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EXECUTIVE ORDER REVIEW PROCESS AMENDMENTS

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2021 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Phil Lyman

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Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses the review of certain presidential executive orders.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires the Constitutional Defense Council to review certain executive orders by
13     the president of the United States;
14          ▸     authorizes the attorney general or governor to seek to have the executive order
15     declared an unconstitutional exercise of legislative authority by the president; and
16          ▸     restricts the enforceability of certain executive orders.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     ENACTS:
23          63C-4a-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 63C-4a-204 is enacted to read:
27          63C-4a-204. Review of presidential executive orders.

28          (1) The council shall review an executive order by the president of the United States
29     that is not affirmed by a vote of the United States Congress and signed into law as prescribed
30     by the Constitution of the United States.
31          (2) Upon review, the council may recommend to the attorney general and the governor
32     that an executive order be further examined by the attorney general to determine:
33          (a) the constitutionality of the executive order; and
34          (b) whether the state should seek to have the executive order declared to be an
35     unconstitutional exercise of legislative authority by the president.
36          (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no state agency, political subdivision,
37     elected or appointed state official or employee, or official or employee of a political
38     subdivision may implement a presidential executive order that is determined by the attorney
39     general to be unconstitutional under this section if the order relates to:
40          (a) a pandemic or other public health emergency;
41          (b) the regulation of natural resources;
42          (c) the regulation of the agricultural industry;
43          (d) the regulation of land use;
44          (e) the regulation of the financial sector through the imposition of environmental,
45     social, or governance standards; or
46          (f) the regulation of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.