Utah State Senate

General Information
Party control: |  Republican
Session start: |  January 16, 2024
Session end: |  March 1, 2024
Term length: |  4 years
Term limits: |  None
Redistricting: | Legislature-dominant
Salary: |  $293.55/legislative day + per diem
Members
Total: | 29
Democrats: | 6
Republicans: | 23
Other: | 0
Vacancies: | 0
Leadership
President: |  Stuart Adams (R)
Maj. Leader: |  Evan Vickers (R)
Min. Leader: |  Luz Escamilla (D)
Elections
Last election: | November 8, 2022
Next election: | November 5, 2024

The Utah State Senate is the upper chamber of the Utah State Legislature. Alongside the Utah House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Utah state government and works alongside the governor of Utah to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Utah State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Utah State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Salt Lake City, Utah.

* Fifteen seats out of the state Senate's 29 seats were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican supermajority remained 23-6.

* Fifteen seats out of the chamber's 29 seats were up for election in 2020. The chamber's Republican supermajority remained 23-6.
* Utah has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

This page contains the following information on the Utah State Senate.

* Which party controls the chamber
* The chamber's current membership
* Partisan control of the chamber over time
* Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
* A district map
* How redistricting works in the state
* Legislation under consideration
* Legislative session dates
* Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
* A list of committees

## Party control[edit]

### Current partisan control[edit]

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Utah State Senate as of February 2024:

Party  | As of February 2024

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| Democratic Party | 6
| Republican Party | 23
| Other  | 0
| Vacancies  | 0
Total |  29

## Members[edit]

### Leadership[edit]

The presiding officer of the Senate is the president of the Senate and is selected by the majority party caucus. The majority and minority leaders are selected by their respective party caucuses.[1][2]

### Leadership and members[edit]

* Senate president: Stuart Adams (R)
* Majority leader: Evan Vickers (R)
* Minority leader: Luz Escamilla (D)

Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office

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Utah State Senate District 1 | Scott Sandall | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 2 | Chris Wilson | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 3 | John Johnson | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 4 | David Buxton | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 5 | Ann Millner | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 6 | Jerry Stevenson | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 7 | Stuart Adams | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 8 | Todd Weiler | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 9 | Jennifer Plumb | Democratic  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 10 | Luz Escamilla | Democratic  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 11 | Daniel W. Thatcher | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 12 | Karen Kwan | Democratic  | January 17, 2023
Utah State Senate District 13 | Nate Blouin | Democratic  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 14 | Stephanie Pitcher | Democratic  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 15 | Kathleen Riebe | Democratic  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 16 | Wayne Harper | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 17 | Lincoln Fillmore | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 18 | Dan McCay | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 19 | Kirk Cullimore | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 20 | Ronald Winterton | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 21 | Mike Kennedy | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 22 | Heidi Balderree | Republican  | October 24, 2023
Utah State Senate District 23 | Keith Grover | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 24 | Curtis Bramble | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 25 | Mike McKell | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 26 | David Hinkins | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 27 | Derrin Owens | Republican  | January 1, 2023
Utah State Senate District 28 | Evan Vickers | Republican  | January 1, 2013
Utah State Senate District 29 | Don Ipson | Republican  | September 21, 2016

### Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2023

Salary| Per diem
$293.55/legislative day| Per diem is reimbursed to state legislators when they submit receipts or turn in expense reports.

### Swearing in dates[edit]

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Utah legislators assume office the first day in January.[3][4]

### Membership qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the Utah State Senate, a candidate must be:[5]

* A U.S. citizen,
* At least 25 years old,
* A three-year resident of Utah,
* A resident for 6 months of the relevant senate district, and
* A qualified voter.

In addition, eligible candidates cannot:[5]

* Have been convicted of certain crimes, or
* Hold a public office of profit or trust.

## Historical party control[edit]

Republicans won control of the Utah State Senate in 1978. In 2022, they won a 21-8 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Utah Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Utah State Senate election results: 1992-2022

Year  | '92  | '94  | '96  | '98  | '00  | '02  | '04  | '06  | '08  | '10  | '12  | '14  | '16  | '18  | '20  | '22

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Democrats | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8
Republicans | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21

### Trifecta history[edit]

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Utah was under the following types of trifecta control:

* Democratic trifecta: None
* Republican trifecta: 1992-2023
* Divided government: None

Utah Party Control: 1992-2024
No Democratic trifectas • Thirty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year  | 92  | 93  | 94  | 95  | 96  | 97  | 98  | 99  | 00  | 01  | 02  | 03  | 04  | 05  | 06  | 07  | 08  | 09  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24

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Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R
Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R
House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R

## Elections[edit]

### Elections by year[edit]

Utah state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Utah holds elections for its legislature in even years.

