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Utah House approves measure to let legislature call itself into 15-day special session, 60-7
Summary
The Utah House voted 60-7 to pass HJR8, a proposed constitutional amendment that would let the legislature call itself into special session for up to 15 days. Supporters said the change is a limited, necessary check on the executive and judiciary; opponents warned it risks eroding the citizen-legislator model.
The Utah House voted 60 to 7 to pass HJR8, a proposed constitutional amendment that would permit the legislature to call itself into a special session limited to 15 days and send the measure to the Senate for consideration.
Sponsor Representative Chad Bennion framed the change as a narrow adjustment to preserve the legislature’s ability to respond quickly to urgent fiscal or judicial questions without converting the body to full-time lawmakers. "This particular legislation, I think, is important in balancing the powers," Bennion said during his opening remarks.
The measure would put the question to voters only if the House and Senate secure the necessary votes to place the amendment on the ballot. Bennion noted the proposal is intentionally restrictive, emphasizing the 15-day cap as a safeguard: "It's the most restrictive in the nation as far as time of 15 days," he said in summation.
Opponents argued the change would undermine the state’s citizen-legislator tradition and the built-in friction of checks and balances. Representative Daniels urged colleagues to reject the resolution, saying slow, deliberative lawmaking helps prevent rushed, poor-quality bills. "I would encourage you to vote no on this resolution," Daniels said.
Lawmakers also debated practical concerns, including whether allowing the legislature to self-summon could affect the state’s bond rating or interfere with the governor’s ability to act in a budget crisis. Bennion and other supporters responded that the amendment would not strip executive discretion and could improve the legislature’s ability to address fiscal emergencies when branches disagree.
Representative Stephen Urquhart recalled a recent episode when members wanted to call a session amid a fiscal downturn but the governor declined; he argued earlier legislative action could have avoided compressed budget fixes that would otherwise result in layoffs. "The governor said that we didn't need to come into special session because we were going to have a V shaped recovery," Urquhart said, noting the risk of delayed fiscal response.
The House’s passage sends HJR8 to the Senate. If both chambers approve the resolution in the required numbers, the proposed constitutional amendment would be placed on the ballot for ratification by Utah voters.
