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Utah Senate advances constitutional amendment letting Legislature call itself into special session after heated debate
Summary
After hours of debate over separation of powers and minority representation, the Utah Senate voted to send House Joint Resolution 8 — a constitutional amendment that would let the Legislature convene itself in limited emergencies — to third reading. Supporters said it would rebalance authority when a governor refuses to act; opponents warned of executive‑branch erosion and political misuse.
The Utah Senate on March 1 advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to call itself into a special session in narrow circumstances.
The measure, House Joint Resolution 8, drew sustained debate from both sides of the chamber on executive‑legislative powers and the risk of politicizing emergency sessions. Its sponsor, Senator Bramble, said the change was a limited fix born of recent experience when the governor declined to call a special session during a serious budget shortfall. "The power that the legislature should have" needs a mechanism, Bramble said during floor debate.
Opponents — including Senator Dimitrich — argued the change threatens separation of powers and could be abused if a majority used the provision to circumvent the governor. Dimitrich offered an amendment requiring two‑thirds support within each party before the Legislature could call itself into session; that amendment failed on the floor. Senate critics also warned the amendment could impose unpredictable demands on citizen‑legislators and make the body appear more like a full‑time institution.
Senators debated procedural safeguards in the measure, noting it would require a two‑thirds vote of both bodies on a final passage and would limit when and how often the Legislature could act. Supporters said most states already allow some form of self‑call and that the bar set by the amendment — two‑thirds — is intentionally high.
On the roll call to move HJR 8 forward, the Senate recorded 50 ayes, 12 nays and 2 absent; the resolution passed to third reading. Because the amendment would change the state constitution, a final passage later in the process will require higher thresholds and additional steps before it would take effect.
The next procedural step is the third‑reading vote; senators signaled they would consider fiscal notes and other technical language before final action. If ultimately approved by the Legislature, the measure would then go to voters as a constitutional amendment.
