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Senate amends proposal to let Legislature call itself into special session, requiring two-thirds initiation

Utah State Senate · February 1, 2002
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Summary

After extended floor debate, senators amended a joint resolution to require two-thirds of members to initiate a legislatively-called special session and to place items on the call; the measure was circled for further work.

Senators spent a prolonged portion of the floor session discussing a first-substitute joint resolution (SJR/JR 5) that would allow the Legislature to convene itself in special session without the governor’s initiation. Sponsor Senator Hickman framed the measure as a way to give the Legislature capacity to address extraordinary issues (for example, urgent budget shortfalls) without waiting for executive action.

Opponents and cautious senators raised multiple procedural and philosophical concerns: special sessions reduce committee deliberation and public input, could make the Legislature…

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