SB 153

     Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
 1  Election Amendments
                                            2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                                 STATE OF UTAH
                                        Chief Sponsor: John D. Johnson
                                            House Sponsor: Trevor Lee
 2
 3    LONG TITLE
 4    General Description:
 5        This bill amends provisions relating to elections.
 6    Highlighted Provisions:
 7        This bill:
 8        ▸ defines terms;
 9        ▸ modifies and recodifies provisions relating to:
10  ●   the information in a voter registration record that is available to a person based on the
11    capacity in which the person requests the information; and
12  ●   the requirements to obtain additional privacy protection for a voter registration record;
13        ▸ provides that a voter's voter registration record that, before April 6, 2026, was classified
14    as private without requiring a reason for the classification will be reclassified as a public
15    voter registration record, unless the voter takes certain action to obtain additional
16    protection for the voter's voter registration record;
17        ▸ requires an election officer to notify a voter whose voter registration is subject to
18    reclassification as described in the preceding paragraph in order to give the voter an
19    opportunity to apply for additional protection for the voter's voter registration record;
20        ▸ modifies the voter registration form to reflect the changes made in this bill and to give a
21    voter the option of authorizing disclosure of the voter's telephone number or email
22    address to the political party with which the voter affiliates;
23        ▸ requires the lieutenant governor to post information relating to the number of at-risk
24    voters in the state and in individual state House of Representatives districts;
25        ▸ establishes additional requirements to ensure the removal of deceased individuals from
26    voter registration records;
27        ▸ modifies penalties that may be imposed in relation to the unlawful disclosure of a voter
     S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
28     registration record;
29  ▸ places restrictions on the use and disclosure of information from the voter registration list;
30  ▸ provides criminal penalties for unlawfully obtaining, using, or disclosing information
31     from the voter registration list;
32  ▸ provides that if a voter, whose voter registration record is classified as private due to the
33     voter's status as an at-risk voter, signs a petition, the voter's voter identification and the
34     date the voter signed the petition may be publicly disclosed to the same extent, and in
35     the same manner, as the voter identification number and signature date of a voter signing
36     the petition who does not have a private voter registration record;
37  ▸ requires a petition to contain a warning regarding the provision described in the preceding
38     paragraph;
39  ▸ changes the person responsible for preparing the ballot title and analysis for a proposed
40     constitutional amendment submitted to the voters;
41  ▸ provides a coordination clause to merge provisions of this bill with H.B. 209, Voting
42     Amendments, and H.B. 361, Elections Provisions Amendments; and
43  ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
44     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
45  None
46     Other Special Clauses:
47  This bill provides a special effective date.
48  This bill provides coordination clauses.
49     Utah Code Sections Affected:
50     AMENDS:
51  10-2-602 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 400
52  10-2-701.5 (Effective 05/25/26), as enacted by Laws of Utah 1981, Chapter 55
53  10-2a-208 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
54  17-60-302 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
55  First Special Session, Chapter 13
56  17-61-201 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
57  First Special Session, Chapter 13
58  17-61-301 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
59  First Special Session, Chapter 13
60  17-61-401 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
61  First Special Session, Chapter 13
                                                        -2-
     Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
62        17-62-303 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
63        First Special Session, Chapter 13
64        17-62-505 (Effective 05/25/26), as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
65        First Special Session, Chapter 13
66        17B-1-205 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
67        17B-1-506 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
68        17B-1-1304 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 15
69        17D-2-502 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
70        20A-1-102 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
71        First Special Session, Chapter 6
72        20A-2-101.1 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
73        20A-2-104 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
74        448
75        20A-2-108 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 381
76        20A-2-204 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
77        448
78        20A-2-206 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 381
79        20A-2-304 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
80        20A-2-504 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
81        Chapter 448
82        20A-2-505 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
83        448
84        20A-3a-401 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
85        Session, Chapter 6
86        20A-6-105 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
87        448
88        20A-7-103 (Effective upon governor's approval) (Contingently Superseded 01/01/27), as
89        last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
90        20A-7-103 (Contingently Effective 01/01/27), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
91        Chapter 492
92        20A-7-105 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
93        20A-7-203 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
94        20A-7-215 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
95        20A-7-217 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
                                                 -3-
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
 96  20A-7-303 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
 97  20A-7-313 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
 98  20A-7-315 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
 99  20A-7-503 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
100  20A-7-514 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
101  20A-7-516 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
102  20A-7-603 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
103  20A-7-614 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
104  20A-7-616 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
105  20A-7-702 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024,
106  Chapter 465
107  20A-7-703.1 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah
108  2025, Chapter 448
109  20A-8-103 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 38, 448
110  20A-9-203 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 38, 39
111  and 448
112  20A-9-404 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
113  20A-9-405 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
114  20A-9-408 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special
115  Session, Chapter 2
116  20A-9-502 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special
117  Session, Chapter 2
118  20A-15-103 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
119  53G-3-301.1 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
120  53G-3-401 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
121  53G-3-501 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 528
122  63G-2-202 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
123  Chapter 188
124  63G-2-210 (Effective upon governor's approval), as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025,
125  Chapter 188
126  63G-2-301 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
127  Session, Chapter 9
128  63G-2-302 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
129  63G-2-303 (Effective 04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 208
                                                   -4-
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
130        73-10d-4 (Effective 05/25/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
131    ENACTS:
132        20A-1-1004 (Effective 05/25/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
133        20A-2-601 (Effective upon governor's approval), Utah Code Annotated 1953
134        20A-2-602 (Effective upon governor's approval), Utah Code Annotated 1953
135        20A-2-603 (Effective 04/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
136        20A-2-604 (Effective 04/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
137        20A-2-605 (Effective 04/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
138        20A-2-606 (Effective 04/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
139        20A-2-607 (Effective upon governor's approval), Utah Code Annotated 1953
140        53H-3-1304 (Effective 04/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
141    RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
142        20A-2-608 (Effective 04/06/26), (Renumbered from 20A-5-410, as last amended by
143        Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 188, 448)
144    Utah Code Sections affected by Coordination Clause:
145        20A-2-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381, 448
146        20A-2-204 (04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381, 448
147        20A-2-504 (01/01/27), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
148        20A-2-504 (immediate), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
149        63G-2-302 (04/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
150        63G-2-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
151
152    Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
153  Section 1. Section 10-2-602 is amended to read:
154  10-2-602 (Effective 05/25/26). Contents of resolution or petition.
155    (1) The resolution of the governing body or the petition of the electors shall include:
156        (a) a statement fully describing each of the areas to be included within the consolidated
157  municipality;
158        (b) the name of the proposed consolidated municipality; and
159        (c) the names of the municipalities to be consolidated.
160    (2)(a) The resolution or petition shall state the population of each of the municipalities
161        within the area of the proposed consolidated municipality and the total population of
162        the proposed consolidated municipality.
163        (b) The population for each municipality under Subsection (2)(a) shall be derived from:
                                                     -5-
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
164  (i) the estimate of the Utah Population Committee created in Section 63C-20-103; or
165  (ii) if the Utah Population Committee estimate is not available, the most recent
166  official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census.
167     (3) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
168  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
169  page:
170  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
171  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
172  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
173  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
174  Section 2. Section 10-2-701.5 is amended to read:
175  10-2-701.5 (Effective 05/25/26). Form of petition.
176        A petition for municipal disincorporation shall substantially comply with, and be
177     circulated in, the following form:
178  PETITION FOR MUNICIPAL DISINCORPORATION
179        To the Honorable District Court of ____ County, Utah:
180        We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Utah, and residents of ____
181     City, Utah, respectfully petition the Court to submit a proposal to disincorporate ____ City,
182     Utah, to the legal voters resident within said city for their approval or rejection at a special
183     election ordered held by the court for that purpose; and each signator for himself or herself
184     says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Utah; I am a
185     resident of ____ City, Utah, and my residence and post office address are correctly written
186     after my name.
187     WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
188     If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
189     publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
190     registration record that has been classified as a private record.
191  Section 3. Section 10-2a-208 is amended to read:
192  10-2a-208 (Effective 05/25/26). Petition for incorporation -- Requirements and
193     form -- Removal of signature.
194     (1) At any time within one year after the day on which the county clerk completes the
195  public hearings required under Section 10-2a-207, individuals within the proposed
196  municipality may proceed with the incorporation process by circulating, and submitting
197  to the county clerk, a petition for incorporation that, to be certified under Subsection
                                                        -6-
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
198        10-2a-209(1)(b)(i), is required to be signed by:
199        (a) 10% of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated as a
200  municipality, as of the day on which the petition for incorporation is filed;
201        (b) if the petition for incorporation proposes the incorporation of a city, and subject to
202  Subsection (5), 10% of all registered voters within 90% of the voting precincts within
203  the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, as of the day on which the petition for
204  incorporation is filed; and
205        (c) the owners of private real property that:
206  (i) is located within the proposed municipality;
207  (ii) covers at least 10% of the total private land area within the proposed
208  municipality; and
209  (iii) on January 1 of the current year, was equal in assessed fair market value to at
210  least 7% of the assessed fair market value of all private real property within the
211  proposed municipality.
212    (2) The petition for incorporation shall:
213        (a) include the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter who
214  signs the petition for incorporation;
215        (b) describe the area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality, as described in the
216  feasibility request or the modified feasibility request that complies with Subsection
217  10-2a-205(5)(a);
218        (c) state the proposed name for the proposed municipality;
219        (d) designate five signers of the petition for incorporation as petition sponsors, one of
220  whom is designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone
221  number of each;
222        (e) if the sponsors propose the incorporation of a city, state that the signers of the
223  petition for incorporation appoint the sponsors, if the incorporation measure passes,
224  to represent the signers in:
225  (i) selecting the number of commission or council members the new city will have;
226  and
227  (ii) drawing district boundaries for the election of council members, if the voters
228  decide to elect council members by district;
229        (f) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate plat or map, prepared by a
230  licensed surveyor, showing the boundaries of the proposed municipality; and
231    (g) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
                                                       -7-
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
232  PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
233  municipality)
234  To the Honorable Lieutenant Governor and the [name of county legislative body]:
235  We, the undersigned registered voters within the area described in this petition for
236  incorporation, respectfully petition the lieutenant governor and the county legislative body to
237  submit to the registered voters residing within the area described in this petition for
238  incorporation, at the next regular general election, the question of whether the area should
239  incorporate as a municipality. Each of the undersigned affirms that each has personally signed
240  this petition for incorporation and is a registered voter who resides within the described area,
241  and that the current residence address of each is correctly written after the signer's name.
242  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
243  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
244  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
245  registration record that has been classified as a private record.
246  The area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality is described as follows:[insert an
247  accurate description of the area proposed to be incorporated].
248     (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a valid signature on a feasibility request
249  described in Section 10-2a-202 or a modified feasibility request described in Section
250  10-2a-206 may be used toward fulfilling the signature requirement described in
251  Subsection (1) if the feasibility request notified the signer in conspicuous language
252  that the signature, unless removed, would also be used for a petition for incorporation
253  under this section.
254  (b) A signature described in Subsection (3)(a) may not be used toward fulfilling the
255  signature requirement described in Subsection (1) if the signer files with the county
256  clerk a written statement requesting removal of the signature before the petition for
257  incorporation is filed with the county clerk under this section.
258     (4)(a) A voter who signs a petition for incorporation may have the voter's signature
259  removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
260  which the petition for incorporation is submitted to the county clerk, submitting to
261  the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
262  (b) A statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall comply with the requirements
263  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
264  (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
265  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition for
                                                       -8-
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
266  incorporation after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the
267  signature.
268    (5)(a) A signature does not qualify under Subsection (1)(b) if the signature is gathered
269        from a voting precinct that:
270  (i) except in a proposed municipality that will be a city of the fifth class, is not
271  located entirely within the boundaries of a proposed city; or
272  (ii) includes less than 50 registered voters.
273        (b) A voting precinct that is not located entirely within the boundaries of the proposed
274  city does not qualify as a voting precinct under Subsection (1)(b).
275  Section 4. Section 17-60-302 is amended to read:
276  17-60-302 (Effective 05/25/26). Initiating a petition to move a county seat --
277    Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Limitation.
278    (1)(a) A voter may file a petition to move the county seat with the county legislative
279        body of the county in which the voter lives if the petition is signed by a majority of
280        registered voters in the county, calculated by the number of votes cast in the county
281        at the preceding general election.
282        (b) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
283  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
284  page:
285  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
286  RECORDS
287  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
288  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
289  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
290        [(b)] (c) If the county legislative body receives a petition that complies with this section,
291  the county legislative body shall submit the question of moving the county seat to the
292  county's voters at the next general election.
293    (2)(a) Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
294        receives a petition under Subsection (1), the county legislative body shall provide the
295        petition to the county clerk.
296        (b) Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
297  county legislative body under Subsection (2)(a), the county clerk shall:
298  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
299  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (1);
                                                      -9-
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
300  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
301  county; and
302  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
303     (3)(a) An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
304  signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
305  on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
306  submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
307  be removed.
308  (b) A statement described in Subsection (3)(a) shall comply with the requirements
309  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
310  (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
311  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
312  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
313     (4) The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed in all respects as provided by
314  law for the conducting of general elections and canvassing the returns.
315     (5) In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article XI, Section 2, a proposition to move the
316  county seat may not be submitted in the same county more than once in four years, or
317  within four years after the day on which a proposition to move the county seat is
318  submitted to the voters.
319  Section 5. Section 17-61-201 is amended to read:
320  17-61-201 (Effective 05/25/26). Consolidation of counties -- Petition --
321     Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Election -- Ballot.
322     (1)(a) A voter of a county who desires to have the county joined to and consolidated
323  with an adjoining county may petition the county legislative body of the county in
324  which the voter resides and the county legislative body of the adjoining county, as
325  described in this section.
326  (b) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
327  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
328  page:
329  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
330  RECORDS
331  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
332  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
333  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
                                                         - 10 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
334    (2) Each petition under Subsection (1) shall be:
335        (a) signed by a majority of the voters who reside in the originating county;
336        (b) signed by a majority of the voters who reside in the consolidating county; and
337        (c) presented to the county legislative body of the originating county and the county
338  legislative body of the consolidating county before the first Monday in June of any
339  year.
340    (3)(a) Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
341        receives a petition under Subsection (1), the county legislative body shall provide the
342        petition to the county clerk.
343        (b) Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
344  county legislative body under Subsection (3)(a), the county clerk shall:
345  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
346  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (2) in regard to the voters of the
347  county in which the county clerk is an officer;
348  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
349  county in which the county clerk is an officer; and
350  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
351    (4)(a) An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
352        signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
353        on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
354        submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
355        be removed.
356        (b) A statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall comply with the requirements
357  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
358        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
359  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
360  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
361    (5) If the county clerks of the originating county and consolidating county each determine
362        that the petition meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(a), each county clerk shall
363        ensure that the petition is submitted to the voters of the respective counties as described
364        in Subsection (6).
365    (6)(a) If a petition under Subsection (1) is presented in a year during which a regular
366        general election is held, the county legislative body of the originating county and the
367        county legislative body of the consolidating county shall cause the proposition to be
                                                     - 11 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
368  submitted to the legal voters of the respective counties at the next regular general
369  election.
370  (b) If a petition under Subsection (1) is presented during a year in which there is no
371  regular general election, the county legislative body of the originating county and the
372  county legislative body of the consolidating county shall:
373  (i) call a special election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
374  November following the presentation of the petition; and
375  (ii) cause the proposition to be submitted to the voters of the respective counties
376  during the special election.
377  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this part, an election under this Subsection (6) shall
378  be held, the results canvassed, and returns made under the provisions of the general
379  election laws of the state.
380     (d) The ballot language to be used at an election under this Subsection (6) shall be:
381  For combining ____ county with ____ county.
382  Against combining ____ county with ____ county.
383  Section 6. Section 17-61-301 is amended to read:
384  17-61-301 (Effective 05/25/26). Annexation of portion of county to adjoining
385     county -- Petition -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature --
386     Election -- Ballot.
387     (1)(a) Except as provided in Section 17-61-306, a voter who desires to have initiating
388  county territory in which the voter resides included within the boundary of an
389  adjoining county, the voter may petition the county legislative body of the initiating
390  county and the county legislative body of the annexing county.
391  (b) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
392  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
393  page:
394  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
395  RECORDS
396  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
397  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
398  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
399     (2) A petition under Subsection (1) shall be:
400  (a) signed by a majority of the voters living in the portion of the initiating county
401  proposed to be included within the boundaries of an annexing county; and
                                                         - 12 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
402        (b) presented before the first Monday in June of a year during which a general election is
403  held.
404    (3)(a) Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
405        receives a petition under Subsection (1), the county legislative body shall provide the
406        petition to the county clerk.
407        (b) Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk of an initiating county receives
408  a petition from the county legislative body under Subsection (3)(a), the county clerk
409  shall:
410  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
411  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (2);
412  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a voter in the portion of the
413  initiating county that is proposed to be annexed; and
414  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
415    (4)(a) An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
416        signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
417        on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
418        submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
419        be removed.
420        (b) A statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall comply with the requirements
421  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
422        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
423  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
424  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
425    (5)(a) If the county clerk of the initiating county determines that the petition meets the
426        requirements of Subsection (2), the county clerk of the initiating county and the
427        county clerk of the annexing county shall ensure the petition is submitted to the
428        voters of the respective counties at the next regular general election as described in
429        this Subsection (5).
430        (b) Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be held, the results canvassed, and
431  returns made under the provisions of the general election laws of the state.
432    (c) The ballot language to be used in an election held under this Subsection (5) shall be:
433  For annexing a portion of ____ county to ____ county.
434  Against annexing a portion of ____ county to ____ county.
435  Section 7. Section 17-61-401 is amended to read:
                                                     - 13 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
436  17-61-401 (Effective 05/25/26). Creating a new county -- Petition -- Certification
437     of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Election -- Ballots.
438     (1)(a) Whenever a voter desires to have the territory within which the voter resides
439  created into a new county, the voter may file a petition for the creation of a new
440  county with the county legislative body of the seceding county in which the voter
441  resides as described in this section.[ ]
442  (b) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
443  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
444  page:
445  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
446  RECORDS
447  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
448  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
449  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
450     (2)(a) The petition described in Subsection (1) shall:
451  (i) propose the name and define the boundaries of the new county; and
452  (ii) be signed:
453  (A) by at least one-fourth of the voters residing in the portion of the seceding
454  county proposed to be created into a new county; and
455  (B) by no less than one-fourth of the voters residing in the remaining portion of
456  the seceding county.
457  (b)     If a petition proposes to take territory from more than one seceding county, the
458  requirements of Subsection (2)(a)(ii) apply to each seceding county affected by the
459  petition.
460     (3) A voter shall file a petition for the creation of a new county on or before the first
461  Monday in May of any year with the county legislative body of the seceding county.
462     (4)(a) Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
463  receives a petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the county
464  clerk.
465  (b) Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
466  county legislative body under Subsection (4)(a), the county clerk shall:
467  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
468  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (2);
469  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
                                                         - 14 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
470  seceding county; and
471  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
472    (5)(a) An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
473        signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
474        on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
475        submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
476        be removed.
477        (b) A statement described in Subsection (5)(a) shall comply with the requirements
478  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
479        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
480  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
481  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
482    (6) The seceding county legislative body shall cause the proposition to be submitted to the
483        voters residing in the seceding county at a special election to be held according to the
484        dates established in Section 20A-1-204, first causing 30 days' notice of the election to be
485        given in the manner provided by law for giving notice of general elections.
486    (7) The county clerk shall ensure that the special election is held, the result canvassed, and
487        returns made under the provisions of the general election laws.
488    (8) The form of ballot to be used at the special election shall be:
489  For the creation of (supplying the name proposed) county.
490  Against the creation of (supplying the name proposed) county.
491    (9)(a) Subject to Subsection (9)(b), the expenses of any special election described in this
492        section shall be paid out of the general fund of the seceding county.
493        (b) If the voters approve the creation of the new county, the new county shall reimburse
494  the seceding county for half of the cost of the special election within one year of the
495  effective date of the new county from the general fund of the new county.
496  Section 8. Section 17-62-303 is amended to read:
497  17-62-303 (Effective 05/25/26). Registered voter initiation of adoption of optional
498    plan -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Procedure.
499    (1)(a) Registered voters of a county may initiate the process of adopting an optional plan
500        by filing with the county clerk a notice of intent to gather signatures for a petition:
501  (i) for the establishment of a study committee described in Section 17-62-402; or
502  (ii) to adopt an optional plan that:
503  (A) accompanies the petition during the signature gathering process and
                                                      - 15 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
504  accompanies the petition in the submission to the county clerk under
505  Subsection (2)(b); and
506  (B) complies with the requirements described in Sections 17-62-403 and
507  17-62-404.
508  (b) A notice of intent described in Subsection (1)(a) shall:
509  (i) designate five sponsors for the petition;
510  (ii) designate a contact sponsor to serve as the primary contact for the petition
511  sponsors;
512  (iii) list the mailing address and telephone number of each of the sponsors; and
513  (iv) be signed by each of the petition sponsors.
514  (c) Registered voters of a county may not file a notice of intent to gather signatures in
515  bad faith.
516  (d) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
517  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
518  page:
519  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
520  RECORDS
521  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
522  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
523  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
524     (2)(a) The sponsors of a petition may circulate the petition after filing a notice of intent
525  to gather signatures under Subsection (1).
526  (b)(i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), the petition is valid if the petition
527  contains the number of legal signatures required under Subsection 20A-7-501(2).
528  (ii) For a county of the fifth or sixth class, the petition is valid if the petition contains
529  at least the number of legal signatures equal to 30% of the number of active
530  voters, as defined in Section 20A-7-501, in the county.
531  (iii) The county clerk may not count a signature that was collected for the petition
532  before the petition sponsors filed a notice of intent under Subsection (1)(a).
533  (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual may not sign a petition
534  circulated under this section by electronic signature as defined in Section
535  20A-1-202.
536  (c) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), the sponsors of the petition shall submit
537  the completed petition and any amended or supplemental petition described in
                                                        - 16 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
538  Subsection (4) with the county clerk not more than 180 days after the day on which
539  the sponsors file the notice described in Subsection (1).
540        (d)(i) Within 30 days after the day on which the sponsors submit a petition, the
541  sponsors shall submit financial disclosures to the county clerk that include:
542  (A) a list of each contribution received by the sponsors and the name of the donor;
543  and
544  (B) a list of each expenditure for purposes of furthering or sponsoring the petition
545  and the recipient of each expenditure.
546  (ii) The county clerk shall publish the financial disclosures described in Subsection
547  (2)(d)(i).
548  (iii) All sponsors of a petition shall date and sign each list described in Subsection
549  (2)(d)(i).
550    (3) Within 30 days after the day on which the sponsors submit a petition under Subsection
551        (2)(c) or an amended or supplemental petition under Subsection (4), the county clerk
552        shall:
553        (a)(i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether a
554  signer is a registered voter; and
555  (ii) determine whether the petition or amended or supplemental petition has been
556  signed by the required number of registered voters;
557        (b)(i) if the petition was signed by a sufficient number of registered voters:
558  (A) certify the petition;
559  (B) deliver the petition to the county legislative body and county executive; and
560  (C) notify the contact sponsor in writing of the certification; or
561  (ii) if the petition was not signed by a sufficient number of registered voters:
562  (A) reject the petition; and
563  (B) notify the county legislative body and the contact sponsor in writing of the
564  rejection and the reasons for the rejection; and
565        (c) for a petition described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), no later than 10 days after the day on
566  which the county clerk certifies the petition under Subsection (3)(b)(i), the county
567  clerk shall send a copy of the optional plan that accompanied the petition to the
568  county attorney for review in accordance with Section 17-62-405.
569    (4) The sponsors of a petition circulated under this section may submit supplemental
570        signatures for the petition:
571        (a) if the county clerk rejects the petition under Subsection (3)(b)(ii); and
                                                     - 17 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
572  (b) before the earlier of:
573  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (2)(c); or
574  (ii) 20 days after the day on which the county clerk rejects the petition under
575  Subsection (3)(b)(ii).
576     (5) With the unanimous approval of petition sponsors, a petition filed under this section
577  may be withdrawn at any time within 90 days after the day on which the county clerk
578  certifies the petition under Subsection (3)(b)(i) and no later than 45 days before an
579  election under Section 17-62-501 if the petition included a notification to petition
580  signers, in conspicuous language and in a conspicuous location, that the petition
581  sponsors are authorized to withdraw the petition.
582     (6)(a) A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
583  removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
584  which the sponsors submit the petition to the county clerk, submitting to the county
585  clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
586  (b) A statement described in Subsection (6)(a) shall comply with the requirements
587  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
588  (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
589  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
590  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
591  Section 9. Section 17-62-505 is amended to read:
592  17-62-505 (Effective 05/25/26). Repeal of optional plan -- Certification of petition
593     signatures -- Removal of signature.
594     (1) An optional plan that the voters in an election adopt under this chapter may be repealed
595  as provided in this section.
596     (2) Registered voters of a county that has adopted an optional plan may initiate the process
597  of repealing an optional plan by filing a petition for the repeal of the optional plan.
598     (3)(a) Registered voters of a county may not file a petition to repeal an optional plan
599  sooner than four years or more than five years after the election of county officers
600  under Section 17-62-503.
601  (b)(i) If the registered voters file a petition to repeal an optional plan under this
602  section, the petition is certified, and the optional plan is not repealed at an election
603  described in Subsection (9), the voters may not circulate or file a subsequent
604  petition to repeal until at least four, and not more than five, years after the
605  certification of the original petition.
                                                             - 18 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
606  (ii) If, after four years, the voters file a subsequent petition under Subsection (3)(b)(i),
607  the voters:
608  (A) may not circulate or file another petition to repeal until at least four, and not
609  more than five, years after certification of the subsequent petition; and
610  (B) shall wait an additional four, and not more than five, years after the date of
611  certification of the previous petition for each petition filed thereafter.
612    (4) A petition described in Subsection (2) shall:
613        (a) be signed by registered voters residing in the county:
614  (i) equal in number to at least 15% of the total number of votes cast in each precinct
615  described in Subsection (4)(a)(ii) for all candidates for president of the United
616  States at the most recent election in which a president of the United States was
617  elected; and
618  (ii) who represent at least 85% of the voting precincts located within the county;
619        (b) designate up to five of the petition signers as sponsors, designating one petition
620  signer as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each;[
621  and]
622        (c) include the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the same
623  size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
624  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
625  RECORDS
626  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
627  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
628  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."; and
629        [(c)] (d) be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the petition signers
630  reside.
631    (5) Within 30 days after the filing of a petition under Subsection (2) or an amended petition
632        under Subsection (6), the county clerk shall:
633        (a)(i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether a
634  signer is a registered voter; and
635  (ii) determine whether the required number of voters have signed the petition or
636  amended petition has been signed by the required number of registered voters; and
637        (b)(i) if a sufficient number of voters have signed the petition, certify the petition or
638  amended petition and deliver it to the county legislative body, and notify in
639  writing the contact sponsor of the certification; or
                                                       - 19 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
640  (ii) if a sufficient number of voters have not signed the petition, reject the petition or
641  the amended petition and notify the county legislative body and the contact
642  sponsor in writing of the rejection and the reasons for the rejection.
643     (6) If a county clerk rejects a petition or an amended petition under Subsection (5)(b)(ii),
644  the petition may be amended or an amended petition may be further amended with
645  additional signatures and refiled within 20 days of the date of rejection.
646     (7)(a) A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
647  removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
648  which the sponsors file the petition in the office of the county clerk, submitting to the
649  county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
650  (b) A statement described in Subsection (7)(a) shall comply with the requirements
651  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
652  (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
653  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
654  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
655     (8) If a county clerk certifies a petition under Subsection (2), the county legislative body
656  shall hold an election on the proposal to repeal the optional plan at the next regular
657  general election that is at least 60 days after the day on which the county clerk certifies
658  the petition.
659     (9) If, at an election held under Subsection (8), a majority of voters voting on the proposal
660  to repeal the optional plan vote in favor of repealing:
661  (a) the optional plan is repealed, effective January 1 of the year following the election of
662  county officers under Subsection (9)(c);
663  (b) upon the effective date of the repeal under Subsection (9)(a), the form of government
664  under which the county operates reverts to the form it had before the optional plan
665  was adopted; and
666  (c) the county officers under the form of government to which the county reverts, who
667  are different than the county officers under the repealed optional plan, shall be
668  elected at the next regular general election following the election under Subsection (8).
669  Section 10. Section 17B-1-205 is amended to read:
670  17B-1-205 (Effective 05/25/26). Petition and request requirements -- Removal or
671     reinstatement of signature.
672     (1) Each petition and request shall:
673  (a) indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each property
                                                        - 20 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
674  owner, groundwater right owner, or registered voter signing the petition;
675        (b)(i) if it is a property owner request or petition, indicate the address of the property
676  as to which the owner is signing the request or petition; or
677  (ii) if it is a groundwater right owner request or petition, indicate the location of the
678  diversion of the groundwater as to which the owner is signing the groundwater
679  right owner request or petition;
680        (c) describe the entire area of the proposed special district;
681        (d) be accompanied by a map showing the boundaries of the entire proposed special
682  district;
683        (e) specify the service proposed to be provided by the proposed special district;
684        (f) if the petition or request proposes the creation of a specialized special district, specify
685  the type of specialized special district proposed to be created;
686        (g) for a proposed basic special district:
687  (i) state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
688  whether some members will be elected and some appointed, as provided in
689  Section 17B-1-1402;
690  (ii) if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
691  member will be elected; and
692  (iii) if applicable, explain how the election or appointment of board members will
693  transition from one method to another based on stated milestones or events, as
694  provided in Section 17B-1-1402;
695        (h) for a proposed improvement district whose remaining area members or county
696  members, as those terms are defined in Section 17B-2a-404, are to be elected, state
697  that those members will be elected;
698        (i) for a proposed service area that is entirely within the unincorporated area of a single
699  county, state whether the initial board of trustees will be:
700  (i) the county legislative body;
701  (ii) appointed as provided in Section 17B-1-304; or
702  (iii) elected as provided in Section 17B-1-306;
703        (j) designate up to five signers of the petition or request as sponsors, one of whom shall
704  be designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number
705  of each;
706        (k) if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
707  the creation of a special district to acquire a groundwater right under Section
                                                        - 21 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
708  17B-1-202, explain the anticipated method:
709  (i) of paying for the groundwater right acquisition; and
710  (ii) of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water;
711  (l) if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
712  the creation of a special district to assess a groundwater right under Section
713  17B-1-202, explain the anticipated method:
714  (i) of assessing the groundwater right and securing payment of the assessment; and
715  (ii) of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water; and
716  (m) for a proposed infrastructure financing district:
717  (i) state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
718  whether some members will be elected and some appointed;
719  (ii) if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
720  member will be elected;
721  (iii) explain how appointed board member positions will transition to elected board
722  member positions based on stated milestones or events, as provided in Section
723  17B-2a-1303;
724  (iv) state whether divisions will be established within the boundary of the
725  infrastructure financing district so that some or all board members represent a
726  division rather than the district at large and, if so, describe the boundary of each
727  division; and
728  (v) if applicable, be accompanied by the governing document prepared according to
729  Section 17B-2a-1303.
730     (2) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
731  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
732  page:
733  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
734  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
735  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
736  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
737     [(2)] (3)(a) Subject to Subsection [(2)(b)] (3)(b), a signer of a request or petition may
738  remove or, once removed, reinstate the signer's signature at any time before the filing
739  of the request or petition by filing a written statement for removal or reinstatement
740  with:
741  (i) in the case of a request:
                                                      - 22 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
742  (A) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
743  applicable area the signer's property is located, if the request is a property
744  owner request;
745  (B) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
746  applicable area the signer's groundwater diversion point is located, if the
747  request is a groundwater right owner request; or
748  (C) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
749  applicable area the signer resides, if the request is a registered voter request; or
750  (ii) in the case of a petition, the responsible clerk.
751        (b) The time for a signer of a petition for the creation of an infrastructure financing
752  district to remove or reinstate the signer's signature is any time before the petition is
753  certified under Section 17B-1-209.
754    [(3)] (4)(a) A clerk of the county who receives a timely, valid written statement for
755        removal or reinstatement from a signer of a registered voter request or registered
756        voter petition shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
757        determine whether to remove or reinstate the individual's signature.
758        (b) If a municipal clerk or recorder receives a timely, valid written statement for removal
759  or reinstatement from a signer of a registered voter request or registered voter
760  petition, the clerk of the municipality's county shall assist the municipal clerk or
761  recorder with determining whether to remove or reinstate the individual's signature
762  using the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3).
763  Section 11. Section 17B-1-506 is amended to read:
764  17B-1-506 (Effective 05/25/26). Withdrawal petition requirements -- Removal or
765    reinstatement of signature.
766    (1) Each petition under Section 17B-1-504 shall:
767        (a) indicate the typed or printed name and current address of each owner of acre-feet of
768  water, property owner, registered voter, or authorized representative of the governing
769  body signing the petition;
770        (b) separately group signatures by municipality and, in the case of unincorporated areas,
771  by county;
772        (c) if it is a petition signed by the owners of land, the assessment of which is based on
773  acre-feet of water, indicate the address of the property and the property tax
774  identification parcel number of the property as to which the owner is signing the
775  request;
                                                       - 23 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
776  (d) designate up to three signers of the petition as sponsors, or in the case of a petition
777  filed under Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv), designate a governmental representative
778  as a sponsor, and in each case, designate one sponsor as the contact sponsor with the
779  mailing address and telephone number of each;
780  (e) state the reasons for withdrawal;[ and]
781  (f) when the petition is filed with the special district board of trustees, be accompanied
782  by a map generally depicting the boundaries of the area proposed to be withdrawn
783  and a legal description of the area proposed to be withdrawn[.] ; and
784  (g) include the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the same
785  size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
786  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
787  RECORDS
788  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
789  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
790  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
791     (2)(a) The special district may prepare an itemized list of expenses, other than attorney
792  expenses, that will necessarily be incurred by the special district in the withdrawal
793  proceeding. The itemized list of expenses may be submitted to the contact sponsor.
794  If the list of expenses is submitted to the contact sponsor within 21 days after receipt
795  of the petition, the contact sponsor on behalf of the petitioners shall be required to
796  pay the expenses to the special district within 90 days of receipt. Until funds to cover
797  the expenses are delivered to the special district, the district will have no obligation to
798  proceed with the withdrawal and the time limits on the district stated in this part will
799  be tolled. If the expenses are not paid within the 90 days, or within 90 days from the
800  conclusion of any arbitration under Subsection (2)(b), the petition requesting the
801  withdrawal shall be considered to have been withdrawn.
802  (b) If there is no agreement between the board of trustees of the special district and the
803  contact sponsor on the amount of expenses that will necessarily be incurred by the
804  special district in the withdrawal proceeding, either the board of trustees or the
805  contact sponsor may submit the matter to binding arbitration in accordance with Title
806  78B, Chapter 6, Part 2, Alternative Dispute Resolution Act[;] , provided that, if the
807  parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator and the rules and procedures that will control
808  the arbitration, either party may pursue arbitration under Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah
809  Uniform Arbitration Act.
                                                       - 24 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
810    (3)(a) A signer of a petition may remove or, once removed, reinstate the signer's
811        signature at any time before the public hearing under Section 17B-1-508 by
812        submitting a written statement requesting removal or reinstatement with the board of
813        trustees of the special district in which the area proposed to be withdrawn is located.
814        (b) A statement described in Subsection (3)(a) shall comply with the requirements
815  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
816        (c) As applicable and using the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the
817  county clerk shall assist the board of trustees to determine whether to remove or
818  reinstate a registered voter's signature after the voter submits a timely, valid statement
819  described in Subsection (3)(a).
820    (4) If it reasonably appears that, if the withdrawal which is the subject of a petition filed
821        under Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(i) or (ii) is granted, it will be necessary for a
822        municipality to provide to the withdrawn area the service previously supplied by the
823        special district, the board of trustees of the special district may, within 21 days after
824        receiving the petition, notify the contact sponsor in writing that, before it will be
825        considered by the board of trustees, the petition shall be presented to and approved by
826        the governing body of the municipality as provided in Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv)
827        before it will be considered by the special district board of trustees. If the notice is
828        timely given to the contact sponsor, the petition shall be considered to have been
829        withdrawn until the municipality files a petition with the special district under
830        Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv).
831    (5)(a) After receiving the notice required by Subsection 17B-1-504(2), unless
832        specifically allowed by law, a public entity may not make expenditures from public
833        funds to support or oppose the gathering of signatures on a petition for withdrawal.
834        (b) Nothing in this section prohibits a public entity from providing factual information
835  and analysis regarding a withdrawal petition to the public, so long as the information
836  grants equal access to both the opponents and proponents of the petition for
837  withdrawal.
838        (c) Nothing in this section prohibits a public official from speaking, campaigning,
839  contributing personal money, or otherwise exercising the public official's
840  constitutional rights.
841    (6) Subsections (2), (3), (4), and (5) do not apply to a petition seeking the withdrawal of an
842        area from an infrastructure financing district.
843  Section 12. Section 17B-1-1304 is amended to read:
                                                      - 25 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
844  17B-1-1304 (Effective 05/25/26). Petition requirements.
845     (1) Each petition under Subsection 17B-1-1303(1)(a) or (2) shall:
846  (a) indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each owner of
847  acre-feet of water, property owner, or registered voter signing the petition;
848  (b) if it is a petition signed by the owners of acre-feet of water or property owners,
849  indicate the address of the property as to which the owner is signing;
850  (c) designate up to three signers of the petition as sponsors, one of whom shall be
851  designated the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of
852  each; and
853  (d) be filed with the clerk.
