Utah Legislature Addresses Ballot Initiative Restrictions

The Utah Legislature is convening a special session to address a Utah Supreme Court ruling that restricts legislative power over voter initiatives. The ruling, which upheld the protection of ballot initiatives from legislative repeal, has prompted conservative groups and Republican leaders to push for a constitutional amendment. This amendment would grant the Legislature the ability to amend or veto laws passed by initiatives and is expected to be put to a vote on November 5th. Additionally, the session will consider a constitutional amendment to prohibit foreign contributions to ballot initiatives and extend the signature collection period for referenda. Separately, Utah voters will also decide on a constitutional amendment to remove the earmark on income tax revenue designated for education, allowing for greater budget flexibility. Critics argue these changes could undermine voter influence and shift the balance of power significantly towards the Legislature.