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Senate moves constitutional felon‑voting amendment to third reading, defers statutory details to implementing bill
Summary
Senators passed H.J.R. 4 to the third‑reading calendar, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting voting while confined for felony convictions; they agreed implementation specifics would be addressed in H.B. 190, which was later substituted to resolve a constitutional note.
The Utah State Senate on March 2 advanced House First Substitute House Joint Resolution 4 — a proposed constitutional amendment addressing voting rights for convicted felons — to the third‑reading calendar after floor debate and clarification about implementation.
Senator Craig Peterson introduced the resolution and said it is a proposed constitutional change that would be placed before voters. “This does require a constitutional amendment that would go before the vote… and does require a 20 vote majority here in the senate before it can be placed on the ballot,” Peterson said, explaining the procedural threshold.
Senators asked whether rights would be restored after release. Senator Howe and others sought clarification: several speakers explained that restoration mechanisms would be implemented by statute (H.B. 190), and the Senate’s judiciary committee had worked to craft language to avoid an equal‑protection challenge.
Because of constitutional questions raised by amendments made in committee, senators substituted a second substitute of H.B. 190 to address the concern and then moved to encircle (hold) and later substitute the bill for further drafting. The Senate recorded a roll‑call on H.J.R. 4, announcing 25 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent; the resolution was placed on the third‑reading calendar.
Next steps: H.J.R. 4 will be returned for third reading and, if approved here, would go on the ballot for voter approval; H.B. 190 remains queued as the implementing statute to define restoration procedures.