854     (2) A signer of a petition to dissolve a special district may withdraw, or, once withdrawn,
855  reinstate the signer's signature at any time until 30 days after the public hearing under
856  Section 17B-1-1306.
857     (3) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
858  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
859  page:
860  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
861  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
862  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
863  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
864  Section 13. Section 17D-2-502 is amended to read:
865  17D-2-502 (Effective 05/25/26). Required process for issuance of local building
866     authority bonds -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature.
867     (1) A local building authority may not issue bonds unless the creating local entity's
868  governing body approves the issuance and terms of the bonds.
869     (2)(a) Before issuing bonds, the authority board of a local building authority shall give
870  public notice of the authority board's intent to issue bonds.
871  (b)(i) A local building authority may not issue bonds without the approval of the
872  creating local entity's voters if, within 30 days after the notice under Subsection
873  (2)(a) is given, a written petition requesting an election is filed with the local
874  building authority, signed by at least 20% of the active voters, as defined in
875  Section 20A-1-102, within the creating local entity.
876  (ii) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
877  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on
                                                        - 26 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
878  the page:
879  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
880  RECORDS
881  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you
882  signed may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an
883  at-risk voter with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private
884  record."
885  [(ii)] (iii) Each election under Subsection (2)(b)(i) shall be held as provided in Title
886  11, Chapter 14, Local Government Bonding Act, in the same manner as an
887  election for general obligation bonds issued by the creating local entity.
888    (3)(a) Within three business days after the day on which a local building authority
889        receives a petition under Subsection (2)(b)(i), the local building authority shall
890        provide the petition to the county clerk of the county in which the creating local
891        entity is located.
892        (b) Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
893  local building authority under Subsection (3)(a), the county clerk shall:
894  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
895  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (2)(b)(i);
896  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of an active voter within the
897  creating local entity; and
898  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the local building authority.
899    (4)(a) A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
900        removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
901        which the local building authority provides the petition to the county clerk,
902        submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
903        removed.
904        (b) A statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall comply with the requirements
905  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
906        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in [Section] Subsection
907  20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
908  petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
909  Section 14. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
910  20A-1-102 (Effective upon governor's approval). Definitions.
911       As used in this title:
                                                      - 27 -
      S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
912     (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive voter
913  by the county clerk.
914     (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines and
915  counts votes recorded on ballots and tabulates the results.
916     (3)(a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, including a paper, mechanical, or electronic
917  storage medium, that records an individual voter's vote.
918  (b) "Ballot" does not include a record to tally multiple votes.
919     (4) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters on
920  the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
921  (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
922  (b) a constitutional amendment;
923  (c) an initiative;
924  (d) a referendum;
925  (e) a bond proposition;
926  (f) a judicial retention question;
927  (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
928  (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
929     (5) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper together
930  using staples or another means in at least three places across the top of the paper in the
931  blank space reserved for securing the paper.
932     (6) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
933  20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
934     (7) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting the
935  proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
936     (8) "Business day" means a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday that is not
937  a holiday.
938     (9) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of charge by
939  the sender.
940     (10) "Calendar day" means any day, regardless of whether the day is a weekend, a holiday,
941  a business day, or any other type of day.
942     (11) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of election
943  results by the board of canvassers.
944     (12) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at the
945  canvass.
                                                        - 28 -
      Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
946    (13) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
947        interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
948    (14) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
949        delegates are selected.
950    (15) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
951        charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
952    (16) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during election
953        day.
954    (17) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room for use by the
955        poll workers and counting judges to count ballots.
956    (18) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be elected.
957    (19) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
958        (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day on which the election
959  occurs; and
960        (b) does not include:
961  (i) deadlines established for voting by mail, military-overseas voting, or emergency
962  voting; or
963  (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3a, Part 6,
964  Early Voting.
965    (20) "Elected official" means:
966        (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 or Chapter 4, Part 6,
967  Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project;
968        (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
969  Subsection 20A-1-206(1)(c)(ii); or
970        (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a special district office in accordance
971  with Subsection 20A-1-206(3)(b)(ii).
972    (21) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a statewide
973        special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal primary
974        election, and a special district election.
975    (22) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by the Help
976        America Vote Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252.
977    (23) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day on which individuals are
978        eligible to file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
979    (24) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
                                                        - 29 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
 980  (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
 981  (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
 982  (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
 983     (25) "Election material" includes:
 984  (a) the verification documentation described in Subsection 20A-3a-401(9)(b)(iv);
 985  (b) the list of voters contacted to cure a ballot described in Subsection 20A-3a-401(10)(b);
 986  (c) the record of rejected and resolved ballots described in Subsection 20A-3a-401(11)(a);
 987  (d) any chain of custody documentation described in Section 20A-3a-401.1, including:
 988  (i) the count of ballots described in Subsection 20A-3a-401.1(3); and
 989  (ii) the batch log described in Subsection 20A-3a-401.1(5);
 990  (e) the record of signature verification audits described in Subsection 20A-3a-402.5(4);
 991  (f) the affidavit of compliance described in Subsection 20A-3a-404(2);
 992  (g) the physical and electronic log of replicated ballots described in Subsection
 993  20A-4-104(3);
 994  (h) the physical or electronic log of adjudicated ballots described in Section 20A-5-802.5;
 995  (i) the record of voter database access described in Subsection 20A-5-905(2);
 996  (j) the reports on military and overseas voters described in Section 20A-16-202;
 997  (k) scanned copies of return envelopes;
 998  (l) a copy of the final election results database described in Section 20A-5-802.5; and
 999  (m) the materials used in the programming of the automatic tabulating equipment.
1000     (26) "Election officer" means:
1001  (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
1002  (b) the county clerk for:
1003  (i) a county ballot and election; and
1004  (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
1005  20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5;
1006  (c) the municipal clerk for:
1007  (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
1008  (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
1009  20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5;
1010  (d) the special district clerk or chief executive officer for:
1011  (i) a special district ballot and election; and
1012  (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
1013  20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5; or
                                                          - 30 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1014        (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
1015  (i) a school district ballot and election; and
1016  (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
1017  20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5.
1018    (27) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
1019    (28) "Election results" means:
1020        (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
1021  the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
1022        (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond proposition
1023  plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
1024    (29) "Election results database" means the following information generated by voting
1025        equipment:
1026        (a) one or more electronic files that contains a digital interpretation of each ballot that is
1027  counted in an election;
1028        (b) a ballot image; and
1029        (c) other information related to a ballot that is adjudicated under Section 20A-4-105.
1030    (30) "Election returns" means:
1031        (a) the pollbook;
1032        (b) the military and overseas absentee voter registration and voting certificates;
1033        (c) one of the tally sheets;
1034        (d) any unprocessed ballots;
1035        (e) all counted ballots;
1036        (f) all excess ballots;
1037        (g) all unused ballots;
1038        (h) all spoiled ballots;
1039        (i) all ballot disposition forms, including any provisional ballot disposition forms;
1040        (j) the final election results database described in Section 20A-5-802.5;
1041        (k) all return envelopes;
1042        (l) any provisional ballot envelopes; and
1043        (m) the total votes cast form.
1044    (31) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or
1045        logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to
1046        sign the record.
1047    (32) "Holiday" means a legal holiday described in Subsections 63G-1-301(1) and (2).
                                                       - 31 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1048     (33) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who is listed as inactive by a county clerk
1049  under Subsection 20A-2-505(4)(c)(i) or (ii).
1050     (34) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
1051     (35) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county court
1052  judge.
1053     (36) "Local election" means a regular county election, a regular municipal election, a
1054  municipal primary election, a local special election, a special district election, and a
1055  bond election.
1056     (37) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a special district, or a
1057  local school district.
1058     (38) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
1059  local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision
1060  may vote.
1061     (39) "Manual ballot" means a paper document produced by an election officer on which an
1062  individual records an individual's vote by directly placing a mark on the paper document
1063  using a pen or other marking instrument.
1064     (40) "Mechanical ballot" means a record, including a paper record, electronic record, or
1065  mechanical record, that:
1066  (a) is created via electronic or mechanical means; and
1067  (b) records an individual voter's vote cast via a method other than an individual directly
1068  placing a mark, using a pen or other marking instrument, to record an individual
1069  voter's vote.
1070     (41) "Municipal executive" means:
1071  (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102; or
1072  (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
1073  10-3b-103(6).
1074     (42) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and, as
1075  applicable, special districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of
1076  each odd-numbered year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202.
1077     (43) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
1078  municipal government.
1079     (44) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
1080     (45) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
1081  elected.
                                                       - 32 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1082    (46) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
1083        municipal office.
1084    (47) "Municipality" means a city or town.
1085    (48) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer for voters to
1086        record their votes.
1087    (49) "Official endorsement" means the information on the ballot that identifies:
1088        (a) the ballot as an official ballot;
1089        (b) the date of the election; and
1090        (c)(i) for a ballot prepared by an election officer other than a county clerk, the
1091  facsimile signature required by Subsection 20A-6-401(1)(a)(iii); or
1092  (ii) for a ballot prepared by a county clerk, the words required by Subsection
1093  20A-6-301(1)(b)(iii).
1094    (50) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
1095        election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401.
1096    (51) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
1097        participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party
1098        Formation and Procedures.
1099    (52)(a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
1100        election, voting, or counting votes.
1101        (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
1102        (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
1103    (53) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that the voters appear to
1104        cast votes.
1105    (54) "Polling place" means a building where voting is conducted.
1106    (55) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot in
1107        which the voter marks the voter's choice.
1108    (56) "Presidential Primary Election" means the election established in Chapter 9, Part 8,
1109        Presidential Primary Election.
1110    (57) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions held during the year of the
1111        regular general election.
1112    (58) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
1113        (a) is built into a voting machine; and
1114        (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
1115    (59) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
                                                      - 33 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1116  interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for the
1117  contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
1118  20A-5-400.1.
1119     (60) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
1120  (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
1121  (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
1122  (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
1123     (61) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form required by
1124  Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide information
1125  to verify a person's legal right to vote.
1126     (62)(a) "Public figure" means an individual who, due to the individual being considered
1127  for, holding, or having held a position of prominence in a public or private capacity,
1128  or due to the individual's celebrity status, has an increased risk to the individual's
1129  safety.
1130  [(b) "Public figure" does not include an individual:]
1131  [(i) elected to public office; or]
1132  [(ii) appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected public office.]
1133  (b) "Public figure" includes an individual who is elected to public office, appointed to
1134  fill a vacancy in an elected public office, or employed by a government entity if, in
1135  relation to the individual's service in public office or employment as an employee of
1136  a government entity, the individual has received a threat of harm to a person or
1137  property.
1138     (63) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
1139  duties of the position for which the individual was elected.
1140     (64) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the official
1141  register at a polling place and provides the voter with a ballot.
1142     (65) "Registration form" means a form by which an individual may register to vote under
1143  this title.
1144     (66) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
1145     (67) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
1146  Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the
1147  purposes established in Section 20A-1-201.
1148     (68) "Regular primary election" means the election, held on the date specified in Section
1149  20A-1-201.5, to nominate candidates of political parties and candidates for nonpartisan
                                                         - 34 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1150        local school board positions to advance to the regular general election.
1151    (69) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
1152    (70) "Return envelope" means the envelope, described in Subsection 20A-3a-202(4),
1153        provided to a voter with a manual ballot:
1154        (a) into which the voter places the manual ballot after the voter has voted the manual
1155  ballot in order to preserve the secrecy of the voter's vote; and
1156        (b) that includes the voter affidavit and a place for the voter's signature.
1157    (71) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot, published as
1158        provided in Section 20A-5-405.
1159    (72) "Special district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
1160        Local Government Entities - Special Districts, and includes a special service district
1161        under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
1162    (73) "Special district officers" means those special district board members who are required
1163        by law to be elected.
1164    (74) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-203.
1165    (75) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
1166        (a) is spoiled by the voter;
1167        (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
1168        (c) lacks the official endorsement.
1169    (76) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
1170        Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
1171    (77) "Tabulation system" means a device or system designed for the sole purpose of
1172        tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
1173    (78) "Ticket" means a list of:
1174        (a) political parties;
1175        (b) candidates for an office; or
1176        (c) ballot propositions.
1177    (79) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the counting
1178        center.
1179    (80) "Vacancy" means:
1180        (a) except as provided in Subsection (80)(b), the absence of an individual to serve in a
1181  position created by state constitution or state statute, whether that absence occurs
1182  because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or other cause; or
1183        (b) in relation to a candidate for a position created by state constitution or state statute,
                                                       - 35 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1184  the removal of a candidate due to the candidate's death, resignation, or
1185  disqualification.
1186     (81) "Valid voter identification" means:
1187  (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
1188  include:
1189  (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
1190  (ii) a currently valid identification card issued under Title 53, Chapter 3, Part 8,
1191  Identification Card Act;
1192  (iii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
1193  (A) the state; or
1194  (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
1195  (iv) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
1196  (v) a currently valid United States passport; or
1197  (vi) a currently valid United States military identification card;
1198  (b) one of the following identification cards, regardless of whether the card includes a
1199  photograph of the voter:
1200  (i) a valid tribal identification card;
1201  (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
1202  (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
1203  (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection (81)(a) or (b) but that bear the
1204  name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
1205  which may include:
1206  (i) before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a current utility bill, dated no more
1207  than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
1208  (ii) before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a bank or other financial account
1209  statement, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
1210  (iii) a certified birth certificate;
1211  (iv) a valid social security card;
1212  (v) an original or copy of a check issued by the state or the federal government, dated
1213  no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
1214  (vi) an original or copy of a paycheck from the voter's employer, dated no more than
1215  90 calendar days before the date of the election;
1216  (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
1217  (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
                                                            - 36 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1218  (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
1219  (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
1220  (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer [Card] card;
1221  (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
1222  (A) a local government within the state;
1223  (B) an employer for an employee; or
1224  (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within
1225  the state; or
1226  (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
1227    (82) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate
1228        by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
1229    (83) "Vote by mail" means to vote, using a manual ballot that is mailed to the voter, by:
1230        (a) mailing the ballot to the location designated in the mailing; or
1231        (b) depositing the ballot in a ballot drop box designated by the election officer.
1232    (84) "Voter" means an individual who:
1233        (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
1234        (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
1235        (c) is registered to vote; and
1236        (d) is listed in the official register.
1237    (85) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
1238        20A-2-102.5.
1239    (86) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting machines,
1240        and ballot box.
1241    (87) "Voting booth" means:
1242        (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
1243  of ballots, including the voting enclosure or curtain; or
1244        (b) a voting device that is free standing.
1245    (88) "Voting device" means any device provided by an election officer for a voter to vote a
1246        mechanical ballot.
1247    (89) "Voting precinct" means the smallest geographical voting unit, established under
1248        Chapter 5, Part 3, Duties of the County and Municipal Legislative Bodies.
1249    (90) "Watcher" means an individual who complies with the requirements described in
1250        Section 20A-3a-801 to become a watcher for an election.
1251    (91) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
                                                         - 37 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1252     (92) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for an individual, whose name is not printed on the
1253  ballot, in accordance with the procedures established in this title.
1254  Section 15. Section 20A-1-1004 is enacted to read:
1255  20A-1-1004 (Effective 05/25/26). Signing a petition -- Waiver of privacy status by
1256     at-risk voter.
1257     (1) As used in this section, "at-risk voter" means the same as that term is defined in Section
1258  20A-2-601.
1259     (2) Subject to Subsection (3), if an at-risk voter signs a petition, the voter's voter
1260  identification number and date of signature are subject to disclosure to the same extent,
1261  and in the same manner, as the voter identification number and date of signature of a
1262  voter who is not an at-risk voter who signs the petition.
1263     (3)(a) Subsection (2) applies only to the extent of a disclosure made in direct relation to
1264  the petition, including:
1265  (i) disclosing the voter identification number and date of signature of an at-risk voter
1266  who signed the petition;
1267  (ii) signature verification or certification for the petition; or
1268  (iii) removing a signature from the petition.
1269  (b) Except to the extent described in Subsection (3)(a), the voter registration record of an
1270  at-risk voter retains the classification as a private record.
1271  Section 16. Section 20A-2-101.1 is amended to read:
1272  20A-2-101.1 (Effective 04/06/26). Preregistering to vote.
1273     (1) An individual may preregister to vote if the individual:
1274  (a) is 16 or 17 years [of age] old;
1275  (b) is not eligible to register to vote because the individual does not comply with the age
1276  requirements described in Subsection 20A-2-101(1)(c);
1277  (c) is a citizen of the United States;
1278  (d) has been a resident of Utah for at least 30 calendar days; and
1279  (e) currently resides within the voting district or precinct in which the individual
1280  preregisters to vote.
1281     (2) An individual described in Subsection (1) may not vote in an election and is not
1282  registered to vote until:
1283  (a) the individual is otherwise eligible to register to vote because the individual complies
1284  with the age requirements described in Subsection 20A-2-101(1)(c); and
1285  (b) the county clerk registers the individual to vote under Subsection (4).
                                                           - 38 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1286    (3) An individual who preregisters to vote shall:
1287        (a) complete a voter registration form, including an indication that the individual is
1288  preregistering to vote; and
1289        (b) submit the voter registration form to a county clerk in person, by mail, or in any
1290  other manner authorized by this chapter for the submission of a voter registration
1291  form.
1292    (4)(a) A county clerk shall:
1293  (i) retain the voter registration form of an individual who meets the qualifications for
1294  preregistration and who submits a completed voter registration form to the county
1295  clerk under Subsection (3)(b);
1296  (ii) register the individual to vote in the next election in which the individual will be
1297  eligible to vote, before the voter registration deadline established in Section
1298  20A-2-102.5 for that election; and
1299  (iii) send a notice to the individual that:
1300  (A) informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been
1301  accepted as an application for preregistration;
1302  (B) informs the individual that the individual will be registered to vote in the next
1303  election in which the individual will be eligible to vote; and
1304  (C) indicates in which election the individual will be registered to vote.
1305        (b) An individual who the county clerk registers under Subsection (4)(a)(ii) is
1306  considered to have applied for voter registration on the earlier of:
1307  (i) the day of the voter registration deadline immediately preceding the election day
1308  on which the individual will be at least 18 years [of age] old; or
1309  (ii) the day on which the individual turns 18 years [of age] old.
1310        (c) A county clerk shall refer a voter registration form to the county attorney for
1311  investigation and possible prosecution if the clerk or the clerk's designee believes the
1312  individual is attempting to preregister to vote in an election in which the individual
1313  will not be legally entitled to vote.
1314    (5)(a) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall classify the voter registration
1315        record of an individual who preregisters to vote as a private record until the day on
1316        which the individual turns 18 years [of age] old.
1317        (b) [On] Subject to Subsection 63G-2-301(2)(l), and except as otherwise provided in
1318  Subsections 63G-2-302(1)(j) through (m), on the day on which the individual
1319  described in Subsection (5)(a) turns 18 years [of age] old, the lieutenant governor or
                                                        - 39 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1320  county clerk shall classify the individual's voter registration record as a public record[
1321  in accordance with Subsection 63G-2-301(2)(l)].
1322     (6) If an individual who is at least 18 years [of age] old erroneously indicates on the voter
1323  registration form that the individual is preregistering to vote, the county clerk shall
1324  consider the form as a voter registration form and shall process the form in accordance
1325  with this chapter.
1326  Section 17. Section 20A-2-104 is amended to read:
1327  20A-2-104 (Effective 04/06/26). Voter registration form -- Registered voter lists
1328     -- Fees for copies.
1329     [(1) As used in this section:]
1330  [(a) "Candidate for public office" means an individual:]
1331  [(i) who files a declaration of candidacy for a public office;]
1332  [(ii) who files a notice of intent to gather signatures under Section 20A-9-408; or]
1333  [(iii) employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an individual described in
1334  Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (ii) for political campaign purposes.]
1335  [(b) "Dating violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-7-402 and
1336  the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.]
1337  [(c) "Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-36-1 and
1338  the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.]
1339  [(d) "Hash Code" means a code generated by applying an algorithm to a set of data to
1340  produce a code that:]
1341  [(i) uniquely represents the set of data;]
1342  [(ii) is always the same if the same algorithm is applied to the same set of data; and]
1343  [(iii) cannot be reversed to reveal the data applied to the algorithm.]
1344  [(e) "Protected individual" means an individual:]
1345  [(i) who submits a withholding request form with the individual's voter registration
1346  record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the individual indicates
1347  on the form that the individual, or an individual who resides with the individual, is
1348  a victim of domestic violence or dating violence or is likely to be a victim of
1349  domestic violence or dating violence;]
1350  [(ii) who submits a withholding request form with the individual's voter registration
1351  record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the individual indicates
1352  on the form and provides verification that the individual, or an individual who
1353  resides with the individual, is a law enforcement officer, a member of the armed
                                                         - 40 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1354  forces as defined in Section 20A-1-513, a public figure, or protected by a
1355  protective order or protection order; or]
1356  [(iii) whose voter registration record was classified as a private record at the request
1357  of the individual before May 12, 2020.]
1358    [(2)] (1)(a) An individual applying for voter registration, or an individual preregistering
1359        to vote, shall complete a voter registration form in substantially the following form:
1360    (i) the first part of the form shall include the following:
1361  "---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1362  UTAH ELECTION REGISTRATION FORM
1363  Are you a citizen of the United States of America?  Yes      No
1364  If you checked "no" to the above question, do not complete this form.
1365  Will you be 18 years [of age] old on or before election day?  Yes      No
1366  If you checked "no" to the above question, are you 16 or 17 years [of age] old and
1367        preregistering to vote?  Yes       No
1368  If you checked "no" to both of the prior two questions, do not complete this form.
1369  Name of Voter
1370        _________________________________________________________________
1371  First  Middle  Last
1372  Utah Driver License or Utah Identification Card
1373        Number____________________________
1374  Date of Birth ______________________________________________________
1375  Street Address of Principal Place of Residence
1376  ____________________________________________________________________________
1377  City  County  State  Zip Code
1378  Telephone Number (optional) _________________________
1379  Email Address (optional) _____________________________________________";
1380  (ii) beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the form
1381  described in Subsection (1)(a)(i), the form shall include the following:
1382  "Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to
1383  the political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
1384  • The email address you provided above? Yes No
1385  • The phone number you provided above? Yes No"; and
1386    (iii) following the portions of the form required under Subsections (1)(a)(i) and (ii), the form
1387        shall include the following:
                                                            - 41 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1388  "Last four digits of Social Security Number ______________________
1389  Last former address at which I was registered to vote (if
1390  known)__________________________
1391  ____________________________________________________________________________
1392  City  County  State  Zip Code
1393  Political Party
1394  (a listing of each registered political party, as defined in Section 20A-8-101 and
1395  maintained by the lieutenant governor under Section 67-1a-2, with each party's name preceded
1396  by a checkbox)
1397  ☐Unaffiliated (no political party preference)    ☐Other (Please
1398  specify)___________________
1399  I do swear (or affirm), subject to penalty of law for false statements, that the information
1400  contained in this form is true, and that I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
1401  state of Utah, residing at the above address. Unless I have indicated above that I am
1402  preregistering to vote in a later election, I will be at least 18 years [of age] old and will have
1403  resided in Utah for 30 calendar days immediately before the next election. I am not a
1404  convicted felon currently incarcerated for commission of a felony.
1405  Signed and sworn
1406  __________________________________________________________
1407  Voter's Signature
1408  _______________(month/day/year).
1409  PRIVACY INFORMATION
1410  Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
1411  as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
1412  identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
1413  government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
1414  authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
1415  political party with which you choose to affiliate.
1416  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
1417  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
1418  record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
1419  • an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
1420  violence;
1421  • a law enforcement officer;
                                                          - 42 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1422        • a member of the armed forces;
1423        • a public figure; or
1424        • an individual who is protected by a court order.
1425        To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
1426        submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
1427        You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
1428        the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor].
1429        [Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
1430        your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
1431        some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
1432        requirements of law.
1433  Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
1434        address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
1435        year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
1436        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
1437  You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
1438        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
1439        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
1440  _____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
1441        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
1442        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
1443  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
1444  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
1445        information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
1446        for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
1447        withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
1448        paragraphs.
1449  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
1450        records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
1451        contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
1452        registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
1453        to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
1454        violence.
1455  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
                                                        - 43 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1456  records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
1457  contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
1458  required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
1459  if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
1460  armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order.]
1461  CITIZENSHIP AFFIDAVIT
1462  Name:
1463  Name at birth, if different:
1464  Place of birth:
1465  Date of birth:
1466  Date and place of naturalization (if applicable):
1467  I hereby swear and affirm, under penalties for voting fraud set forth below, that I am a
1468  citizen and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information above is true and
1469  correct.
1470  ____________________________
1471  Signature of Applicant
1472  In accordance with Section 20A-2-401, the penalty for willfully causing, procuring, or
1473  allowing yourself to be registered or preregistered to vote if you know you are not entitled to
1474  register or preregister to vote is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
1475  NOTICE: IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO VOTE, YOU MUST PRESENT VALID
1476  VOTER IDENTIFICATION TO THE POLL WORKER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
1477  REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.
1478  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
1479  Type of I.D. ____________________________
1480  Voting Precinct _________________________
1481  Voting I.D. Number _____________________
1482  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"
1483  (b) The voter registration form described in Subsection [(2)(a)] (1)(a) shall include:
1484     (i) a section in substantially the following form:
1485  "------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1486  BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
1487  Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
1488  communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above?  Yes  No
1489  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------";
                                                             - 44 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1490        and
1491    (ii) [no later than November 5, 2025, ]the following, immediately after the question described
1492        in Subsection [(2)(b)(i)] (1)(b)(i):
1493        "Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
1494        _____ Mail a ballot to me.
1495        _____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
1496        [(c)(i) Except as provided under Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the county clerk shall retain a
1497  copy of each voter registration form in a permanent countywide alphabetical file,
1498  which may be electronic or some other recognized system.]
1499  [(ii) The county clerk may transfer a superseded voter registration form to the
1500  Division of Archives and Records Service created under Section 63A-12-101.]
1501    [(3)(a) Each county clerk shall retain lists of currently registered voters.]
1502        [(b) The lieutenant governor shall maintain a list of registered voters in electronic form.]
1503        [(c) If there are any discrepancies between the two lists, the county clerk's list is the
1504  official list.]
1505        [(d) The lieutenant governor and the county clerks may charge the fees established under
1506  the authority of Subsection 63G-2-203(10) to individuals who wish to obtain a copy
1507  of the list of registered voters.]
1508    [(4)(a) As used in this Subsection (4), "qualified person" means:]
1509  [(i) a government official or government employee acting in the government official's
1510  or government employee's capacity as a government official or a government
1511  employee;]
1512  [(ii) a health care provider, as defined in Section 26B-8-501, or an agent, employee,
1513  or independent contractor of a health care provider;]
1514  [(iii) an insurance company, as defined in Section 67-4a-102, or an agent, employee,
1515  or independent contractor of an insurance company;]
1516  [(iv) a financial institution, as defined in Section 7-1-103, or an agent, employee, or
1517  independent contractor of a financial institution;]
1518  [(v) a political party, or an agent, employee, or independent contractor of a political
1519  party;]
1520  [(vi) a candidate for public office, or an employee, independent contractor, or
1521  volunteer of a candidate for public office;]
1522  [(vii) a person described in Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (vi) who, after obtaining a
1523  year of birth from the list of registered voters:]
                                                         - 45 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1524  [(A) provides the year of birth only to a person described in Subsections (4)(a)(i)
1525  through (vi);]
1526  [(B) verifies that the person described in Subsection (4)(a)(vii)(A) is a person
1527  described in Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (vi);]
1528  [(C) ensures, using industry standard security measures, that the year of birth may
1529  not be accessed by a person other than a person described in Subsections
1530  (4)(a)(i) through (vi);]
1531  [(D) verifies that each person described in Subsections (4)(a)(ii) through (iv) to
1532  whom the person provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth to
1533  verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by an individual or to
1534  confirm the identity of a person in order to prevent fraud, waste, or abuse;]
1535  [(E) verifies that each person described in Subsection (4)(a)(i) to whom the person
1536  provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth in the person's capacity
1537  as a government official or government employee; and]
1538  [(F) verifies that each person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) to whom the
1539  person provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth for a political
1540  purpose of the political party or candidate for public office; or]
1541  [(viii) a person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) who, after obtaining
1542  information under Subsection (4)(n) and (o):]
1543  [(A) provides the information only to another person described in Subsection
1544  (4)(a)(v) or (vi);]
1545  [(B) verifies that the other person described in Subsection (4)(a)(viii)(A) is a
1546  person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi);]
1547  [(C) ensures, using industry standard security measures, that the information may
1548  not be accessed by a person other than a person described in Subsection
1549  (4)(a)(v) or (vi); and]
1550  [(D) verifies that each person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) to whom
1551  the person provides the information will only use the information for a political
1552  purpose of the political party or candidate for public office.]
1553  [(b) Notwithstanding Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(j)(iv), and except as provided in
1554  Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(k) or (l), the lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall,
1555  when providing the list of registered voters to a qualified person under this section,
1556  include, with the list, the years of birth of the registered voters, if:]
1557  [(i) the lieutenant governor or a county clerk verifies the identity of the person and
                                                         - 46 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1558  that the person is a qualified person; and]
1559  [(ii) the qualified person signs a document that includes the following:]
1560  [(A) the name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the list of
1561  registered voters;]
1562  [(B) an indication of the type of qualified person that the person requesting the list
1563  claims to be;]
1564  [(C) a statement regarding the purpose for which the person desires to obtain the
1565  years of birth;]
1566  [(D) a list of the purposes for which the qualified person may use the year of birth
1567  of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered voters;]
1568  [(E) a statement that the year of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the
1569  list of registered voters may not be provided or used for a purpose other than a
1570  purpose described under Subsection (4)(b)(ii)(D);]
1571  [(F) a statement that if the person obtains the year of birth of a registered voter
1572  from the list of registered voters under false pretenses, or provides or uses the
1573  year of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered
1574  voters in a manner that is prohibited by law, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor
1575  and is subject to a civil fine;]
1576  [(G) an assertion from the person that the person will not provide or use the year
1577  of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered voters in
1578  a manner that is prohibited by law; and]
1579  [(H) notice that if the person makes a false statement in the document, the person
1580  is punishable by law under Section 76-8-504.]
1581        [(c) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk:]
1582  [(i) may not disclose the year of birth of a registered voter to a person that the
1583  lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes:]
1584  [(A) is not a qualified person or a person described in Subsection (4)(l); or]
1585  [(B) will provide or use the year of birth in a manner prohibited by law; and]
1586  [(ii) may not disclose information under Subsections (4)(n) or (o) to a person that the
1587  lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes:]
1588  [(A) is not a person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi); or]
1589  [(B) will provide or use the information in a manner prohibited by law.]
1590        [(d) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the voter registration
1591  form of a person, or information included in the person's voter registration form,
                                                       - 47 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1592  whose voter registration form is classified as private under Subsection (4)(h) to a
1593  person other than:]
1594  [(i) a government official or government employee acting in the government official's
1595  or government employee's capacity as a government official or government
1596  employee; or]
1597  [(ii) subject to Subsection (4)(e), a person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) for
1598  a political purpose.]
1599  [(e)(i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(e)(ii), when disclosing a record or
1600  information under Subsection (4)(d)(ii), the lieutenant governor or county clerk
1601  shall exclude the information described in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(j), other than
1602  the year of birth.]
1603  [(ii) If disclosing a record or information under Subsection (4)(d)(ii) in relation to the
1604  voter registration record of a protected individual, the lieutenant governor or
1605  county clerk shall comply with Subsections (4)(n) through (p).]
1606  [(f) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose a withholding request
1607  form, described in Subsections (7) and (8), submitted by an individual, or information
1608  obtained from that form, to a person other than a government official or government
1609  employee acting in the government official's or government employee's capacity as a
1610  government official or government employee.]
1611  [(g) A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the person:]
1612  [(i) obtains from the list of registered voters, under false pretenses, the year of birth
1613  of a registered voter or information described in Subsection (4)(n) or (o);]
1614  [(ii) uses or provides the year of birth of a registered voter, or information described
1615  in Subsection (4)(n) or (o), that is obtained from the list of registered voters in a
1616  manner that is not permitted by law;]
1617  [(iii) obtains a voter registration record described in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(k)
1618  under false pretenses;]
1619  [(iv) uses or provides information obtained from a voter registration record described
1620  in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(k) in a manner that is not permitted by law;]
1621  [(v) unlawfully discloses or obtains a voter registration record withheld under
1622  Subsection (7) or a withholding request form described in Subsections (7) and (8);
1623  or]
1624  [(vi) unlawfully discloses or obtains information from a voter registration record
1625  withheld under Subsection (7) or a withholding request form described in
                                                        - 48 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1626  Subsections (7) and (8).]
1627        [(h) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall classify the voter registration record
1628  of a voter as a private record if the voter:]
1629  [(i) submits a written application, created by the lieutenant governor, requesting that
1630  the voter's voter registration record be classified as private;]
1631  [(ii) requests on the voter's voter registration form that the voter's voter registration
1632  record be classified as a private record; or]
1633  [(iii) submits a withholding request form described in Subsection (7) and any
1634  required verification.]
1635        [(i) Except as provided in Subsections (4)(d)(ii) and (e)(ii), the lieutenant governor or a
1636  county clerk may not disclose to a person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) a
1637  voter registration record, or information obtained from a voter registration record, if
1638  the record is withheld under Subsection (7).]
1639        [(j) In addition to any criminal penalty that may be imposed under this section, the
1640  lieutenant governor may impose a civil fine against a person who violates a provision
1641  of this section, in an amount equal to the greater of:]
1642  [(i) the product of 30 and the square root of the total number of:]
1643  [(A) records obtained, provided, or used unlawfully, rounded to the nearest whole
1644  dollar; or]
1645  [(B) records from which information is obtained, provided, or used unlawfully,
1646  rounded to the nearest whole dollar; or]
1647  [(ii) $200.]
1648        [(k) A qualified person may not obtain, provide, or use the year of birth of a registered
1649  voter, if the year of birth is obtained from the list of registered voters or from a voter
1650  registration record, unless the person:]
1651  [(i) is a government official or government employee who obtains, provides, or uses
1652  the year of birth in the government official's or government employee's capacity
1653  as a government official or government employee;]
1654  [(ii) is a qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(ii), (iii), or (iv) and obtains or
1655  uses the year of birth only to verify the accuracy of personal information
1656  submitted by an individual or to confirm the identity of a person in order to
1657  prevent fraud, waste, or abuse;]
1658  [(iii) is a qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) and obtains,
1659  provides, or uses the year of birth for a political purpose of the political party or
                                                       - 49 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1660  candidate for public office; or]
1661  [(iv) is a qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(vii) and obtains, provides, or
1662  uses the year of birth to provide the year of birth to another qualified person to
1663  verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by an individual or to
1664  confirm the identity of a person in order to prevent fraud, waste, or abuse.]
1665  [(l) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may provide a year of birth to a member
1666  of the media, in relation to an individual designated by the member of the media, in
1667  order for the member of the media to verify the identity of the individual.]
1668  [(m) A person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) may not use or disclose
1669  information from a voter registration record for a purpose other than a political
1670  purpose.]
1671  [(n) Notwithstanding Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(k) or (l), the lieutenant governor or a
1672  county clerk shall, when providing the list of registered voters to a qualified person
1673  described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi), include, from the record of a voter whose
1674  record is withheld under Subsection (7), the information described in Subsection
1675  (4)(o), if:]
1676  [(i) the lieutenant governor or a county clerk verifies the identity of the person and
1677  that the person is a qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi); and]
1678  [(ii) the qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi) signs a document
1679  that includes the following:]
1680  [(A) the name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the list of
1681  registered voters;]
1682  [(B) an indication of the type of qualified person that the person requesting the list
1683  claims to be;]
1684  [(C) a statement regarding the purpose for which the person desires to obtain the
1685  information;]
1686  [(D) a list of the purposes for which the qualified person may use the information;]
1687  [(E) a statement that the information may not be provided or used for a purpose
1688  other than a purpose described under Subsection (4)(n)(ii)(D);]
1689  [(F) a statement that if the person obtains the information under false pretenses, or
1690  provides or uses the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, the
1691  person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and is subject to a civil fine;]
1692  [(G) an assertion from the person that the person will not provide or use the
1693  information in a manner that is prohibited by law; and]
                                                         - 50 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1694  [(H) notice that if the person makes a false statement in the document, the person
1695  is punishable by law under Section 76-8-504.]
1696        [(o) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(p), the information that the lieutenant
1697  governor or a county clerk is required to provide, under Subsection (4)(n), from the
1698  record of a protected individual is:]
1699  [(i) a single hash code, generated from a string of data that includes both the voter's
1700  voter identification number and residential address;]
1701  [(ii) the voter's residential address;]
1702  [(iii) the voter's mailing address, if different from the voter's residential address;]
1703  [(iv) the party affiliation of the voter;]
1704  [(v) the precinct number for the voter's residential address;]
1705  [(vi) the voter's voting history; and]
1706  [(vii) a designation of which age group, of the following age groups, the voter falls
1707  within:]
1708  [(A) 25 or younger;]
1709  [(B) 26 through 35;]
1710  [(C) 36 through 45;]
1711  [(D) 46 through 55;]
1712  [(E) 56 through 65;]
1713  [(F) 66 through 75; or]
1714  [(G) 76 or older.]
1715        [(p) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose:]
1716  [(i) information described in Subsection (4)(o) that, due to a small number of voters
1717  affiliated with a particular political party, or due to another reason, would likely
1718  reveal the identity of a voter if disclosed; or]
1719  [(ii) the address described in Subsection (4)(o)(iii) if the lieutenant governor or the
1720  county clerk determines that the nature of the address would directly reveal
1721  sensitive information about the voter.]
1722        [(q) A qualified person described in Subsection (4)(a)(v) or (vi), may not obtain,
1723  provide, or use the information described in Subsection (4)(n) or (o), except to the
1724  extent that the qualified person uses the information for a political purpose of a
1725  political party or candidate for public office.]
