The Utah Legislature will convene this week in a special session to give voters the opportunity to decide the nature of initiatives and referenda.
If passed by the Legislature, a constitutional amendment will be on the November ballot. If voters approve the proposed amendment, the constitutional and statutory changes would:
- Prohibit foreign entities from contributing to ballot initiatives or referenda.
- Restore and strengthen the long-standing practice that voters, the Legislature, and local bodies may amend or repeal legislation.
- Add 20 days to collect signatures for the referendum process, extending it from 40 to 60 days.
“The Utah Supreme Court’s new interpretation created uncertainty and ambiguity,” said Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz. “This amendment provides a path for Utahns to weigh in and make their voices heard. To be clear, the proposed amendment restores the over 100-year-old effect of citizen initiatives. The initiative process will remain unchanged, and Utahns will continue to have the ability to propose and run ballot initiatives. Additionally, it prohibits foreign entities from contributing to ballot propositions, adding safeguards against undue influence.”
To address pressing concerns and their significant implications, President Adams and Speaker Schultz are invoking the Utah Legislature’s emergency powers to convene the 65th Legislature into a special session on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 4:45 p.m.
View the special session proclamation here.
Tags: President J. Stuart Adams, Restore and Strengthen the Initiative Process, Speaker Mike Schultz, Special Session