‘It’s not a power grab,’ says Utah House Speaker on special session over initiatives

SALT LAKE CITY — The leaders of the Utah legislature are defending the decision to call lawmakers into special session Wednesday, where they’ll propose a constitutional amendment aimed to change a ruling by the Utah Supreme Court on citizen-led initiatives.

“It’s not a power grab on my behalf or any other (politician), President Adams, or any other member of the legislature’s behalf,” House Speaker Mike Schulz, R-Hooper, said. “But we recognize that how important this is, and the devastation that this can cause to the state of Utah long term. And that’s why we’re so concerned about it.”

Proposed amendment on citizen-led initiatives

Schulz also revealed more details about what lawmakers will vote on Wednesday, outlining the language being proposed to voters. The amendment will ask voters to approve of the legislature’s reforming initiatives. If that passes, they’ll loosen up the thresholds to repeal laws through referenda.

As of publishing, the bill to change threshold on referenda was public, and the language on the constitutional amendment was later released.

NEW: The proposed constitutional amendment language to be voted on in a special session tomorrow is now public. It adds the words “through the legislative process” to Utah’s Constitution — so the ability for voters to alter and reform their government “through the legislative… pic.twitter.com/bl509MT9Qa

— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) August 21, 2024

The language appears to give the legislature the ability to “amend, enact, or repeal” any citizen ballot initiatives — not just ones that deal with government reform.

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