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Committee holds school-board referendum bill to work out timing concerns
Summary
Lawmakers placed HB170, allowing referendums on certain local school-board decisions, on hold after witnesses flagged timing conflicts with tax-filing deadlines; sponsor agreed to work on amendments to align the referendum timetable with fiscal filing requirements.
Representative Shipp presented HB170 to establish a referendum process for local education agencies (school boards) that would permit voters to refer certain local school-board actions unless a super‑majority was obtained. The sponsor said the bill aims to increase transparency and allow citizens recourse on split-board decisions.
Stakeholders spoke in favor of giving voters more direct recourse but raised operational concerns. Todd Haber (Granite School District) and Justin Lee (Utah League of Cities and Towns) warned that the proposed referendum timing may not line up with local tax-filing deadlines and could produce calendar conflicts that prevent a district from implementing an approved increase. They suggested mirroring expedited city referendum mechanisms to address timing.
Representative Kristofferson moved to hold the bill so the sponsor and stakeholders can reconcile the timing and certification process; the committee voted to hold HB170 unanimously and the sponsor committed to work with drafting counsel and stakeholders on fixes.