1726    [(5)] (2) When political parties not listed on the voter registration form qualify as registered
1727        political parties under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and Procedures, the
                                                          - 51 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1728  lieutenant governor shall inform the county clerks of the name of the new political party
1729  and direct the county clerks to ensure that the voter registration form is modified to
1730  include that political party.
1731     [(6)] (3) Upon receipt of a voter registration form from an applicant, the county clerk or the
1732  clerk's designee shall:
1733  (a) review each voter registration form for completeness and accuracy; and
1734  (b) if the county clerk believes, based upon a review of the form, that an individual may
1735  be seeking to register or preregister to vote who is not legally entitled to register or
1736  preregister to vote, refer the form to the county attorney for investigation and
1737  possible prosecution.
1738     [(7) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall withhold from a person, other than a
1739  person described in Subsection (4)(a)(i), the voter registration record, and information
1740  obtained from the voter registration record, of a protected individual.]
1741     [(8)(a) The lieutenant governor shall design and distribute a withholding request form
1742  for the purpose described in Subsections (1)(e)(i), (1)(e)(ii), (7), and this Subsection
1743  (8) to each election officer and to each agency that provides a voter registration form.]
1744  [(b) An individual described in Subsection (1)(e)(i) is not required to provide
1745  verification, other than the individual's attestation and signature on the withholding
1746  request form, that the individual, or an individual who resides with the individual, is a
1747  victim of domestic violence or dating violence or is likely to be a victim of domestic
1748  violence or dating violence.]
1749  [(c) The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall make
1750  rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
1751  establishing requirements for providing the verification described in Subsection
1752  (1)(e)(ii).]
1753     [(9) An election officer or an employee of an election officer may not encourage an
1754  individual to submit, or discourage an individual from submitting, a withholding request
1755  form.]
1756     [(10)(a) The lieutenant governor shall make and execute a plan to provide notice to
1757  registered voters who are protected individuals, that includes the following
1758  information:]
1759  [(i) that the voter's classification of the record as private remains in effect;]
1760  [(ii) that certain non-identifying information from the voter's voter registration record
1761  may, under certain circumstances, be released to political parties and candidates
                                                         - 52 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1762  for public office;]
1763  [(iii) that the voter's name, driver license or identification card number, social
1764  security number, email address, phone number, and the voter's day, month, and
1765  year of birth will remain private and will not be released to political parties or
1766  candidates for public office;]
1767  [(iv) that a county clerk will only release the information to political parties and
1768  candidates in a manner that does not associate the information with a particular
1769  voter; and]
1770  [(v) that a county clerk may, under certain circumstances, withhold other information
1771  that the county clerk determines would reveal identifying information about the
1772  voter.]
1773        [(b) The lieutenant governor may include in the notice described in this Subsection (10)
1774  a statement that a voter may obtain additional information on the lieutenant
1775  governor's website.]
1776        [(c) The plan described in Subsection (10)(a) may include providing the notice described
1777  in Subsection (10)(a) by:]
1778  [(i) publication on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section 63A-16-601;]
1779  [(ii) publication on the lieutenant governor's website or a county's website;]
1780  [(iii) posting the notice in public locations;]
1781  [(iv) publication in a newspaper;]
1782  [(v) sending notification to the voters by electronic means;]
1783  [(vi) sending notice by other methods used by government entities to communicate
1784  with citizens; or]
1785  [(vii) providing notice by any other method.]
1786        [(d) The lieutenant governor shall provide the notice included in a plan described in this
1787  Subsection (10) before June 16, 2023.]
1788  Section 18. Section 20A-2-108 is amended to read:
1789  20A-2-108 (Effective 04/06/26). Driver license or state identification card
1790    registration form -- Transmittal of information.
1791    (1) As used in this section, "qualifying form" means:
1792        (a) a driver license application form; or
1793        (b) a state identification card application form.
1794    (2) The lieutenant governor and the Driver License Division shall design each qualifying
1795        form to include:
                                                        - 53 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1796  (a)(i) the following question, which an applicant is required to answer: "Do you
1797  authorize the use of information in this form for voter registration purposes?
1798  YES____ NO____"; and
1799     (ii) [no later than November 5, 2025, ]the following:
1800  "Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
1801  _____ Mail a ballot to me.
1802  _____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person.";
1803     (b) the following statement:
1804  "PRIVACY INFORMATION
1805  Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
1806  as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
1807  identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
1808  government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
1809  authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
1810  political party with which you choose to affiliate.
1811  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
1812  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
1813  record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
1814  • an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
1815  violence;
1816  • a law enforcement officer;
1817  • a member of the armed forces;
1818  • a public figure; or
1819  • an individual who is protected by a court order.
1820  To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
1821  submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
1822  You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
1823  the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor]."; and
1824  [Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
1825  your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
1826  some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
1827  requirements of law.
1828  Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
1829  address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
                                                       - 54 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1830        year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
1831        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
1832  You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
1833        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
1834        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
1835  _____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
1836        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
1837        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
1838  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
1839  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
1840        information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
1841        for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
1842        withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
1843        paragraphs.
1844  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
1845        records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
1846        contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
1847        registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
1848        to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
1849        violence.
1850  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
1851        records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
1852        contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
1853        required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
1854        if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
1855        armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order."; and]
1856    (c) a section in substantially the following form:
1857        "------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1858  BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
1859        Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
1860        communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above?  Yes  No
1861        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------".
1862    (3) The lieutenant governor and the Driver License Division shall ensure that a qualifying
1863        form contains:
                                                            - 55 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1864  (a) a place for an individual to affirm the individual's citizenship, voting eligibility, and
1865  Utah residency, and that the information provided in the form is true;
1866  (b) a records disclosure that is similar to the records disclosure on a voter registration
1867  form described in Section 20A-2-104;
1868  (c) a statement that if an applicant declines to register or preregister to vote, the fact that
1869  the applicant has declined to register or preregister will remain confidential and will
1870  be used only for voter registration purposes;
1871  (d) a statement that if an applicant does register or preregister to vote, the office at which
1872  the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will
1873  be used only for voter registration purposes; and
1874  (e) if the applicant answers "yes" to the question described in Subsection [(2)(a)] (2)(a)(i),
1875  a space where an individual may, if desired:
1876  (i) indicate the individual's desired political affiliation from a listing of each
1877  registered political party, as defined in Section 20A-8-101;
1878  (ii) specify a political party that is not listed under Subsection (3)(e)(i) with which the
1879  individual desires to affiliate; or
1880  (iii) indicate that the individual does not wish to affiliate with a political party.
1881     The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
1882  Section 19. Section 20A-2-204 is amended to read:
1883  20A-2-204 (Effective 04/06/26). Registering to vote when applying for or
1884     renewing a driver license or other qualifying form.
1885     (1) As used in this section, "voter registration form" means, when an individual named on a
1886  qualifying form, as defined in Section 20A-2-108, answers "yes" to the question
1887  described in Subsection 20A-2-108(2)(a)(i), the information on the qualifying form that
1888  can be used for voter registration purposes.
1889     (2)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a citizen who is qualified to vote may
1890  register to vote, and a citizen who is qualified to preregister to vote may preregister to
1891  vote, by answering "yes" to the question described in Subsection 20A-2-108(2)(a)(i)
1892  and completing the voter registration form.
1893  (b) A citizen who is a program participant in the Safe at Home Program created in
1894  Section 77-38-602 is not eligible to register to vote as described in Subsection (2)(a),
1895  but is eligible to register to vote by any other means described in this part.
1896     (3) The Driver License Division shall:
1897  (a) assist an individual in completing the voter registration form unless the individual
                                                             - 56 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1898  refuses assistance;
1899        (b) electronically transmit each address change to the lieutenant governor on or before
1900  the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on which the
1901  division receives the address change; and
1902        (c) on or before the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on
1903  which the division receives a voter registration form, electronically transmit the form
1904  to the [Office of the Lieutenant Governor] lieutenant governor, including the
1905  following for the individual named on the form:
1906  (i) the name, date of birth, driver license or state identification card number, last four
1907  digits of the social security number, Utah residential address, place of birth, and
1908  signature;
1909  (ii) a mailing address, if different from the individual's Utah residential address;
1910  (iii) an email address and phone number, if available;
1911  (iv) the desired political affiliation, if indicated; and
1912  [(v) an indication of whether the individual requested that the individual's voter
1913  registration record be classified as a private record under Subsection
1914  20A-2-108(2)(b); and]
1915  [(vi)] (v) [a withholding] an at-risk designation request form described in [Subsections
1916  20A-2-104(7) and (8)] Section 20A-2-606 and any verification submitted with the
1917  form.
1918    (4) Upon receipt of an individual's voter registration form from the Driver License Division
1919        under Subsection (3), the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall:
1920        (a) enter the information into the statewide voter registration database; and
1921        (b) if the individual [requests on the individual's voter registration form that the
1922  individual's voter registration record be classified as a private record or the individual
1923  submits a withholding request form described in Subsections 20A-2-104(7) and (8)]
1924  submits an at-risk designation request form described in Section 20A-2-606 and any
1925  required verification, classify the individual's voter registration record as a private
1926  record.
1927    (5) The county clerk of an individual whose information is entered into the statewide voter
1928        registration database under Subsection (4) shall:
1929        (a) ensure that the individual meets the qualifications to be registered or preregistered to
1930  vote; and
1931        (b)(i) if the individual meets the qualifications to be registered to vote:
                                                       - 57 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
1932  (A) ensure that the individual is assigned to the proper voting precinct; and
1933  (B) send the individual the notice described in Section 20A-2-304; or
1934  (ii) if the individual meets the qualifications to be preregistered to vote, process the
1935  form in accordance with the requirements of Section 20A-2-101.1.
1936     (6)(a) When the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form
1937  under this section, the clerk shall:
1938  (i) comply with the applicable provisions of this Subsection (6); or
1939  (ii) if the individual is preregistering to vote, comply with Section 20A-2-101.1.
1940  (b) If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form under this
1941  section no later than 5 p.m. or, if submitting the form electronically, midnight, 11
1942  calendar days before the date of an election, the county clerk shall:
1943  (i) accept the voter registration form; and
1944  (ii) unless the individual is preregistering to vote:
1945  (A) enter the individual's name on the list of registered voters for the voting
1946  precinct in which the individual resides; and
1947  (B) notify the individual that the individual is registered to vote in the upcoming
1948  election; and
1949  (iii) if the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote, comply with Section
1950  20A-2-101.1.
1951  (c) If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form under this
1952  section after the deadline described in Subsection (6)(b), the county clerk shall,
1953  unless the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote:
1954  (i) accept the application for registration of the individual;
1955  (ii) process the voter registration form; and
1956  (iii) unless the individual is preregistering to vote, and except as provided in
1957  Subsection 20A-2-207(6), inform the individual that the individual will not be
1958  registered to vote in the pending election, unless the individual registers to vote by
1959  provisional ballot during the early voting period, if applicable, or on election day,
1960  in accordance with Section 20A-2-207.
1961     (7)(a) If the county clerk determines that an individual's voter registration form received
1962  from the Driver License Division is incorrect because of an error, because the form is
1963  incomplete, or because the individual does not meet the qualifications to be registered
1964  to vote, the county clerk shall mail notice to the individual stating that the individual
1965  has not been registered or preregistered because of an error, because the registration
                                                        - 58 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
1966        form is incomplete, or because the individual does not meet the qualifications to be
1967        registered to vote.
1968        (b) If a county clerk believes, based upon a review of a voter registration form, that an
1969  individual, who knows that the individual is not legally entitled to register or
1970  preregister to vote, may be intentionally seeking to register or preregister to vote, the
1971  county clerk shall refer the form to the county attorney for investigation and possible
1972  prosecution.
1973  Section 20. Section 20A-2-206 is amended to read:
1974  20A-2-206 (Effective 04/06/26). Electronic registration -- Requesting to receive a
1975    ballot by mail.
1976    (1) The lieutenant governor shall create and maintain an electronic system that is publicly
1977        available on the [Internet] internet for an individual to:
1978        (a) apply for voter registration or preregistration; or
1979        (b) beginning no later than July 1, 2025, request to receive a ballot by mail.
1980    (2) The electronic system described in Subsection (1) shall require, to register to vote, the
1981        applicant to:
1982        (a) enter the applicant's name, address, date of birth, driver license number or state
1983  identification card number, and any other information determined to be necessary by
1984  the lieutenant governor;
1985        (b) provide the information required by Section 20A-2-104, except that the applicant's
1986  signature may be obtained in the manner described in Subsections (2)(d) and (5);
1987        (c) attest to the truth of the information provided; and
1988        (d) authorize the lieutenant governor's and county clerk's use of the applicant's:
1989  (i) driver license or identification card signature, obtained under Title 53, Chapter 3,
1990  Uniform Driver License Act, for voter registration or preregistration purposes; or
1991  (ii) signature on file in the lieutenant governor's statewide voter registration database
1992  developed under Section 20A-2-502, for voter registration or preregistration
1993  purposes.
1994    (3) Notwithstanding Section 20A-2-104, an applicant using the electronic system described
1995        in Subsection (1) is not required to complete a printed registration form.
1996    (4) A system created and maintained under this section shall provide to an individual who is
1997        registering to vote the notices concerning a voter's presentation of identification
1998        described in Subsection [20A-2-104(2)] 20A-2-104(1).
1999    (5) The lieutenant governor shall, in relation to an individual who is registering to vote:
                                                       - 59 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2000  (a) obtain a digital copy of the applicant's driver license signature or identification card
2001  signature from the Driver License Division; or
2002  (b) ensure that the applicant's signature is on file in the lieutenant governor's statewide
2003  voter registration database developed under Section 20A-2-502.
2004     (6) The lieutenant governor shall send the information described in Subsections (2) and (5)
2005  to the county clerk for the county in which the applicant's principal place of residence is
2006  found for further action as required by Section 20A-2-304 after:
2007  (a) receiving all information from an applicant;[ and]
2008  (b)[(i)] receiving all information from the Driver License Division, if applicable; and
2009  [(ii)] (c) ensuring that the applicant's signature is on file in the lieutenant governor's
2010  statewide voter registration database developed under Section 20A-2-502.
2011     (7) The lieutenant governor may use additional security measures to ensure the accuracy
2012  and integrity of information submitted electronically under this section.
2013     (8) If an individual applies to register under this section no later than 11 calendar days
2014  before the date of an election, the county clerk shall:
2015  (a) accept and process the voter registration form;
2016  (b) unless the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote:
2017  (i) enter the applicant's name on the list of registered voters for the voting precinct in
2018  which the applicant resides; and
2019  (ii) notify the individual that the individual is registered to vote in the upcoming
2020  election; and
2021  (c) if the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote, comply with Section
2022  20A-2-101.1.
2023     (9) If an individual applies to register under this section after the deadline described in
2024  Subsection (8), the county clerk shall, unless the individual is preregistering to vote:
2025  (a) accept the application for registration; and
2026  (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-2-207(6), if possible, promptly inform the
2027  individual that the individual will not be registered to vote in the pending election,
2028  unless the individual registers to vote by provisional ballot during the early voting
2029  period, if applicable, on election day, in accordance with Section 20A-2-207.
2030     (10) The lieutenant governor shall provide a means by which a registered voter shall sign
2031  the application form.
2032     (11) For an individual who is registering to vote or is already registered to vote, the electronic
2033  system described in Subsection (1) shall include the following:
                                                         - 60 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2034        "Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
2035        _____ Mail a ballot to me.
2036        _____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
2037  Section 21. Section 20A-2-304 is amended to read:
2038  20A-2-304 (Effective 04/06/26). County clerk's responsibilities -- Notice of
2039    disposition.
2040       Each county clerk shall:
2041    (1) register to vote each individual who meets the requirements for registration and who:
2042        (a) submits a completed voter registration form to the county clerk;
2043        (b) submits a completed voter registration form, as defined in [Section 20A-2-204]
2044  Subsection 20A-2-204(1), to the Driver License Division;
2045        (c) submits a completed voter registration form to a public assistance agency or a
2046  discretionary voter registration agency; or
2047        (d) mails a completed voter registration form to the county clerk; and
2048    (2) within 30 calendar days after the day on which the county clerk processes a voter
2049        registration form, send a notice to the individual who submits the form that:
2050        (a)(i) informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been
2051  accepted and that the individual is registered to vote;
2052  (ii) informs the individual of the procedure for designating or changing the
2053  individual's political affiliation;
2054  (iii) informs the individual of the procedure to cancel a voter registration;
2055  (iv) provides instructions to the voter on how the voter may sign up to receive
2056  electronic ballot status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in
2057  Section 20A-3a-401.5; and
2058  (v) confirms that the individual has chosen to receive electronic ballot status
2059  notifications if the individual opted to receive electronic ballot status notifications
2060  on the voter registration form;
2061        (b) informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been rejected
2062  and the reason for the rejection; or
2063        (c)(i) informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form is being
2064  returned to the individual for further action because the form is incomplete; and
2065  (ii) gives instructions to the individual on how to properly complete the form.
2066    The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
2067  Section 22. Section 20A-2-504 is amended to read:
                                                             - 61 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2068  20A-2-504 (Effective upon governor's approval). Removing names from the
2069     official register -- General requirements -- Deceased individuals.
2070     (1) The county clerk may not remove a voter's name from the official register solely
2071  because the voter has failed to vote in an election.
2072     (2) The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register if:
2073  (a) the voter dies and the requirements of Subsection [(3)] (4) are met;
2074  (b) the county clerk, after complying with the requirements of Section 20A-2-505,
2075  receives written confirmation from the voter that the voter no longer resides within
2076  the county clerk's county;
2077  (c)(i) the county clerk obtains evidence that the voter's residence has changed;
2078  (ii) the county clerk mails notice to the voter as required under Section 20A-2-505;
2079  (iii) the county clerk:
2080  (A) receives no response from the voter; or
2081  (B) does not receive information that confirms the voter's residence; and
2082  (iv) the voter does not vote or appear to vote in an election during the period
2083  beginning on the date of the notice described in Section 20A-2-505 and ending on
2084  the day after the date of the second regular general election occurring after the
2085  date of the notice;
2086  (d) the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed from the official
2087  register;
2088  (e) the county clerk receives notice that a voter has been convicted of any felony or a
2089  misdemeanor for an offense under this title and the voter's right to vote has not been
2090  restored as provided in Section 20A-2-101.3 or 20A-2-101.5; or
2091  (f) the county clerk receives notice that a voter has registered to vote in another state
2092  after the day on which the voter registered to vote in this state.
2093     (3) The lieutenant governor shall make available to a county clerk the United States Social
2094  Security Administration data received by the lieutenant governor regarding deceased
2095  individuals.
2096     [(3)] (4) The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register within five
2097  business days after the day on which the county clerk[ ] :
2098  (a) receives, from the lieutenant governor, the information described in Subsection (3) or
2099  26B-8-114(11) in relation to the voter; or
2100  (b) receives confirmation from the Office of Vital Records and Statistics that the voter is
2101  deceased.
                                                         - 62 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2102    [(4)] (5) No later than 90 calendar days before each primary election day and general
2103        election day[, ] :
2104        (a) the county clerk shall update the official register by reviewing the official register
2105  and taking the actions permitted or required by law under this section, Section
2106  20A-2-503, and Section 20A-2-505[.] ; and
2107        (b) the lieutenant governor shall compare the records that the lieutenant governor
2108  receives under Subsections (3) and 26B-8-114(11) to the official register to ensure
2109  that each county clerk complies with Subsection (4).
2110  Section 23. Section 20A-2-505 is amended to read:
2111  20A-2-505 (Effective 04/06/26). Removing names from the official register --
2112    Determining and confirming change of residence.
2113    (1) A county clerk may not remove a voter's name from the official register on the grounds
2114        that the voter has changed residence unless the voter:
2115        (a) confirms in writing that the voter has changed residence to a place outside the
2116  county; or
2117        (b)(i) does not vote in an election during the period beginning on the date of the
2118  notice described in Subsection (3), and ending on the day after the date of the
2119  second regular general election occurring after the date of the notice; and
2120  (ii) does not respond to the notice described in Subsection (3).
2121    (2)(a) Within 31 calendar days after the day on which a county clerk obtains information
2122        that a voter's address has changed, if it appears that the voter still resides within the
2123        same county, the county clerk shall:
2124  (i) change the official register to show the voter's new address; and
2125  (ii) send to the voter, by forwardable mail, the notice described in Subsection (3).
2126        (b) When a county clerk obtains information that a voter's address has changed and it
2127  appears that the voter now resides in a different county, the county clerk shall verify
2128  the changed residence by sending to the voter, by forwardable mail, the notice
2129  described in Subsection (3), printed on a postage prepaid, preaddressed return form.
2130    (3)(a) Each county clerk shall use substantially the following form to notify voters
2131        whose addresses have changed:
2132    (i) the first part of the form shall include the following:
2133  "VOTER REGISTRATION NOTICE
2134  We have been notified that your residence has changed. Please read, complete, and
2135        return this form so that we can update our voter registration records. What is your current
                                                       - 63 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2136  street address?
2137  ___________________________________________________________________________
2138  Street  City  County  State        Zip
2139  What is your current phone number (optional)?________________________________
2140  What is your current email address (optional)?_________________________________";
2141     (ii) beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the form described in
2142  Subsection (3)(a)(i), the form shall include the following:
2143  "Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to the
2144  political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
2145  • The email address you provided above? Yes No
2146  • The phone number you provided above? Yes No"; and
2147     (iii) following the portions of the form required under Subsections (3)(a)(i) and (ii), the form
2148  shall include the following:
2149  "If you have not changed your residence, or have moved but stayed within the same county,
2150  you must complete and return this form to the county clerk so that it is received by the county
2151  clerk before 5 p.m. no later than 30 calendar days before the date of the election. If you fail to
2152  return this form within that time:
2153  - you may be required to show evidence of your address to the poll worker before being
2154  allowed to vote in either of the next two regular general elections; or
2155  - if you fail to vote at least once, from the date this notice was mailed until the passing of
2156  two regular general elections, you will no longer be registered to vote. If you have changed
2157  your residence and have moved to a different county in Utah, you may register to vote by
2158  contacting the county clerk in your county.
2159  ________________________________________
2160  Signature of Voter
2161  PRIVACY INFORMATION
2162  Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
2163  as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
2164  identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
2165  government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
2166  authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
2167  political party with which you choose to affiliate.
2168  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
2169  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
                                                        - 64 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2170        record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
2171        • an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
2172        violence;
2173        • a law enforcement officer;
2174        • a member of the armed forces;
2175        • a public figure; or
2176        • an individual who is protected by a court order.
2177        To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
2178        submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
2179        You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
2180        the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor]."
2181        [Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
2182        your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
2183        some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
2184        requirements of law.
2185  Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
2186        address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
2187        year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
2188        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
2189  You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
2190        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
2191        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
2192  _____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
2193        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
2194        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
2195        REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
2196  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
2197        information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
2198        for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
2199        withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
2200        paragraphs.
2201  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
2202        records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
2203        contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
                                                        - 65 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2204  registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
2205  to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
2206  violence.
2207  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
2208  records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
2209  contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
2210  required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
2211  if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
2212  armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order."]
2213  (b) The form described in Subsection (3)(a) shall also include:
2214     (i) a section in substantially the following form:
2215  "------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2216  BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
2217  Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
2218  communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above?  Yes  No
2219  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------";
2220  and
2221     (ii) [no later than November 5, 2025, ]the following, immediately after the question described
2222  in Subsection (3)(b)(i):
2223  "Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
2224  _____ Mail a ballot to me.
2225  _____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
2226     (4)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the county clerk may not remove the
2227  names of any voters from the official register during the 90 calendar days before a
2228  regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before a regular general election.
2229  (b) The county clerk may remove the names of voters from the official register during
2230  the 90 calendar days before a regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before
2231  a regular general election if:
2232  (i) the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed; or
2233  (ii) the voter dies.
2234  (c)(i) After a county clerk mails a notice under this section, the county clerk shall,
2235  unless otherwise prohibited by law, list that voter as inactive.
2236  (ii) If a county clerk receives a returned voter identification card, determines that
2237  there was no clerical error causing the card to be returned, and has no further
                                                             - 66 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2238  information to contact the voter, the county clerk shall, unless otherwise
2239  prohibited by law, list that voter as inactive.
2240  (iii) An inactive voter may vote, sign petitions, and have all other privileges of a
2241  registered voter.
2242  (iv) A county is not required to:
2243  (A) send routine mailings to an inactive voter; or
2244  (B) count inactive voters when dividing precincts and preparing supplies.
2245    [(5) The lieutenant governor shall make available to a county clerk United States Social
2246        Security Administration data received by the lieutenant governor regarding deceased
2247        individuals.]
2248    [(6) A county clerk shall, within 10 business days after the day on which the county clerk
2249        receives the information described in Subsection (5) or Subsections 26B-8-114(11) and
2250        (12) relating to a decedent whose name appears on the official register, remove the
2251        decedent's name from the official register.]
2252    [(7) Ninety calendar days before each primary and general election the lieutenant governor
2253        shall compare the information the lieutenant governor has received under Subsection
2254        26B-8-114(11) with the official register of voters to ensure that all deceased voters have
2255        been removed from the official register.]
2256  Section 24. Section 20A-2-601 is enacted to read:
2257  Part 6. Provision and Protection of Voter Data
2258  20A-2-601 (Effective upon governor's approval). Definitions.
2259       As used in this part:
2260    (1) "Age range" means one of the following age ranges within which a registered voter's
2261        age falls:
2262        (a) 18 through 19 years old;
2263        (b) 20 through 22 years old;
2264        (c) 23 through 25 years old;
2265        (d) 26 through 30 years old;
2266        (e) 31 through 35 years old;
2267        (f) 36 through 40 years old;
2268        (g) 41 through 45 years old;
2269        (h) 46 through 55 years old; or
2270        (i) an age range above the age range described in Subsection (1)(h), in increasing
2271  10-year increments.
                                                       - 67 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2272     (2) "Armed forces" means the same as that term is defined in Section 20A-1-513.
2273     (3) "At-risk voter" means a voter who is designated as an at-risk voter under Subsection
2274  20A-2-602(4)(a) or Section 20A-2-606.
2275     (4)(a) "Candidate for public office" means an individual:
2276  (i) who files a declaration of candidacy for a public office;
2277  (ii) who files a notice of intent to gather signatures under Section 20A-9-408; or
2278  (iii) who is employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an individual
2279  described in Subsection (4)(a)(i) or (ii), who is authorized to act on behalf of the
2280  individual described in Subsection (4)(a)(i) or (ii) for political purposes.
2281  (b) "Candidate for public office" does not include:
2282  (i) an individual described in Subsection (4)(a)(i) or (ii) who is eliminated as a
2283  candidate for:
2284  (A) failure to qualify for the primary election ballot via signature-gathering or
2285  convention;
2286  (B) failure to advance to the general election; or
2287  (C) any other reason provided by law; or
2288  (ii) an individual who is employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an
2289  individual described in Subsection (4)(b)(i).
2290     (5) "Dating violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78B-7-102 and the
2291  federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
2292     (6) "Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-36-1 and the
2293  federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
2294     (7)(a) "Government entity" means:
2295  (i) the state; or
2296  (ii) a county, city, town, school district, special district, special service district, or
2297  other political subdivision of the state.
2298  (b) "Government entity" includes an agency, bureau, office, department, division, board,
2299  commission, institution, laboratory, or other instrumentality of an entity described in
2300  Subsection (7)(a).
2301     (8) "Government official" means:
2302  (a) an elected or appointed officer of a government entity; or
2303  (b) an employee of a government entity.
2304     (9) "Mailed ballot report" means the following information for an election:
2305  (a) for each public registered voter:
                                                          - 68 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2306  (i) the voter's voter identification number;
2307  (ii) the voter's full legal name;
2308  (iii) the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
2309  (iv) the voter's county of residence;
2310  (v) the voter's precinct and congressional district;
2311  (vi) the date the election officer created the ballot order;
2312  (vii) the date the ballot was processed; and
2313  (viii) the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated; and
2314        (b) for each at-risk voter, the information described in Subsections (9)(a)(iv) through
2315  (viii), without disclosing the identity of the voter.
2316    (10) "Political party" means the same as that term is defined in Section 20A-1-102.
2317    (11) "Political purpose" means to lawfully engage in, bring about, prevent, advocate for or
2318        against, or otherwise influence a political activity or process, including:
2319        (a) candidacy for public office;
2320        (b) a ballot measure;
2321        (c) voting;
2322        (d) an election;
2323        (e) a political caucus or convention;
2324        (f) political party administration; or
2325        (g) circulating a political petition.
2326    (12) "Public office" means the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general,
2327        state auditor, state treasurer, state senator, state representative, state school board
2328        member, or an elective office of a local political subdivision.
2329    (13) "Public registered voter" means a registered voter who is not an at-risk voter.
2330    (14) "Standard voter data" means the following information from a voter registration record:
2331        (a) the voter's full legal name;
2332        (b) the voter's voter identification number and federal information processing series
2333  geographic code;
2334        (c) the voter's age range;
2335        (d) the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
2336        (e) the voter's county of residence;
2337        (f) the voter's mailing address, including the city;
2338        (g) the voter's precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
2339  state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
                                                        - 69 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2340  council district, and city council district;
2341  (h) the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
2342  (i) the voter's status as active or inactive;
2343  (j) the last day on which the voter's voter registration record was updated; and
2344  (k) the voting history of the voter.
2345     (15) "Voted report" means, the following information for an election:
2346  (a) for a public registered voter:
2347  (i) the voter's voter identification number;
2348  (ii) the voter's full legal name;
2349  (iii) the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
2350  (iv) the voter's county of residence;
2351  (v) the voter's precinct and congressional district;
2352  (vi) the method by which the voter voted;
2353  (vii) the date the ballot was processed; and
2354  (viii) the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated; and
2355  (b) for an at-risk voter, the information described in Subsections (15)(a)(iv) through (viii),
2356  without disclosing the identity of the voter.
2357     (16) "Voting history" means the following information in relation to a registered voter for
2358  an election held in the preceding eight years:
2359  (a) the voter's voter identification number;
2360  (b) the voter's full legal name;
2361  (c) the voter's status as active or inactive;
2362  (d) the voter's precinct; and
2363  (e) whether the voter voted in that election.
2364  Section 25. Section 20A-2-602 is enacted to read:
2365  20A-2-602 (Effective upon governor's approval). Change of voter registration
2366     record disclosure status -- Notice -- Redesignation of status.
2367     (1) On or before April 6, 2026, the lieutenant governor shall mail to each registered voter
2368  whose voter registration record is designated as withheld:
2369  (a) an at-risk designation request form;
2370  (b) the following written notice:
2371  "Notice of Voter Registration Record Status Change
2372  You are receiving this notice because your voter registration record is currently
2373  classified as withheld and is not subject to public disclosure. Your voter registration
                                                            - 70 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2374  will no longer be classified as withheld, and will be subject to public disclosure
2375  unless, before May 6, 2026, you submit the enclosed at-risk designation request form,
2376  and the required proof that you qualify as an at-risk voter, to your county clerk. If
2377  you do not take this action before May 6, 2026, or if you do not qualify as an at-risk
2378  voter, you will be designated as a public registered voter.
2379  As a public registered voter, the following information from your voter
2380  registration record is subject to public disclosure:
2381  • full legal name;
2382  • voter identification number and federal information processing series geographic
2383  code;
2384  • age range;
2385  • complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
2386  • county of residence;
2387  • mailing address, including the city;
2388  • voting precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
2389  state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
2390  council district, and city council district;
2391  • party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
2392  • status as an active or inactive voter;
2393  • the last day on which your registration record was updated; and
2394  • your voting history.
2395  You may apply for designation as an at-risk voter in accordance with Utah Code
2396  Section 20A-2-606 at any time, but if the application is not received by your county
2397  clerk before May 6, 2026, your information, described above will, beginning on May
2398  25, 2026, be subject to public disclosure, unless and until you request and receive
2399  designation as an at-risk voter.
2400  A person who uses or discloses information from a voter registration record in a
2401  manner that is prohibited by law, including information in a voter registration that is
2402  subject to public disclosure, is subject to criminal prosecution."; and
2403        (c) immediately after the notice described in Subsection (1)(b), a brief, concise statement
2404  of:
2405  (i) the qualifications to become an at-risk voter; and
2406  (ii) how to apply for designation as an at-risk voter.
2407    (2) On or before April 8, 2026, the lieutenant governor shall mail to each registered voter
                                                        - 71 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2408  whose voter registration record is designated as private:
2409  (a) the following written notice:
2410  "Notice of Voter Registration Record Status Change
2411  You are receiving this notice because your voter registration record is currently
2412  classified as private and is not subject to public disclosure. Your voter registration
2413  will no longer be classified as private, and will be subject to public disclosure unless,
2414  before May 6, 2026, you submit the enclosed at-risk designation request form, and
2415  the required proof that you qualify as an at-risk voter, to your county clerk. If you do
2416  not take this action before May 6, 2026, or if you do not qualify as an at-risk voter,
2417  you will be designated as a public registered voter.
2418  As a public registered voter, the following information from your voter
2419  registration record is subject to public disclosure:
2420  • full legal name;
2421  • voter identification number and federal information processing series geographic
2422  code;
2423  • age range;
2424  • complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
2425  • county of residence;
2426  • mailing address, including the city;
2427  • voting precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
2428  state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
2429  council district, and city council district;
2430  • party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
2431  • status as an active or inactive voter;
2432  • the last day on which your registration record was updated; and
2433  • your voting history.
2434  You may apply for designation as an at-risk voter in accordance with Utah Code
2435  Section 20A-2-606 at any time, but if the application is not received by your county
2436  clerk before May 6, 2026, your information, described above will, beginning on May
2437  25, 2026, be subject to public disclosure, unless and until you request and receive
2438  designation as an at-risk voter.
2439  A person who uses or discloses information from a voter registration record in a
2440  manner that is prohibited by law, including information in a voter registration that is
2441  subject to public disclosure, is subject to criminal prosecution."; and
                                                          - 72 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2442        (b) immediately after the notice described in Subsection (2)(a), a brief, concise statement
2443  of:
2444  (i) the qualifications to become an at-risk voter;
2445  (ii) how to apply for designation as an at-risk voter; and
2446  (iii) how to obtain an at-risk voter designation request form.
2447    (3) A county clerk who receives a completed at-risk designation request form on or before
2448        May 6, 2026, shall, on or before May 21, 2026:
2449        (a) process the form; and
2450        (b)(i) if, based on the information provided in the form and the supporting documents
2451  provided with the form, the county clerk determines that the voter has established
2452  that the voter qualifies as an at-risk voter, designate the voter as an at-risk voter; or
2453  (ii) if, based on the information provided in the form and the supporting documents
2454  provided with the form, the county clerk does not make the determination
2455  described in Subsection (3)(b)(i), the county clerk shall, as soon as reasonably
2456  possible, notify the voter, by mail or other means:
2457  (A) that the county clerk was not able to make the determination described in
2458  Subsection (3)(b)(i);
2459  (B) of the reason that the county clerk was not able to make the determination
2460  described in Subsection (3)(b)(i); and
2461  (C) of what, if anything, the voter can do to resolve the reason the county clerk
2462  was not able to make the determination described in Subsection (3)(b)(i).
2463    (4) On or before May 24, 2026, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall:
2464        (a) designate a current registered voter as an at-risk voter if:
2465  (i) before May 12, 2020, the voter's voter registration record was protected from
2466  disclosure due to the election officer determining that the voter was facing a threat
2467  or risk of harm;
2468  (ii) on or after May 12, 2020, the voter was designated as a withheld voter; or
2469  (iii) on or before May 24, 2026, the voter was designated as an at-risk voter under
2470  Subsection 20A-2-606; and
2471        (b) designate a current registered voter who is not designated as an at-risk voter under
2472  Subsection (4)(a) as a public registered voter.
2473    (5) After the lieutenant governor or a county clerk finishes taking the action described in
2474        Subsection (4):
2475        (a) a voter designated as an at-risk voter shall maintain the designation, unless and until:
                                                       - 73 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2476  (i) the voter is removed from the list of registered voters in accordance with the
2477  requirements of this chapter;
2478  (ii) the voter requests removal of the designation; or
2479  (iii) the designation is removed in accordance with Subsection 20A-2-606(6); and
2480  (b) a voter designated as a public registered voter shall maintain the designation, unless
2481  and until the voter is designated as an at-risk voter in accordance with Section
2482  20A-2-606.
2483     (6) Beginning on January 1, 2027, the lieutenant governor shall ensure that the Statewide
2484  Electronic Voter Information Website provides a process where:
2485  (a) an individual may enter a voter identification number;
2486  (b) the website will respond to the entry described in Subsection (6)(a) with:
2487  (i) the current political party affiliation of the voter to which the voter identification
2488  relates; and
2489  (ii) the last date on which the voter's voter registration was updated; and
2490  (c) the website will not provide any information, other than the information described in
2491  Subsection (6)(b), in response to the entry described in Subsection (6)(a).
2492     (7) As soon as possible, but no later than January 1, 2027, the lieutenant governor shall post
2493  the following information on the lieutenant governor's website, and update the
2494  information on a monthly basis:
2495  (a) for the entire state:
2496  (i) the total number of at-risk voters in the state; and
2497  (ii) the total number of at-risk voters in the state who are affiliated with a political
2498  party; and
2499  (b) for each state House of Representatives district and each state Senate district:
2500  (i) the total number of at-risk voters in the district; and
2501  (ii) the total number of at-risk voters in the district who are affiliated with a political
2502  party.
2503  Section 26. Section 20A-2-603 is enacted to read:
2504  20A-2-603 (Effective 04/06/26). General request for voter registration records.
