Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Campaign Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House reconsiders HB 248, adopts second substitute and raises late-report penalty
Summary
The Utah House on Feb. 24 reconsidered its earlier action on HB 248 (campaign finance reporting), adopted a second substitute restoring original language and approved an amendment changing the late-report penalty from a straight 15 percent to 20 percent; the measure passed 53–15 and will go to the Senate.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 24 voted to reconsider earlier floor action on first substitute House Bill 248 and then replaced it with a second substitute that restores the bill’s original approach to campaign-finance fines. The House approved an amendment that raised the flat late-report penalty from 15 percent to 20 percent and passed the bill 53–15, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.
Representative Harry moved to reconsider the floor action on first substitute HB 248 so the sponsor could present the original language. Representative Hall, the bill sponsor, told colleagues that the second substitute “puts this bill back in the original form” and simplifies the enforcement structure. He said the substitute removes the earlier “in‑kind” reporting provisions and converts the statute to a flat percentage fine to avoid “excessive punishment for small contributions.”
During floor questions, Representative Mel Brown asked what was unique about 15 percent. “There is no magic to the 15%,” Hall replied, saying the percentage was retained for consistency with prior action but that he had no strong preference between 10 percent, 15 percent or another figure.
Representative McKay then moved to amend the bill by replacing every instance of 15 percent with 20 percent, arguing it is easier to calculate and better reflects the bill’s punitive intent. McKay noted personal experience with fines during the prior election cycle and urged colleagues to strike a balance between enforcement and fairness.
After limited discussion and a floor summation waived by the sponsor, the House voted. The Clerk announced that second substitute HB 248, as amended, passed the House 53–15. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate.
The change to a straight percentage is intended by supporters to simplify the statute and to reduce disproportionately large fines on very small unreported contributions; opponents raised concerns about the size of the penalty and left the final determination to the full membership.
