Frequently asked Questions
- What is a General Session?A General Session is when all of the members of both legislative chambers (the House and Senate) meet together to discuss and vote on new bills. In Utah, the General Session starts on the fourth Monday in January and lasts 45 days.
- How long is a General Session?The General Session starts on the fourth Monday in January and lasts 45 days.
- Who is my legislator?Who your legislator is depends on where you live. Try out our Who Represents Me page to look up your address. For courtesy maps or more specific information, call your county clerk.
- Where do I find information about committees?Take a look at our Committees Page.
- What do I do when I have an idea for a law?If you have an idea contact your legislator months in advance of the General Session that convenes every year on the 4th Monday in January.
- How can I communicate my ideas or concerns that need to be resolved?A positive approach leads to mutual respect and consideration for any issue at hand. Provide your legislator with credible information, research, statistical data if available, and realistic solutions to help resolve an issue.
- How do I track a bill or committee?Use our My Legislature page to track bills and committees. You will need to create an account. You can also use the Reading Calendar page that provides the information as it is happening on the House and Senate floors.
- How does a bill become law?For a bill to become a law, it must be passed by both the House and Senate, and then signed by the governor. This page explains it well.
- Where do I find a committee's upcoming agendas?
- How do I know if a section of the Utah Code has been affected by legislation?Click on Passed Bills under Bills on our home page, select the applicable year, then click on 'Sections Affected by Passed Bills'. You can also use the link to see Sections Affected in .pdf on each session page, or link to a bill from the chapter number at the bottom of each .html Utah Code section.
- How can I get involved?This page has great insights on civic engagement.
- How do I find what laws exist in Utah?Here is a link to the Utah Code
- 11. How can I find out more about the Legislature and the legislative process?This Legislative Guide has a lot of good information about the Legislature and the legislative process.
- How do I reserve ADA and technical resources?Here are some instructions on how to reserve ADA and technical resources.
- How do I find voting records for legislators?Links to official voting records are on the "Status" tab of the Bill Page for each bill.
The Bill Status tab provides dates, actions taken, locations, and votes. Committee votes are linked to committee reports showing how each committee member present voted. Floor votes are linked to the House and Senate Journal pages showing how each House and Senate member present voted.
You may also search the Journals by keyword for official votes.