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Committee moves bill clarifying candidate name rules for filings

Senate Government Operations & Political Subdivisions Standing Committee · February 23, 2026

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Summary

Senate Bill 299 clarifies candidate name use (middle or maiden name and county-known nicknames) after issues surfaced under last year’s law; the lieutenant governor’s office and county clerks testified in support and the committee voted to advance the bill.

Senator Prichard said SB 299 responds to unintended consequences from last year’s candidate-name statute and would explicitly allow use of a middle name or maiden name and clarify how 'as known in the county' affidavits work.

Hiram Davenport of the lieutenant governor’s office told the committee the office supports SB 299 and appreciated the sponsor’s work to clarify issues that caused headaches during filing. Ricky Katz, Weber County Clerk-Auditor and chair of the Clerks’ Legislative Committee, said clerks worked with the sponsor, the bill contains the same safeguards discussed last year and he personally supports it though the clerks’ group had not taken a formal position.

Senator Vickers moved to favorably recommend the bill; the sponsor waived closing and the committee recorded the bill as passed out favorably.