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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
11 modify provisions related to the effective date of bills passed by the Legislature.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to:
14 ▸ specify that bills passed by the Legislature take effect on the 61st day after the last
15 day of the session at which the bill passed, or on a later day specified in the bill; and
16 ▸ make technical changes.
17 Special Clauses:
18 This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters.
19 This resolution provides a contingent effective date of January 1, 2025 for this proposal.
20 Utah Constitution Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 ARTICLE VI, SECTION 25
23 ARTICLE VII, SECTION 8
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25 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
26 of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
27 Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 25, to read:
28 Article VI, Section 25. Effective date of bills -- Publication of bills.
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32 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a bill passed by the Legislature takes effect
33 on the 61st day after the last day of the session at which the bill passed, or on a later day
34 specified in the bill.
35 (2) By a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, a bill may take effect
36 before the 61st day after the last day of the session at which the bill passed.
37 (3) The Legislature shall provide for publication of all bills passed.
38 Section 2. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, to read:
39 Article VII, Section 8. Bills presented to governor -- Approval or disapproval by
40 governor -- Items of appropriation -- Convening of Legislature to consider disapproved
41 bills or appropriation items.
42 (1) Each bill passed by the Legislature, before it becomes a law, shall be presented to
43 the governor. If the bill is approved, the governor shall sign it, and [
44 a law as provided in Article VI, Section 25. If the bill is disapproved, it shall be returned with
45 the governor's objections to the house in which it originated. That house shall then enter the
46 objections upon its journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If upon reconsideration the bill
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48 house, it shall become a law.
49 (2) If any bill is not returned by the governor within ten days after it has been presented
50 to the governor, Sunday and the day it was received excepted, it shall become a law without a
51 signature. If legislative adjournment prevents return of the bill, it shall become a law unless
52 the governor within twenty days after adjournment files the objections to it with such officers
53 as provided by law.
54 (3) The governor may disapprove any item of appropriation contained in any bill while
55 approving other portions of the bill. In such case the governor shall append to the bill at the
56 time of signing it a statement of the item or items which are disapproved, together with the
57 reasons for disapproval, and the item or items may not take effect unless passed over the
58 governor's objections as provided in this section.
59 (4) If the governor disapproves any bill or item of appropriation after the adjournment
60 sine die of any session of the Legislature, the presiding officer of each house shall poll the
61 members of that house on the matter of reconvening the Legislature. If two-thirds of the
62 members of each house are in favor of reconvening, the Legislature shall be convened in a
63 session that shall begin within 60 days after the adjournment of the session at which the
64 disapproved bill or item of appropriation passed. This session may not exceed five calendar
65 days and shall be convened at a time set jointly by the presiding officer of each house solely for
66 the purpose of reconsidering the bill or item of appropriation disapproved. If upon
67 reconsideration, the bill or item of appropriation again passes both houses of the Legislature by
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69 law or the item of appropriation shall take effect on the original effective date of the law or
70 item of appropriation.
71 Section 3. Submittal to voters.
72 The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
73 the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
74 Section 4. Contingent effective date.
75 If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
76 voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
77 2025.