Latest news with #HillHighlights
Axios
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Hill Highlights: Utah lawmakers seek fix after voided amendment question
There's one more week left in Utah's legislative session and lawmakers don't want a repeat of last year's constitutional amendment snafu. State of play: HB 563, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Schultz, would make legislative attorneys responsible for drafting proposed constitutional amendments that legislators plan to submit to voters. Currently, the senate president and the house speaker oversee those duties. Yes, but: Under the bill, the attorneys would perform the tasks "as counsel for the presiding officers," meaning legislative leaders will get to keep some say in the language. Catch up quick: Judge Dianne Gibson voided Constitutional Amendment D last September, which sought to allow lawmakers to alter or repeal voter-led initiatives, ruling the ballot language written by the legislature contained "glaring" omissions. "While the legislature has every right to request the amendment," she wrote, "it has the duty and obligation to accurately communicate the 'subject matter' of the proposed amendment to voters." What we're watching: SB 336, sponsored by Sen. Scott Sandall (R-Tremonton), would open the door for building more sports venues in the Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District, the site of a planned MLB stadium, per Building Salt Lake. The new proposal has been assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee. 💬 Hill Highlights is a weekly feature to recap what's going on during Utah's legislative session.
Axios
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Hill Highlights: Utah lawmakers advance bill to dismantle records committee
We're more than halfway through Utah's legislative session. The latest: State lawmakers are considering a bill that would dismantle a long-time committee that determines which government records are available to the public. SB 277, sponsored by Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell (R-Spanish Fork), would replace the State Records Committee with a governor-appointed attorney "with knowledge and experience relating to government records law." The measure passed a Senate committee this week in a 4-2 vote. Between the lines: Similarly, legislators this week advanced a bill to the governor, HB 69, that would make it harder for the public or journalists to recover attorneys fees for records that are deemed public — even if they win access to them in court. The court may award the fees if it determines the government entity operated in "bad faith" to prevent the records from being released. The big picture: It's the latest blow to government transparency, according to critics and first amendment advocates. Last year, Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill to make the calendars of public officials private and not subject to Utah's public records law. What we're watching: A bill, SB 76, sponsored by state Sen. Jen Plumb (D-Salt Lake City) that would bar minors from marrying someone who is at least four years older is on its way to the governor's desk, Utah News Dispatch reports. 💬 Hill Highlights is a weekly feature to recap what's going during Utah's legislative session.
