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Senate advances bill to require disclosure of special funds held by elected officials
Summary
SB154 would require elected officials to publicly report special funds and disbursements; sponsors said the measure aims to close a reporting loophole after criticism arising from an unreported special fund in Salt Lake City.
Senators advanced SB154 on Feb. 24, a bill intended to close a perceived loophole in reporting requirements for special funds held by elected officials.
Sponsor Senator Maine described situations where privately held funds that benefit elected officials were not subject to mandatory public reporting and said the measure would require annual disclosure of such special funds nd their disbursements. The bill would not outlaw special funds but would make income and outgoing disbursements public to "bring that into the sunshine," the sponsor said.
Questions on the floor focused on potentially broad language (phrases like "any other" consideration) and whether routine business loans or ordinary transactions would be swept in; sponsor and colleagues clarified the intention is to capture specially designated funds (e.g., defense funds or exploratory funds) rather than routine business activity. An amendment excluding judges standing for retention elections was adopted as a limited exception.
The bill passed a roll call and was placed on the third‑reading calendar.
