Utah voters will now decide: Should the Utah Constitution say the Legislature can amend or appeal citizen-led initiatives? The Utah House and Senate voted Wednesday to advance a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to amend or repeal initiatives. Lawmakers were responding to a state Supreme Court ruling over redistricting that said they did not have that power in some cases, leading to concerns over what would happen if an initiative passed that had unintended consequences. Those opposed to the amendment said it would take power away from the state’s voters.
The constitutional amendment passed 54-21 in the House, and 20-8 in the Senate, clearing both chambers with more than two-thirds approval as required. Now the proposed constitutional amendment will appear on Utahns’ November ballots. In addition to stating lawmakers have the ability to amend or repeal laws originating from citizen initiatives, the amendment would also prevent foreign entities from using resources to sway or dissuade Utahns from voting for or against initiatives.
Utah lawmakers approved other changes to the ballot initiative process, including an extension of the signature gathering period as well as additional language requiring the Legislature to give deference to initiatives when making amendments (they would have to keep the general intent of the initiative). After the vote, Senate President Stuart J. Adams, Rep.
Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan and Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper.