact that could move lands into Nevada.

"The purpose of this legislation is to allow a state which has been required by the federal government to have this kind of a vote that it could take place," Representative Eli Anderson said, adding that the vote is nonbinding and that any change in state boundaries ultimately would require a compact and additional approvals. He offered and supported an amendment inserting the phrase "if required or authorized by federal law" into the bill.

Members asked how future annexation would be handled, whether the Legislature would need to ratify any compact and why a local nonbinding vote required legislative action. Anderson answered that the bill provides a vehicle so the locally required vote can occur on the same date as the federal election without calling a special session and that subsequent ratification steps would return to the Legislature as needed.

Representative Bowman noted news reports that a Nevada council had considered delaying a vote; Anderson clarified that was a Nevada action and not Utah's. After floor discussion and amendment, House Bill 5,003 as amended passed the House 71–0 and will be referred to the Senate.

Next steps: the local referendum would be held on the federal election date (November 5, 2002) if both states and required federal steps proceed; any boundary change would require compact approval and further legislative action.