2505     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this part, or another express provision of
2506  law, upon receiving a request under this section from a person for voter registration
2507  records, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk:
2508  (a) shall disclose to the person the standard voter data from a public registered voter's
2509  voter registration record; and
                                                           - 74 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2510        (b) may not disclose to the person:
2511  (i) information from a public registered voter's voter registration record that is not
2512  standard voter data; or
2513  (ii) any information from an at-risk voter's voter registration record.
2514    (2) A person that receives information under Subsection (1)(a):
2515        (a) shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
2516  be accessed by another person, unless the other person is an authorized agent of the
2517  person that receives the information under Subsection (1)(a);
2518        (b) may only use the information in a manner the person is permitted to use the
2519  information under Subsection 20A-2-607(3);
2520        (c) may not:
2521  (i) use or share the information for a purpose other than a purpose described in
2522  Subsection (2)(b); or
2523  (ii) grant access to the information to a person other than an authorized agent of the
2524  person that receives the information under Subsection (1)(a);
2525        (d) notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b), may not grant access to the information or share
2526  the information with another person, if the person that receives the information under
2527  this section believes that the other person:
2528  (i) will use or share the information in a manner other than a manner described in
2529  Subsection (2)(b); or
2530  (ii) will not comply with Subsection (2)(a), (b), or (c); and
2531        (e) may limit access by an authorized agent of the person to only the portion of the
2532  information needed for the authorized agent to fulfill a purpose for which the
2533  authorized agent is:
2534  (i) permitted by law to use the information; and
2535  (ii) authorized by the person who receives the information under Subsection (1)(a).
2536    (3) Before providing the information described in Subsection (1)(a) to a person under this
2537        section:
2538        (a) if an individual is requesting the information on behalf of another person, the
2539  lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that the individual requesting the
2540  information on behalf of the other person is an authorized agent of the other person;
2541  and
2542        (b) the individual requesting the information under Subsection (3)(a) shall sign a request
2543  form that includes:
                                                       - 75 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2544  (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the person that is seeking the
2545  information;
2546  (ii) the individual's name, address, and telephone number;
2547  (iii) a statement that the individual is requesting the information:
2548  (A) on the individual's own behalf; or
2549  (B) as an authorized agent of the other person described in Subsection (3)(a) and
2550  has presented to the lieutenant governor or the county clerk valid verification
2551  that the individual is an authorized agent of the other person;
2552  (iv) a statement that the individual and, if applicable, the other person described in
2553  Subsection (3)(a):
2554  (A) will comply with the requirements described in Subsection (2); and
2555  (B) will not provide or use the information obtained from the list of registered
2556  voters in a manner that is prohibited by law;
2557  (v) a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
2558  using the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, is punishable as a
2559  class A misdemeanor and by a civil fine; and
2560  (vi) notice that if a person makes a false statement in the request form, the person is
2561  punishable by law under Section 76-8-504.
2562  (c) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information described
2563  in Subsection (1)(a) to a person requesting the information under this section if the
2564  lieutenant governor or county clerk has probable cause to believe that the person:
2565  (i) is not the person whom the person claims to be;
2566  (ii) is not an agent of the person of whom the person claims to be an agent; or
2567  (iii) will use or share the information in a manner prohibited by law.
2568  Section 27. Section 20A-2-604 is enacted to read:
2569  20A-2-604 (Effective 04/06/26). Request for voter registration records by
2570     political party -- Confirmation of political party affiliation.
2571     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or another express provision of law, upon
2572  receiving a request from a political party for voter registration records, the lieutenant
2573  governor or a county clerk:
2574  (a) for each public registered voter who is not affiliated with the political party:
2575  (i) shall provide to the political party the voter's standard voter data; and
2576  (ii) may not provide to the political party any information from the public registered
2577  voter's voter registration record that is not standard voter data;
                                                          - 76 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2578        (b) for each public registered voter who is affiliated with the political party:
2579  (i) shall provide to the political party the voter's standard voter data;
2580  (ii) beginning January 1, 2027, shall provide the public registered voter's phone
2581  number, only if the voter consents on the voter's voter registration form to the
2582  election officer disclosing the voter's phone number to the political party;
2583  (iii) beginning January 1, 2027, shall provide the public registered voter's email
2584  address, only if the voter consents on the voter's voter registration form to the
2585  election officer disclosing the voter's email address to the political party; and
2586  (iv) may not provide to the political party any information relating to the voter other
2587  than the information provided in accordance with Subsections (1)(b)(i) through
2588  (iii); and
2589        (c) may not provide to the political party any information from an at-risk voter's voter
2590  registration record.
2591    (2) If an at-risk voter consents, on the voter's voter registration form, to provide the political
2592        party with which the voter chooses to affiliate with the voter's phone number or email
2593        address, the county clerk or the lieutenant governor:
2594        (a) may not provide the phone number or email address to the political party; and
2595        (b) shall notify the at-risk voter that the voter must contact the political party directly to
2596  provide the voter's phone number or email address to the political party.
2597    (3) A political party, or an agent of a political party, that receives information under this
2598        section:
2599        (a) shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
2600  be accessed by a person other than the political party or an authorized agent of the
2601  political party;
2602        (b) may only use the information:
2603  (i) to communicate with an individual who is affiliated with the political party in
2604  relation to the business of the political party or for a political purpose;
2605  (ii) to verify that the voter is a member of the political party;
2606  (iii) to conduct demographic or other analysis for a political purpose; or
2607  (iv) for a purpose described in Subsection 20A-2-607(3);
2608        (c) may not:
2609  (i) use or share the information for a purpose other than a purpose described in
2610  Subsection (3)(b); or
2611  (ii) grant access to the information to a person other than an authorized agent of the
                                                         - 77 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2612  political party;
2613  (d) notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a) or (b), may not grant access to the information or
2614  share the information with a person whom the political party believes:
2615  (i) will use or share the information in a manner other than a manner described in
2616  Subsection (3)(b); or
2617  (ii) will not comply with Subsection (3)(a), (b), or (c); and
2618  (e) may limit access by an authorized agent to only the portion of the information
2619  needed for the authorized agent to fulfill a purpose for which the authorized agent is:
2620  (i) permitted by law to use the information; and
2621  (ii) authorized by the state political party to use the information.
2622     (4) Before providing the information described in this section to a political party:
2623  (a) the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that the individual requesting the
2624  information on behalf of the political party is an authorized agent of the political
2625  party; and
2626  (b) the individual requesting the information under Subsection (4)(a) shall sign a request
2627  form that includes:
2628  (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the political party that is seeking the
2629  information;
2630  (ii) the individual's name, address, and telephone number;
2631  (iii) a statement that the individual is an authorized agent of the political party and
2632  has presented to the lieutenant governor or the county clerk valid verification that
2633  the individual is an authorized agent of the political party;
2634  (iv) a statement that the political party and the individual will comply with the
2635  requirements described in Subsection (3);
2636  (v) a statement that the political party, or an agent of the political party, will not
2637  provide or use the information obtained from the list of registered voters in a
2638  manner that is prohibited by law;
2639  (vi) a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
2640  using the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, is punishable as a
2641  class A misdemeanor and by a civil fine; and
2642  (vii) notice that if a person makes a false statement in the request form, the person is
2643  punishable by law under Section 76-8-504.
2644     (5) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information described in
2645  Subsection (1)(a) or (b) to a person requesting the information under this section if the
                                                        - 78 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2646        lieutenant governor or county clerk has probable cause to believe that the person:
2647        (a) is not a political party or an agent of the political party; or
2648        (b) will use or share the information in a manner prohibited by law.
2649  Section 28. Section 20A-2-605 is enacted to read:
2650  20A-2-605 (Effective 04/06/26). Request for voter registration records by a
2651    government official.
2652    (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or another express provision of law, upon
2653        request by a government official acting in the government official's capacity as a
2654        government official, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk:
2655        (a) shall disclose to the government official only the information in a voter registration
2656  record necessary to permit the government official to fulfill an official duty imposed
2657  by law on the government official; and
2658        (b) may not disclose to the government official the information in a voter registration
2659  record that is not necessary to permit the government official to fulfill an official duty
2660  imposed by law on the government official.
2661    (2) A government official who receives information under Subsection (1)(a):
2662        (a) shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
2663  be accessed by a person other than the government official or the government entity
2664  that the government official represents;
2665        (b) may only use the information to the extent necessary to fulfill a duty of the
2666  government official; and
2667        (c) may not disclose the information to a person other than a person needing the
2668  information to fulfill a duty of the government official or the government entity that
2669  the government official represents.
2670    (3) Before providing the information described in Subsection (1)(a) to a government
2671        official:
2672        (a) the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that:
2673  (i) the person requesting the information is a government official; and
2674  (ii) it is necessary to provide the information requested to permit the government
2675  official to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on the government official; and
2676        (b) the government official requesting the information shall sign a request form that
2677  includes:
2678  (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the government official;
2679  (ii) the government official's position or title;
                                                         - 79 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2680  (iii) a description of the information requested;
2681  (iv) a description of the official duty imposed by law on the government official that
2682  requires the requested information;
2683  (v) a statement that the government official will ensure, using industry standard
2684  security measures, that the information may not be accessed by a person other
2685  than the government official or the government entity that the government official
2686  represents;
2687  (vi) a statement that the government official will only use the information to the
2688  extent necessary to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on the government
2689  official;
2690  (vii) an assertion that the government official will not provide or use the information
2691  obtained from the voter registration records in a manner that is prohibited by law;
2692  (viii) a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
2693  using the information from the voter registration records in a manner that is
2694  prohibited by law, is punishable as a class A misdemeanor and a civil fine; and
2695  (ix) notice that if the person signing the request form makes a false statement in the
2696  request form, the person is punishable by law under Section 76-8-504.
2697     (4) The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information under this
2698  section if the lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes that the person:
2699  (a) is not a government official;
2700  (b) does not need the information requested to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on
2701  the government official; or
2702  (c) will provide or use the information in a manner prohibited by law.
2703  Section 29. Section 20A-2-606 is enacted to read:
2704  20A-2-606 (Effective 04/06/26). At-risk registered voter -- Application --
2705     Designation -- Change of status.
2706     (1) Except to the extent expressly authorized in this part or otherwise expressly provided by
2707  law, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose an at-risk voter's voter
2708  registration record, or any information from an at-risk voter's voter registration record.
2709     (2)(a) The lieutenant governor shall design and distribute an at-risk designation request
2710  form to each election officer and to each agency that provides a voter registration
2711  form.
2712  (b) The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may make
2713  rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
                                                         - 80 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2714  establishing requirements for providing the proof described in Subsections (4)(a)(ii)
2715  and (b)(ii).
2716    (3) The following may not encourage an individual to submit, or discourage an individual
2717        from submitting, an at-risk designation request form:
2718        (a) an election officer;
2719        (b) an agency described in Subsection (2)(a); or
2720        (c) an employee of a person described in Subsection (3)(a) or (b).
2721    (4) A voter may apply for designation as an at-risk voter by submitting, either with the
2722        voter's voter registration form, or separately to the voter's county clerk:
2723        (a)(i) an at-risk designation request form indicating that the voter is, or resides with,
2724  an individual who is a victim of, or who is threatened with, domestic violence or
2725  dating violence; and
2726  (ii) in accordance with any rules made under Subsection (2)(b), proof of the
2727  indication described in Subsection (4)(a)(i) in the form of a sworn affidavit where
2728  the voter swears to the following statement: "I am applying for designation as an
2729  at-risk voter because I am, or I reside with, an individual who is a victim of, or
2730  who is threatened with, domestic violence or dating violence."; or
2731        (b)(i) an at-risk designation request form indicating that the voter, or an individual
2732  who resides with the voter, is a law enforcement officer, a public figure, a member
2733  of the armed forces, or protected by a protective order or protection order; and
2734  (ii) in accordance with any rules made under Subsection (2)(b), proof of the
2735  indication described in Subsection (4)(b)(i).
2736    (5) A county clerk shall designate a voter as an at-risk voter if the voter complies with
2737        Subsection (4).
2738    (6) A county clerk shall, beginning in 2030, and every five years after 2030, before July 15:
2739        (a) mail to each voter who, for a period of one year or longer, has been designated as an
2740  at-risk voter:
2741  (i) notice that the voter is designated as an at-risk voter and the grounds for the
2742  designation;
2743  (ii) a list of the grounds for designating a voter as an at-risk voter;
2744  (iii) an inquiry regarding whether the voter still qualifies as an at-risk voter; and
2745  (iv) a self-addressed envelope, with postage prepaid, for the voter to mail the voter's
2746  response to the inquiry described in Subsection (6)(a)(iii); and
2747        (b) remove the designation of a voter as an at-risk voter if the voter responds that the
                                                      - 81 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2748  voter no longer qualifies as an at-risk voter.
2749  Section 30. Section 20A-2-607 is enacted to read:
2750  20A-2-607 (Effective upon governor's approval). Applicability and enforcement
2751     -- Transition.
2752     (1) This part does not govern or restrict the release of a voter registration record:
2753  (a) to an election officer or an employee of an election officer;
2754  (b) for a government purpose relating to maintaining the voter registration list or the
2755  administration of an election;
2756  (c) to the extent required by law, to the federal government to comply with, or verify
2757  compliance with, the requirements of federal election law;
2758  (d) in accordance with an order of a court with jurisdiction; or
2759  (e) to a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for a legitimate law enforcement
2760  purpose related to election law.
2761     (2) Beginning on March 9, 2026, and ending on May 25, 2026, a person that requests a
2762  copy of the voter registration list:
2763  (a) will receive the portion of the list, as the list existed on March 8, 2026, that the
2764  person was eligible to receive on March 8, 2026; and
2765  (b) will not receive an updated version of the list, or of any information in an updated
2766  version of the list, until May 25, 2026.
2767     (3) A person may only obtain or use information from the list of registered voters for:
2768  (a) a political purpose;
2769  (b) another purpose for which the person is, under this part, expressly permitted to
2770  obtain or use the information; or
2771  (c) another purpose for which the person is permitted to obtain or use the information:
2772  (i) under a provision of state or federal law; or
2773  (ii) by order of a court with jurisdiction.
2774     (4) It is unlawful for a person to:
2775  (a) obtain information from the list of registered voters under false pretenses;
2776  (b) obtain or use information from the list of registered voters for a purpose other than:
2777  (i) a political purpose;
2778  (ii) another purpose for which the person is, under this part, expressly permitted to
2779  obtain or use the information; or
2780  (iii) another purpose for which the person is permitted to obtain or use the
2781  information:
                                                          - 82 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2782  (A) under a provision of state or federal law; or
2783  (B) by order of a court with jurisdiction;
2784        (c) knowingly post on the internet or otherwise disclose to the public, for a fee or free of
2785  charge, the list of registered voters or information obtained from the list of registered
2786  voters; or
2787        (d) knowingly disclose information from the list of registered voters in a manner that is
2788  not permitted by law.
2789    (5) A violation of Subsection (4) is a class A misdemeanor.
2790  Section 31. Section 20A-2-608, which is renumbered from Section 20A-5-410 is renumbered
2791    and amended to read:
2792  [20A-5-410] 20A-2-608 (Effective 04/06/26). Election officer to keep voting
2793    history information and status -- Restrictions.
2794    [(1) As used in this section, "voting history record" means the following information
2795        relating to a registered voter:]
2796        [(a) the information in the voter's voter registration record, other than the information
2797  classified as private under Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(j);]
2798        [(b) the voter's privacy status;]
2799        [(c) the voter's status as active or inactive;]
2800        [(d) the voter's voter identification number;]
2801        [(e) the voter's federal information processing system code;]
2802        [(f) the voter's precinct;]
2803        [(g) each political district in which the voter is a resident;]
2804        [(h) a list of elections in which the voter voted;]
2805        [(i) whether the voter voted in person on election day;]
2806        [(j) whether the voter voted in person before election day;]
2807        [(k) whether the voter returned a mailed ballot;]
2808        [(l) whether the voter's ballot was mailed to an alternate address; and]
2809        [(m) the date on which the voter voted or on which the voter returned a mailed ballot.]
2810    [(2)(a) Each election officer shall maintain, in the election officer's office, a voting
2811        history record of those voters registered to vote in the election officer's jurisdiction.]
2812        [(b) The voting history record is a public record under Title 63G, Chapter 2,
2813  Government Records Access and Management Act, except:]
2814  [(i) as it relates to a voter whose voter registration record is classified as private under
2815  Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(k) or (l); or]
                                                       - 83 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2816  [(ii) a record or information described in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(n).]
2817     (1) A county clerk shall maintain:
2818  (a) for each registered voter:
2819  (i) the standard voter information for that voter; and
2820  (ii) whether the voter is a public registered voter or an at-risk voter; and
2821  (b) only during the time period beginning on the day on which the bulk of ballots are
2822  mailed for an election and ending at the close of operating hours on the day before
2823  the election, a voted report and a mailed ballot report for the election.
2824     (2)(a) Except as provided under Subsection (2)(b), the county clerk shall retain a copy of
2825  each voter registration form in a permanent countywide alphabetical file, which may
2826  be electronic or some other recognized system.
2827  (b) The county clerk may transfer a superseded voter registration form to the Division of
2828  Archives and Records Service created under Section 63A-12-101.
2829  (c) A county clerk shall retain a list of currently registered voters.
2830  (d) The lieutenant governor shall maintain a list of registered voters in electronic form.
2831  (e) If there are any discrepancies between the lists described in Subsections (2)(c) and (d),
2832  the county clerk's list is the official list.
2833     (3) Subsection (1) or (2) does not authorize the disclosure of the information described in
2834  Subsection (1) or (2) beyond the extent expressly provided in this part.
2835     [(3)(a) When an election officer reports voting history for an election, the election
2836  officer shall, for each voter whose voter registration is classified as private under
2837  Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(h), report the following, for that election only, without
2838  disclosing the identity of the voter:]
2839  [(i) for voting by mail, the information described in Subsection (4)(a);]
2840  [(ii) for early voting, the date the individual voted; and]
2841  [(iii) for voting on election day, the date the individual voted.]
2842  [(b) In relation to the information of a voter whose voter registration is classified as
2843  private under Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(h), a report described in Subsection (3)(a)
2844  may not disclose, by itself or in conjunction with any other public information, the
2845  identity or any other personal identifying information of the voter.]
2846     [(4) Subject to Subsection (5), the election officer shall ensure that the voting history record
2847  kept by the election officer for each voting precinct contains:]
2848  [(a) for voting by mail:]
2849  [(i) the date that the manual ballot was mailed to the voter; and]
                                                           - 84 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2850  [(ii) the date that the voted manual ballot was received by the election officer;]
2851        [(b) for early voting:]
2852  [(i) the name and address of each individual who participated in early voting; and]
2853  [(ii) the date the individual voted; and]
2854        [(c) for voting on election day, the name and address of each individual who voted on
2855  election day.]
2856    [(5) Subsection (4) does not authorize the disclosure of the information described in
2857        Subsection (4) beyond the extent expressly provided in Subsections (2) and (3).]
2858    (4) A person may, on a subscription basis, obtain the voted report and the mailed ballot
2859        report during the time period described in Subsection (1)(b).
2860    [(6)] (5)(a) Notwithstanding the time limits for response to a request for records under
2861        Section 63G-2-204 or the time limits for a request for records established in any
2862        ordinance, the election officer shall ensure that the information required to be
2863        disclosed under this [section] part is recorded and made available[ to the public] , upon
2864        request and subject to the provisions of this part, no later than one business day after
2865        the day on which the election officer receives the information.
2866        (b) Notwithstanding the fee requirements of Section 63G-2-203 or the fee requirements
2867  established in any ordinance, the election officer shall [make copies of the voting
2868  history record available to the public, in accordance with this section, for the actual
2869  cost of production or copying] provide the information disclosed under this section,
2870  Section 20A-6-603, or Section 20A-6-604, in accordance with the fees established
2871  under Subsection 63G-2-203(10).
2872  Section 32. Section 20A-3a-401 is amended to read:
2873  20A-3a-401 (Effective 04/06/26). Custody of voted ballots mailed or deposited in
2874    a ballot drop box -- Disposition -- Notice -- Disclosures relating to unresolved ballots.
2875    (1) This section governs ballots returned by mail, via a ballot drop box, or by other legal
2876        means.
2877    (2) Poll workers shall process return envelopes containing manual ballots that are in the
2878        custody of the poll workers in accordance with this section.
2879    (3) Poll workers shall examine a return envelope to make the determinations described in
2880        Subsection (4).
2881    (4) The poll workers shall take the action described in Subsection (5)(a) if the poll workers
2882        determine:
2883        (a) for an election held before January 1, 2029:
                                                      - 85 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2884  (i) that the return envelope contains the last four digits of the voter's Utah driver
2885  license number, Utah state identification card number, or social security number;
2886  or
2887  (ii) if the return envelope does not contain the digits described in Subsection (4)(a)(i),
2888  that:
2889  (A) in accordance with the rules made under Subsection (13), the signature on the
2890  affidavit of the return envelope is reasonably consistent with the individual's
2891  signature in the voter registration records; or
2892  (B) for an individual who checks the box described in Subsection (7)(d)(v), the
2893  signature is verified by alternative means;
2894  (b) for an election held on or after January 1, 2029:
2895  (i) that the return envelope contains the last four digits of the voter's Utah driver
2896  license number, Utah state identification card number, or social security number;
2897  (ii) if the return envelope does not contain the digits described in Subsection (4)(b)(i),
2898  that the voter included in the return envelope a copy of the identification described
2899  in Subsection 20A-3a-204(2)(c)(ii); or
2900  (iii) for a voter described in Subsection 20A-3a-301(7), that the voter complied with
2901  Subsection 20A-3a-301(7);
2902  (c) that the affidavit is sufficient;
2903  (d) that the voter is registered to vote in the correct precinct;
2904  (e) that the voter's right to vote the ballot has not been challenged;
2905  (f) that the voter has not already voted in the election; and
2906  (g) for a voter who has not yet provided valid voter identification with the voter's voter
2907  registration, whether the voter has provided valid voter identification with the return
2908  envelope.
2909     (5)(a) If the poll workers make all of the findings described in Subsection (4), the poll
2910  workers shall:
2911  (i) remove the manual ballot from the return envelope in a manner that does not
2912  destroy the affidavit on the return envelope;
2913  (ii) ensure that the ballot is not examined in connection with the return envelope; and
2914  (iii) place the ballot with the other ballots to be counted.
2915  (b) If the poll workers do not make all of the findings described in Subsection (4), the
2916  poll workers shall:
2917  (i) disallow the vote;
                                                        - 86 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2918  (ii) except as provided in Subsection (6), without opening the return envelope, record
2919  the ballot as "rejected" and state the reason for the rejection; and
2920  (iii) except as provided in Subsection (6), place the return envelope, unopened, with
2921  the other rejected return envelopes.
2922    (6) A poll worker may open a return envelope, if necessary, to determine compliance with
2923        Subsection (4)(b)(ii), (4)(b)(iii), or (4)(g).
2924    (7)(a) If the poll workers reject an individual's ballot because the poll workers determine
2925        that the return envelope does not comply with Subsection (4), the election officer
2926        shall:
2927  (i) contact the individual in accordance with Subsection (8); and
2928  (ii) inform the individual:
2929  (A) that the identification information provided on the return envelope is in
2930  question;
2931  (B) how the individual may resolve the issue; and
2932  (C) that, in order for the ballot to be counted, the individual is required to deliver
2933  to the election officer a correctly completed affidavit, provided by the county
2934  clerk, that meets the requirements described in Subsection (7)(d).
2935        (b) If, under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(A), the poll workers reject an individual's ballot
2936  because the poll workers determine, in accordance with rules made under Subsection
2937  (13), that the signature on the return envelope is not reasonably consistent with the
2938  individual's signature in the voter registration records, the election officer shall:
2939  (i) contact the individual in accordance with Subsection (8); and
2940  (ii) inform the individual:
2941  (A) that the individual's signature is in question;
2942  (B) how the individual may resolve the issue; and
2943  (C) that, in order for the ballot to be counted, the individual is required to deliver
2944  to the election officer a correctly completed affidavit, provided by the county
2945  clerk, that meets the requirements described in Subsection (7)(d).
2946        (c) The election officer shall ensure that the notice described in Subsection (7)(a) or (b)
2947  includes:
2948  (i) when communicating the notice by mail, a printed copy of the affidavit described
2949  in Subsection (7)(d) and a courtesy reply envelope;
2950  (ii) when communicating the notice electronically, a link to a copy of the affidavit
2951  described in Subsection (7)(d) or information on how to obtain a copy of the
                                                        - 87 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
2952  affidavit; or
2953  (iii) when communicating the notice by phone, either during a direct conversation
2954  with the voter or in a voicemail, arrangements for the voter to receive a copy of
2955  the affidavit described in Subsection (7)(d), either in person from the clerk's
2956  office, by mail, or electronically.
2957  (d) An affidavit described in Subsection (7)(a)(ii)(C) or (7)(b)(ii)(C) shall include:
2958  (i) an attestation that the individual voted the ballot;
2959  (ii) a space for the individual to enter the individual's name, date of birth, and driver
2960  license number or the last four digits of the individual's social security number;
2961  (iii) a space for the individual to sign the affidavit;
2962  (iv) a statement that, by signing the affidavit, the individual authorizes the lieutenant
2963  governor's and county clerk's use of the information in the affidavit and the
2964  individual's signature on the affidavit for voter identification purposes; and
2965  (v) a check box accompanied by language in substantially the following form: "I am
2966  a voter with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act that
2967  impacts my ability to sign my name consistently. I can provide appropriate
2968  documentation upon request. To discuss accommodations, I can be contacted at
2969  __________________".
2970  (e) In order for an individual described in Subsection (7)(a) or (b) to have the
2971  individual's ballot counted, the individual shall deliver the affidavit described in
2972  Subsection (7)(d) to the election officer.
2973  (f) An election officer who receives a signed affidavit under Subsection (7)(e) shall
2974  immediately:
2975  (i) scan the signature on the affidavit electronically and keep the signature on file in
2976  the statewide voter registration database developed under Section 20A-2-502;
2977  (ii) if the election officer receives the affidavit no later than noon on the last business
2978  day before the day on which the canvass begins, count the individual's ballot; and
2979  (iii) if the check box described in Subsection (7)(d)(v) is checked, comply with the
2980  rules described in Subsection (13)(c).
2981     (8)(a) The election officer shall, within two business days after the day on which an
2982  individual's ballot is rejected, notify the individual of the rejection and the reason for
2983  the rejection, by phone, mail, email, or, if consent is obtained, text message, unless:
2984  (i) the ballot is cured within one business day after the day on which the ballot is
2985  rejected; or
                                                         - 88 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
2986  (ii) the ballot is rejected because the ballot is received late or for another reason that
2987  cannot be cured.
2988        (b) If an individual's ballot is rejected for a reason described in Subsection (8)(a)(ii), the
2989  election officer shall notify the individual of the rejection and the reason for the
2990  rejection by phone, mail, email, or, if consent is obtained, text message, within the
2991  later of:
2992  (i) 30 calendar days after the day of the rejection; or
2993  (ii) 30 calendar days after the day of the election.
2994        (c) The election officer may, when notifying an individual by phone under this
2995  Subsection (8), use auto-dial technology.
2996    (9) An election officer may not count the ballot of an individual whom the election officer
2997        contacts under Subsection (7) or (8) unless, no later than noon on the last business day
2998        before the day on which the canvass begins, the election officer:
2999        (a) receives a signed affidavit from the individual under Subsection (7); or
3000        (b)(i) contacts the individual;
3001  (ii) if the election officer has reason to believe that an individual, other than the voter
3002  to whom the ballot was sent, signed the ballot affidavit, informs the individual that
3003  it is unlawful to sign a ballot affidavit for another person, even if the person gives
3004  permission;
3005  (iii) verifies the identity of the individual by:
3006  (A) requiring the individual to provide at least two types of personal identifying
3007  information for the individual; and
3008  (B) comparing the information provided under Subsection (9)(b)(iii)(A) to records
3009  relating to the individual that are in the possession or control of an election
3010  officer; and
3011  (iv) documents the verification described in Subsection (9)(b)(iii), by recording:
3012  (A) the name and voter identification number of the individual contacted;
3013  (B) the name of the individual who conducts the verification;
3014  (C) the date and manner of the communication;
3015  (D) the type of personal identifying information provided by the individual;
3016  (E) a description of the records against which the personal identifying information
3017  provided by the individual is compared and verified; and
3018  (F) other information required by the lieutenant governor.
3019    (10)(a) The election officer shall retain and preserve:
                                                         - 89 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3020  (i) the return envelopes in accordance with Subsection 20A-4-202(2); and
3021  (ii) the documents described in Subsection (9)(b)(iv) in accordance with Subsection
3022  20A-4-202(3).
3023  (b) If the election officer complies with Subsection (10)(a)(ii) by including the
3024  documentation in the voter's voter registration record, the election officer shall make,
3025  retain, and preserve a record of the name and voter identification number of each
3026  voter contacted under Subsection (9)(b).
3027     (11)(a) The election officer shall record the following in the database used in the
3028  verification process:
3029  (i) any initial rejection of a ballot under Subsection (5)(b), within one business day
3030  after the day on which the election officer rejects the ballot; and
3031  (ii) any resolution of a rejection of a ballot under Subsection (9), within one business
3032  day after the day on which the ballot rejection is resolved.
3033  (b) An election officer shall include, in the canvass report, a final report of the
3034  disposition of all rejected and resolved ballots, including, for ballots rejected, the
3035  following:
3036  (i) the number of ballots rejected because the voter did not sign the voter's ballot; and
3037  (ii) the number of ballots rejected because the voter's signatures on the ballot, and in
3038  records on file, do not correspond.
3039     (12) Willful failure to comply with this section constitutes willful neglect of duty under
3040  Section 20A-5-701.
3041     (13) The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall make
3042  rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to
3043  establish:
3044  (a) criteria and processes for use by poll workers in determining if a signature
3045  corresponds with the signature on file for the voter under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(A);
3046  (b) training and certification requirements for election officers and employees of election
3047  officers regarding the criteria and processes described in Subsection (13)(a); and
3048  (c) in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.
3049  Secs. 12131 through 12165, an alternative means of verifying the identity of an
3050  individual who checks the box described in Subsection (7)(d)(v).
3051     (14)(a) Upon request, and subject to Subsections (14)(b) and (c), an election officer may
3052  disclose the name and address of a voter whose ballot has been rejected and not yet
3053  resolved with:
                                                        - 90 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3054  (i) a candidate in the election;
3055  (ii) an individual who represents the candidate's campaign;
3056  (iii) the sponsors of an initiative or referendum appearing on the ballot; or
3057  (iv) for a ballot proposition appearing on the ballot, an individual who represents a
3058  political issues committee, as defined in Section 20A-11-101, if the political
3059  issues committee supports or opposes the ballot proposition.
3060        (b) If an election officer discloses the information described in Subsection (14)(a), the
3061  election officer shall:
3062  (i) make the disclosure within two business days after the day on which the request is
3063  made;
3064  (ii) respond to each request in the order the requests were made; and
3065  (iii) make each disclosure in a manner, and within a period of time, that does not
3066  reflect favoritism to one requestor over another.
3067        (c) A disclosure described in this Subsection (14) may not include [the name or address
3068  of a protected individual, as defined in Subsection 20A-2-104(1)] any information
3069  relating to an at-risk voter, as defined in Section 20A-2-601.
3070  Section 33. Section 20A-6-105 is amended to read:
3071  20A-6-105 (Effective 04/06/26). Provisional ballot envelopes.
3072    (1) Each election officer shall ensure that provisional ballot envelopes are printed in
3073        substantially the following form:
3074    (a) the envelope shall include the following[ statement]:
3075  "AFFIRMATION
3076  Are you a citizen of the United States of America? Yes No
3077  Will you be 18 years old on or before election day? Yes No
3078  If you checked "no" in response to either of the two above questions, do not complete
3079        this form.
3080  Name of Voter _________________________________________________________
3081  First  Middle  Last
3082  Driver License or Identification Card Number _________________________________
3083  State of Issuance of Driver License or Identification Card Number _________________
3084  Date of Birth ___________________________________________________________
3085  Street Address of Principal Place of Residence
3086  ______________________________________________________________________
3087  City  County  State        Zip Code
                                                      - 91 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3088  Telephone Number (optional) ______________________________________________
3089  Email Address (optional)__________________________________________________";
3090  (b) beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the envelope
3091  described in Subsection (1)(a), the envelope shall include the following:
3092  "Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to the
3093  political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
3094  • The email address you provided above? Yes No
3095  • The phone number you provided above? Yes No";
3096     (c) following the statement required under Subsections (1)(a) and (b), the envelope shall
3097  include the following:
3098  "Last four digits of Social Security Number ____________________________
3099  Last former address at which I was registered to vote (if known)
3100  ______________________________________________________________________
3101  City  County  State        Zip Code
3102  Voting Precinct (if known) _________________________________________________
3103  I, (please print your full name)__________________________do solemnly swear or
3104  affirm:
3105  That I am eligible to vote in this election; that I have not voted in this election in any
3106  other precinct; that I am eligible to vote in this precinct; and that I request that I be permitted
3107  to vote in this precinct; and
3108  Subject to penalty of law for false statements, that the information contained in this form
3109  is true, and that I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of Utah, residing at the above
3110  address; and that I am at least 18 years old and have resided in Utah for the 30 calendar days
3111  immediately before this election.
3112  Signed
3113  ______________________________________________________________________
3114  Dated
3115  ______________________________________________________________________
3116  In accordance with Section 20A-3a-506, wilfully providing false information above is a
3117  class B misdemeanor under Utah law and is punishable by imprisonment and by fine.
3118  PRIVACY INFORMATION
3119  Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
3120  your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
3121  identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
                                                         - 92 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3122        government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
3123        authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
3124        political party with which you choose to affiliate.
3125        REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
3126        In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
3127        record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
3128        • an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
3129        violence;
3130        • a law enforcement officer;
3131        • a member of the armed forces;
3132        • a public figure; or
3133        • an individual who is protected by a court order.
3134        To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
3135        submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
3136        You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
3137        the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor].
3138        [Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
3139        your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
3140        some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
3141        requirements of law.
3142  Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
3143        address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
3144        year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
3145        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
3146  You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
3147        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
3148        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
3149  _____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
3150        from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
3151        and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
3152  REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
3153  In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
3154        information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
3155        for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
                                                        - 93 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3156  withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
3157  paragraphs.
3158  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
3159  records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
3160  contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
3161  registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
3162  to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
3163  violence.
3164  A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
3165  records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
3166  contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
3167  required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
3168  if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
3169  armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order.]
3170  CITIZENSHIP AFFIDAVIT
3171  Name:
3172  Name at birth, if different:
3173  Place of birth:
3174  Date of birth:
3175  Date and place of naturalization (if applicable):
3176  I hereby swear and affirm, under penalties for voting fraud set forth below, that I am a
3177  citizen and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information above is true and
3178  correct.
3179  ____________________________
3180  Signature of Applicant
3181  In accordance with Section 20A-2-401, the penalty for willfully causing, procuring, or
3182  allowing yourself to be registered to vote if you know you are not entitled to register to vote is
3183  up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500."; and
3184     [(b)] (d) the following statement shall appear after the statement described in Subsection [(1)(a)]
3185  (1)(c):
3186  "BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
3187  Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
3188  communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above?  Yes        No        [
3189  "; and]
                                                        - 94 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3190    [(c) no later than November 5, 2025, after the statement described in Subsection (1)(b), the
3191        following:
3192        "]Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
3193        _____ Mail a ballot to me.
3194        _____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
3195    (2) The provisional ballot envelope shall include:
3196        (a) a unique number;
3197        (b) a detachable part that includes the unique number;
3198        (c) a telephone number, internet address, or other indicator of a means, in accordance
3199  with Section 20A-6-105.5, where the voter can find out if the provisional ballot was
3200  counted; and
3201        (d) an insert containing written instructions on how a voter may sign up to receive ballot
3202  status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in Section 20A-3a-401.5.
3203  Section 34. Section 20A-7-103 is amended to read:
3204  20A-7-103 (Effective upon governor's approval) (Contingently Superseded 01/01/27).
3205    Constitutional amendments and other questions submitted by the Legislature --
3206    Publication -- Ballot title -- Procedures for submission to popular vote.
3207    (1) The procedures contained in this section govern when the Legislature submits a
3208        proposed constitutional amendment or other question to the voters.
3209    (2) The lieutenant governor shall, not more than 60 calendar days or less than 14 calendar
3210        days before the date of the election, publish the full text of the amendment, question, or
3211        statute for the state, as a class A notice under Section 63G-30-102, through the date of
3212        the election.
3213    (3)(a) The [presiding officers] legislative general counsel shall:
3214  [(a)] (i) entitle each proposed constitutional amendment "Constitutional Amendment
3215  __" and assign a letter to the constitutional amendment in accordance with the
3216  requirements of Section 20A-6-107;
3217  [(b)] (ii) entitle each proposed question "Proposition Number __" with the number
3218  assigned to the proposition under Section 20A-6-107 placed in the blank;
3219  [(c)] (iii) draft and designate a ballot title for each proposed amendment or question
3220  submitted by the Legislature that:
3221  [(i)] (A) summarizes the subject matter of the amendment or question; and
3222  [(ii)] (B) for a proposed constitutional amendment, summarizes any legislation that
3223  is enacted and will become effective upon the voters' adoption of the proposed
                                                       - 95 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3224  constitutional amendment; and
3225  [(d)] (iv) deliver each letter or number and ballot title to the lieutenant governor.
3226  (b) Consistent with Section 36-12-12, the legislative general counsel performs the duties
3227  in this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
3228     (4) The lieutenant governor shall certify the letter or number and ballot title of each
3229  amendment or question to the county clerk of each county no later than 65 calendar days
3230  before the date of the election.
3231     (5) The county clerk of each county shall:
3232  (a) ensure that the letter or number and the ballot title of each amendment and question
3233  prepared in accordance with this section are included in the sample ballots and
3234  official ballots; and
3235  (b) publish the sample ballots and official ballots as provided by law.
