Senate advances bill restricting use of public funds for advocacy, allows impartial local voter information

Senate Bill 27, presented by Senator Howard Stevens on Jan. 31, 1995, aims to clarify the permissible use of public resources in election-related communications by local governments.

Stevens said the bill empowers local governments to produce impartial informational pamphlets while explicitly prohibiting the use of public money to advocate for or against a candidate or ballot issue. “It clearly states that public money cannot be used to advocate for or against the candidate or for or against an issue,” Stevens told the chamber, comparing the measure to the lieutenant governor’s voter information pamphlet.

Floor questions and examples Senators raised practical questions about scope: would using a public telephone, copying machine or staff time to encourage voting run afoul of the ban? Sponsor Stevens and colleagues said the bill is not intended to convert public offices into campaign operations; neutral factual information, engineering studies, and official council actions can be provided as factual material. One senator cited past instances — including the Utah Transit Authority — where public entities used resources in ways the bill would prohibit.

Concern was expressed about school-related materials and whether teachers or districts sending flyers would be constrained; supporters said such materials are permissible only if they are not public expenses or if they present balanced viewpoints.

Disposition After floor debate, supporters called the question and the bill was advanced to the bottom of the third-reading calendar. The roll call recorded 21 ayes, 6 nays and 2 absent.