### Convention system[edit]

Utah has a unique election system that combines local conventions and party primaries. A precinct caucus is held to vote for delegates to county conventions. Precinct delegates vote at the county conventions to nominate candidates for state office. In order to forgo a primary election, a candidate must receive more than 60 percent of the votes at the county convention. If multiple candidates run and none receive 60 percent of the vote, the candidate with the lowest total is eliminated and another vote is taken. Once only two candidates remain, if neither receives more than 60 percent of the vote, both will advance to the party's primary. Each party holds its own caucuses and conventions.[6][7][8]

### 2024[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Utah State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 25, 2024. The filing deadline was January 8, 2024.

### 2022[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 28, 2022. The filing deadline was March 4, 2022.

### 2020[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 30, 2020. The filing deadline was March 19, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, the Republican majority saw no change in the Utah State Senate, remaining 23-6.

Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 3, 2020  | After November 4, 2020
| Democratic Party | 6  | 6
| Republican Party | 23 | 23
Total |  29 |  29

### 2018[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2018. The primary election took place on June 26, 2018.[9] Democrats held a hybrid primary election and Republicans held a closed primary election. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2018.[10]

In the 2018 elections, the Republicans majority in the Utah State Senate was reduced from 24-5 to 23-6.

Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 6, 2018  | After November 7, 2018
| Democratic Party | 5  | 6
| Republican Party | 24 | 23
Total |  29 |  29

### 2016[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 17, 2016. A total of 15 seats out of the 29 seats in the Utah State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 23-5 majority with one Libertarian member. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 24-5 majority.

Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 7, 2016  | After November 8, 2016
| Democratic Party | 5  | 5
| Republican Party | 23 | 24
| Libertarian Party | 1  | 0
Total |  29 |  29
Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

### 2014[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 20, 2014.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 23-5 majority with one vacancy. After the election, Republicans held a 23-4 majority with two vacancies.

| Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 3, 2014  | After November 4, 2014
| Democratic Party | 5  | 4
| Republican Party | 23 | 23
| Vacancy  | 1  | 2
Total |  29 |  29

### 2012[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 26, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2012. A total of 14 seats were up for election.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 22-7 majority. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 24-5 majority.

Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 5, 2012  | After the 2012 Election
| Democratic Party | 7  | 5
| Republican Party | 22 | 24
Total |  29 |  29

The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.

2012 Margin of Victory, Utah State Senate

District  | Winner  | Margin of Victory  | Total Votes  | Top Opponent
District 1 |  Luz Escamilla | 10.6% | 18,969 | Chelsea Woodruff
District 8 |  Brian Shiozawa | 13.6% | 39,020 | Josie Valdez
District 6 |  Wayne Harper | 20.9% | 33,010 | John Rendell
District 19 |  Allen Christensen | 26.9% | 32,835 | Peter Conover Clemens
District 23 |  Todd Weiler | 28.9% | 39,460 | Breck England
District 27 |  David Hinkins | 44.4% | 34,784 | Michael Binyon
District 29 |  Stephen Urquhart | 54.1% | 36,572 | Terence Moore
District 16 |  Curtis Bramble | 57.7% | 24,534 | Gregory Duerden
District 28 |  Evan Vickers | 65.3% | 33,967 | Geoffrey Chesnut
District 24 |  Ralph Okerlund | 72.9% | 34,235 | Trestin Meacham

### 2010[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 22, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 19, 2010. Fifteen seats were up for election.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-8 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 22-7 majority.

Utah State Senate

Party  | As of November 1, 2010  | After the 2010 Election
| Democratic Party | 8  | 7
| Republican Party | 21 | 22
Total |  29 |  29

In 2010, the candidates for state Senate raised a total of $1,612,394 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[11]

2010 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Utah Association of Realtors  | $84,000
Senate Republican Campaign Cmte of Utah  | $83,315
2006 Mayne Candidate Account  | $60,248
Utah State Senate Democrats  | $46,000
Sorensen, Beverly T  | $39,500
Utah Republican Party  | $37,453
Comcast  | $32,050
Reagan Outdoor Advertising  | $31,487
Workers Compensation Fund of Utah  | $30,950
Consumer Lending Alliance  | $25,500

### 2008[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2008

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 24, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008.