3236  Section 35. Section 20A-7-103 is amended to read:
3237  20A-7-103 (Contingently Effective 01/01/27). Constitutional amendments and
3238     other questions submitted by the Legislature -- Publication -- Ballot title -- Procedures
3239     for submission to popular vote.
3240     (1) The procedures contained in this section govern when the Legislature submits a
3241  proposed constitutional amendment or other question to the voters.
3242     (2) The lieutenant governor shall:
3243  (a) for a proposed constitutional amendment, in accordance with Utah Constitution,
3244  Article XXIII, Section 1, publish the entire text of the proposed constitutional
3245  amendment for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election, as
3246  a class A notice under Section 63G-30-102; or
3247  (b) for a question other than a proposed constitutional amendment, publish the question
3248  for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election, as a class A
3249  notice under Section 63G-30-102.
3250     (3)(a) The [presiding officers] legislative general counsel shall:
3251  [(a)] (i) entitle each proposed constitutional amendment "Constitutional Amendment
3252  __" and assign a letter to the constitutional amendment in accordance with the
3253  requirements of Section 20A-6-107;
3254  [(b)] (ii) entitle each proposed question "Proposition Number __" with the number
3255  assigned to the proposition under Section 20A-6-107 placed in the blank;
3256  [(c)] (iii) draft and designate a ballot title for each proposed amendment or question
3257  submitted by the Legislature that:
                                                         - 96 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3258  [(i)] (A) summarizes the subject matter of the amendment or question; and
3259  [(ii)] (B) for a proposed constitutional amendment, summarizes any legislation that
3260  is enacted and will become effective upon the voters' adoption of the proposed
3261  constitutional amendment; and
3262  [(d)] (iv) deliver each letter or number and ballot title to the lieutenant governor.
3263        (b) Consistent with Section 36-12-12, the legislative general counsel performs the duties
3264  in this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
3265    (4) The lieutenant governor shall certify the letter or number and ballot title of each
3266        amendment or question to the county clerk of each county no later than 65 calendar days
3267        before the date of the election.
3268    (5) The county clerk of each county shall:
3269        (a) ensure that the letter or number and the ballot title of each amendment and question
3270  prepared in accordance with this section are included in the sample ballots and
3271  official ballots; and
3272        (b) publish the sample ballots and official ballots as provided by law.
3273  Section 36. Section 20A-7-105 is amended to read:
3274  20A-7-105 (Effective 05/25/26). Manual petition processes -- Obtaining
3275    signatures -- Verification -- Submitting the petition -- Certification of signatures --
3276    Transfer to lieutenant governor -- Removal of signature.
3277    (1) This section applies only to the manual initiative process and the manual referendum
3278        process.
3279    (2) As used in this section:
3280        (a) "Local petition" means:
3281  (i) a manual local initiative petition described in Part 5, Local Initiatives -
3282  Procedures; or
3283  (ii) a manual local referendum petition described in Part 6, Local Referenda -
3284  Procedures.
3285        (b) "Packet" means an initiative packet or referendum packet.
3286        (c) "Petition" means a local petition or statewide petition.
3287        (d) "Statewide petition" means:
3288  (i) a manual statewide initiative petition described in Part 2, Statewide Initiatives; or
3289  (ii) a manual statewide referendum petition described in Part 3, Statewide Referenda.
3290    (3)(a) A Utah voter may sign a statewide petition if the voter is a legal voter.
3291        (b) A Utah voter may sign a local petition if the voter:
                                                       - 97 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3292  (i) is a legal voter; and
3293  (ii) resides in the local jurisdiction.
3294     (4)(a) The sponsors shall ensure that the individual in whose presence each signature
3295  sheet was signed:
3296  (i) is at least 18 years old;
3297  (ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification printed on the last
3298  page of each packet; and
3299  (iii) is informed that each signer is required to read and understand:
3300  (A) for an initiative petition, the law proposed by the initiative; or
3301  (B) for a referendum petition, the law that the referendum seeks to overturn.
3302  (b) An individual may not sign the verification printed on the last page of a packet if the
3303  individual signed a signature sheet in the packet.
3304     (5)(a) The sponsors, or an agent of the sponsors, shall submit a signed and verified
3305  packet to the county clerk of the county in which the packet was circulated before 5
3306  p.m. no later than the earlier of:
3307  (i) for a statewide initiative:
3308  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3309  the first individual signs the initiative packet;
3310  (B) the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
3311  which the application for the initiative petition is filed; or
3312  (C) the February 15 immediately before the next regular general election
3313  immediately after the application is filed under Section 20A-7-202;
3314  (ii) for a statewide referendum:
3315  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3316  the first individual signs the referendum packet; or
3317  (B) the first business day that is at least 40 calendar days after the day on which
3318  the legislative session at which the law passed ends;
3319  (iii) for a local initiative:
3320  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3321  the first individual signs the initiative packet;
3322  (B) the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
3323  which the application is filed;
3324  (C) the April 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately
3325  after the application is filed under Section 20A-7-502, if the local initiative is a
                                                            - 98 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3326  county initiative; or
3327  (D) the April 15 immediately before the next municipal general election
3328  immediately after the application is filed under Section 20A-7-502, if the local
3329  initiative is a municipal initiative; or
3330  (iv) for a local referendum:
3331  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3332  the first individual signs the referendum packet; or
3333  (B) the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which
3334  the sponsors receive the items described in Subsection 20A-7-604(3) from the
3335  local clerk.
3336        (b) A person may not submit a packet after the applicable deadline described in
3337  Subsection (5)(a).
3338        (c) Before delivering an initiative packet to the county clerk under this Subsection (5),
3339  the sponsors shall send an email to each individual who provides a legible, valid
3340  email address on the signature sheet that includes the following:
3341  (i) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
3342  Your Petition Signature"; and
3343    (ii) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
3344  "You signed a petition for the following initiative:
3345  [insert title of initiative]
3346  To access a copy of the initiative petition, the initiative, the fiscal impact statement, and
3347        information on the deadline for removing your signature from the petition, please visit the
3348        following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the individual directly to the page
3349        on the lieutenant governor's or county clerk's website that includes the information referred to
3350        in the email]."
3351        (d) For a statewide initiative, the sponsors shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the day on which
3352  the sponsors submit the last initiative packet to the county clerk, submit to the
3353  lieutenant governor:
3354  (i) a list containing:
3355  (A) the name and email address of each individual the sponsors sent, or caused to
3356  be sent, the email described in Subsection (5)(c); and
3357  (B) the date the email was sent;
3358  (ii) a copy of the email described in Subsection (5)(c); and
3359    (iii) the following written verification, completed and signed by each of the sponsors:
                                                        - 99 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3360  "Verification of initiative sponsor State of Utah, County of __________I, __________,
3361  of __________, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
3362  I am a sponsor of the initiative petition entitled ____________________; and
3363  I sent, or caused to be sent, to each individual who provided a legible, valid email
3364  address on a signature sheet submitted to the county clerk in relation to the initiative petition,
3365  the email described in Utah Code Subsection 20A-7-105(5)(c).
3366  ______________________________________________________________ __
3367  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)."[.]
3368  (e) For a local initiative, the sponsors shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the day on which the
3369  sponsors submit the last initiative packet to the local clerk, submit to the local clerk
3370  the items described in Subsection (5)(d).
3371  (f) Signatures gathered for an initiative petition are not valid if the sponsors do not
3372  comply with Subsection (5)(c), (d), or (e).
3373     (6)(a) Within 21 calendar days after the day on which the county clerk receives the
3374  packet, the county clerk shall:
3375  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002, or 20A-7-106 if applicable,
3376  to determine whether each signer is a legal voter and, as applicable, the
3377  jurisdiction where the signer is registered to vote;
3378  (ii) for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum:
3379  (A) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a legal voter;
3380  (B) post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and the date of signature of
3381  each legal voter certified under Subsection (6)(a)(ii)(A) on the lieutenant
3382  governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant
3383  governor; and
3384  (C) deliver the verified packet to the lieutenant governor;
3385  (iii) for a local initiative or a local referendum:
3386  (A) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a legal voter who is
3387  registered in the jurisdiction to which the initiative or referendum relates;
3388  (B) post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and the date of signature of
3389  each legal voter certified under Subsection (6)(a)(iii)(A) on the lieutenant
3390  governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant
3391  governor; and
3392  (C) deliver the verified packet to the local clerk.
3393  (b) For a local initiative or local referendum, the local clerk shall post a link in a
                                                        - 100 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3394  conspicuous location on the local government's website to the posting described in
3395  Subsection (6)(a)(iii)(B):
3396  (i) for a local initiative, during the period of time described in Subsection
3397  20A-7-507(3)(a); or
3398  (ii) for a local referendum, during the period of time described in Subsection
3399  20A-7-607(2)(a)(i).
3400    (7) The county clerk may not certify a signature under Subsection (6):
3401        (a) on a packet that is not verified in accordance with Subsection (4); or
3402        (b) that does not have a date of signature next to the signature.
3403    (8)(a) A voter who signs a statewide initiative petition may have the voter's signature
3404        removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section 20A-1-1003, submitting to
3405        the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
3406        than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
3407  (i) for an initiative packet received by the county clerk before December 1:
3408  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3409  the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
3410  (B) the first business day that is at least 90 calendar days after the day on which
3411  the lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-207(2);
3412  or
3413  (ii) for an initiative packet received by the county clerk on or after December 1:
3414  (A) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
3415  the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
3416  (B) the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which
3417  the lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-207(2).
3418        (b) A voter who signs a statewide referendum petition may have the voter's signature
3419  removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section 20A-1-1003, submitting to
3420  the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
3421  than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
3422  (i) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
3423  voter signs the statement requesting removal; or
3424  (ii) the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which the
3425  lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-307(2).
3426        (c) A voter who signs a local initiative petition may have the voter's signature removed
3427  from the petition by, in accordance with Section 20A-1-1003, submitting to the
                                                     - 101 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3428  county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later than
3429  5 p.m. the earlier of:
3430  (i) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
3431  voter signs the signature removal statement;
3432  (ii) the first business day that is at least 90 calendar days after the day on which the
3433  local clerk posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-507(2);
3434  (iii) the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
3435  which the application is filed; or
3436  (iv)(A) for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular
3437  general election immediately after the application is filed under Section
3438  20A-7-502; or
3439  (B) for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal
3440  general election immediately after the application is filed under Section
3441  20A-7-502.
3442  (d) A voter who signs a local referendum petition may have the voter's signature
3443  removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section 20A-1-1003, submitting to
3444  the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
3445  than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
3446  (i) the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
3447  voter signs the statement requesting removal; or
3448  (ii) the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which the
3449  local clerk posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-607(2)(a).
3450  (e) In order for the signature to be removed, the county clerk must receive the statement
3451  described in this Subsection (8) before 5 p.m. no later than the applicable deadline
3452  described in this Subsection (8).
3453  (f) A county clerk shall analyze a signature, for purposes of removing a signature from a
3454  petition, in accordance with Subsection 20A-1-1003(3).
3455     (9)(a) If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
3456  Subsection (8) and determines that the signature should be removed from the petition
3457  under Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the county clerk shall:
3458  (i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
3459  not included in the posting described in Subsection (6)(a)(ii)(B) or (iii)(B); and
3460  (ii) remove the voter's signature from the signature packets and signature packet
3461  totals.
                                                       - 102 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3462        (b) The county clerk shall comply with Subsection (9)(a) before the later of:
3463  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (6)(a); or
3464  (ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
3465  requesting signature removal under Subsection (8).
3466    (10) A person may not retrieve a packet from a county clerk, or make any alterations or
3467        corrections to a packet, after the packet is submitted to the county clerk.
3468  Section 37. Section 20A-7-203 is amended to read:
3469  20A-7-203 (Effective 05/25/26). Manual initiative process -- Form of initiative
3470    petition and signature sheets.
3471    (1) This section applies only to the manual initiative process.
3472    (2)(a) Each proposed initiative petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
3473  "INITIATIVE PETITION To the Honorable ____, Lieutenant Governor:
3474  We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully demand that the following proposed
3475        law be submitted to the legal voters/Legislature of Utah for their/its approval or rejection at the
3476        regular general election/session to be held/ beginning on _________(month\day\year);
3477  Each signer says:
3478  I have personally signed this initiative petition or, if I am an individual with a qualifying
3479        disability, I have signed this initiative petition by directing the signature gatherer to enter the
3480        initials "AV" as my signature;
3481  The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
3482        initiative petition;
3483  I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
3484  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
3485  My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.
3486        WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
3487        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
3488        publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
3489        registration record that has been classified as a private record.
3490  NOTICE TO SIGNERS:
3491  Public hearings to discuss this initiative were held at: (list dates and locations of public
3492        hearings.)".
3493    (b) If the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement shall appear, in at least
3494        14-point, bold type, immediately following the information described in Subsection (2)(a):
3495  "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
                                                       - 103 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3496  percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
3497  increase in the current tax rate."[.]
3498  (c) The sponsors of an initiative or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
3499  proposed law to each initiative petition.
3500     (3) Each initiative signature sheet shall:
3501  (a) be printed on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
3502  (b) be ruled with a horizontal line [three-fourths inch] .75 inches from the top, with the
3503  space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
3504  (c) include the title of the initiative printed below the horizontal line, in at least 14-point,
3505  bold type;
3506  (d) include a table immediately below the title of the initiative, and beginning .5 inch
3507  from the left side of the paper, as follows:
3508  (i) the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
3509  (ii) the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
3510  Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
3511  (iii) the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
3512  (iv) the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
3513  (v) the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3514  (vi) the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3515  "Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
3516  type;
3517  (vii) the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3518  (viii) the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3519  "Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
3520  (ix) the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3521  (x) the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3522  (xi) the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3523  "Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
3524  (xii) the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3525  (xiii) the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3526  "Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
3527  (xiv) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3528  (xv) the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
3529  (xvi) the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
                                                        - 104 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3530  "Date Signed" in 10-point type;
3531  (xvii) the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
3532  (xviii) the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3533  "Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
3534  (xix) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
3535  (xx) the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
3536  and contain the following statement, "By signing this initiative petition, you are
3537  stating that you have read and understand the law proposed by this initiative
3538  petition." in 12-point type;
3539        (e) the table described in Subsection (3)(d) shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
3540  the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection (3)(f); and
3541        (f) at the bottom of the sheet, include in the following order:
3542  (i) the words "Fiscal Impact of" followed by the title of the initiative, in at least
3543  12-point, bold type;
3544  (ii) except as provided in Subsection (5), the initial fiscal impact statement issued by
3545  the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst in accordance with Subsection
3546  20A-7-202.5(2)(a), including any update in accordance with Subsection
3547  20A-7-204.1(5), in not less than 12-point type;
3548    (iii) if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in 12-point, bold type:
3549  "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
3550        percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
3551        increase in the current tax rate."; and
3552    (iv) the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by the following statement in not
3553        less than eight-point type:
3554  "It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
3555        other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
3556        once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
3557        that the individual is not a registered voter.
3558  Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
3559        with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
3560        verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
3561        or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
3562    (4) The final page of each initiative packet shall contain the following printed or typed
3563        statement:
                                                       - 105 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3564  Verification of signature collector
3565  State of Utah, County of ____
3566  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
3567  I am at least 18 years old;
3568  All the names that appear in this initiative packet were signed by individuals who
3569  professed to be the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed
3570  the individual's name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying
3571  disability, I have signed this initiative petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the
3572  individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's
3573  signature;
3574  I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this initiative
3575  packet by the initials "AV":
3576  I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the initiative
3577  petition on the individual's behalf;
3578  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
3579  capacity to give direction or consent;
3580  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
3581  understand the purpose or nature of my signing the initiative petition on the individual's behalf;
3582  I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
3583  or consenting for me to, sign the initiative petition on the individual's behalf; and
3584  I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
3585  sheet;
3586  I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law proposed by
3587  the initiative;
3588  I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
3589  correctly, that each signer has read the law proposed by the initiative, and that each signer is
3590  registered to vote in Utah;
3591  The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name; and
3592  I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this initiative
3593  packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
3594  ______________________________________________________________________
3595  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)
3596     (5) If the initial fiscal impact statement described in Subsection (3)(f)(ii), as updated in
3597  accordance with Subsection 20A-7-204.1(5), exceeds 200 words, the Office of the
                                                        - 106 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3598        Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall prepare a shorter summary statement, for the purpose of
3599        inclusion on an initiative signature sheet, that does not exceed 200 words.
3600    (6) If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the initiative petitions
3601        are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
3602  Section 38. Section 20A-7-215 is amended to read:
3603  20A-7-215 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic initiative process -- Form of initiative
3604    petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
3605    (1) This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
3606    (2)(a) The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
3607  "This INITIATIVE PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, Lieutenant
3608        Governor:
3609  The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully demand that the following
3610        proposed law be submitted to the legal voters/Legislature of Utah for their/its approval or
3611        rejection at the regular general election/session to be held/beginning on
3612        _________(month\day\year)."
3613        (b) An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
3614  at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
3615  understand the information presented on this screen."
3616    (3)(a) The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the following
3617        statement:
3618  "Public hearings to discuss this initiative were held at: (list dates and locations of public
3619        hearings.)".
3620        (b) An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
3621  the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
3622  and understand the information presented on this screen."
3623    (4)(a) The third screen presented on the approved device shall include the title of
3624        proposed law, described in Subsection 20A-7-202(2)(e)(i), followed by the entire text
3625        of the proposed law.
3626        (b) An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
3627  at the bottom of the third screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
3628  and understand the entire text of the proposed law."
3629    (5) Subsequent screens shall be presented on the device in the following order, with the
3630        individual viewing the device being required, before advancing to the next screen, to
3631        click a link at the bottom of the screen with the following statement: "By clicking here, I
                                                      - 107 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3632  attest that I have read and understand the information presented on this screen.":
3633  (a) a description of all proposed sources of funding for the costs associated with the
3634  proposed law, including the proposed percentage of total funding from each source;
3635  (b)(i) if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement, "This initiative
3636  seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax percentage
3637  difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
3638  increase in the current tax rate."; or
3639  (ii) if the initiative does not propose a tax increase, the following statement, "This
3640  initiative does not propose a tax increase.";
3641  (c) the initial fiscal impact statement issued by the Office of the Legislative Fiscal
3642  Analyst in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-202.5(2)(a), including any update in
3643  accordance with Subsection 20A-7-204.1(5)(b);
3644  (d) a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the initiative petition
3645  may be paid for gathering signatures; and
3646     (e) the following statement, followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
3647  "I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
3648  I am personally signing this initiative petition;
3649  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
3650  All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
3651  accurate.
3652  It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
3653  other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
3654  once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
3655  that the individual is not a registered voter.
3656  [WARNING
3657  Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
3658  identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this initiative petition will be
3659  made public.]
3660  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
3661  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
3662  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
3663  registration record that has been classified as a private record.
3664  Do you wish to continue and sign this initiative petition?"
3665     (6)(a) If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
                                                           - 108 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3666        (5)(e), the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your
3667        time. Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
3668        (b) If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
3669  (5)(e), the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
3670  signature-gatherer and the individual signing the initiative petition through the
3671  signature process described in Section 20A-21-201.
3672  Section 39. Section 20A-7-217 is amended to read:
3673  20A-7-217 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic initiative process -- Collecting
3674    signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.
3675    (1) This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
3676    (2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., the earlier of:
3677        (a) the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on which
3678  the initiative application is filed; or
3679        (b) the February 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately
3680  after the initiative application is filed under Section 20A-7-202.
3681    (3) The lieutenant governor shall send to each individual who provides a valid email
3682        address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
3683        (a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
3684  Your Petition Signature"; and
3685    (b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
3686  "You signed a petition for the following initiative:
3687  [insert title of initiative]
3688  To access a copy of the initiative petition, the text of the law proposed by the initiative,
3689        the fiscal impact statement, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from
3690        the initiative petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that
3691        takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
3692        information referred to in the email]."
3693    (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days
3694        after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs an initiative petition is
3695        certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and
3696        the date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
3697        conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
3698    (5)(a) If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
3699        Subsection 20A-7-216(4), the county clerk shall:
                                                          - 109 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3700  (i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
3701  not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
3702  (ii) remove the voter's signature from the initiative petition and the initiative petition
3703  signature totals.
3704  (b) The county clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
3705  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
3706  (ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
3707  requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-216(4).
3708  Section 40. Section 20A-7-303 is amended to read:
3709  20A-7-303 (Effective 05/25/26). Manual referendum process -- Form of
3710     referendum petition and signature sheets.
3711     (1) This section applies only to the manual referendum process.
3712     (2)(a) Each proposed referendum petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
3713  "REFERENDUM PETITION To the Honorable ____, Lieutenant Governor:
3714  We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully order that Senate (or House) Bill No.
3715  ____, entitled (title of act, and, if the petition is against less than the whole act, set forth here
3716  the part or parts on which the referendum is sought), passed by the Legislature of the state of
3717  Utah during the ____ Session, be referred to the people of Utah for their approval or rejection
3718  at a regular general election or a statewide special election;
3719  Each signer says:
3720  I have personally signed this referendum petition or, if I am an individual with a
3721  qualifying disability, I have signed this referendum petition by directing the signature gatherer
3722  to enter the initials "AV" as my signature;
3723  The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
3724  referendum petition;
3725  I have personally read the entire statement included with this referendum packet;
3726  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
3727  My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.[".]
3728  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
3729  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
3730  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
3731  registration record that has been classified as a private record."
3732  (b) The sponsors of a referendum or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
3733  law that is the subject of the referendum to each referendum petition.
                                                          - 110 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3734    (3) Each referendum signature sheet shall:
3735        (a) be printed on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
3736        (b) be ruled with a horizontal line [three-fourths inch] .75 inches from the top, with the
3737  space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
3738        (c) include the title of the referendum printed below the horizontal line, in at least
3739  14-point, bold type;
3740        (d) include a table immediately below the title of the referendum, and beginning .5 inch
3741  from the left side of the paper, as follows:
3742  (i) the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
3743  (ii) the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
3744  Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
3745  (iii) the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
3746  (iv) the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
3747  (v) the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3748  (vi) the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3749  "Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
3750  type;
3751  (vii) the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3752  (viii) the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3753  "Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
3754  (ix) the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3755  (x) the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3756  (xi) the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3757  "Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
3758  (xii) the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3759  (xiii) the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3760  "Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
3761  (xiv) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3762  (xv) the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
3763  (xvi) the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3764  "Date Signed" in 10-point type;
3765  (xvii) the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
3766  (xviii) the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3767  "Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
                                                      - 111 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3768  (xix) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
3769  (xx) the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
3770  and contain the following words "By signing this referendum petition, you are
3771  stating that you have read and understand the law that this referendum petition
3772  seeks to overturn." in 12-point type;
3773  (e) the table described in Subsection (3)(d) shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
3774  the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection (3)(f); and
3775     (f) at the bottom of the sheet, include the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by
3776  the following statement in not less than eight-point type:
3777  "It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
3778  other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
3779  once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
3780  knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
3781  Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
3782  with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
3783  verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
3784  or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
3785     (4) The final page of each referendum packet shall contain the following printed or typed
3786  statement:
3787  Verification of signature collector
3788  State of Utah, County of ____
3789  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
3790  I am at least 18 years old;
3791  All the names that appear in this referendum packet were signed by individuals who
3792  professed to be the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed
3793  the individual's name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying
3794  disability, I have signed this referendum petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of
3795  the individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's
3796  signature;
3797  I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this referendum
3798  packet by the initials "AV":
3799  I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the referendum
3800  petition on the individual's behalf;
3801  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
                                                        - 112 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3802        capacity to give direction or consent;
3803  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
3804        understand the purpose or nature of my signing the referendum petition on the individual's
3805        behalf;
3806  I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
3807        or consenting for me to, sign the referendum petition on the individual's behalf; and
3808  I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
3809        sheet;
3810  I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law this petition
3811        seeks to overturn;
3812  I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
3813        correctly, that each signer has read the law that the referendum seeks to overturn, and that each
3814        signer is registered to vote in Utah;
3815  The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name; and
3816  I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this referendum
3817        packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
3818  ________________________________________________________________________
3819  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date).
3820    (5) If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the referendum
3821        petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
3822  Section 41. Section 20A-7-313 is amended to read:
3823  20A-7-313 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic referendum process -- Form of
3824    referendum petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
3825    (1) This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
3826    (2)(a) The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
3827  "This REFERENDUM PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, Lieutenant
3828        Governor:
3829  The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully order that Senate (or House) Bill
3830        No.____, entitled (title of act, and, if the petition is against less than the whole act, set forth
3831        here the part or parts on which the referendum is sought), passed by the Legislature of the state
3832        of Utah during the ____ Session, be referred to the people of Utah for their approval or
3833        rejection at a regular general election or a statewide special election."
3834        (b) An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
3835  at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
                                                       - 113 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3836  understand the information presented on this screen."
3837     (3)(a) The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the entire text
3838  of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
3839  (b) An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
3840  the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
3841  and understand the entire text of the law that is the subject of the referendum
3842  petition."
3843     (4)(a) The third screen presented on the approved device shall include a statement
3844  indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the referendum petition may be
3845  paid for gathering signatures.
3846  (b) An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
3847  at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
3848  understand the information presented on this screen."
3849     (5) The fourth screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement,
3850  followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
3851  "I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
3852  I am personally signing this referendum petition;
3853  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
3854  All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
3855  accurate.
3856  It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
3857  other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
3858  once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
3859  knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
3860  [WARNING
3861  Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
3862  identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this referendum petition will
3863  be made public.]
3864  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
3865  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
3866  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
3867  registration record that has been classified as a private record.
3868  Do you wish to continue and sign this referendum petition?"
3869     (6)(a) If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection (5),
                                                         - 114 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3870        the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your time.
3871        Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
3872        (b) If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection (5),
3873  the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
3874  signature-gatherer and the individual signing the referendum petition through the
3875  signature process described in Section 20A-21-201.
3876  Section 42. Section 20A-7-315 is amended to read:
3877  20A-7-315 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic referendum process -- Collecting
3878    signatures -- Removal of signatures.
3879    (1) This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
3880    (2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., 40 calendar days after the
3881        day on which the legislative session at which the law passed ends.
3882    (3) The lieutenant governor shall send to each individual who provides a valid email
3883        address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
3884        (a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
3885  Your Petition Signature"; and
3886    (b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
3887  "You signed a petition for the following referendum:
3888  [insert title of referendum]
3889  To access a copy of the referendum petition, the law that is the subject of the referendum
3890        petition, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the referendum
3891        petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the
3892        individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
3893        information referred to in the email]."
3894    (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days
3895        after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs a referendum petition is
3896        certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and
3897        the date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
3898        conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
3899    (5)(a) If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
3900        Subsection 20A-7-314(4), the county clerk shall:
3901  (i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
3902  not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
3903  (ii) remove the voter's signature from the referendum petition and the signature totals.
                                                      - 115 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3904  (b) The county clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
3905  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
3906  (ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
3907  requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-314(4).
3908  Section 43. Section 20A-7-503 is amended to read:
3909  20A-7-503 (Effective 05/25/26). Manual initiative process -- Form of initiative
3910     petition and signature sheet.
3911     (1) This section applies only to the manual initiative process.
3912     (2)(a) Each proposed initiative petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
3913  "INITIATIVE PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City Recorder/Town
3914  Clerk:
3915  We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully demand that the following proposed
3916  law be submitted to: the legislative body for its approval or rejection at its next meeting; and
3917  the legal voters of the county/city/town, if the legislative body rejects the proposed law or
3918  takes no action on it.
3919  Each signer says:
3920  I have personally signed this initiative petition or, if I am an individual with a qualifying
3921  disability, I have signed this initiative petition by directing the signature gatherer to enter the
3922  initials "AV" as my signature;
3923  The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
3924  petition;
3925  I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
3926  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
3927  My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.["]
3928  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
3929  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
3930  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
3931  registration record that has been classified as a private record."
3932     (b) If the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement shall appear, in at least
3933  14-point, bold type, immediately following the information described in Subsection (2)(a):
3934  "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
3935  percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
3936  increase in the current tax rate."
3937  (c) The sponsors of an initiative or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
                                                          - 116 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
3938  proposed law to each initiative petition.
3939    (3) Each initiative signature sheet shall:
3940        (a) be printed on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
3941        (b) be ruled with a horizontal line [three-fourths inch] .75 inches from the top, with the
3942  space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
3943        (c) include the title of the initiative printed below the horizontal line, in at least 14-point,
3944  bold type;
3945        (d) include a table immediately below the title of the initiative, and beginning .5 inch
3946  from the left side of the paper, as follows:
3947  (i) the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
3948  (ii) the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
3949  Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
3950  (iii) the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
3951  (iv) the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
3952  (v) the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3953  (vi) the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3954  "Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
3955  type;
3956  (vii) the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3957  (viii) the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3958  "Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
3959  (ix) the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
3960  (x) the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
3961  (xi) the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3962  "Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
3963  (xii) the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3964  (xiii) the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3965  "Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
3966  (xiv) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
3967  (xv) the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
3968  (xvi) the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
3969  "Date Signed" in 10-point type;
3970  (xvii) the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
3971  (xviii) the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
                                                       - 117 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
3972  "Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
3973  (xix) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
3974  (xx) the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
3975  and contain the following words "By signing this initiative petition, you are
3976  stating that you have read and understand the law proposed by this initiative
3977  petition." in 12-point type;
3978  (e) the table described in Subsection (3)(d) shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
3979  the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection (3)(f); and
3980  (f) at the bottom of the sheet, include in the following order:
3981  (i) the words "Fiscal and legal impact of" followed by the title of the initiative, in at
3982  least 12-point, bold type;
3983  (ii) the summary statement in the initial fiscal impact and legal statement issued by
3984  the budget officer in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-502.5(2)(b) and the cost
3985  estimate for printing and distributing information related to the initiative petition
3986  in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-502.5(3), in not less than 12-point, bold
3987  type;
3988     (iii) if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in 12-point, bold type:
3989  "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
3990  percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
3991  increase in the current tax rate."; and
3992     (iv) the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by the following statement in not
3993  less than eight-point type:
3994  "It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
3995  other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
3996  once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
3997  that the individual is not a registered voter.
3998  Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
3999  with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
4000  verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
4001  or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
4002     (4) The final page of each initiative packet shall contain the following printed or typed
4003  statement:
4004  "Verification of signature collector
4005  State of Utah, County of ____
                                                         - 118 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4006  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
4007  I am at least 18 years old;
4008  All the names that appear in this packet were signed by individuals who professed to be
4009        the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed the individual's
4010        name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have
4011        signed this initiative petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and in
4012        the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature;
4013  I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this initiative
4014        packet by the initials "AV":
4015  I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the initiative
4016        petition on the individual's behalf;
4017  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
4018        capacity to give direction or consent;
4019  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
4020        understand the purpose or nature of my signing the initiative petition on the individual's behalf;
4021  I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
4022        or consenting for me to, sign the initiative petition on the individual's behalf; and
4023  I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
4024        sheet;
4025  I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law proposed by
4026        the initiative; and
4027  I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
4028        correctly, that each signer has read the law proposed by the initiative, and that each signer is
4029        registered to vote in Utah.
4030  ______________________________________________________________________
4031  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)
4032  The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name.
4033  I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this petition to
4034        encourage that individual to sign it.
4035  _____________________________________________________________________
4036  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)".
4037    (5) If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the initiative petitions
4038        are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
4039  Section 44. Section 20A-7-514 is amended to read:
                                                       - 119 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4040  20A-7-514 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic initiative process -- Form of initiative
4041     petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
4042     (1) This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
4043     (2)(a) The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
4044  "This INITIATIVE PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City
4045  Recorder/Town Clerk:
4046  The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully demand that the following
4047  proposed law be submitted to: the legislative body for its approval or rejection at its next
4048  meeting; and the legal voters of the county/city/town, if the legislative body rejects the
4049  proposed law or takes no action on it."
4050  (b) An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
4051  at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
4052  understand the information presented on this screen."
4053     (3)(a) The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the title of
4054  proposed law, described in Subsection 20A-7-502(2)(d)(i), followed by the entire text
4055  of the proposed law.
4056  (b) An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
4057  the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
4058  and understand the entire text of the proposed law."
4059     (4) Subsequent screens shall be presented on the device in the following order, with the
4060  individual viewing the device being required, before advancing to the next screen, to
4061  click a link at the bottom of the screen with the following statement, "By clicking here, I
4062  attest that I have read and understand the information presented on this screen.":
4063  (a)(i) if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement, "This initiative
4064  seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax percentage
4065  difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
4066  increase in the current tax rate."; or
4067  (ii) if the initiative does not propose a tax increase, the following statement, "This
4068  initiative does not propose a tax increase.";
4069  (b) the summary statement from the initial fiscal impact and legal statement issued by
4070  the budget officer in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-502.5(2)(b) and the cost
4071  estimate for printing and distributing information related to the initiative petition in
4072  accordance with Subsection 20A-7-502.5(3);
4073  (c) a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the initiative petition
                                                             - 120 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4074  may be paid for gathering signatures; and
4075    (d) the following statement, followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
4076  "I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
4077  I am personally signing this petition;
4078  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
4079  All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
4080        accurate.
4081  It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
4082        other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
4083        once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
4084        that the individual is not a registered voter.
4085  [WARNING
4086  Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
4087        identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this initiative petition will be
4088        made public.]
4089        WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4090        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4091        publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4092        registration record that has been classified as a private record.
4093  Do you wish to continue and sign this initiative petition?"
4094    (5)(a) If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
4095        (4)(d), the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your
4096        time. Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
4097        (b) If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
4098  (4)(d), the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
4099  signature-gatherer and the individual signing the petition through the signature
4100  process described in Section 20A-21-201.
4101  Section 45. Section 20A-7-516 is amended to read:
4102  20A-7-516 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic initiative process -- Collecting
4103    signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.
4104    (1) This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
4105    (2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., the earlier of:
4106        (a) 316 calendar days after the day on which the initiative application is filed; or
4107        (b)(i) for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular general
                                                       - 121 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4108  election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section
4109  20A-7-502; or
4110  (ii) for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal general
4111  election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section
4112  20A-7-502.
4113     (3) The local clerk shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during
4114  the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
4115  (a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
4116  Your Petition Signature"; and
4117     (b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
4118  "You signed a petition for the following initiative:
4119  [insert title of initiative]
4120  To access a copy of the initiative petition, the text of the law proposed by the initiative,
4121  the initial fiscal impact and legal statement, and information on the deadline for removing your
4122  signature from the initiative petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource
4123  locator that takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that
4124  includes the information referred to in the email]."
4125     (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days
4126  after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs an initiative petition is
4127  certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and
4128  the date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
4129  conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
4130     (5)(a) If the local clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
4131  Subsection 20A-7-515(4), the local clerk shall:
4132  (i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
4133  not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
4134  (ii) remove the voter's signature from the initiative petition and the initiative petition
4135  signature totals.
4136  (b) The local clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
4137  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
4138  (ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
4139  requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-515(4).
4140  Section 46. Section 20A-7-603 is amended to read:
4141  20A-7-603 (Effective 05/25/26). Manual referendum process -- Form of
                                                         - 122 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4142    referendum petition and signature sheet.
4143    (1) This section applies only to the manual referendum process.
4144    (2)(a) Each proposed referendum petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
4145  "REFERENDUM PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City
4146        Recorder/Town Clerk:
4147  We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully order that (description of local law or
4148        portion of local law being challenged), passed by the ____ be referred to the voters for their
4149        approval or rejection at the regular/municipal general election to be held on
4150        __________(month\day\year);
4151  Each signer says:
4152  I have personally signed this referendum petition or, if I am an individual with a
4153        qualifying disability, I have signed this referendum petition by directing the signature gatherer
4154        to enter the initials "AV" as my signature;
4155  The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
4156        petition;
4157  I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
4158  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
4159  My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.["]
4160        WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4161        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4162        publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4163        registration record that has been classified as a private record."
4164        (b) The sponsors of a referendum or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
4165  law that is the subject of the referendum to each referendum petition.
4166    (3) Each referendum signature sheet shall:
4167        (a) be printed on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
4168        (b) be ruled with a horizontal line [three-fourths inch] .75 inches from the top, with the
4169  space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
4170        (c) include the title of the referendum printed below the horizontal line, in at least
4171  14-point type;
4172        (d) include a table immediately below the title of the referendum, and beginning .5 inch
4173  from the left side of the paper, as follows:
4174  (i) the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
4175  (ii) the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
                                                       - 123 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4176  Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
4177  (iii) the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
4178  (iv) the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
4179  (v) the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
4180  (vi) the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4181  "Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
4182  type;
4183  (vii) the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
4184  (viii) the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4185  "Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
4186  (ix) the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
4187  (x) the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
4188  (xi) the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4189  "Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
4190  (xii) the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
4191  (xiii) the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4192  "Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
4193  (xiv) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
4194  (xv) the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
4195  (xvi) the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4196  "Date Signed" in 10-point type;
4197  (xvii) the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
4198  (xviii) the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
4199  "Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
4200  (xix) the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
4201  (xx) the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
4202  and contain the following words, "By signing this referendum petition, you are
4203  stating that you have read and understand the law that this referendum petition
4204  seeks to overturn." in 12-point type;
4205  (e) the table described in Subsection (3)(d) shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
4206  the bottom of the sheet or the information described in Subsection (3)(f); and
4207     (f) at the bottom of the sheet, include the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by
4208  the following statement in not less than eight-point type:
4209  "It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
                                                        - 124 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4210        other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
4211        once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
4212        knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
4213  Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
4214        with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
4215        verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
4216        or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
4217    (4) The final page of each referendum packet shall contain the following printed or typed
4218        statement:
4219  "Verification of signature collector
4220  State of Utah, County of ____
4221  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
4222  I am at least 18 years old;
4223  All the names that appear in this packet were signed by individuals who professed to be
4224        the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed the individual's
4225        name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have
4226        signed this referendum petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and
4227        in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature;
4228  I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this referendum
4229        packet by the initials "AV":
4230  I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the referendum
4231        petition on the individual's behalf;
4232  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
4233        capacity to give direction or consent;
4234  I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
4235        understand the purpose or nature of my signing the referendum petition on the individual's
4236        behalf;
4237  I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
4238        or consenting for me to, sign the referendum petition on the individual's behalf; and
4239  I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
4240        sheet;
4241  I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law this petition
4242        seeks to overturn; and
4243  I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
                                                      - 125 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4244  correctly, that each signer has read the law that the referendum seeks to overturn, and that each
4245  signer is registered to vote in Utah.
4246  ________________________________________________________________________
4247  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)
4248  The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name.
4249  I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this referendum
4250  packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
4251  _____________________________________________________________________
4252  (Name)  (Residence Address)  (Date)".
4253     (5) If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the referendum
4254  petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
4255  Section 47. Section 20A-7-614 is amended to read:
4256  20A-7-614 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic referendum process -- Form of
4257     referendum petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
4258     (1) This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
4259     (2)(a) The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
4260  "This REFERENDUM PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, County
4261  Clerk/City Recorder/Town Clerk:
4262  The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully order that (description of local
4263  law or portion of local law being challenged), passed by the ____ be referred to the voters for
4264  their approval or rejection at the regular/municipal general election to be held on
4265  __________(month\day\year)."
4266  (b) An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
4267  at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
4268  understand the information presented on this screen."
4269     (3)(a) The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the entire text
4270  of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
4271  (b) An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
4272  the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
4273  and understand the entire text of the law that is the subject of the referendum
4274  petition."
4275     (4)(a) The third screen presented on the approved device shall include a statement
4276  indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the referendum petition may be
4277  paid for gathering signatures.
                                                         - 126 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4278        (b) An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
4279  at the bottom of the third screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
4280  and understand the information presented on this screen."
4281    (5) The fourth screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement,
4282        followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
4283  "I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
4284  I am personally signing this referendum petition;
4285  I am registered to vote in Utah; and
4286  All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
4287        accurate.
4288  It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
4289        other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
4290        once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
4291        knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
4292        WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4293        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4294        publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4295        registration record that has been classified as a private record.
4296  Do you wish to continue and sign this referendum petition?"
4297    (6)(a) If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection (5),
4298        the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your time.
4299        Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
4300        (b) If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection (5),
4301  the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
4302  signature-gatherer and the individual signing the referendum petition through the
4303  signature process described in Section 20A-21-201.
4304  Section 48. Section 20A-7-616 is amended to read:
4305  20A-7-616 (Effective 05/25/26). Electronic referendum process -- Collecting
4306    signatures -- Removal of signatures.
4307    (1) This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
4308    (2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m. 45 calendar days after the
4309        day on which the first three sponsors receive notice, under Section 20A-7-602.7 or
4310        20A-7-602.8, that the referendum is legally referable to voters.
4311    (3) The local clerk shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during
                                                       - 127 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4312  the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
4313  (a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
4314  Your Petition Signature"; and
4315     (b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
4316  "You signed a petition for the following referendum:
4317  [insert title of referendum]
4318  To access a copy of the referendum petition, the law that is the subject of the referendum
4319  petition, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the referendum
4320  petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the
4321  individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
4322  information referred to in the email]."
4323     (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days
4324  after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs a referendum petition is
4325  certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the [name, ]voter identification number[,] and
4326  the date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
4327  conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor, for at least 45 calendar days.
4328     (5)(a) If the local clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
4329  Subsection 20A-7-615(4), the local clerk shall:
4330  (i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
4331  not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
4332  (ii) remove the voter's signature from the referendum petition and the signature totals.
4333  (b) The local clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
4334  (i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
4335  (ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
4336  requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-615(4).
4337  Section 49. Section 20A-7-702 is amended to read:
4338  20A-7-702 (Effective upon governor's approval). Voter information pamphlet --
4339     Form -- Contents.
4340  The voter information pamphlet shall contain the following items in this order:
4341     (1) a cover title page;
4342     (2) an introduction to the pamphlet by the lieutenant governor;
4343     (3) a table of contents;
4344     (4) a list of all candidates for constitutional offices;
4345     (5) a list of candidates for each legislative district;
                                                        - 128 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4346    (6) a 100-word statement of qualifications for each candidate for the office of governor,
4347        lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, or state treasurer, if submitted by the
4348        candidate to the lieutenant governor's office before 5 p.m. on the first business day in
4349        August before the date of the election;
4350    (7) information pertaining to all measures to be submitted to the voters, beginning a new
4351        page for each measure and containing, in the following order for each measure:
4352        (a) a copy of the number and ballot title of the measure;
4353        (b) the final vote cast by the Legislature on the measure if it is a measure submitted by
4354  the Legislature or by referendum;
4355        (c)(i) for a measure other than a measure described in Section 20A-7-103, the
4356  impartial analysis of the measure prepared by the Office of Legislative Research
4357  and General Counsel; or
4358  (ii) for a measure described in Section 20A-7-103, the analysis of the measure
4359  prepared by the [presiding officers] legislative general counsel;
4360        (d) the arguments in favor of the measure, the rebuttal to the arguments in favor of the
4361  measure, the arguments against the measure, and the rebuttal to the arguments against
4362  the measure, with the name and title of the authors at the end of each argument or
4363  rebuttal;
4364        (e) for each constitutional amendment, a complete copy of the text of the constitutional
4365  amendment, with all new language underlined, and all deleted language placed within
4366  brackets;
4367        (f) for each initiative qualified for the ballot:
4368  (i) a copy of the initiative as certified by the lieutenant governor and a copy of the
4369  initial fiscal impact statement prepared according to Section 20A-7-202.5; and
4370    (ii) if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in bold type:
4371  "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
4372        percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
4373        increase in the current tax rate."; and
4374        (g) for each referendum qualified for the ballot, a complete copy of the text of the law
4375  being submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, with all new language
4376  underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets, as applicable;
4377    (8) a description provided by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission of the
4378        selection and retention process for judges, including, in the following order:
4379        (a) a description of the judicial selection process;
                                                       - 129 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4380  (b) a description of the judicial performance evaluation process;
4381  (c) a description of the judicial retention election process;
4382  (d) a list of the criteria of the judicial performance evaluation and the certification
4383  standards;
4384  (e) the names of the judges standing for retention election; and
4385  (f) for each judge:
4386  (i) a list of the counties in which the judge is subject to retention election;
4387  (ii) a short biography of professional qualifications and a recent photograph;
4388  (iii) a narrative concerning the judge's performance;
4389  (iv) for each certification standard under Section 78A-12-205, a statement identifying
4390  whether, under Section 78A-12-205, the judge met the standard and, if not, the
4391  manner in which the judge failed to meet the standard;
4392  (v) a statement that the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission:
4393  (A) has determined that the judge meets or exceeds minimum performance
4394  standards;
4395  (B) has determined that the judge does not meet or exceed minimum performance
4396  standards; or
4397  (C) has not made a determination regarding whether the judge meets or exceeds
4398  minimum performance standards;
4399  (vi) any statement, described in Subsection 78A-12-206(3)(b), provided by a judge
4400  whom the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission determines does not meet
4401  or exceed minimum performance standards;
4402  (vii) in a bar graph, the average of responses to each survey category, displayed with
4403  an identification of the minimum acceptable score as set by Section 78A-12-205
4404  and the average score of all judges of the same court level; and
4405  (viii) a website address that contains the Judicial Performance Evaluation
4406  Commission's report on the judge's performance evaluation;
4407     (9) for each judge, a statement provided by the Utah Supreme Court identifying the
4408  cumulative number of informal reprimands, when consented to by the judge in
4409  accordance with Title 78A, Chapter 11, Judicial Conduct Commission, formal
4410  reprimands, and all orders of censure and suspension issued by the Utah Supreme Court
4411  under Utah Constitution, Article VIII, Section 13, during the judge's current term and the
4412  immediately preceding term, and a detailed summary of the supporting reasons for each
4413  violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct that the judge has received;
                                                        - 130 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4414    (10) an explanation of ballot marking procedures prepared by the lieutenant governor,
4415        indicating the ballot marking procedure used by each county and explaining how to
4416        mark the ballot for each procedure;
4417    (11) voter registration information, including information on how to obtain a ballot;
4418    (12) a list of all county clerks' offices and phone numbers;
4419    (13) the address of the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website, with a statement
4420        indicating that the election officer will post on the website any changes to the location of
4421        a polling place and the location of any additional polling place;
4422    (14) a phone number that a voter may call to obtain information regarding the location of a
4423        polling place; and
4424    (15) on the back cover page, a printed copy of the following statement signed by the lieutenant
4425        governor:
4426  "I, _______________ (print name), Lieutenant Governor of Utah, certify that the
4427        measures contained in this pamphlet will be submitted to the voters of Utah at the election to
4428        be held throughout the state on ____ (date of election), and that this pamphlet is complete and
4429        correct according to law.
4430  SEAL
4431  Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at Salt Lake City, Utah this ____ day
4432        of ____ (month), ____ (year)
4433
                                                               (signed) ____________________________________
4434
                                                                                             Lieutenant Governor".
4435  Section 50. Section 20A-7-703.1 is amended to read:
4436  20A-7-703.1 (Effective upon governor's approval). Analysis of measure
4437    submitted to voters by Legislature -- Determination of fiscal effects.
4438    [(1) The presiding officers shall:]
4439        [(a) prepare an analysis of each measure, described in Section 20A-7-103, that is
4440  submitted to the voters by the Legislature; and]
4441        [(b) submit the analysis to the lieutenant governor no later than 90 calendar days before
4442  the date of the election in which the measure will appear on the ballot.]
4443    (1) As provided in this section, the legislative general counsel shall prepare an analysis of
4444        each measure described in Section 20A-7-103 that the Legislature submits to the voters.
4445    (2) The [presiding officers] legislative general counsel shall ensure that the analysis:
                                                     - 131 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4446  (a) is not more than 1,000 words long;
4447  (b) is prepared in clear and concise language that will easily be understood by the
4448  average voter;
4449  (c) to the extent possible, avoids the use of technical terms;
4450  (d) shows the effect of the measure on existing law;
4451  (e) describes the measure;
4452  (f) identifies the measure's fiscal effects over the time period or time periods determined
4453  by the [presiding officers] legislative general counsel to be most useful in
4454  understanding the estimated fiscal impact of the measure; and
4455  (g) identifies the amount of any increase or decrease in revenue or cost to state or local
4456  government.
4457     (3) The [presiding officers] legislative general counsel shall analyze the measure as the
4458  measure is proposed to be adopted, without considering any implementing legislation,
4459  unless the implementing legislation has been enacted and will become effective upon the
4460  adoption of the measure by the voters.
4461     (4)(a) In determining the fiscal effects of a measure, the [presiding officers] legislative
4462  general counsel shall confer with the legislative fiscal analyst.
4463  (b) The [presiding officers] legislative general counsel shall consider any measure that
4464  requires implementing legislation in order to take effect to have no financial effect,
4465  unless implementing legislation has been enacted that will become effective upon
4466  adoption of the measure by the voters.
4467     (5) If the [presiding officers request] legislative general counsel requests the assistance of
4468  any state department, agency, or official in preparing the analysis described in this
4469  section, that department, agency, or official shall assist the [presiding officers] legislative
4470  general counsel.
4471     (6) The legislative general counsel shall submit the analysis to the lieutenant governor no
4472  later than 90 calendar days before the date of the election in which the measure will
4473  appear on the ballot.
4474     (7) Consistent with Section 36-12-12, the legislative general counsel performs the duties in
4475  this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
4476  Section 51. Section 20A-8-103 is amended to read:
4477  20A-8-103 (Effective 05/25/26). Petition procedures -- Criminal penalty --
4478     Removal of signature.
4479     (1) As used in this section, the proposed name or emblem of a registered political party is
                                                        - 132 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4480        "distinguishable" if a reasonable person of average intelligence will be able to perceive a
4481        difference between the proposed name or emblem and any name or emblem currently
4482        being used by another registered political party.
4483    (2) To become a registered political party, an organization of registered voters that is not a
4484        continuing political party shall:
4485        (a) circulate a petition seeking registered political party status beginning no earlier than
4486  the date of the statewide canvass held after the last regular general election and
4487  ending before 5 p.m. no later than November 30 of the year before the year in which
4488  the next regular general election will be held;
4489        (b) file a petition with the lieutenant governor that is signed, with a holographic
4490  signature, by at least 2,000 registered voters before 5 p.m. no later than November 30
4491  of the year in which a regular general election will be held; and
4492        (c) file, with the petition described in Subsection (2)(b), a document certifying:
4493  (i) the identity of one or more registered political parties whose members may vote
4494  for the organization's candidates;
4495  (ii) whether unaffiliated voters may vote for the organization's candidates; and
4496  (iii) whether, for the next election, the organization intends to nominate the
4497  organization's candidates in accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-406.
4498    (3) The petition shall:
4499        (a) be on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
4500        (b) be ruled with a horizontal line [3/4 inch] .75 inches from the top, with the space
4501  above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
4502        (c) contain the name of the political party and the words "Political Party Registration
4503  Petition" printed directly below the horizontal line;
4504        (d) contain the [word "Warning" printed] following statement directly under the words
4505  described in Subsection (3)(c)[;] , in at least the same size type as the majority of the
4506  other statements on the page:
4507    [(e) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed in not less
4508        than eight-point, single leaded type:]
4509        "WARNING
4510  ["]It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a political party registration
4511        petition signature sheet with any name other than the individual's own name or more than once
4512        for the same party or if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend
4513        to become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant
                                                      - 133 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4514  governor.[";]
4515  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4516  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4517  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4518  registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
4519     [(f)] (e) contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection [
4520  (3)(e)] (3)(d):
4521  "POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION PETITION To the Honorable ____,
4522  Lieutenant Governor:
4523  We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, seek registered political party status for ____
4524  (name);
4525  Each signer says:
4526  I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
4527  I am registered to vote in Utah or will register to vote in Utah before the petition is
4528  submitted to the lieutenant governor;
4529  I am or desire to become a member of the political party; and
4530  My street address is written correctly after my name.";
4531  [(g)] (f) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
4532  (i) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide, be
4533  headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a light vertical line
4534  down the middle;
4535  (ii) the next column shall be [2-1/2] 2.5 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's
4536  Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)";
4537  (iii) the next column shall be [2-1/2] 2.5 inches wide, headed "Holographic Signature
4538  of Registered Voter";
4539  (iv) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age (Optional)";
4540  (v) the final column shall be [4-3/8] 4.375 inches wide, headed "Street Address, City,
4541  Zip Code"; and
4542  (vi) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
4543  information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with voter
4544  registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
4545  certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures
4546  are certified or if the information you provide does not match your voter
4547  registration records.";
                                                        - 134 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4548    [(h)] (g) have a final page bound to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that
4549        contains the following printed statement:
4550  "Verification
4551  State of Utah, County of ____
4552  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
4553  I am at least 18 years old;
4554  All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
4555        individuals who professed to be the individuals whose names appear on the signature sheets,
4556        and each individual signed the individual's name on the signature sheets in my presence; and
4557  I believe that each individual has printed and signed the individual's name and written
4558        the individual's street address correctly, and that each individual is registered to vote in Utah or
4559        will register to vote in Utah before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant governor.
4560  ______________________________________________________________________
4561        (Signature)  (Residence Address)  (Date)"; and
4562        [(i)] (h) be bound to a cover sheet that:
4563  (i) identifies the political party's name, which may not exceed four words, and the
4564  emblem of the party;
4565  (ii) states the process that the organization will follow to organize and adopt a
4566  constitution and bylaws; and
4567  (iii) is signed by a filing officer, who agrees to receive communications on behalf of
4568  the organization.
4569    (4) The filing officer described in Subsection [(3)(i)(iii)] (3)(h)(iii) shall ensure that the
4570        individual in whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
4571        (a) is at least 18 years old; and
4572        (b) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or more
4573  signature sheets that are bound together.
4574    (5) An individual may not sign the verification if the individual signed a signature sheet
4575        bound to the verification.
4576    (6) The lieutenant governor shall:
4577        (a) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether a signer is
4578  a registered voter;
4579        (b) review the proposed name and emblem to determine if they are "distinguishable"
4580  from the names and emblems of other registered political parties; and
4581        (c) certify the lieutenant governor's findings to the filing officer described in Subsection [
                                                        - 135 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4582  (3)(i)(iii)] (3)(h)(iii) within 30 calendar days after the day on which the organization
4583  files the petition described in Subsection (2)(b).
4584     (7)(a) If the lieutenant governor determines that the petition meets the requirements of
4585  this section, and that the proposed name and emblem are distinguishable, the
4586  lieutenant governor shall authorize the filing officer described in Subsection [
4587  (3)(i)(iii)] (3)(h)(iii) to organize the prospective political party.
4588  (b) If the lieutenant governor finds that the name, emblem, or both are not
4589  distinguishable from the names and emblems of other registered political parties, the
4590  lieutenant governor shall notify the filing officer that the filing officer has seven
4591  calendar days to electronically submit a new name or emblem to the lieutenant
4592  governor.
4593     (8) A registered political party may not change its name or emblem during the regular
4594  general election cycle.
4595     (9)(a) It is unlawful for an individual to:
4596  (i) knowingly sign a political party registration petition:
4597  (A) with any name other than the individual's own name;
4598  (B) more than once for the same political party; or
4599  (C) if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
4600  become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the
4601  lieutenant governor; or
4602  (ii) sign the verification of a political party registration petition signature sheet if the
4603  individual:
4604  (A) has not witnessed the signing by those individuals whose names appear on the
4605  political party registration petition signature sheet; or
4606  (B) knows that an individual whose signature appears on the political party
4607  registration petition signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and
4608  does not intend to become registered to vote in this state.
4609  (b) An individual who violates this Subsection (9) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
4610     (10)(a) A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
4611  removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
4612  which the petition is filed with the lieutenant governor, submitting to the lieutenant
4613  governor a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
4614  (b) A statement described in Subsection (10)(a) shall comply with the requirements
4615  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
                                                        - 136 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4616        (c) The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
4617  20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
4618  petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
4619  Section 52. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
4620  20A-9-203 (Effective 05/25/26). Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general
4621    elections -- Nomination petition -- Removal of signature.
4622    (1) An individual may become a candidate for any municipal office if:
4623        (a) the individual is a registered voter; and
4624        (b)(i) the individual has resided within the municipality in which the individual seeks
4625  to hold elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date
4626  of the election; or
4627  (ii) the territory in which the individual resides was annexed into the municipality,
4628  the individual has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality the 12
4629  consecutive months immediately before the date of the election.
4630    (2)(a) For purposes of determining whether an individual meets the residency
4631        requirement of Subsection (1)(b)(i) in a municipality that was incorporated less than
4632        12 months before the election, the municipality is considered to have been
4633        incorporated 12 months before the date of the election.
4634        (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), each candidate for a municipal
4635  council position shall, if elected from a district, be a resident of the council district
4636  from which the candidate is elected.
4637        (c) In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IV, Section 6, a mentally incompetent
4638  individual, an individual convicted of a felony, or an individual convicted of treason
4639  or a crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the
4640  right to hold elective office is restored under Section 20A-2-101.3 or 20A-2-101.5.
4641    (3)(a) An individual seeking to become a candidate for a municipal office shall,
4642        regardless of the nomination method by which the individual is seeking to become a
4643        candidate:
4644  (i) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), [Section 10-2a-214, or Chapter 4, Part 6,
4645  Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, ]and subject to Subsection
4646  20A-9-404(3)(e), file a declaration of candidacy, in person with the city recorder
4647  or town clerk, during the filing period described in Subsection (3)(d) and the
4648  office hours described in Subsection 10-3-301(3); and
4649  (ii) pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
                                                      - 137 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4650  (b) Subject to Subsection (5)(b), an individual may designate an agent to file a
4651  declaration of candidacy with the city recorder or town clerk if:
4652  (i) the individual is located outside of the state during the entire filing period;
4653  (ii) the designated agent appears in person before the city recorder or town clerk;
4654  (iii) the individual communicates with the city recorder or town clerk using an
4655  electronic device that allows the individual and city recorder or town clerk to see
4656  and hear each other; and
4657  (iv) the individual provides the city recorder or town clerk with an email address to
4658  which the city recorder or town clerk may send the individual the copies described
4659  in Subsection (4).
4660  (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by:
4661  (i) [except as provided in Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods
4662  Pilot Project, ]filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk
4663  during the filing period described in Subsection (3)(d) and the office hours
4664  described in Subsection 10-3-301(3) that includes signatures in support of the
4665  nomination petition of the lesser of at least:
4666  (A) 25 registered voters who reside in the municipality; or
4667  (B) 20% of the registered voters who reside in the municipality; and
4668  (ii) paying the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
4669  (d) The filing period to file a declaration of candidacy for an elective office that is to be
4670  filled at the next municipal general election:
4671  (i) begins at 8 a.m. on the later of:
4672  (A) June 1 of the year in which the next municipal general election is held; or
4673  (B) if June 1 is not a business day, the first business day after June 1; and
4674  (ii) ends at 5 p.m. on the fourth business day after the day on which the filing period
4675  begins.
4676     (4)(a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
4677  petition, the filing officer shall:
4678  (i) read to the prospective candidate or individual filing the petition the constitutional
4679  and statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking;
4680  (ii) require the candidate or individual filing the petition to state whether the
4681  candidate meets the requirements described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
4682  (iii) inform the candidate or the individual filing the petition that an individual who
4683  holds a municipal elected office may not, at the same time, hold a county elected
                                                          - 138 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4684  office.
4685        (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
4686  office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination
4687  petition.
4688        (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
4689  filing officer shall:
4690  (i) inform the candidate that, subject to Section 20A-6-109, the candidate's name will
4691  appear on the ballot as it is written on the declaration of candidacy;
4692  (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the current campaign financial disclosure
4693  laws for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the candidate that failure to
4694  comply will result in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the candidate's
4695  name from the ballot;
4696  (iii) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the Statewide
4697  Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the
4698  submission deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801(4)(a);
4699  (iv) inform the candidate that the candidate must provide the filing officer with an
4700  email address that the candidate actively monitors:
4701  (A) to receive a communication from a filing officer or an election officer; and
4702  (B) if the candidate wishes to display a candidate profile on the Statewide
4703  Electronic Voter Information Website, to submit to the website the
4704  biographical and other information described in Subsection 20A-7-801(4)(a)(ii);
4705  (v) inform the candidate that the email address described in Subsection (4)(c)(iv) is
4706  not a record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
4707  Management Act;
4708  (vi) obtain from the candidate the email address described in Subsection (4)(c)(iv);
4709  (vii) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
4710  described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
4711  (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
4712  (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
4713  (viii) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
4714        (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing officer
4715  shall:
4716  (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
4717  (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
                                                       - 139 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4718  candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
4719  candidate is a member.
4720     (5)(a) The declaration of candidacy shall be in substantially the following form:
4721  "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn and under penalty of perjury, say that I reside at
4722  ____ Street, City of ____, County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number
4723  (if any) ____; that I am a registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____
4724  (stating the term). I will meet the legal qualifications required of candidates for this office. If
4725  filing via a designated agent, I attest that I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire
4726  candidate filing period. I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law
4727  and I understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this
4728  office and removal of my name from the ballot. I request that my name be printed upon the
4729  applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
4730  Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
4731  __________(month\day\year).
4732  (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)."
4733  (b) An agent designated under Subsection (3)(b) to file a declaration of candidacy may
4734  not sign the form described in Subsection (5)(a).
4735  (c)(i) A nomination petition shall be in substantially the following form:
4736  "NOMINATION PETITION
4737  The undersigned residents of (name of municipality), being registered voters, nominate
4738  (name of nominee) for the office of (name of office) for the (length of term of office).["]
4739  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4740  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4741  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4742  registration record that has been classified as a private record."
4743  (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
4744  individuals signing the petition and each individual's address and phone number.
4745     (6) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
4746  nomination is for the two-year or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination
4747  to be for the four-year term.
4748     (7)(a) The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
4749  voters.
4750  (b) With the assistance of the county clerk, and using the procedures described in
4751  Section 20A-1-1002, the municipal clerk shall determine whether the required
                                                        - 140 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4752  number of signatures of registered voters appears on a nomination petition.
4753    (8) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the clerk
4754        shall:
4755        (a) publicize a list of the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot by
4756  publishing the list for the municipality, as a class A notice under Section 63G-30-102,
4757  for seven calendar days; and
4758        (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
4759  the ballot.
4760    (9) Except as provided in Subsection (10)(c), an individual may not amend a declaration of
4761        candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section after the candidate filing period
4762        ends.
4763    (10)(a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition that an individual files under
4764        this section is valid unless a person files a written objection with the clerk no later
4765        than 5 p.m. on the first business day that is at least 10 calendar days after the last day
4766        for filing.
4767        (b) If a person files an objection, the clerk shall:
4768  (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
4769  immediately; and
4770  (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after the objection is filed.
4771        (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may, no later than 5 p.m. on the first
4772  business day that is at least three calendar days after the day on which the clerk
4773  sustains the objection, correct the problem for which the objection is sustained by
4774  amending the candidate's declaration of candidacy or nomination petition, or by filing
4775  a new declaration of candidacy.
4776        (d)(i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
4777  (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
4778  prompt application is made to the district court.
4779  (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the
4780  exercise of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
4781    (11) A candidate who qualifies for the ballot under this section may withdraw as a
4782        candidate by filing a written affidavit with the municipal clerk.
4783    (12)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition under this section may have the voter's
4784        signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
4785        the day on which the petition is filed with the city recorder or municipal clerk,
                                                      - 141 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4786  submitting to the municipal clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
4787  removed.
4788  (b) A statement described in Subsection (12)(a) shall comply with the requirements
4789  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
4790  (c) With the assistance of the county clerk and using the procedures described in
4791  Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the municipal clerk shall determine whether to remove an
4792  individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid statement
4793  requesting removal of the signature.
4794  Section 53. Section 20A-9-404 is amended to read:
4795  20A-9-404 (Effective 05/25/26). Municipal primary elections.
4796     (1)(a) [Except as otherwise provided in this section or Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal
4797  Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, candidates] Candidates for municipal office
4798  in all municipalities shall be nominated at a municipal primary election.
4799  (b) Municipal primary elections shall be held:
4800  (i) consistent with Section 20A-1-201.5, on the second Tuesday following the first
4801  Monday in the August before the regular municipal election; and
4802  (ii) whenever possible, at the same polling places as the regular municipal election.
4803  (c) Subsections (3) through (5) do not apply to an election to elect local school board
4804  members under Section 53G-3-302.
4805  [(d) Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, does not apply
4806  to an election to elect local school board members under Section 53G-3-302.]
4807     (2) [Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting
4808  Methods Pilot Project, if] If the number of candidates for a particular municipal office
4809  does not exceed twice the number of individuals needed to fill that office, a primary
4810  election for that office may not be held and the candidates are considered nominated.
4811     (3)(a) For purposes of this Subsection (3), "convention" means an organized assembly of
4812  voters or delegates.
4813  (b)(i) By ordinance adopted before the May 1 that falls before a regular municipal
4814  election, any third, fourth, or fifth class city or town may exempt itself from a
4815  primary election by providing that the nomination of candidates for municipal
4816  office to be voted upon at a municipal election be nominated by a municipal party
4817  convention or committee.
4818  (ii) The municipal party convention or committee described in Subsection (3)(b)(i)
4819  shall be held on or before May 30 of an odd-numbered year.
                                                        - 142 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4820  (iii) Any primary election exemption ordinance adopted under this Subsection (3)
4821  remains in effect until repealed by ordinance.
4822        (c)(i) A convention or committee may not nominate more than one candidate for each
4823  of the municipal offices to be voted upon at the municipal election.
4824  (ii) A convention or committee may not nominate an individual who has accepted the
4825  nomination of a different convention or committee.
4826  (iii) A municipal party may not have more than one group of candidates placed upon
4827  the ballot and may not group the same candidates on different tickets by the same
4828  party under a different name or emblem.
4829        (d)(i) On or before May 31 of an odd-numbered year, a convention or committee
4830  shall prepare and submit to the filing officer a certificate of nomination for each
4831  individual nominated.
4832  (ii) The certificate of nomination shall:
4833  (A) contain the name of the office for which each individual is nominated, the
4834  name, post office address, and, if in a city, the street number of residence and
4835  place of business, if any, of each individual nominated;
4836  (B) designate in not more than five words the party that the convention or
4837  committee represents;
4838  (C) contain a copy of the resolution passed at the convention that authorized the
4839  committee to make the nomination;
4840  (D) contain a statement certifying that the name of the candidate nominated by the
4841  political party will not appear on the ballot as a candidate for any other
4842  political party;
4843  (E) be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention or
4844  committee; and
4845  (F) contain a statement identifying the residence and post office address of the
4846  presiding officer and secretary and certifying that the presiding officer and
4847  secretary were officers of the convention or committee and that the certificates
4848  are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.
4849  (iii) A candidate nominated by a municipal party convention or committee shall file a
4850  declaration with the filing officer in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-203(3)
4851  that includes:
4852  (A) the name of the municipal party or convention that nominated the candidate;
4853  and
                                                    - 143 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4854  (B) the office for which the convention or committee nominated the candidate.
4855  (e) A committee appointed at a convention, if authorized by an enabling resolution, may
4856  also make nominations or fill vacancies in nominations made at a convention if the
4857  committee makes the nomination before the deadline for a write-in candidate to file a
4858  declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-601.
4859  (f) The election ballot shall substantially comply with the form prescribed in Chapter 6,
4860  Part 4, Ballot Form Requirements for Municipal Elections, but the party name shall
4861  be included with the candidate's name.
4862     (4)(a) Any third, fourth, or fifth class city or a town may adopt an ordinance before the
4863  May 1 that falls before the regular municipal election that:
4864  (i) exempts the city or town from the other methods of nominating candidates to
4865  municipal office provided in this section; and
4866  (ii) provides for a municipal partisan convention method of nominating candidates as
4867  provided in this Subsection (4).
4868  (b)(i) Any party that was a registered political party at the last regular general
4869  election or regular municipal election is a municipal political party under this
4870  section.
4871  (ii) Any political party may qualify as a municipal political party by presenting a
4872  petition to the city recorder that:
4873  (A) is signed, with a holographic signature, by registered voters within the
4874  municipality equal to at least 20% of the number of votes cast for all
4875  candidates for mayor in the last municipal election at which a mayor was
4876  elected;
4877  (B) is filed with the city recorder or town clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the last
4878  business day before the day on which the municipal party holds a convention to
4879  nominate a candidate under this Subsection (4);
4880  (C) is substantially similar to the form of the signature sheets described in Section
4881  20A-7-303;[ and]
4882  (D) contains the name of the municipal political party using not more than five
4883  words[.] ; and
4884  (E) includes the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the
4885  same size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
4886  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
4887  RECORDS
                                                         - 144 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4888  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you
4889  signed may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an
4890  at-risk voter with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private
4891  record."
4892  (iii) With the assistance of the county clerk, the city recorder or town clerk shall use
4893  the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether each signer
4894  is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition.
4895        (c)(i) If the number of candidates for a particular office does not exceed twice the
4896  number of offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, no primary
4897  election for that office shall be held and the candidates are considered to be
4898  nominated.
4899  (ii) If the number of candidates for a particular office exceeds twice the number of
4900  offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, those candidates for
4901  municipal office shall be nominated at a municipal primary election.
4902        (d) The clerk shall ensure that the partisan municipal primary ballot is similar to the
4903  ballot forms required by Section 20A-6-401 and, as applicable, Section 20A-6-401.1.
4904        (e) After marking a municipal primary ballot, the voter shall deposit the ballot in the
4905  blank ballot box.
4906        (f) Immediately after the canvass, the election judges shall, without examination, destroy
4907  the tickets deposited in the blank ballot box.
4908    (5)(a) A voter who signs a petition under Subsection (4)(b)(ii) may have the voter's
4909        signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
4910        the day on which the petition is filed with the city recorder or town clerk, submitting
4911        to the city recorder or town clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
4912        removed.
4913        (b) A statement described in Subsection (5)(a) shall comply with the requirements
4914  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
4915        (c) With the assistance of the county clerk and using the procedures described in
4916  Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the city recorder or town clerk shall determine whether to
4917  remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid
4918  statement requesting removal of the signature.
4919  Section 54. Section 20A-9-405 is amended to read:
4920  20A-9-405 (Effective 05/25/26). Nomination petitions for regular primary
4921    elections.
                                                      - 145 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4922     (1) This section applies to the form and circulation of nomination petitions for regular
4923  primary elections described in Subsection 20A-9-403(3)(a).
4924     (2) A candidate for elective office, and the agents of the candidate, may not circulate
4925  nomination petitions until the candidate has submitted a declaration of candidacy in
4926  accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202(1).
4927     (3) For the manual candidate qualification process, the nomination petitions shall be in
4928  substantially the following form:
4929  (a) the petition shall be printed on paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
4930  (b) the petition shall be ruled with a horizontal line [3/4 inch] .75 inches from the top,
4931  with the space above that line blank for purposes of binding;
4932  (c) the petition shall be headed by a caption stating the purpose of the petition and the
4933  name of the proposed candidate;
4934  (d) the petition shall feature the [word "Warning" followed by the ]following statement
4935  in no less than eight-point, single leaded type:[ "]
4936  "WARNING
4937  It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination petition
4938  with any name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same
4939  candidate, or if the person is not registered to vote in this state.[";]
4940  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
4941  RECORDS
4942  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
4943  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
4944  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
4945  (e) the petition shall feature 10 lines spaced [one-half inch] .5 inches apart and
4946  consecutively numbered one through 10;
4947  (f) the signature portion of the petition shall be divided into columns headed by the
4948  following titles:
4949  (i) Registered Voter's Printed Name;
4950  (ii) Signature of Registered Voter;
4951  (iii) Party Affiliation of Registered Voter;
4952  (iv) Birth Date or Age (Optional);
4953  (v) Street Address, City, Zip Code; and
4954  (vi) Date of Signature; and
4955  (g) a photograph of the candidate may appear on the nomination petition.
                                                         - 146 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
4956    (4) For the electronic candidate qualification process, the lieutenant governor shall design
4957        an electronic form, using progressive screens, that includes:
4958    (a) the following [warning] statement:
4959  "[Warning: ] WARNING
4960        It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination petition with any
4961        name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same candidate, or if the
4962        person is not registered to vote in this state.["; and]
4963        WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
4964        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
4965        publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
4966        registration record that has been classified as a private record."; and
4967        (b) the following information for each individual who signs the petition:
4968  (i) name;
4969  (ii) party affiliation;
4970  (iii) date of birth or age, (optional);
4971  (iv) street address, city, zip code;
4972  (v) date of signature;
4973  (vi) other information required under Section 20A-21-201; and
4974  (vii) other information required by the lieutenant governor.
4975    (5) For the manual candidate qualification process, if one or more nomination petitions are
4976        bound together, a page shall be bound to the nomination petition(s) that features the following
4977        printed verification statement to be signed and dated by the petition circulator:
4978  "Verification
4979  State of Utah, County of ____
4980  I, ____, of ____, hereby state that:
4981  I am at least 18 years old;
4982  All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were, to the best of
4983        my knowledge, signed by the persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on
4984        the signature sheets, and each of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my
4985        presence;
4986  I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
4987        street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah."
4988    (6) The lieutenant governor shall prepare and make public model nomination petition forms
4989        and associated instructions.
                                                          - 147 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
4990     (7) A nomination petition circulator:
4991  (a) must be at least 18 years old; and
4992  (b) may affiliate with any political party.
4993     (8) It is unlawful for any person to:
4994  (a) knowingly sign the nomination petition described in this section or Section
4995  20A-9-408:
4996  (i) with any name other than the person's own name;
4997  (ii) more than once for the same candidate; or
4998  (iii) if the person is not registered to vote in this state;
4999  (b) sign the verification of a signature for a nomination petition if the person:
5000  (i) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
5001  nomination petition; or
5002  (ii) knows that a person whose signature appears on the nomination petition is not
5003  registered to vote in this state;
5004  (c) pay compensation to any person to sign a nomination petition; or
5005  (d) pay compensation to any person to circulate a nomination petition, if the
5006  compensation is based directly on the number of signatures submitted to a filing
5007  officer rather than on the number of signatures verified or on some other basis.
5008     (9) Any person violating Subsection (8) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
5009     (10)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition may have the voter's signature removed
5010  from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on which the
5011  candidate files the petition with the appropriate filing officer, submitting to the filing
5012  officer a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
5013  (b) A statement described in Subsection (10)(a) shall comply with the requirements
5014  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5015  (c) The filing officer shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
5016  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a nomination petition
5017  after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
5018  Section 55. Section 20A-9-408 is amended to read:
5019  20A-9-408 (Effective 05/25/26). Signature-gathering process to seek the
5020     nomination of a qualified political party -- Removal of signature.
5021     (1) This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party who
5022  is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office through
5023  the signature-gathering process described in this section.
                                                           - 148 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5024    (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(a), the form of the declaration of candidacy
5025        for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking the
5026        nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
5027        described in Section 20A-9-408.5.
5028    (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
5029        20A-9-202(4), a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking
5030        the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at
5031        the next general election shall:
5032        (a) except to the extent otherwise provided in Subsection (13)(a), during the applicable
5033  declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, and before
5034  gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a form approved
5035  by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy that
5036  includes:
5037  (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
5038  political party under this section;
5039  (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
5040  nomination;
5041  (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
5042  (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
5043  (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
5044        (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
5045  person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
5046  period described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
5047        (c) pay the filing fee.
5048    (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(2)(a), a member of a qualified political party
5049        who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
5050        office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at
5051        the next general election shall:
5052        (a) during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section
5053  20A-9-201.5, and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing
5054  officer on a form approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather
5055  signatures for candidacy that includes:
5056  (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
5057  political party under this section;
                                                      - 149 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5058  (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
5059  nomination;
5060  (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
5061  (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
5062  (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
5063  (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
5064  person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
5065  period described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
5066  (c) pay the filing fee.
5067     (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii), a lieutenant governor candidate who
5068  files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
5069  political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the applicable
5070  declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, file a
5071  declaration of candidacy and submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names
5072  the lieutenant governor candidate as a joint-ticket running mate.
5073     (6) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the certification described in Subsection
5074  20A-9-701(1) also includes the name of each candidate nominated by a qualified
5075  political party under this section.
5076     (7) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701(2), the ballot shall, for each candidate who is
5077  nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified
5078  political party that nominated the candidate.
5079     (8) A member of a qualified political party may seek the nomination of the qualified
5080  political party for an elective office by:
5081  (a) complying with the requirements described in this section; and
5082  (b) collecting signatures, on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
5083  with Subsection 20A-9-405(3), during the period beginning on the day on which the
5084  member files a notice of intent to gather signatures and ending at the applicable
5085  deadline described in Subsection (12), in the following amounts:
5086  (i) for a statewide race, 28,000 signatures of registered voters in the state who are
5087  permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
5088  candidates in a primary election;
5089  (ii) except as provided in Subsection (13)(b), for a congressional district race, 7,000
5090  signatures of registered voters who are residents of the congressional district and
5091  are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political
                                                          - 150 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5092  party's candidates in a primary election;
5093  (iii) for a state Senate district race, 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are
5094  residents of the state Senate district and are permitted by the qualified political
5095  party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
5096  (iv) for a state House district race, 1,000 signatures of registered voters who are
5097  residents of the state House district and are permitted by the qualified political
5098  party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
5099  (v) for a State Board of Education race, the lesser of:
5100  (A) 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the State Board of
5101  Education district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
5102  the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election; or
5103  (B) 3% of the registered voters of the qualified political party who are residents of
5104  the applicable State Board of Education district; and
5105  (vi) for a county office race, signatures of 3% of the registered voters who are
5106  residents of the area permitted to vote for the county office and are permitted by
5107  the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in
5108  a primary election.
5109    (9)(a) This Subsection (9) applies only to the manual candidate qualification process.
5110        (b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
5111  qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, using
5112  the manual candidate qualification process, the member shall:
5113  (i) collect the signatures on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
5114  with Subsection 20A-9-405(3), using the same circulation and verification
5115  requirements described in Sections 20A-7-105 and 20A-7-204; and
5116  (ii) in accordance with Section 20A-9-408.3, submit the signatures to the election
5117  officer before the applicable deadline described in Subsection (12).
5118        (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), and in
5119  accordance with Section 20A-9-408.3, the election officer shall, no later than the
5120  earlier of 14 calendar days after the day on which the election officer receives the
5121  signatures, or one day before the day on which the qualified political party holds the
5122  convention to select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets
5123  relate:
5124  (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
5125  packet to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old;
                                                      - 151 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5126  (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (9)(c)(i) who is not at
5127  least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney;
5128  (iii) with the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, determine whether each
5129  signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition, using the same
5130  method, described in Section 20A-1-1002, used to verify a signature on a petition;
5131  and
5132  (iv) certify whether each name is that of a registered voter who is qualified to sign the
5133  signature packet.
5134  (d)(i) A registered voter who physically signs a form under Subsections (8) and (9)(b)
5135  may have the voter's signature removed from the form by, no later than 5 p.m.
5136  three business days after the day on which the member submits the signature form
5137  to the election officer, submitting to the election officer a statement requesting
5138  that the voter's signature be removed.
5139  (ii) A statement described in Subsection (9)(d)(i) shall comply with the requirements
5140  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5141  (iii) With the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, the election officer shall
5142  use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether
5143  to remove an individual's signature after receiving a timely, valid statement
5144  requesting removal of the signature.
5145  (e)(i) An election officer shall, in accordance with this Subsection (9)(e) and rules
5146  made under Section 20A-3a-106, conduct regular audits of signature comparisons
5147  made between signatures gathered under this section and voter signatures
5148  maintained by the election officer.
5149  (ii) An individual who conducts an audit of signature comparisons under this section
5150  may not audit the individual's own work.
5151  (iii) The election officer shall:
5152  (A) audit 1% of all signature comparisons described in Subsection (9)(e)(i) to
5153  determine the accuracy of the comparisons made;
5154  (B) record the individuals who conducted the audit;
5155  (C) record the audit results;
5156  (D) provide additional training or staff reassignments, as needed, based on the
5157  results of an audit described in Subsection (9)(e)(i); and
5158  (E) record any remedial action taken.
5159  (iv) The audit results described in Subsection (9)(e)(iii)(C) are a public record.
                                                        - 152 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5160        (f) An election officer who certifies signatures under Subsection (9)(c) or
5161  20A-9-403(3)(d) shall, after certifying enough signatures to establish that a candidate
5162  has reached the applicable signature threshold described in Subsection (8) or
5163  20A-9-403(3)(a), as applicable, continue to certify signatures submitted for the
5164  candidate in excess of the number of signatures required, until the election officer
5165  either:
5166  (i) certifies signatures equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold; or
5167  (ii) has reviewed all signatures submitted for the candidate before reaching an
5168  amount equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold.
5169    (10)(a) This Subsection (10) applies only to the electronic candidate qualification
5170        process.
5171        (b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
5172  qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, the
5173  member shall, before the deadline described in Subsection (12), collect signatures
5174  electronically:
5175  (i) in accordance with Section 20A-21-201; and
5176  (ii) using progressive screens, in a format approved by the lieutenant governor, that
5177  complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(4).
5178        (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), the
5179  election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 calendar days after the day on
5180  which the election officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which
5181  the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective
5182  office to which the signature packets relate:
5183  (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
5184  to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old; and
5185  (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (10)(c)(i) who is not
5186  at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney.
5187    (11)(a) An individual may not gather signatures under this section until after the
5188        individual files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
5189        section.
5190        (b) An individual who files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy,
5191  described in Subsection (3)(a) or (4)(a), is, beginning on the day on which the
5192  individual files the notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy:
5193  (i) required to comply with the reporting requirements that a candidate for office is
                                                       - 153 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5194  required to comply with; and
5195  (ii) subject to the same enforcement provisions, and civil and criminal penalties, that
5196  apply to a candidate for office in relation to the reporting requirements described
5197  in Subsection (11)(b)(i).
5198  (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), or
5199  Subsections (8) and (10)(b), the election officer shall, no later than the day before the
5200  day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee
5201  for the elective office to which the signature packets relate, notify the qualified
5202  political party and the lieutenant governor of the name of each member of the
5203  qualified political party who qualifies as a nominee of the qualified political party,
5204  under this section, for the elective office to which the convention relates.
5205  (d) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
5206  section, the lieutenant governor shall post the notice of intent to gather signatures for
5207  candidacy on the lieutenant governor's website in the same location that the
5208  lieutenant governor posts a declaration of candidacy.
5209     (12) The deadline before which a member of a qualified political party must collect and
5210  submit signatures to the election officer under this section is 5 p.m. on the last business
5211  day that is at least 14 calendar days before the day on which the qualified political
5212  party's convention for the office begins.
5213     (13) For the 2026 election year only, an individual who desires to gather signatures to seek
5214  the nomination of a qualified political party for the office of United States representative
5215  shall:
5216  (a) in accordance with Subsection (3)(a), file a notice of intent to gather signatures
5217  during the period beginning at 8 a.m. on the first business day of January and ending
5218  at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026; and
5219  (b) during the period beginning on the day on which the individual files the notice of
5220  intent to gather signatures and ending at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026, on a form
5221  approved by the lieutenant governor that complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(3),
5222  collect 7,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the state and are
5223  permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
5224  candidates in a primary election.
5225  Section 56. Section 20A-9-502 is amended to read:
5226  20A-9-502 (Effective 05/25/26). Certificate of nomination -- Contents --
5227     Circulation -- Verification -- Criminal penalty -- Removal of petition signature.
                                                         - 154 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5228    (1) The candidate shall:
5229    (a) prepare a certificate of nomination in substantially the following form:
5230  "State of Utah, County of ______________________________________________
5231  I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming an unaffiliated candidate for the
5232        political group designated as ____ for the office of ____. I do solemnly swear that I can
5233        qualify to hold that office both legally and constitutionally if selected, and that I reside at ____
5234        Street, in the city of ____, county of ____, state of ______, zip code ____, phone ____, and
5235        that I am providing, or have provided, the required number of holographic signatures of
5236        registered voters required by law; that as a candidate at the next election I will not knowingly
5237        violate any election or campaign law; that, if filing via a designated agent for an office other
5238        than president of the United States, I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire candidate
5239        filing period; I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I
5240        understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office
5241        and removal of my name from the ballot.
5242
                                                                __________________________________________
5243
                                                 Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______(month\day\year).
5244
                                                                __________________________________________
5245
                                                    Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oaths)";
5246        (b) for each signature packet, bind signature sheets to a copy of the certificate of
5247  nomination and the circulator verification, that:
5248  (i) are printed on sheets of paper [8-1/2] 8.5 inches long and 11 inches wide;
5249  (ii) are ruled with a horizontal line [3/4 inch] .75 inches from the top, with the space
5250  above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
5251  (iii) contain the name of the proposed candidate and the words "Unaffiliated
5252  Candidate Certificate of Nomination Petition" printed directly below the
5253  horizontal line;
5254  (iv) contain the [word "Warning" printed] following statement, directly under the
5255  words described in Subsection (1)(b)(iii)[;] ,
5256    [(v) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed] in not less
5257        than eight-point, single leaded type:
                                                      - 155 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5258  "WARNING
5259  ["]It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a certificate of nomination
5260  signature sheet with any name other than the person's own name or more than once for the
5261  same candidate or if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
5262  become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the signatures.[";]
5263  WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
5264  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
5265  publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
5266  registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
5267     [(vi)] (v) contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection [
5268  (1)(b)(v)] (1)(b)(iv):
5269  "Each signer says:
5270  I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
5271  I am registered to vote in Utah or intend to become registered to vote in Utah before the
5272  county clerk certifies my signature; and
5273  My street address is written correctly after my name.";
5274  [(vii)] (vi) contain horizontally ruled lines, [3/8 inch] .375 inches apart under the
5275  statement described in Subsection [(1)(b)(vi)] (1)(b)(v); and
5276  [(viii)] (vii) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
5277  (A) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be [5/8 inch] .625
5278  inches wide, be headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a
5279  light vertical line down the middle;
5280  (B) the next column shall be [2-1/2] 2.5 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's
5281  Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)";
5282  (C) the next column shall be [2-1/2] 2.5 inches wide, headed "Holographic
5283  Signature of Registered Voter";
5284  (D) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age
5285  (Optional)";
5286  (E) the final column shall be [4-3/8] 4.375 inches wide, headed "Street Address,
5287  City, Zip Code"; and
5288  (F) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
5289  information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with
5290  voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may
5291  not be certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition
                                                        - 156 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5292  signatures are certified or if the information you provide does not match your
5293  voter registration records."; and
5294    (c) bind a final page to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that contains,
5295        except as provided by Subsection (3), the following printed statement:
5296  "Verification
5297  State of Utah, County of ____
5298  I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
5299  I am at least 18 years old;
5300  All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
5301        persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on the signature sheets, and each
5302        of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my presence;
5303  I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
5304        street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or will register to
5305        vote in Utah before the county clerk certifies the signatures on the signature sheet.
5306  ______________________________________________________________________
5307  (Signature)     (Residence Address)  (Date)".
5308    (2) An agent designated to file a certificate of nomination under Subsection
5309        20A-9-503(2)(b) or (4)(b) may not sign the form described in Subsection (1)(a).
5310    (3)(a) The candidate shall circulate the nomination petition and ensure that the person in
5311        whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
5312  (i) is at least 18 years old; and
5313  (ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or more
5314  signature sheets that are bound together.
5315        (b) A person may not sign the circulator verification if the person signed a signature
5316  sheet bound to the verification.
5317    (4)(a) It is unlawful for any person to:
5318  (i) knowingly sign a certificate of nomination signature sheet:
5319  (A) with any name other than the person's own name;
5320  (B) more than once for the same candidate; or
5321  (C) if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
5322  become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the
5323  signatures; or
5324  (ii) sign the verification of a certificate of nomination signature sheet if the person:
5325  (A) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
                                                      - 157 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5326  certificate of nomination signature sheet; or
5327  (B) knows that a person whose signature appears on the certificate of nomination
5328  signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
5329  become registered to vote in this state.
5330  (b) Any person violating this Subsection (4) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
5331     (5)(a) To qualify for placement on the general election ballot, the candidate shall, no
5332  earlier than the start of the applicable declaration of candidacy period described in
5333  Section 20A-9-201.5 and no later than 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in which the
5334  election will be held:
5335  (i) comply with Subsection 20A-9-503(1); and
5336  (ii) submit each signature packet to the county clerk where the majority of the
5337  signatures in the packet were collected, with signatures totaling:
5338  (A) at least 1,000 registered voters residing within the state when the nomination
5339  is for an office to be filled by the voters of the entire state; or
5340  (B) at least 300 registered voters residing within a political division or at least 5%
5341  of the registered voters residing within a political division, whichever is less,
5342  when the nomination is for an office to be filled by the voters of any political
5343  division smaller than the state.
5344  (b) A candidate has not complied with Subsection (5)(a)(ii), unless the county clerks
5345  verify that each required signature is a valid signature of a registered voter who is
5346  eligible to sign the signature packet and has not signed a signature packet to nominate
5347  another candidate for the same office.
5348  (c) In reviewing the signature packets, the county clerk shall count and certify only those
5349  persons who signed with a holographic signature, who:
5350  (i) are registered voters within the political division that the candidate seeks to
5351  represent; and
5352  (ii) did not sign any other certificate of nomination for that office.
5353  (d) The county clerk shall count and certify the number of registered voters who validly
5354  signed a signature packet, no later than 30 calendar days after the day on which the
5355  candidate submits the signature packet.
5356  (e) The candidate may supplement the signatures or amend the certificate of nomination
5357  or declaration of candidacy at any time on or before 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in
5358  which the election will be held.
5359  (f) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to
                                                        - 158 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5360  determine whether a signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the signature
5361  packet.
5362    (6)(a) A voter who signs a signature packet under this section may have the voter's
5363        signature removed from the signature packet by, no later than 5 p.m. three business
5364        days after the day on which the candidate submits the signature packet to the county
5365        clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature
5366        be removed.
5367        (b) A statement described in Subsection (6)(a) shall comply with the requirements
5368  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5369        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
5370  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a signature packet after
5371  receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
5372  Section 57. Section 20A-15-103 is amended to read:
5373  20A-15-103 (Effective 05/25/26). Delegates -- Candidacy -- Qualifications --
5374    Nominating procedures -- Removal of petition signature.
5375    (1) Candidates for the office of delegate to the ratification convention shall be citizens,
5376        residents of Utah, and at least 21 years old.
5377    (2) Persons wishing to be delegates to the ratification convention shall:
5378        (a) circulate a nominating petition meeting the requirements of this section; and
5379        (b) obtain the signature of at least 100 registered voters.
5380    (3)(a) A single nominating petition may nominate any number of candidates up to 21,
5381        the total number of delegates to be elected.
5382        (b) Nominating petitions may not contain anything identifying a candidate's party or
5383  political affiliation.
5384        (c) Each nominating petition shall contain a written statement signed by each nominee,
5385  indicating either that the candidate will:
5386  (i) vote for ratification of the proposed amendment; or
5387  (ii) vote against ratification of the proposed amendment.
5388        (d) A nominating petition containing the names of more than one nominee may not
5389  contain the name of any nominee whose stated position in the nominating petition is
5390  inconsistent with that of any other nominee listed in the petition.
5391        (e) The first page of a nominating petition described in this section shall include the
5392  following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
5393  statements on the page:
                                                     - 159 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5394  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
5395  RECORDS
5396  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
5397  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
5398  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
5399     (4)(a) A candidate shall file the candidate's nominating petition with the lieutenant
5400  governor no later than 5 p.m. on the last business day that is at least 40 calendar days
5401  before the proclaimed date of the election.
5402  (b) Within 10 calendar days after the last day for filing the petitions, the lieutenant
5403  governor shall:
5404  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether a signer
5405  is a registered voter;
5406  (ii) declare nominated the 21 nominees in favor of ratification and the 21 nominees
5407  against ratification whose nominating petitions have been signed by the largest
5408  number of registered voters;
5409  (iii) decide any ties by lot drawn by the lieutenant governor; and
5410  (iv) certify the nominated candidates of each group to the county clerk of each county
5411  within the state.
5412     (5)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition under this section may have the voter's
5413  signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
5414  the last day for filing the petitions, submitting to the lieutenant governor a statement
5415  requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
5416  (b) A statement described in Subsection (5)(a) shall comply with the requirements
5417  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5418  (c) The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
5419  20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
5420  petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
5421  Section 58. Section 53G-3-301.1 is amended to read:
5422  53G-3-301.1 (Effective 05/25/26). Creation of a new school district -- Citizens'
5423     petition -- Procedures to follow -- Removal or reinstatement of signature.
5424     (1) Citizens may file a petition to create a new school district in accordance with this
5425  section and Section 53G-3-301.
5426     (2)(a) The county clerk shall ensure that a petition described in Subsection (1) is signed
5427  by registered voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new
                                                        - 160 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5428        school district in an amount equal to at least 10% of all votes cast within the
5429        geographic boundaries of the proposed new school district for all candidates for
5430        president of the United States at the last regular general election at which a president
5431        of the United States was elected.
5432        (b) The sponsors of a petition described in Subsection (1) shall file the petition with the
5433  clerk of each county in which any part of the proposed new school district is located.
5434        (c) The petition sponsors shall ensure that the petition described in Subsection (1):
5435  (i) indicates the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter
5436  who signs the petition;
5437  (ii) describes the proposed new school district boundaries; and
5438  (iii) designates up to five signers of the petition as sponsors, designating one as the
5439  contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each.
5440        (d) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
5441  statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
5442  page:
5443  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
5444  RECORDS
5445  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
5446  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
5447  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
5448    (3)(a)(i) A signer of a petition described in Subsection (1) may remove or, once
5449        removed, reinstate the signer's signature by filing a written statement requesting
5450        removal or reinstatement with the county clerk no later than three business days
5451        after the day on which the petition is filed with the county clerk.
5452  (ii) A statement described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) shall comply with the requirements
5453  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5454  (iii) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3)
5455  to determine whether to remove or reinstate an individual's signature from a
5456  petition after receiving a timely, valid statement.
5457        (b) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to
5458  determine whether the petition has been signed by the required number of registered
5459  voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new school
5460  district.
5461    (4) Within 14 days after the day on which a petition described in Subsection (1) is filed, the
                                                     - 161 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5462  clerk of each county with which the request or petition is filed shall:
5463  (a) determine whether the petition complies with Subsections (2) and (3), as applicable,
5464  and Section 53G-3-301; and
5465  (b)(i) if the county clerk determines that the request or petition complies with the
5466  applicable requirements:
5467  (A) certify the petition and deliver the certified petition to the county legislative
5468  body; and
5469  (B) mail or deliver written notification of the certification to the contact sponsor;
5470  or
5471  (ii) if the county clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of the
5472  applicable requirements, reject the petition and notify the contact sponsor in
5473  writing of the rejection and reasons for the rejection.
5474     (5)(a) If the county clerk fails to certify or reject a petition within the time specified in
5475  Subsection (4), the petition is considered to be certified.
5476  (b) If the county clerk rejects a petition, the individual who submitted the petition may
5477  amend the petition to correct the deficiencies for which the county clerk rejected the
5478  petition and refile the petition.
5479     (6) Within 10 days after the day on which a county legislative body receives a certified
5480  petition as described in Subsection (4) or (5), the county legislative body shall request a
5481  feasibility study.
5482     (7)(a) The county legislative body shall:
5483  (i) provide for a 30-day public comment period to begin on the day the county
5484  legislative body receives the study under Subsection (6); and
5485  (ii) hold at least two public hearings on the study and recommendations.
5486  (b) Within five business days after the day on which the public comment period ends,
5487  the legislative body of each county with which a petition is filed shall vote on the
5488  creation of the proposed new school district.
5489  (c) A county legislative body approves a petition proposing a new school district if a
5490  majority of the members of the legislative body vote in favor of the petition.
5491     (8)(a) Within five business days after the day on which a county legislative body
5492  approves a petition proposing a new school district under Subsection (7), the county
5493  legislative body shall provide notice of the approval and a copy of the petition to
5494  which the approval relates to the county clerk of each county described in Subsection
5495  (2)(b).
                                                        - 162 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5496        (b) If each county described in Subsection (2)(b) approves a petition proposing a new
5497  school district, the county clerks of the counties shall submit the proposal for the
5498  creation of a new school district to all legal voters in the proposed new school district
5499  for approval or rejection at the next regular general election that is at least 65 days
5500  after the day on which all of the counties described in Subsection (2)(b) have
5501  complied with Subsection (8)(a).
5502        (c) The new school district proposed in the petition and the reorganized new school
5503  district are created if a majority of the voters in the proposed new school district vote
5504  in favor of creating the new school district.
5505  Section 59. Section 53G-3-401 is amended to read:
5506  53G-3-401 (Effective 05/25/26). Consolidation of school districts -- Resolution by
5507    local school board members -- Petition by electors -- Certification of petition signatures --
5508    Removal of signature -- Election.
5509    (1) Two or more school districts may unite and form a single school district in one of the
5510        following ways:
5511        (a) a majority of the members of each of the local school boards of the affected districts
5512  shall approve and present to the county legislative body of the affected counties a
5513  resolution to consolidate the districts. Once this is done, consolidation shall be
5514  established under this chapter; or
5515        (b) a majority of the members of the local school board of each affected district, or 15%
5516  of the registered voters in each of the affected districts, shall sign and present a
5517  petition to the county legislative body of each affected county. The question shall be
5518  voted upon at an election called for that purpose, which shall be the next general or
5519  municipal election. Consolidation shall occur if a majority of those voting on the
5520  question in each district favor consolidation.
5521    (2) The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
5522        statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
5523        page:
5524        "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
5525        If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
5526        may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
5527        with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
5528    [(2)] (3) If a registered voter petition is presented to the county legislative body under
5529        Subsection (1)(b):
                                                      - 163 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5530  (a) within three business days after the day on which the county legislative body
5531  receives the petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the
5532  county clerk; and
5533  (b) within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
5534  county legislative body, the county clerk shall:
5535  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
5536  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (1)(b) for a registered voter
5537  petition;
5538  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in one of the
5539  affected districts; and
5540  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
5541     [(3)] (4)(a) A voter who signs a registered voter petition under Subsection (1)(b) may
5542  have the voter's signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business
5543  days after the day on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the
5544  county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's
5545  signature be removed.
5546  (b) A statement described in Subsection [(3)(a)] (4)(a) shall comply with the
5547  requirements described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5548  (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
5549  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
5550  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
5551     [(4)] (5) The elections required under Subsection (1)(b) shall be conducted and the returns
5552  canvassed as provided by election laws.
5553  Section 60. Section 53G-3-501 is amended to read:
5554  53G-3-501 (Effective 05/25/26). Transfer of a portion of a school district --
5555     Required boundary adjustments -- Local school board petition -- Elector petition --
5556     Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Transfer election.
5557     (1)(a) Part of a school district may be transferred to another district in one of the
5558  following ways:
5559  [(a)] (i) presentation to the county legislative body of each of the affected counties of
5560  a resolution requesting the transfer, approved by at least four-fifths of the
5561  members of the local school board of each affected school district;
5562  [(b)] (ii) presentation to the county legislative body of each affected county of a
5563  petition requesting that the voters vote on the transfer, signed by a majority of the
                                                          - 164 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5564  members of the local school board of each affected school district;
5565  [(c)] (iii) presentation to the county legislative body of each affected county of a
5566  petition requesting that the voters vote on the transfer, signed by 15% of the
5567  registered voters in each of the affected school districts within that county; or
5568  [(d)] (iv) for a boundary adjustment required under Subsection (2) or (3), submission
5569  to the county legislative body of each of the affected counties of a resolution
5570  requesting the transfer from the local school board of the school district that is
5571  required to initiate the boundary adjustment.
5572        (b) The first page of a petition described in Subsection (1)(a)(iii) shall include the
5573  following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
5574  statements on the page:
5575  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
5576  RECORDS
5577  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
5578  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
5579  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
5580    (2)(a) As used in this Subsection (2):
5581  (i) "Expansion area" means the area of land approved for annexation and located
5582  outside the boundaries of a specified school district.
5583  (ii) "Municipality" means a city or town.
5584  (iii) "Originating school district" means the school district whose boundaries an
5585  expansion area is located within prior to the boundary adjustment required under
5586  Subsection (2)(b).
5587  (iv) "Specified school district" means a school district:
5588  (A) that serves residents within a single municipality; and
5589  (B) for which the municipality whose residents the school district serves enacts an
5590  ordinance in accordance with [Title 10, Chapter 2, Part 4, Annexation] Title 10,
5591  Chapter 2, Part 8, Annexation, approving the annexation of an area of land
5592  located outside the boundaries of the school district.
5593        (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and except as provided in
5594  Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the local school board of a specified school district shall initiate
5595  boundary adjustment proceedings under Subsection [(1)(d)] (1)(a)(iv):
5596  (i) to request the expansion area to be transferred to the specified school district from
5597  the originating school district; and
                                                      - 165 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5598  (ii) by submitting the resolution requesting the transfer, as provided in Subsection [
5599  (1)(d)] (1)(a)(iv), within 60 days after the day on which the municipality enacts the
5600  ordinance approving annexation of the expansion area.
5601  (c)(i) Before initiating the boundary adjustment required under Subsection (2)(b), the
5602  local school board presidents of the specified school district and the originating
5603  school district shall, within the timeframe described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), meet
5604  to determine whether allowing the expansion area to remain within the boundaries
5605  of the originating school district is in the best interests of the municipality's
5606  residents.
5607  (ii) The requirements of Subsection (2)(b) do not apply to a specified school district
5608  if, upon meeting under Subsection (2)(c)(i), the presidents of the local school
5609  boards mutually agree that allowing the expansion area to remain within the
5610  boundaries of the originating school district is in the best interests of the
5611  municipality's residents.
5612     (3)(a) This Subsection (3) applies to a school district that:
5613  (i) serves residents within a single municipality; and
5614  (ii) in calendar year 2018, completed construction on a secondary school within an
5615  area of land located outside the boundaries of the school district.
5616  (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the local school board of a
5617  school district described in Subsection (3)(a) shall initiate boundary adjustment
5618  proceedings under Subsection [(1)(d)] (1)(a)(iv):
5619  (i) to request the land described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii) to be transferred to the school
5620  district from the school district whose boundaries the land is located within; and
5621  (ii) by submitting the resolution requesting the transfer, as provided in Subsection [
5622  (1)(d)] (1)(a)(iv), on or before June 1, 2024.
5623     (4) If a registered voter petition is presented to the county legislative body under Subsection [
5624  (1)(c)] (1)(a)(iii):
5625  (a) within three business days after the day on which the county legislative body
5626  receives the petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the
5627  county clerk; and
5628  (b) within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
5629  county legislative body, the county clerk shall:
5630  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
5631  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection [(1)(c)] (1)(a)(iii) for a registered
                                                        - 166 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5632  voter petition;
5633  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in one of the
5634  affected districts; and
5635  (iii) deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
5636    (5)(a) A voter who signs a registered voter petition under Subsection [(1)(c)] (1)(a)(iii)
5637        may have the voter's signature removed from the petition by, no later than three
5638        business days after the day on which the county legislative body provides the petition
5639        to the county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the
5640        voter's signature be removed.
5641        (b) A statement described in Subsection (5)(a) shall comply with the requirements
5642  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
5643        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
5644  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
5645  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
5646    (6)(a) The voters of each affected district shall vote on the transfer requested under
5647        Subsection [(1)(b) or (c)] (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) at an election called for that purpose, which
5648        may be the next general election.
5649        (b) The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed as provided by election
5650  law.
5651        (c) A transfer is effected only if a majority of votes cast by the voters in both the
5652  proposed transferor district and in the proposed transferee district are in favor of the
5653  transfer.
5654  Section 61. Section 53H-3-1304 is enacted to read:
5655  53H-3-1304 (Effective 04/06/26). Research university -- Duty to research.
5656    (1) As used in this section, "research university" means the University of Utah or Utah State
5657        University.
5658    (2) The conduct of research by a research university is, for purposes of Section 20A-2-605,
5659        an official duty imposed by law on the research university.
5660  Section 62. Section 63G-2-202 is amended to read:
5661  63G-2-202 (Effective upon governor's approval). Access to private, controlled,
5662    and protected documents.
5663    (1) Except as provided in Subsection (11)(a), a governmental entity:
5664        (a) shall, upon request, disclose a private record to:
5665  (i) the subject of the record;
                                                      - 167 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5666  (ii) the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who is the subject of the
5667  record;
5668  (iii) the legal guardian of a legally incapacitated individual who is the subject of the
5669  record;
5670  (iv) any other individual who:
5671  (A) has a power of attorney from the subject of the record;
5672  (B) submits a notarized release from the subject of the record or the individual's
5673  legal representative dated no more than 90 days before the date the request is
5674  made; or
5675  (C) if the record is a medical record described in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(b), is a
5676  health care provider, as defined in Section 26B-8-501, if releasing the record or
5677  information in the record is consistent with normal professional practice and
5678  medical ethics; or
5679  (v) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
5680  (A) court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
5681  (B) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative
5682  Subpoena Powers; and
5683  (b) may disclose a private record described in Subsections 63G-2-302(1)(j) through (n),
5684  without complying with Section 63G-2-206, to another governmental entity for a
5685  purpose related to administering:
5686  (i) the voter registration list; or
5687  (ii) [the administration of ]an election.
5688     (2)(a) Upon request, a governmental entity shall disclose a controlled record to:
5689  (i) a physician, physician assistant, psychologist, certified social worker, insurance
5690  provider or producer, or a government public health agency upon submission of:
5691  (A) a release from the subject of the record that is dated no more than 90 days
5692  prior to the date the request is made; and
5693  (B) a signed acknowledgment of the terms of disclosure of controlled information
5694  as provided by Subsection (2)(b); and
5695  (ii) any person to whom the record must be disclosed pursuant to:
5696  (A) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
5697  (B) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative
5698  Subpoena Powers.
5699  (b) A person who receives a record from a governmental entity in accordance with
                                                        - 168 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5700  Subsection (2)(a)(i) may not disclose controlled information from that record to any
5701  person, including the subject of the record.
5702    (3) If there is more than one subject of a private or controlled record, the portion of the
5703        record that pertains to another subject shall be segregated from the portion that the
5704        requester is entitled to inspect.
5705    (4) Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection (11)(b), a governmental entity shall
5706        disclose a protected record to:
5707        (a) the person that submitted the record;
5708        (b) any other individual who:
5709  (i) has a power of attorney from all persons, governmental entities, or political
5710  subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected
5711  classification; or
5712  (ii) submits a notarized release from all persons, governmental entities, or political
5713  subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected
5714  classification or from their legal representatives dated no more than 90 days prior
5715  to the date the request is made;
5716        (c) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
5717  (i) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
5718  (ii) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
5719  Powers; or
5720        (d) the owner of a mobile home park, subject to the conditions of Subsection
5721  41-1a-116(5).
5722    (5) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a governmental entity may disclose a private,
5723        controlled, or protected record to another governmental entity, political subdivision,
5724        state, the United States, or a foreign government only as provided by Section 63G-2-206.
5725    (6) Before releasing a private, controlled, or protected record, the governmental entity shall
5726        obtain evidence of the requester's identity.
5727    (7) A governmental entity shall disclose a record pursuant to the terms of a court order
5728        signed by a judge from a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that:
5729        (a) the record deals with a matter in controversy over which the court has jurisdiction;
5730        (b) the court has considered the merits of the request for access to the record;
5731        (c) the court has considered and, where appropriate, limited the requester's use and
5732  further disclosure of the record in order to protect:
5733  (i) privacy interests in the case of private or controlled records;
                                                        - 169 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5734  (ii) business confidentiality interests in the case of records protected under
5735  Subsection 63G-2-305(1), (2), (40)(a)(ii), or (40)(a)(vi); and
5736  (iii) privacy interests or the public interest in the case of other protected records;
5737  (d) to the extent the record is properly classified private, controlled, or protected, the
5738  interests favoring access, considering limitations thereon, are greater than or equal to
5739  the interests favoring restriction of access; and
5740  (e) where access is restricted by a rule, statute, or regulation referred to in Subsection
5741  63G-2-201(3)(b), the court has authority independent of this chapter to order
5742  disclosure.
5743     (8)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(d), a governmental entity may disclose or
5744  authorize disclosure of private or controlled records for research purposes if the
5745  governmental entity:
5746  (i) determines that the research purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished without
5747  use or disclosure of the information to the researcher in individually identifiable
5748  form;
5749  (ii) determines that:
5750  (A) the proposed research is bona fide; and
5751  (B) the value of the research is greater than or equal to the infringement upon
5752  personal privacy;
5753  (iii)(A) requires the researcher to assure the integrity, confidentiality, and security
5754  of the records; and
5755  (B) requires the removal or destruction of the individual identifiers associated
5756  with the records as soon as the purpose of the research project has been
5757  accomplished;
5758  (iv) prohibits the researcher from:
5759  (A) disclosing the record in individually identifiable form, except as provided in
5760  Subsection (8)(b); or
5761  (B) using the record for purposes other than the research approved by the
5762  governmental entity; and
5763  (v) secures from the researcher a written statement of the researcher's understanding
5764  of and agreement to the conditions of this Subsection (8) and the researcher's
5765  understanding that violation of the terms of this Subsection (8) may subject the
5766  researcher to criminal prosecution under Section 63G-2-801.
5767  (b) A researcher may disclose a record in individually identifiable form if the record is
                                                        - 170 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5768  disclosed for the purpose of auditing or evaluating the research program and no
5769  subsequent use or disclosure of the record in individually identifiable form will be
5770  made by the auditor or evaluator except as provided by this section.
5771        (c) A governmental entity may require indemnification as a condition of permitting
5772  research under this Subsection (8).
5773        (d) A governmental entity may not disclose or authorize disclosure of a private record
5774  for research purposes as described in this Subsection (8) if the private record is a
5775  record described in Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(x).
5776    (9)(a) Under Subsections 63G-2-201(5)(b) and 63G-2-401(6), a governmental entity
5777        may disclose to persons other than those specified in this section records that are:
5778  (i) private under Section 63G-2-302; or
5779  (ii) protected under Section 63G-2-305, subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
5780  business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309.
5781        (b) Under Subsection 63G-2-403(11)(b), the State Records Committee may require the
5782  disclosure to persons other than those specified in this section of records that are:
5783  (i) private under Section 63G-2-302;
5784  (ii) controlled under Section 63G-2-304; or
5785  (iii) protected under Section 63G-2-305, subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
5786  business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309.
5787        (c) Under Subsection 63G-2-404(7), the court may require the disclosure of records that
5788  are private under Section 63G-2-302, controlled under Section 63G-2-304, or
5789  protected under Section 63G-2-305 to persons other than those specified in this
5790  section.
5791    (10)(a) A private record described in Subsection 63G-2-302(2)(f) may only be disclosed
5792        as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(v).
5793        (b) A protected record described in Subsection 63G-2-305(43) may only be disclosed as
5794  provided in Subsection (4)(c) or Section 26B-6-212.
5795    (11)(a) A private, protected, or controlled record described in Section 26B-1-506 shall
5796        be disclosed as required under:
5797  (i) Subsections 26B-1-506(1)(b)and (2); and
5798  (ii) Subsections 26B-1-507(1) and (6).
5799        (b) A record disclosed under Subsection (11)(a) shall retain its character as private,
5800  protected, or controlled.
5801  Section 63. Section 63G-2-210 is amended to read:
                                                      - 171 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5802  63G-2-210 (Effective upon governor's approval). Access to and use of voter or
5803     election information by a government officer.
5804     (1) As used in this section, "government officer" means:
5805  (a) an elected official; or
5806  (b) an officer, employee, volunteer, or agent of a governmental entity.
5807     (2) A government officer may not:
5808  (a) disclose, or attempt to discover, any information from a ballot cast by an identifiable
5809  voter;
5810  (b) except as provided in Subsection (3), disclose in relation to an identifiable voter:
5811  (i) the method by which the voter voted or returned a ballot;
5812  (ii) when or where the voter voted;
5813  (iii) how or when the voter's ballot was received;
5814  (iv) whether a ballot was mailed to the voter;
5815  (v) whether the voter placed postage on a return envelope; or
5816  (vi) any information from the return envelope of a voter.
5817     (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit the disclosure, in mass, of the information [included in
5818  a voting history record, in accordance with Section 20A-5-410] disclosed in accordance
5819  with Title 20A, Chapter 2, Part 6, Provision and Protection of Voter Data.
5820     (4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a government officer who, due to the government
5821  officer's position as a government officer, has access to election records, may not access,
5822  use, copy, or release the information except to the extent that the access, use, copying, or
5823  release:
5824  (a) is reasonably related to a duty of the government officer;
5825  (b) is in accordance with the requirements of law; and
5826  (c) is not done for a primarily personal purpose, including:
5827  (i) a political purpose;
5828  (ii) furthering the government officer's personal agenda; or
5829  (iii) a purpose relating to the government officer's private business, hobbies, or
5830  personal interests.
5831     (5) Subsection (4) does not prevent a government officer from accessing, using, copying, or
5832  releasing government information in the same manner available to a member of the
5833  general public, including by filing a record request under Section 20A-2-603, 20A-2-604,
5834  or 63G-2-204.
5835  Section 64. Section 63G-2-301 is amended to read:
                                                         - 172 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5836  63G-2-301 (Effective 04/06/26). Public records.
5837    (1) As used in this section:
5838        (a) "Business address" means a single address of a governmental agency designated for
5839  the public to contact an employee or officer of the governmental agency.
5840        (b) "Business email address" means a single email address of a governmental agency
5841  designated for the public to contact an employee or officer of the governmental
5842  agency.
5843        (c) "Business telephone number" means a single telephone number of a governmental
5844  agency designated for the public to contact an employee or officer of the
5845  governmental agency.
5846        (d) "Correctional facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-16b-102.
5847    (2) The following records are public except to the extent they contain information expressly
5848        permitted to be treated confidentially under the provisions of Subsections
5849        63G-2-201(3)(b) and (6)(a):
5850        (a) laws;
5851        (b) the name, gender, gross compensation, job title, job description, business address,
5852  business email address, business telephone number, number of hours worked per pay
5853  period, dates of employment, and relevant education, previous employment, and
5854  similar job qualifications of a current or former employee or officer of the
5855  governmental entity, excluding:
5856  (i) undercover law enforcement personnel; and
5857  (ii) investigative personnel if disclosure could reasonably be expected to impair the
5858  effectiveness of investigations or endanger any individual's safety;
5859        (c) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, and orders that are
5860  made by a governmental entity in an administrative, adjudicative, or judicial
5861  proceeding except that if the proceedings were properly closed to the public, the
5862  opinion and order may be withheld to the extent that they contain information that is
5863  private, controlled, or protected;
5864        (d) final interpretations of statutes or rules by a governmental entity unless classified as
5865  protected as provided in Subsection 63G-2-305(17) or (18);
5866        (e) information contained in or compiled from a transcript, minutes, or report of the open
5867  portions of a meeting of a governmental entity as provided by Title 52, Chapter 4,
5868  Open and Public Meetings Act, including the records of all votes of each member of
5869  the governmental entity;
                                                     - 173 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5870  (f) judicial records unless a court orders the records to be restricted under the rules of
5871  civil or criminal procedure or unless the records are private under this chapter;
5872  (g) unless otherwise classified as private under Section 63G-2-303, records or parts of
5873  records filed with or maintained by county recorders, clerks, treasurers, surveyors,
5874  zoning commissions, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the School and
5875  Institutional Trust Lands Administration, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, the
5876  Division of Water Rights, or other governmental entities that give public notice of:
5877  (i) titles or encumbrances to real property;
5878  (ii) restrictions on the use of real property;
5879  (iii) the capacity of persons to take or convey title to real property; or
5880  (iv) tax status for real and personal property;
5881  (h) records of the Department of Commerce that evidence incorporations, mergers, name
5882  changes, and uniform commercial code filings;
5883  (i) data on individuals that would otherwise be private under this chapter if the
5884  individual who is the subject of the record has given the governmental entity written
5885  permission to make the records available to the public;
5886  (j) documentation of the compensation that a governmental entity pays to a contractor or
5887  private provider;
5888  (k) summary data;
5889  [(l) voter registration records, including an individual's voting history, except for a voter
5890  registration record or those parts of a voter registration record that are classified as
5891  private under Subsections 63G-2-302(1)(j) through (n) or withheld under Subsection
5892  20A-2-104(7);]
5893  (l) subject to Title 20A, Chapter 2, Part 6, Provision and Protection of Voter Data,
5894  standard voter data, as defined in Section 20A-2-601, in the voter registration record
5895  of a public registered voter, as defined in Section 20A-2-601;
5896  (m) for an elected official, as defined in Section 11-47-102, a telephone number, if
5897  available, and email address, if available, where that elected official may be reached
5898  as required in Title 11, Chapter 47, Access to Elected Officials;
5899  (n) for a school community council member, a telephone number, if available, and email
5900  address, if available, where that elected official may be reached directly as required
5901  in Section 53G-7-1203;
5902  (o) annual audited financial statements of the Utah Educational Savings Plan described
5903  in Section 53H-10-210; and
                                                        - 174 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5904        (p) an initiative packet, as defined in Section 20A-7-101, and a referendum packet, as
5905  defined in Section 20A-7-101, after the packet is submitted to a county clerk.
5906    (3) The following records are normally public, but to the extent that a record is expressly
5907        exempt from disclosure, access may be restricted under Subsection 63G-2-201(3)(b),
5908        Section 63G-2-302, 63G-2-304, or 63G-2-305:
5909        (a) administrative staff manuals, instructions to staff, and statements of policy;
5910        (b) records documenting a contractor's or private provider's compliance with the terms
5911  of a contract with a governmental entity;
5912        (c) records documenting the services provided by a contractor or a private provider to
5913  the extent the records would be public if prepared by the governmental entity;
5914        (d) contracts entered into by a governmental entity;
5915        (e) any account, voucher, or contract that deals with the receipt or expenditure of funds
5916  by a governmental entity;
5917        (f) records relating to government assistance or incentives publicly disclosed, contracted
5918  for, or given by a governmental entity, encouraging a person to expand or relocate a
5919  business in Utah, except as provided in Subsection 63G-2-305(35);
5920        (g) chronological logs and initial contact reports;
5921        (h) correspondence by and with a governmental entity in which the governmental entity
5922  determines or states an opinion upon the rights of the state, a political subdivision,
5923  the public, or any person;
5924        (i) empirical data contained in drafts if:
5925  (i) the empirical data is not reasonably available to the requester elsewhere in similar
5926  form; and
5927  (ii) the governmental entity is given a reasonable opportunity to correct any errors or
5928  make nonsubstantive changes before release;
5929        (j) drafts that are circulated to anyone other than:
5930  (i) a governmental entity;
5931  (ii) a political subdivision;
5932  (iii) a federal agency if the governmental entity and the federal agency are jointly
5933  responsible for implementation of a program or project that has been legislatively
5934  approved;
5935  (iv) a government-managed corporation; or
5936  (v) a contractor or private provider;
5937        (k) drafts that have never been finalized but were relied upon by the governmental entity
                                                         - 175 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
5938  in carrying out action or policy;
5939  (l) original data in a computer program if the governmental entity chooses not to
5940  disclose the program;
5941  (m) arrest warrants after issuance, except that, for good cause, a court may order
5942  restricted access to arrest warrants prior to service;
5943  (n) search warrants after execution and filing of the return, except that a court, for good
5944  cause, may order restricted access to search warrants prior to trial;
5945  (o) records that would disclose information relating to formal charges or disciplinary
5946  actions against a past or present governmental entity employee if:
5947  (i) the disciplinary action has been completed and all time periods for administrative
5948  appeal have expired; and
5949  (ii) the charges on which the disciplinary action was based were sustained;
5950  (p) records maintained by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the School and
5951  Institutional Trust Lands Administration, or the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining that
5952  evidence mineral production on government lands;
5953  (q) final audit reports;
5954  (r) occupational and professional licenses;
5955  (s) business licenses;
5956  (t) a notice of violation, a notice of agency action under Section 63G-4-201, or similar
5957  records used to initiate proceedings for discipline or sanctions against persons
5958  regulated by a governmental entity, but not including records that initiate employee
5959  discipline; and
5960  (u)(i) records that disclose a standard, regulation, policy, guideline, or rule regarding
5961  the operation of a correctional facility or the care and control of inmates
5962  committed to the custody of a correctional facility; and
5963  (ii) records that disclose the results of an audit or other inspection assessing a
5964  correctional facility's compliance with a standard, regulation, policy, guideline, or
5965  rule described in Subsection (3)(u)(i).
5966     (4) The list of public records in this section is not exhaustive and should not be used to limit
5967  access to records.
5968     The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
5969  Section 65. Section 63G-2-302 is amended to read:
5970  63G-2-302 (Effective 04/06/26). Private records.
5971     (1) The following records are private:
                                                         - 176 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
5972        (a) records concerning an individual's eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits,
5973  social services, welfare benefits, or the determination of benefit levels;
5974        (b) records containing data on individuals describing medical history, diagnosis,
5975  condition, treatment, evaluation, or similar medical data;
5976        (c) records of publicly funded libraries that when examined alone or with other records
5977  identify a patron;
5978        (d) records received by or generated by or for:
5979  (i) the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, except for:
5980  (A) the commission's summary data report that is required under legislative rule;
5981  and
5982  (B) any other document that is classified as public under legislative rule; or
5983  (ii) a Senate or House Ethics Committee in relation to the review of ethics
5984  complaints, unless the record is classified as public under legislative rule;
5985        (e) records received by, or generated by or for, the Independent Executive Branch Ethics
5986  Commission, except as otherwise expressly provided in Title 63A, Chapter 14,
5987  Review of Executive Branch Ethics Complaints;
5988        (f) records received or generated for a Senate confirmation committee concerning
5989  character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual:
5990  (i) if, prior to the meeting, the chair of the committee determines release of the
5991  records:
5992  (A) reasonably could be expected to interfere with the investigation undertaken by
5993  the committee; or
5994  (B) would create a danger of depriving a person of a right to a fair proceeding or
5995  impartial hearing; and
5996  (ii) after the meeting, if the meeting was closed to the public;
5997        (g) employment records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for
5998  employment with, a governmental entity that would disclose that individual's home
5999  address, home telephone number, social security number, insurance coverage, marital
6000  status, or payroll deductions;
6001        (h) records or parts of records under Section 63G-2-303 that a current or former
6002  employee identifies as private according to the requirements of that section;
6003        (i) that part of a record indicating a person's social security number or federal employer
6004  identification number if provided under Section 31A-23a-104, 31A-25-202,
6005  31A-26-202, 58-1-301, 58-55-302, 61-1-4, or 61-2f-203;
                                                     - 177 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6006  (j) that part of a voter registration record identifying a voter's:
6007  (i) driver license or identification card number;
6008  (ii) social security number, or last four digits of the social security number;
6009  (iii) email address;
6010  (iv) [date] day, month, or year of birth; or
6011  (v) phone number;
6012  (k) a voter registration record that is classified as a private record by the lieutenant
6013  governor or a county clerk under Subsection 20A-2-101.1(5)(a)[, 20A-2-104(4)(h),]
6014  or 20A-2-204(4)(b);
6015  (l) a voter registration record [that is withheld under Subsection 20A-2-104(7)] of an
6016  at-risk voter, as defined in Section 20A-2-601;
6017  (m) the following forms and supporting verification:
6018  (i) a withholding request form used, before April 6, 2026, to request that a voter's
6019  voter registration be withheld as a private record, and any verification submitted
6020  in support of the form;
6021  (ii) an at-risk voter designation request form described in [Subsections 20A-2-104(7)
6022  and (8)] Section 20A-2-606 and any verification submitted in support of the form;
6023  (iii) a notice described in Section 20A-2-602; and
6024  (iv) a form relating to a request described in Section 20A-2-603, 20A-2-604,
6025  20A-2-605, or 20A-2-607;
6026  (n) a record or information regarding whether a voter returned a ballot with postage
6027  attached;
6028  (o) a record that:
6029  (i) contains information about an individual;
6030  (ii) is voluntarily provided by the individual; and
6031  (iii) goes into an electronic database that:
6032  (A) is designated by and administered under the authority of the [Chief
6033  Information Officer] chief information officer; and
6034  (B) acts as a repository of information about the individual that can be
6035  electronically retrieved and used to facilitate the individual's online interaction
6036  with a state agency;
6037  (p) information provided to the [Commissioner of Insurance] commissioner of insurance
6038  under:
6039  (i) Subsection 31A-23a-115(3)(a);
                                                        - 178 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6040  (ii) Subsection 31A-23a-302(4); or
6041  (iii) Subsection 31A-26-210(4);
6042        (q) information obtained through a criminal background check under Title 11, Chapter
6043  40, Criminal Background Checks by Political Subdivisions Operating Water Systems;
6044        (r) information provided by an offender that is:
6045  (i) required by the registration requirements of Title 53, Chapter 29, Sex, Kidnap, and
6046  Child Abuse Offender Registry; and
6047  (ii) not required to be made available to the public under Subsection 53-29-404(3)(a);
6048        (s) a statement and any supporting documentation filed with the attorney general in
6049  accordance with Section 34-45-107, if the federal law or action supporting the filing
6050  involves homeland security;
6051        (t) electronic toll collection customer account information received or collected under
6052  Section 72-6-118 and customer information described in Section 17B-2a-815
6053  received or collected by a public transit district, including contact and payment
6054  information and customer travel data;
6055        (u) an email address provided by a military or overseas voter under Section 20A-16-501;
6056        (v) a completed military-overseas ballot that is electronically transmitted under Title
6057  20A, Chapter 16, Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act;
6058        (w) records received by or generated by or for the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review
6059  Commission established in Section 63A-15-201, except for:
6060  (i) the commission's summary data report that is required in Section 63A-15-202; and
6061  (ii) any other document that is classified as public in accordance with Title 63A,
6062  Chapter 15, Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission;
6063        (x) a record described in Section 53G-9-604 that verifies that a parent was notified of an
6064  incident or threat;
6065        (y) a criminal background check or credit history report conducted in accordance with
6066  Section 63A-3-201;
6067        (z) a record described in Subsection 53-5a-104(7);
6068        (aa) on a record maintained by a county for the purpose of administering property taxes,
6069  an individual's:
6070  (i) email address;
6071  (ii) phone number; or
6072  (iii) personal financial information related to a person's payment method;
6073        (bb) a record submitted by a taxpayer to establish the taxpayer's eligibility for an
                                                     - 179 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6074  exemption, deferral, abatement, or relief under:
6075  (i) Title 59, Chapter 2, Part 11, Exemptions; or
6076  (ii) Title 59, Chapter 2a, Tax Relief Through Property Tax;
6077  (cc) a record provided by the State Tax Commission in response to a request under
6078  Subsection 59-1-403(4)(y)(iii);
6079  (dd) a record of the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel regarding an individual
6080  child welfare case, as described in Subsection 36-33-103(3);
6081  (ee) a record relating to drug or alcohol testing of a state employee under Section
6082  63A-17-1004;
6083  (ff) a record relating to a request by a state elected official or state employee who has
6084  been threatened to the Division of Technology Services to remove personal
6085  identifying information from the open web under Section 63A-16-109;
6086  (gg) a record including confidential information as that term is defined in Section
6087  67-27-106; and
6088  (hh) a record or notice received or generated under Title 53, Chapter 30, Security
6089  Improvements Act, relating to:
6090  (i) an application for certification described in Section 53-30-201; or
6091  (ii) a security improvement, including a building permit application or building
6092  permit for a security improvement described in Section 53-30-301.
6093     (2) The following records are private if properly classified by a governmental entity:
6094  (a) records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for employment
6095  with a governmental entity, including performance evaluations and personal status
6096  information such as race, religion, or disabilities, but not including records that are
6097  public under Subsection 63G-2-301(2)(b) or 63G-2-301(3)(o) or private under
6098  Subsection (1)(b);
6099  (b) records describing an individual's finances, except that the following are public:
6100  (i) records described in Subsection 63G-2-301(2);
6101  (ii) information provided to the governmental entity for the purpose of complying
6102  with a financial assurance requirement; or
6103  (iii) records that must be disclosed in accordance with another statute;
6104  (c) records of independent state agencies if the disclosure of those records would
6105  conflict with the fiduciary obligations of the agency;
6106  (d) other records containing data on individuals the disclosure of which constitutes a
6107  clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
                                                       - 180 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6108        (e) records provided by the United States or by a government entity outside the state that
6109  are given with the requirement that the records be managed as private records, if the
6110  providing entity states in writing that the record would not be subject to public
6111  disclosure if retained by it;
6112        (f) any portion of a record in the custody of the Division of Aging and Adult Services,
6113  created in Section 26B-6-102, that may disclose, or lead to the discovery of, the
6114  identity of a person who made a report of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a
6115  vulnerable adult; and
6116        (g) audio and video recordings created by a body-worn camera, as defined in Section
6117  77-7a-103, that record sound or images inside a home or residence except for
6118  recordings that:
6119  (i) depict the commission of an alleged crime;
6120  (ii) record any encounter between a law enforcement officer and a person that results
6121  in death or bodily injury, or includes an instance when an officer fires a weapon;
6122  (iii) record any encounter that is the subject of a complaint or a legal proceeding
6123  against a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency;
6124  (iv) contain an officer-involved critical incident as defined in Subsection
6125  76-2-408(1)(f); or
6126  (v) have been requested for reclassification as a public record by a subject or
6127  authorized agent of a subject featured in the recording.
6128    (3)(a) As used in this Subsection (3), "medical records" means medical reports, records,
6129        statements, history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, and evaluation.
6130        (b) Medical records in the possession of the University of Utah Hospital, its clinics,
6131  doctors, or affiliated entities are not private records or controlled records under
6132  Section 63G-2-304 when the records are sought:
6133  (i) in connection with any legal or administrative proceeding in which the patient's
6134  physical, mental, or emotional condition is an element of any claim or defense; or
6135  (ii) after a patient's death, in any legal or administrative proceeding in which any
6136  party relies upon the condition as an element of the claim or defense.
6137        (c) Medical records are subject to production in a legal or administrative proceeding
6138  according to state or federal statutes or rules of procedure and evidence as if the
6139  medical records were in the possession of a nongovernmental medical care provider.
6140  Section 66. Section 63G-2-303 is amended to read:
6141  63G-2-303 (Effective 04/06/26). Private information concerning certain
                                                     - 181 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6142     government employees.
6143     (1) As used in this section:
6144  (a) "At-risk government employee" means a current or former:
6145  (i) peace officer as specified in Section 53-13-102;
6146  (ii) state or federal judge of an appellate, district, justice, or juvenile court, or court
6147  commissioner;
6148  (iii) judge authorized by Title 39A, Chapter 5, Utah Code of Military Justice;
6149  (iv) judge authorized by Armed Forces, Title 10, United States Code;
6150  (v) federal prosecutor;
6151  (vi) prosecutor appointed pursuant to Armed Forces, Title 10, United States Code;
6152  (vii) law enforcement official as defined in Section 53-5a-311;
6153  (viii) prosecutor authorized by Title 39A, Chapter 5, Utah Code of Military Justice; or
6154  (ix) state or local government employee who, because of the unique nature of the
6155  employee's regular work assignments or because of one or more recent credible
6156  threats directed to or against the employee, would be at immediate and substantial
6157  risk of physical harm if the employee's personal information is disclosed.
6158  (b) "Family member" means the spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent of an
6159  at-risk government employee who is living with the employee.
6160  (c) "Personal information" means the employee's or the employee's family member's
6161  home address, home telephone number, personal mobile telephone number, personal
6162  pager number, personal email address, social security number, insurance coverage,
6163  marital status, or payroll deductions.
6164     (2)(a) Pursuant to Subsection 63G-2-302(1)(h), an at-risk government employee may
6165  file a written application that:
6166  (i) gives notice of the employee's status as an at-risk government employee to each
6167  agency of a government entity holding a record or a part of a record that would
6168  disclose the employee's personal information; and
6169  (ii) requests that the government agency classify those records or parts of records as
6170  private.
6171  (b) An at-risk government employee desiring to file an application under this section
6172  may request assistance from the government agency to identify the individual records
6173  containing personal information.
6174  (c) Each government agency shall develop a form that:
6175  (i) requires the at-risk government employee to designate each specific record or part
                                                         - 182 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6176  of a record containing the employee's personal information that the applicant
6177  desires to be classified as private;
6178  (ii) affirmatively requests that the government entity holding those records classify
6179  them as private;
6180  (iii) informs the employee that by submitting a completed form the employee may
6181  not receive official announcements affecting the employee's property, including
6182  notices about proposed municipal annexations, incorporations, or zoning
6183  modifications; and
6184  (iv) contains a place for the signature required under Subsection (2)(d).
6185        (d) A form submitted by an employee under Subsection (2)(c) shall be signed by the
6186  highest ranking elected or appointed official in the employee's chain of command
6187  certifying that the employee submitting the form is an at-risk government employee.
6188    (3) A county recorder, county treasurer, county auditor, or a county tax assessor may fully
6189        satisfy the requirements of this section by:
6190        (a) providing a method for the assessment roll and index and the tax roll and index that
6191  will block public access to the home address, home telephone number, situs address,
6192  and Social Security number; and
6193        (b) providing the at-risk government employee requesting the classification with a
6194  disclaimer informing the employee that the employee may not receive official
6195  announcements affecting the employee's property, including notices about proposed
6196  annexations, incorporations, or zoning modifications.
6197    (4) A government agency holding records of an at-risk government employee classified as
6198        private under this section may release the record or part of the record if:
6199        (a) the employee or former employee gives written consent;
6200        (b) a court orders release of the records; or
6201        (c) the government agency receives a certified death certificate for the employee or
6202  former employee[; or] .
6203        [(d) as it relates to the employee's voter registration record:]
6204  [(i) the person to whom the record or part of the record is released is a qualified
6205  person under Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(n); and]
6206  [(ii) the government agency's release of the record or part of the record complies with
6207  the requirements of Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(o).]
6208    (5)(a) If the government agency holding the private record receives a subpoena for the
6209        records, the government agency shall attempt to notify the at-risk government
                                                      - 183 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6210  employee or former employee by mailing a copy of the subpoena to the employee's
6211  last-known mailing address together with a request that the employee either:
6212  (i) authorize release of the record; or
6213  (ii) within 10 days of the date that the copy and request are mailed, deliver to the
6214  government agency holding the private record a copy of a motion to quash filed
6215  with the court who issued the subpoena.
6216  (b) The government agency shall comply with the subpoena if the government agency
6217  has:
6218  (i) received permission from the at-risk government employee or former employee to
6219  comply with the subpoena;
6220  (ii) not received a copy of a motion to quash within 10 days of the date that the copy
6221  of the subpoena was mailed; or
6222  (iii) received a court order requiring release of the records.
6223     (6)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), a form submitted under this section
6224  remains in effect until the earlier of:
6225  (i) four years after the date the employee signs the form, whether or not the
6226  employee's employment terminates before the end of the four-year period; and
6227  (ii) one year after the government agency receives official notice of the death of the
6228  employee.
6229  (b) A form submitted under this section may be rescinded at any time by:
6230  (i) the at-risk government employee who submitted the form; or
6231  (ii) if the at-risk government employee is deceased, a member of the employee's
6232  immediate family.
6233  Section 67. Section 73-10d-4 is amended to read:
6234  73-10d-4 (Effective 05/25/26). Notice of intention to enter privatization project --
6235     Petition for election -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature --
6236     Election procedures -- Powers of political subdivision -- Public bidding laws not to apply.
6237     (1)(a) The governing authority of any political subdivision considering entering into a
6238  privatization project agreement shall issue a notice of intention setting forth a brief
6239  summary of the agreement provisions and the time within which and place at which
6240  petitions may be filed requesting the calling of an election in the political subdivision
6241  to determine whether the agreement should be approved.
6242  (b) The notice of intention shall specify the form of the petitions.
6243  (c) If, within 30 days after the publication of the notice of intention, petitions are filed
                                                            - 184 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6244  with the clerk, recorder, or similar officer of the political subdivision, signed by at
6245  least 5% of the registered voters of the political subdivision (as certified by the
6246  county clerks of the respective counties within which the political subdivision is
6247  located pursuant to Subsections (7) and (8)[)] requesting an election be held to
6248  authorize the agreement, then the governing authority shall proceed to call and hold
6249  an election.
6250        (d) If an adequate petition is not filed within 30 days, the governing authority may adopt
6251  a resolution so finding and may proceed to enter into the agreement.
6252        (e) The first page of a petition described in this Subsection (1) shall include the
6253  following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
6254  statements on the page:
6255  "WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
6256  RECORDS
6257  If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
6258  may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
6259  with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
6260    (2) If, under Subsection (1), the governing authority of a political subdivision is required to
6261        call an election to authorize an agreement, the governing authority shall adopt a
6262        resolution directing that an election be held in the political subdivision for the purpose of
6263        determining whether the political subdivision may enter into the agreement. The
6264        resolution calling the election shall be adopted, notice of the election shall be given,
6265        voting precincts shall be established, the election shall be held, voters' qualifications
6266        shall be determined, and the results shall be canvassed in the manner and subject to the
6267        conditions provided for in Title 11, Chapter 14, Local Government Bonding Act.
6268    (3) A political subdivision may, upon approval of an agreement as provided by Subsections
6269        (1) and (2) and subject to the powers and rules of the supervising agency:
6270        (a) supervise and regulate the construction, maintenance, ownership, and operation of all
6271  privatization projects within its jurisdiction or in which it has a contractual interest;
6272        (b) contract, by entry into agreements with private owner/operators for the provision
6273  within its jurisdiction of the services of privatization projects;
6274        (c) levy and collect taxes, as otherwise provided by law, and impose and collect
6275  assessments, fees, or charges for services provided by privatization projects, as
6276  appropriate, and, subject to any limitation imposed by the constitution, pledge,
6277  assign, or otherwise convey as security for the payment of its obligations under any
                                                      - 185 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6278  agreements any revenues and receipts derived from any assessments, fees, or charges
6279  for services provided by privatization projects;
6280  (d) require the private owner/operator to obtain any and all licenses as appropriate under
6281  federal, state, and local law and impose other requirements which are necessary or
6282  desirable to discharge the responsibility of the political subdivision to supervise and
6283  regulate the construction, maintenance, ownership, and operation of any privatization
6284  project;
6285  (e) control the right to contract, maintain, own, and operate any privatization project and
6286  the services provided in connection with that project within its jurisdiction;
6287  (f) purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire all or any part of a privatization project;
6288  (g) with respect to the services of any privatization project, control the right to establish
6289  or regulate the rates paid by the users of the services within the jurisdiction of the
6290  political subdivision;
6291  (h) agree that the sole and exclusive right to provide the services within its jurisdiction
6292  related to privatization projects be assumed by any private owner/operator;
6293  (i) contract for the lease or purchase of land, facilities, equipment, and vehicles for the
6294  operation of privatization projects;
6295  (j) lease, sell, or otherwise convey, as permitted by state and local law, but without any
6296  requirement of competitive public bidding, land, facilities, equipment, and vehicles,
6297  previously used in connection with privatization projects, to private owner/operators;
6298  and
6299  (k) establish policies for the operation of any privatization project within its jurisdiction
6300  or with respect to which it has a contractual interest, including hours of operation, the
6301  character and kinds of services, and other rules necessary for the safety of operating
6302  personnel.
6303     (4) Any political subdivision may enter into agreements with respect to privatization
6304  projects. Agreements may contain provisions relating to, without limitation, any matter
6305  provided for in this section or consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
6306     (5) Any agreement entered into between a political subdivision and a private
6307  owner/operator for the provision of the services of a privatization project is considered
6308  an exercise of that political subdivision's business or proprietary power binding upon its
6309  succeeding governing authorities. Any agreement made by a political subdivision with a
6310  private owner/operator for payment for services provided or to be provided may not be
6311  construed to be an indebtedness or a lending of credit of the political subdivision within
                                                         - 186 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6312        the meaning of any constitutional or statutory restriction.
6313    (6) The provisions of the various laws of the state and the rules or ordinances of a political
6314        subdivision which would otherwise require public bidding in respect to any matter
6315        provided for in this chapter shall have no application to that matter.
6316    (7) If a petition is presented to the clerk of a political subdivision under Subsection (1):
6317        (a) as applicable, within three business days after the day on which the clerk receives the
6318  petition, the clerk shall provide the petition to the county clerk for the county in
6319  which the political subdivision is located; and
6320        (b) within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition under this
6321  section, the county clerk shall:
6322  (i) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether the
6323  petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection (1) for a registered voter petition;
6324  (ii) certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
6325  affected political subdivision; and
6326  (iii) as applicable, deliver the certified petition to the governing authority of the
6327  affected political subdivision.
6328    (8)(a) A voter who signs a petition under Subsection (1) may have the voter's signature
6329        removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
6330        which the petition is provided to the county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a
6331        statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
6332        (b) A statement described in Subsection (8)(a) shall comply with the requirements
6333  described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
6334        (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
6335  determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
6336  a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
6337  Section 68. Effective Date.
6338    (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2)-(4), this bill takes effect May 25, 2026.
6339    (2)(a) The actions affecting sections described in Subsection (2)(b) take effect:
6340  (i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(a)(ii), May 6, 2026; or
6341  (ii) if approved by two-thirds of all members elected to each house:
6342  (A) upon approval by the governor;
6343  (B) without the governor's signature, the day following the constitutional time
6344  limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8; or
6345  (C) in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.
                                                       - 187 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6346  (b) Subsection (2)(a) applies to the actions affecting the following sections:
6347  (i) Section 20A-1-102(Effective upon governor's approval);
6348  (ii) Section 20A-2-504(Effective upon governor's approval);
6349  (iii) Section 20A-2-601(Effective upon governor's approval);
6350  (iv) Section 20A-2-602(Effective upon governor's approval);
6351  (v) Section 20A-2-607(Effective upon governor's approval);
6352  (vi) Section 20A-7-103(Effective upon governor's approval)(Superseded
6353  01/01/27Contingently );
6354  (vii) Section 20A-7-702(Effective upon governor's approval);
6355  (viii) Section 20A-7-703.1(Effective upon governor's approval);
6356  (ix) Section 63G-2-202(Effective upon governor's approval); and
6357  (x) Section 63G-2-210(Effective upon governor's approval).
6358     (3)(a) The actions affecting sections described in Subsection (3)(b) take effect:
6359  (i) except as provided in Subsection (3)(a)(ii), May 6, 2026; or
6360  (ii) if approved by two-thirds of all members elected to each house, the later of April
6361  6, 2026; or:
6362  (A) upon approval by the governor;
6363  (B) without the governor's approval, the day following the constitutional time
6364  limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8; or
6365  (C) with the governor’s veto and a vote of the Legislature to override the veto, the
6366  date of veto override.
6367  (b) Subsection (3)(a) applies to the actions affecting the following sections:
6368  (i) Section 20A-2-101.1(Effective 04/06/26);
6369  (ii) Section 20A-2-104(Effective 04/06/26);
6370  (iii) Section 20A-2-108(Effective 04/06/26);
6371  (iv) Section 20A-2-204(Effective 04/06/26);
6372  (v) Section 20A-2-206(Effective 04/06/26);
6373  (vi) Section 20A-2-304(Effective 04/06/26);
6374  (vii) Section 20A-2-505(Effective 04/06/26);
6375  (viii) Section 20A-2-603(Effective 04/06/26);
6376  (ix) Section 20A-2-604(Effective 04/06/26);
6377  (x) Section 20A-2-605(Effective 04/06/26);
6378  (xi) Section 20A-2-606(Effective 04/06/26);
6379  (xii) Section 20A-5-410(Effective 04/06/26);
                                                      - 188 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6380  (xiii) Section 20A-3a-401(Effective 04/06/26);
6381  (xiv) Section 20A-6-105(Effective 04/06/26);
6382  (xv) Section 53H-3-1304(Effective 04/06/26);
6383  (xvi) Section 63G-2-301(Effective 04/06/26);
6384  (xvii) Section 63G-2-302(Effective 04/06/26); and
6385  (xviii) Section 63G-2-303(Effective 04/06/26).
6386    (4) The actions affecting Section 20A-7-103 (Effective 01/01/27Contingently ) take effect
6387        on January 1, 2027.
6388  Section 69. Coordinating S.B. 153 with H.B. 209.
6389    If S.B. 153, Election Amendments, and H.B. 209, Voting Amendments, both pass and
6390    become law, the Legislature intends that:
6391    (1) Subsections 20A-2-204(3)(c) and (4), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 209, be amended to read:
6392    "(c) on or before the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on
6393    which the division receives a voter registration form, electronically transmit the form to the [
6394    Office of the Lieutenant Governor] lieutenant governor, including the following for the
6395    individual named on the form:
6396    (i) the name, date of birth, driver license or state identification card number, last four digits
6397    of the social security number, Utah residential address, place of birth, and signature;
6398    (ii) a mailing address, if different from the individual's Utah residential address;
6399    (iii) an email address and phone number, if available;
6400    (iv) the desired political affiliation, if indicated;
6401    [(v) an indication of whether the individual requested that the individual's voter registration
6402    record be classified as a private record under Subsection 20A-2-108(2)(b); and]
6403    [(vi)] (v) [a withholding] an at-risk designation request form described in [Subsections
6404    20A-2-104(7) and (8)] Section 20A-2-606 and any verification submitted with the form[.] ; and
6405    (vi) an indication regarding whether the individual provided proof of United States
6406    citizenship.
6407    (4) Upon receipt of an individual's voter registration form from the Driver License Division
6408    under Subsection (3), the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall:
6409    (a) enter the information into the statewide voter registration database;[ and]
6410    (b) make a record of the indication described in Subsection (3)(c)(vi); and
6411    [(b)] (c) if the individual [requests on the individual's voter registration form that the
6412    individual's voter registration record be classified as a private record or the individual submits
6413    a withholding request form described in Subsections 20A-2-104(7) and (8)] submits an at-risk
                                                         - 189 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6414     designation request form described in Section 20A-2-606 and any required verification,
6415     classify the individual's voter registration record as a private record.";
6416     (2) Subsections 63G-2-302(1)(j) through (m), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 209, be amended to
6417     read:
6418     "(j) that part of a voter registration record:
6419     (i) identifying a voter's:
6420     [(i)] (A) driver license or identification card number;
6421     [(ii)] (B) social security number, or last four digits of the social security number;
6422     [(iii)] (C) email address;
6423     [(iv)] (D) [date] day, month, or year of birth; or
6424     [(v)] (E) phone number;
6425     (ii) submitted by the voter as proof of United States citizenship;
6426     (iii) indicating whether the voter has provided proof of United States citizenship; or
6427     (iv) indicating whether the voter is restricted to voting a federal ballot;
6428     (k) a voter registration record that is classified as a private record by the lieutenant governor
6429     or a county clerk under Subsection 20A-2-101.1(5)(a)[, 20A-2-104(4)(h), or 20A-2-204(4)(b)]
6430     or 20A-2-204(4)(c);
6431     (l) (i) a voter registration record[ that is withheld under Subsection 20A-2-104(7);] of an
6432     at-risk voter, as defined in Section 20A-2-601; or
6433     (ii) before January 1, 2027, a voter registration record of a voter who is limited to voting a
6434     federal ballot only;
6435     (m) the following forms and supporting verification:
6436     (i) a withholding request form used, before April 6, 2026, to request that a voter's voter
6437     registration be withheld as a private record, and any verification submitted in support of the
6438     form;
6439     (ii) an at-risk voter designation request form described in [Subsections 20A-2-104(7) and (8)]
6440     Section 20A-2-606 and any verification submitted in support of the form;
6441     (iii) a notice described in Section 20A-2-602; and
6442     (iv) a form relating to a request described in Section 20A-2-603, 20A-2-604, 20A-2-605, or
6443     20A-2-607;";
6444     (3) Subsection 20A-2-104(2)(d) in H.B. 209 not be enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(2)(d)
6445     and, instead, be enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(1)(c) in S.B. 153;
6446     (4) Subsection 20A-2-104(7) in H.B. 209 not be enacted as 20A-2-104(7) and, instead, be
6447     enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(4) in S.B. 153; and
                                                          - 190 -
       Enrolled Copy  S.B. 153
6448    (5) Subsections (1) through (4) of this coordination clause take effect on:
6449    (a) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), May 6, 2026; or
6450    (b) April 6, 2026, if S.B. 153 and H.B. 209 are both approved by two-thirds of all members
6451    elected to each house.
6452  Section 70. Coordinating S.B. 153 with H.B. 361.
6453    If S.B. 153, Election Amendments, and H.B. 361, Election Provisions Amendments,
6454    both pass and become law, the Legislature intends that, on May 6, 2026, Subsections
6455    20A-2-504(4) through (7), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 361, be amended to read:
6456    "[(3)] (4) The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register within five
6457    business days after the day on which the county clerk:
6458    (a) receives, from the lieutenant governor, the information described in Subsection (3) or
6459    26B-8-114(11) in relation to the voter; or
6460    (b) receives confirmation [from the Office of Vital Records ]that the voter is deceased[.]
6461    from:
6462    (i) the Office of Vital Records and Statistics or the lieutenant governor;
6463    (ii) the United States Social Security Administration data; or
6464    (iii) another reliable source or document that clearly identifies that the voter is deceased.
6465    (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), the county clerk may not remove the name
6466    of a voter from the official register during the 90 calendar days before a regular primary
6467    election or the 90 calendar days before a regular general election.
6468    (b) The county clerk may remove the name of a voter from the official register during the
6469    90 calendar days before a regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before a regular
6470    general election if:
6471    (i) the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed; or
6472    (ii) the voter dies.
6473    [(4)] (6) No later than 90 calendar days before each primary election day and general
6474    election day[,] :
6475    (a) the county clerk shall update the official register by reviewing the official register and
6476    taking the actions permitted or required by law under this section, Section 20A-2-503, and
6477    Section 20A-2-505[.] ; and
6478    (b) the lieutenant governor shall compare the records that the lieutenant governor receives
6479    under Subsections (3) and 26B-8-114(11) to the official register to ensure that each county
6480    clerk complies with Subsection (4).
6481    (7) Ninety calendar days before each primary and general election the lieutenant governor
                                                      - 191 -
       S.B. 153  Enrolled Copy
6482     shall compare the information the lieutenant governor has received from the Office of Vital
6483     Records and Statistics, the United States Social Security Administration data, and other
6484     reliable sources with the official register of voters to ensure that all deceased voters have been
6485     removed from the official register.".
                                                       - 192 -