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Utah Senate approves SJR 10 to reorganize state tax provisions, adopts explanatory intent language
Summary
The Utah Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 10, a proposal to recodify Article 13 of the state constitution on revenue and taxation, adopting accompanying intent language that limits substantive change to one clause about county boards of equalization. The measure moves to the House.
The Utah Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 10 on Feb. 4, 2002, a measure that would reorganize and recodify Article 13 of the Utah Constitution, the chamber announced after a voice and roll‑call vote. The resolution passed the Senate 26–0 with three senators absent and will be transmitted to the Utah House of Representatives for consideration.
Senator Valentine, who led debate on the resolution, said SJR 10 is intended “to be a reorganization, clarification, and simplification of the current provisions of Article 13 of the Utah Constitution,” and emphasized that the legislature did not intend to make substantive changes except for one narrowly framed alteration. That change would update language about county boards of equalization so it applies to elected county officials “as provided by statute,” rather than presuming a county commission in counties that have adopted alternative forms of government.
After the Senate voted to send the resolution to the House, Valentine moved and the body adopted an explicit statement of intent to accompany SJR 10. The intent language, read into the record, explains that any differences between the new text and the current constitution are not meant to create substantive changes except for the county equalization clause; the legislature also stated it did not intend to disturb existing case law interpreting Article 13.
Senate action included an oral presentation of the proposed intent language followed by a voice vote adopting that language. With the Senate’s approval, the measure will proceed to the House for its own consideration under the constitutional amendment process.
No formal floor amendments were adopted that would broaden the scope of SJR 10 beyond the single identified substantive change. The Senate recorded the vote as 26 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent; the clerk indicated the resolution and the adopted intent statement will be referred to the House for its next steps.
The next procedural step is House consideration; if the House approves the joint resolution it will continue through the constitutional amendment process outlined in state law and the Utah Constitution.
