Utah Senate advances broad package of bills, adjusts early-voting hours and sets conflict-disclosure website

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate on the floor on an unspecified 2019 session day approved a wide-ranging package of bills covering elections, tax code cleanups, conflict-disclosure procedures and community health grants while briefly pausing for a ceremonial recognition.

Senator Vickers, sponsor of the second substitute Senate Bill 50 on local government office eligibility, described the measure as a clarification that prevents a person from simultaneously holding an elected municipal office and an elected county office and requires clerk notification at the time of filing. "There's a notification provision that if a candidate files... they're notified at the time of filing by the clerk that this conflict does exist," Vickers said before the Senate passed the bill 25–0 with four absent and sent it to the House for consideration.

On elections, Senator Iwamoto said Senate Bill 61 would remove a 5 p.m. closing requirement on the last day of early voting so that the final day’s hours match other early-voting days "for less confusion, flexibility, and to accommodate those who work." The body approved SB61 26–0 with three absent.

Senator Hilliard, presenting the first substitute Senate Bill 70 on unclaimed property, offered a personal anecdote about finding family members' unclaimed funds and urged colleagues to support the…