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Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This joint resolution of the Utah Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
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modify a provision relating to statewide initiatives.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to:
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▸ provides the circumstances under which a higher percentage of voters than a majority
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must approve a statewide initiative that proposes to impose a new tax or to increase the
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rate of an existing tax or the amount of revenue collected.
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Other Special Clauses:
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This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters.
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This resolution provides a contingent effective date of November 23, 2026 for this
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proposal.
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Utah Constitution Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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Article VI, Section 1 (Effective 11/23/26)
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
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of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
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Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 1, to read:
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Article VI, Section 1 (Effective 11/23/26). [Power vested in Senate, House, and
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People.]
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(1) The Legislative power of the State shall be vested in:
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(a) a Senate and House of Representatives which shall be designated the Legislature of
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the State of Utah; and
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(b) the people of the State of Utah as provided in Subsection (2).
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(2)(a)(i) The legal voters of the State of Utah, in the numbers, under the conditions,
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in the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
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(A) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people for S.J.R. 2 01-09 15:07
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adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the legislation, as provided by
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statute; or
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(B) require any law passed by the Legislature, except those laws passed by a
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two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house of the Legislature, to be
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submitted to the voters of the State, as provided by statute, before the law may
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take effect.
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(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a)(i)(A), legislation initiated to allow, limit, or
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prohibit the taking of wildlife or the season for or method of taking wildlife shall
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be adopted upon approval of two-thirds of those voting.
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(iii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a)(i)(A), initiated legislation that is subject to a
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vote that occurs after November 1, 2026, shall be adopted upon approval of at
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least 60% of those voting on the legislation if the initiated legislation includes:
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(A) the imposition of a new tax;
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(B) an expansion of an existing tax to include additional items or transactions
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subject to the tax;
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(C) an increase in an existing tax rate; or
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(D) for a property tax, a change to the tax rate that causes the tax rate to decrease
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less than it would under current law.
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(b) The legal voters of any county, city, or town, in the numbers, under the conditions, in
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the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
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(i) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people of the
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county, city, or town for adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the
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legislation, as provided by statute; or
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(ii) require any law or ordinance passed by the law making body of the county, city,
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or town to be submitted to the voters thereof, as provided by statute, before the
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law or ordinance may take effect.
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Section 2. Submittal to voters.
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The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
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the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
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Section 3. Contingent effective date.
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If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
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voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on November
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23, 2026.
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