During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $2,432,680. The top 10 contributors were:[12]

2008 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Hinkins, David  | $90,000
Mayne, Ed  | $61,126
Utah Republican Senate Campaign Cmte  | $59,549
Utah County Legislative PAC  | $49,296
Reagan Outdoor Advertising  | $41,418
Killpack, Sheldon L  | $41,000
Senate Democrats Of Utah  | $41,000
Gold Cross Services  | $31,000
Christensen, Clayton M  | $31,000
Utah Home Builders Association  | $30,050

### 2006[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2006

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 27, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006.

During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $2,241,882. The top 10 contributors were:[13]

2006 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Niederhauser, Wayne L  | $139,000
Garbett, Bryson David  | $86,969
Utah Republican Party  | $69,122
Republican Senate Campaign Cmte Of Utah  | $65,235
Utah Association Of Realtors  | $52,500
Utah Education Association  | $32,594
Parents For Choice In Education  | $31,090
Greiner, Jon J  | $30,376
Senate Democrats Of Utah  | $29,588
Utah County Legislative PAC  | $27,000

### 2004[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2004

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 22, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004.

During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,336,110. The top 10 contributors were:[14]

2004 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Republican Senate Campaign Cmte Of Utah  | $73,000
Utah Association Of Realtors  | $64,600
Utah Democratic party  | $57,734
Utah County Republican Party  | $30,677
Utah Education Association  | $28,635
Zions Bancorporation  | $26,500
Utah Bankers Association  | $22,100
Peay, Phillip O  | $21,000
Utah League Of Credit Unions  | $18,911
Consumer Lending Alliance  | $18,550

### 2002[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2002

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 25, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002.

During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $930,831. The top 10 contributors were:[15]

2002 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Republican Senate Campaign Cmte Of Utah  | $43,238
Utah Association Of Realtors  | $33,600
Senate Democrats Of Utah  | $28,450
Utah Education Association  | $23,107
Utah Democratic Party  | $17,292
Probst, Bradley B  | $16,909
Utah Republican Party  | $14,462
Utah Medical Association  | $13,600
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Utah  | $13,450
Utah League Of Credit Unions  | $12,937

### 2000[edit]

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2000

Elections for the office of Utah State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 27, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000.

During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $785,535. The top 10 contributors were:[16]

2000 Donors, Utah State Senate

Donor  | Amount
Republican Senate Campaign Cmte Of Utah  | $36,200
Senate Democrats Y2K  | $31,750
Utah Education Association  | $22,130
Utah Association Of Realtors  | $21,850
Eli Jimenz & Associates  | $20,000
Utah Medical Association  | $15,000
Utah League Of Credit Unions  | $11,961
Utah Democratic Party  | $10,991
Eastman, Dan  | $10,000
Thompson, Bryan  | $9,675

### Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Utah State Legislature, the governor is responsible for selecting a replacement. A liaison for the political party that last held the seat must recommend a successor to the governor. A person who is selected to fill a vacant state House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Interim appointees to state Senate seats serve until the next regular general election.[17]

If the vacancy happens after the nominating deadline in an election year, but before August 31, a new candidate must file a declaration of candidacy and certificate of nomination in order to be on the ballot. Nominating papers must be filed within 21 days after the vacancy occurs.[18]

See sources: Utah Const. Art. 6, Sec. 13 and Utah Code §20A-1-503

## District map[edit]

See also: Utah state legislative districts

The state of Utah has 29 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Utah

In Utah, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are ultimately enacted by the state legislature. An advisory commission submits proposed maps to the legislature for its approval. This commission comprises the following seven members:[19]

* One appointed by the governor, to serve as the chair of the commission;
* One appointed by the president of the Utah Senate;
* One appointed by the speaker of the Utah House of Representatives;
* One appointed by the leader of the largest minority political party in the Utah Senate;
* One appointed by the leader of the largest minority political party in the Utah House of Representatives;
* One appointed jointly by the leadership of the majority political party in the Utah Senate, president of the Utah Senate, and the leadership of the same political party in the Utah House of Representatives; and
* One appointed jointly by the leadership of the largest minority political party in the Utah Senate, and the leadership of the same political party in the Utah House of Representatives, including the speaker of the House, if the speaker is a member of the same political party.

