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Utah House narrows initiative timeline, tightens signature rules in three bills

Utah House of Representatives · March 4, 2019
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The House on March 4 approved three related bills adjusting initiative and referendum procedures: delaying effective dates for some initiatives, creating a rolling packet-verification system with public posting, and changing signature thresholds to an "active voter" metric; sponsors said the changes close loopholes, critics said they risk chilling citizen participation.

The Utah House on March 4 approved a package of bills that change how citizen initiatives and referenda are gathered, verified and when they take effect.

Three bills advanced together: Second Substitute House Bill 133 delays the effective date of certain initiatives (most notably tax increases) until after the Legislatures next general session; Second Substitute House Bill 145 imposes a rolling packet-submission and verification process, requires signature verifiers to attest that signers have read and understood the petition text and directs clerks to post limited, searchable signature information online; and First Substitute House Bill 195 revises signature…

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