Utah State Legislature
| Utah State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 16, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Stuart Adams (R) |
| House Speaker: | Mike Schultz (Utah) (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Evan Vickers (R) House: Jefferson Moss (R) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Luz Escamilla (D) House: Angela Romero (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 29 (Senate), 75 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art VI, Utah Constitution |
| Salary: | $293.55/legislative day + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Redistricting Committee of the Utah Legislature handles redrawing boundaries |
The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising of the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 representatives, and the Utah State Senate, with 29 state senators.
The Legislature convenes at the Utah State Capitol in of Salt Lake City on the third Monday of January for an annual 45 day session.
Utah has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Senate
The Utah State Senate is the upper house of the Utah State Legislature. It consists of 29 state senators.
As of the 2020 Census, Utah state senators represented an average of 112,940 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 95,544 residents.
Senators are elected to a four-year term, with half of all districts up for election every two years.
| Party | As of November 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 6 | |
| Republican Party | 23 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
House of Representatives
- See also: Utah House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature. It consists of 75 representatives.
As of the 2020 Census, Utah state representatives represented an average of 43,670 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 36,944 residents.
Representatives are elected to two-year terms, with all districts up for every two years.
| Party | As of November 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 14 | |
| Republican Party | 61 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 75 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Utah House of Representatives in 1976. In 2022, they won a 61-14 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Utah House 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 House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 26 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
| Republicans | 49 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 51 | 56 | 56 | 55 | 53 | 59 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 58 | 58 | 61 |
Elections
2026
Elections for the Utah State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 25, 2024. The filing deadline was January 8, 2024.
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 25, 2024. The filing deadline was January 8, 2024.
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.
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives 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
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.
Elections for the office of Utah House of Representatives 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.
2018
Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2018. The primary election took place on June 26, 2018.[1] 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.[2]
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives took place in 2018. The primary election took place on June 26, 2018.[3] 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.[4]
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.
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives 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.
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.
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives 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.
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 15, 2012.
Elections for the office of Utah House of Representatives 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 15, 2012.
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.
Elections for the office of Utah House of Representatives 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.
Sessions
Section 2 of Article VI of the Utah Constitution establishes that the Legislature 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.[5]
2024
In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 16, 2024, and adjourn on March 1, 2024.
2023
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. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 18, 2022, and adjourn on March 4, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 19, 2021, and adjourn on March 5, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 27, 2020, and adjourn on March 12, 2020.
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.[6][7] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 28, 2019, through March 14, 2019. 2018In 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
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
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
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 2015The 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.[8] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 27 through March 14. Major issues in 2014Major 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
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 28 to March 14. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included ethics legislation, adoption rights, alcohol laws, and education funding.[9][10] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 23 through March 8. Major issues in 2012Major topics included a projected $13 billion budget, technology for students, unauthorized immigration, and infrastructure.[11] 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 24 through March 10.[12] 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.[13] Gov. Herbert called for a second special session for October 3, 2011, over redistricting issues. 2010
In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 25 to March 11.[14] |
Role in state budget
- See also: Utah state budget and finances
Utah on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[15]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in October.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in December.
- 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.[15][16]
The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget.[15]
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- 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." |
Redistricting
- 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:[17]
- 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
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. [18][19] 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.[20] 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.[21]
2010
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. In regards to counties, 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.[22]
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed new maps on October 4. Governor Gary Herbert (R) signed the maps on October 19. However, the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed into law, revisions to the maps in late January 2012 after errors were discovered.
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[23] | |
|---|---|
| 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
Utah legislators assume office the first day in January.[24][25]
Joint legislative committees
The Utah State Legislature has no standing joint committees. The Legislature does make use of joint interim committees.
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Utah Senate: Throughout every year from 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Utah State Senate. The Utah State Senate is one of 13 state senates that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Utah was under Republican trifectas for all 22 years.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Utah House: Throughout every year from 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Utah State House of Representatives. The Utah House of Representatives is one of nine state Houses that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Utah was under Republican trifectas for all 22 years.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Utah, the Utah State Senate and the Utah House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Utah state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During every year of the study Utah had Republican trifectas. Its SQLI ranking stayed consistently in the 20s range for the first half of the study, but gradually moved up, bringing it into the top-10 for five of the last six years of the study.
Constitutional amendments
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:
[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
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
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 were certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature.
- See also: Utah 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures were 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 |
See also
| Elections | Utah State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections, "State of Utah 2018 Candidate Manual," accessed September 13, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections, "State of Utah 2018 Candidate Manual," accessed September 13, 2017
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "Utah Constitution," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ Multistate, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated April 16, 2020
- ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune, "Utah Legislature calls historic special session to address coronavirus impacts," April 13, 2020
- ↑ Public News Service, "Air Quality, Again a Major Issue for Utah Lawmakers," January 27, 2015
- ↑ FOX 13, "Adoption and alcohol likely topics for Utah legislative session," January 21, 2013
- ↑ Salt Lake Tribune, "Call them the Swallow Reforms," January 24, 2013
- ↑ Salt Lake Tribune, "Top issues to watch in the upcoming Utah Legislature," January 21, 2012
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed February 17, 2021(Archived)
- ↑ StateScape, "Session Updates," July 22, 2011
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Utah," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "S.B. 2006 Utah State Senate Boundaries and Election Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "H.B. 2005 Utah State House Boundaries Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
- ↑ KSL, "Utah redistricting map battles underscore independent-panel hurdles across the US," November 13, 2021
- ↑ Utah Public Radio, "Utah Independent Redistricting Commission proposes 12 maps to Utah lawmakers," November 2, 2021
- ↑ 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
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
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