The commission is required to select between one and three plans, with the affirmative votes of at least five members, to submit to the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The chief justice is responsible for determining if the commission's plans meet redistricting standards. The commission then forwards the plans to the state legislature, which may decide whether to accept, amend, or reject the plans.

### 2020[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Utah after the 2020 census

Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed new state legislative districts for both chambers into law on November 16, 2021. After Cox called a special session to begin on November 9, 2021, the Utah legislature voted to approve the House and Senate district maps on November 10, 2021. The House districts proposal passed the House in a 60-12 vote and cleared the Senate in a 25-3 vote. The House voted 58-13 to approve the Senate map and the Senate approved the proposal in a 26-2 vote. [20][21] These maps took effect for Utah's 2022 legislative elections.

Both proposals differed from those presented to the legislative committee by Utah's Independent Redistricting Commission on November 1, 2021.[22] The commission presented 12 maps (three each for House, Senate, congressional, and school board districts) to the Legislative Redistricting Committee, one of which was submitted by a citizen.[23]

#### District map before and after 2020 redistricting[edit]

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

### Utah State Senate Districts
until December 31, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

### Utah State Senate Districts
starting January 1, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

### 2010[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Utah after the 2010 census

Utah received its local census data on February 24, 2011. The state showed a 23.8 percent growth rate, with no county losing population. The largest cities showed mixed growth: Salt Lake City grew by 2.6 percent, West Valley City grew by 18.9 percent, Provo grew by 7.0 percent, West Jordan grew by 51.8 percent, and Orem grew by 4.7 percent. County growth was as follows: Salt Lake grew by 14.6 percent, Utah grew 40.2 percent, Davis grew by 28.2 percent, Weber grew by 17.7 percent, and Washington grew by 52.9 percent.[24]

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed new maps on October 4, 2011, and Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed the maps on October 19, 2011.[25] Later, errors in the maps were discovered and revisions were passed by the legislature on January 26, 2012, and signed by the governor.[26]

## Sessions[edit]

### Legislation[edit]

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Utah State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

### Dates of legislative sessions in Utah by year[edit]

### 2024[edit]

See also: 2024 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 16, 2024, and adjourn on March 1, 2024.

### 2023[edit]

See also: 2023 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 17, 2023, and adjourn on March 3, 2023.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

### 2022[edit]

See also: 2022 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions

In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 18, 2022, and adjourn on March 4, 2022.

### 2021[edit]

See also: 2021 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions

In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 19, 2021, and adjourn on March 5, 2021.

### 2020[edit]

See also: 2020 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions

In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 27, 2020, and adjourn on March 12, 2020.

#### Effect of coronavirus pandemic[edit]

See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic
Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.

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Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Utah State Legislature adjourned on March 12, 2020. Special sessions were convened on April 16, 2020, April 23, 2020, and June 18, 2020. The legislature adjourned on June 20, 2020. A special session convened on August 20, 2020, and adjourned later that same day.[27][28]

### 2019[edit]

See also: 2019 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions

In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 28, 2019, through March 14, 2019.

### 2018[edit]

See also: 2018 Utah legislative session and Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions

In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 22, 2018, through March 8, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here.

### 2017[edit]

See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions

In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 23, 2017, through March 9, 2017. The legislature held a special session on September 20.

### 2016[edit]

See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions

In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 25 through March 10. The legislature held a special session on May 18, 2016, over education funding and anti-monument legislation.

### 2015[edit]

See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions

In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 26 through March 12. The legislature held a special session on August 19, 2015, on prison relocation.

#### Major issues in 2015[edit]

The major issue facing the Utah State Legislature was the quality of Utah's air. State Representative Patrice Arent (D) told reporters that clean-air bills were expected to receive support from both sides of the aisle because of an understanding that poor air quality can negatively impact the state's economy. According to Arent, bills the legislature considered in 2015 included funding for mass-transit, money for clean-air programs, and potential tax credits for energy-efficient vehicles.[29]

### 2014[edit]

See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions

In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 27 through March 14.

#### Major issues in 2014[edit]

Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included LGBT antidiscrimination, giving protection to clergy who refuse to perform same-sex marriages, the state budget, education funding, and changing the position of Attorney General of Utah from an elected position to an appointed one.

### 2013[edit]

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 28 to March 14.

#### Major issues in 2013[edit]

Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included ethics legislation, adoption rights, alcohol laws, and education funding.[30][31]

### 2012[edit]

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 23 through March 8.

#### Major issues in 2012[edit]

Major topics included a projected $13 billion budget, technology for students, unauthorized immigration, and infrastructure.[32]

### 2011[edit]

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 24 through March 10.[33] A single day special session was called by Governor Gary Herbert (R) for July 27, to consider several issues, including adjustments to health insurance rates, liquor commission guidelines, judicial evaluations, and adopting another resolution supporting a federal balanced budget amendment.[34] Gov. Herbert called for a second special session for October 3, 2011, over redistricting issues.

### 2010[edit]

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the legislature was  in session from January 25 to March 11.[35]

### About legislative sessions in Utah[edit]

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[36] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Section 2 of  Article VI of the Utah Constitution establishes that the Utah State Legislature, which the Senate is a part of, is to convene a new session every two years on the second Monday in January. This means that the 2010 session was actually a continuation of a regular session that convened in 2009. Section 16 of Article VI limits these regular sessions to sixty legislative days, except in cases of impeachment.[37]

## Legislative roles and procedures[edit]

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

### Veto overrides[edit]

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Utah are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 50 of the 75 members in the Utah House of Representatives and 20 of the 29 members in the Utah State Senate. Utah is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

According to Article VII, Section 8 of the Utah Constitution, the legislature can call a special veto session to consider overrides of any bills the governor vetoed after adjournment. Two-thirds of members in both chambers must agree to do so. The session lasts for five days.

Authority: Article VII, Section 8 of the Utah Constitution.

"(1) Each bill passed by the Legislature, before it becomes a law, shall be presented to the governor. If the bill is approved, the governor shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law. If the bill is disapproved, it shall be returned with the governor's objections to the house in which it originated. That house shall then enter the objections upon its journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If upon reconsideration the bill again passes both houses by a yea and nay vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, it shall become a law."

### Role in state budget[edit]

See also: Utah state budget and finances
Utah on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

* * *

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[38]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in October.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in December.
4. The legislature typically passes a budget in March. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Utah is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[38][39]

The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget.[38]

## Committees[edit]

See also: List of committees in Utah state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

* Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
* Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
* Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Utah State Senate has 12 standing committees:

* Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
* Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
* Senate Business and Labor Committee
* Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
* Senate Education Committee
* Senate Ethics Committee
* Senate Health and Human Services Committee
* Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
* Senate Retirement and Independent Entities Committee
* Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
* Senate Rules Committee
* Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee

## Constitutional amendments[edit]

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Utah Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XXIII of the Utah Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Utah

[The Utah Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Utah requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

#### Legislature[edit]

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

According to Article XXIII, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A two-thirds majority vote in both the legislative chambers vote is required during one legislative session for the Utah State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 50 votes in the Utah House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Utah State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

#### Convention[edit]

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 2 of Article XXIII, a ballot question about whether to hold a convention can go on the ballot if two-thirds of the members of the Utah State Legislature vote to put it on the ballot.

2025 measures:

See also: 2025 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

No measures to list

Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

No measures to list

2024 measures:

Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

See also: Utah 2024 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
Utah Elections of County Sheriffs Amendment| Democrats| Republicans

|
|

Senate:| Required: 20| Yes votes: 26 (89.66%)| No votes: 0 (0.00%)| Yes: 6; No: 0| Yes: 20; No: 0
House:| Required: 50| Yes votes: 72 (96.00%)| No votes: 0 (0.00%)| Yes: 13; No: 0| Yes: 59; No: 0
Utah State School Fund Distribution Cap Increase Amendment| Democrats| Republicans
Senate:| Required: 20| Yes votes: 27 (93.10%)| No votes: 0 (0.00%)| Yes: 6; No: 0| Yes: 21; No: 0
House:| Required: 50| Yes votes: 66 (88.00%)| No votes: 0 (0.00%)| Yes: 14; No: 0| Yes: 52; No: 0
Utah Constitutional Requirements for Education Funding Amendment| Democrats| Republicans
Senate:| Required: 20| Yes votes: 22 (89.66%)| No votes: 6 (0.00%)| Yes: 0; No: 6| Yes: 22; No: 0
House:| Required: 50| Yes votes: 57 (76.00%)| No votes: 17 (22.66%)| Yes: 0; No: 14| Yes: 57; No: 3

Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
Utah Effective Dates of Legislation Amendment| Democrats| Republicans

|
|

Senate:| Required: 20| Yes votes: 29 (100.00%)| No votes: 0 (0.00%)| Yes: 6; No: 0| Yes: 23; No: 0
House:| Required: | Yes votes: (%)| No votes: (%)| Yes: ; No: | Yes: ; No:
Utah Supermajority Vote Requirement to Pass Initiatives Increasing or Creating Taxes Amendment| Democrats| Republicans
Senate:| Required: | Yes votes: (%)| No votes: (%)| Yes: ; No: | Yes: ; No:
House:| Required: | Yes votes: (%)| No votes: (%)| Yes: ; No: | Yes: ; No:

## See also[edit]

Elections |  Utah State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics

|
|
|

* Utah State Senate elections, 2024
* Utah State Senate elections, 2022
* Utah State Senate elections, 2020

* Utah State Legislature
* Utah House of Representatives
* Governor of Utah
* Utah Supreme Court

* State legislative elections, 2024
* State legislative elections, 2023
* State legislative elections, 2022
* State legislative elections, 2021
* State legislative elections, 2020

* State government trifectas
* State government triplexes
* State executives
* State courts
* Ballot measures

## External links[edit]

* Utah State Senate

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "Organization of the Utah Legislature," accessed February 17, 2021
2. ↑ Utah Senate, "Senate Leadership," accessed February 17, 2021
3. ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
4. ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Vote.Utah.gov, "State of Utah 2022 Candidate Manual," accessed February 8, 2023
6. ↑ Utah.gov, "Utah Precinct Caucus Information," accessed February 17, 2021
7. ↑ Utah Republican Party, "Governing Documents," accessed February 17, 2021
8. ↑ Utah Democratic Party, "Governing Documents," accessed February 17, 2021
9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
10. ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections, "State of Utah 2018 Candidate Manual," accessed September 13, 2017
11. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed August 2, 2013
12. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah 2008 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
13. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah 2006 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
14. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah 2004 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
15. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah 2002 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
16. ↑ Follow the Money, "Utah 2000 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
17. ↑ Utah Legislature, "Utah Code - Statutes 20A-1-503 (3) (a)-(b)," accessed February 17, 2021
18. ↑ Utah Legislature, "Utah Code - Statutes 20A-1-503 (3) (a)-(b)," accessed February 17, 2021
19. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Utah," accessed May 4, 2015
20. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "S.B. 2006 Utah State Senate Boundaries and Election Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
21. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "H.B. 2005 Utah State House Boundaries Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
22. ↑ KSL, "Utah redistricting map battles underscore independent-panel hurdles across the US," November 13, 2021
23. ↑ Utah Public Radio, "Utah Independent Redistricting Commission proposes 12 maps to Utah lawmakers," November 2, 2021
24. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Utah's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 24, 2011
25. ↑ Fox 13, "Governor signs redistricting maps," October 20, 2011
26. ↑ Deseret News, "Redistricting bills move unanimously through Legislature," January 26, 2012
27. ↑ Multistate, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated April 16, 2020
28. ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune, "Utah Legislature calls historic special session to address coronavirus impacts," April 13, 2020
29. ↑ Public News Service, "Air Quality, Again a Major Issue for Utah Lawmakers," January 27, 2015
30. ↑ FOX 13, "Adoption and alcohol likely topics for Utah legislative session," January 21, 2013
31. ↑ Salt Lake Tribune, "Call them the Swallow Reforms," January 24, 2013
32. ↑ Salt Lake Tribune, "Top issues to watch in the upcoming Utah Legislature," January 21, 2012
33. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed February 17, 2021(Archived)
34. ↑ StateScape, "Session Updates," July 22, 2011
35. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed February 17, 2021
36. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 17, 2021
37. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "Utah Constitution," accessed February 17, 2021
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
39. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024

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