Utah

Utah legislators considering a constitutional amendment on ballot initiatives

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2024

Utah legislators considering a constitutional amendment on ballot initiatives

The Utah Republican Party, Sutherland Institute and other conservative groups and leaders are calling for a constitutional amendment to give the Utah Legislature veto power over initiatives after a Utah Supreme Court ruling allowed a lawsuit over redistricting to move forward.

Lawmakers may meet to vote to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot as soon as Wednesday, though Utah House and Senate leadership have not announced an official date for a session. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.

The call for an amendment to the state’s constitution is in response to a unanimous decision handed down in July by the state’s highest court. The court ruled when citizens pass initiatives, those initiatives are protected from “unfettered legislative amendment, repeal or replacement.”

“I think that the ruling from the Utah Supreme Court establishes an expectation that is so out of line with the principles of a constitutional republic that we need to make the correction,” Utah GOP chair Rob Axson said in a phone interview with the Deseret News.

An open letter calling for a constitutional amendment was signed by several different groups and leaders including Pro-Life Utah, Gayle Ruzicka of Utah Eagle Forum and Worldwide Organization for Women.

Axson said the call for a constitutional amendment did not have to do with redistricting, but was in response to the language around initiatives in the Utah Supreme Court decision. The Sutherland Institute released a separate call for a constitutional amendment on Friday as well.

The state supreme court’s decision was in response to a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Utah, Mormon Women for Ethical Government and a group of Salt Lake voters. They challenged a congressional map lawmakers had drawn and implemented after Utah voters approved a ballot measure to create an independent redistricting commission. The commission proposed several maps, but the Utah Legislature went with a map drawn by the Legislative Redistricting Committee consisting of five Democrats and 15 Republicans.

“I appreciate Utahns and stakeholders engaging and expressing their concerns on this important issue,” said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams in a statement to the Deseret News. “There has been significant discussion about a special session, and we are carefully considering their requests.”

“There are discussions about the possibility of (a) special session, but no decisions have been made,” a spokesperson for the Utah House Majority said.

A member of the Utah Senate told the Deseret News the vote could come as soon as Wednesday. The senator said the vote will likely be close because a two-thirds vote is required to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Why amend the Utah Constitution?

After the Utah Supreme Court issued the ruling in the redistricting case, reactions fell mostly along party lines.

Utah Republicans widely criticized the Utah Supreme Court decision. Adams and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz called it “one of the worst outcomes” they have ever seen and said “the court punted and made a new law about the initiative power, creating chaos and striking at the very heart of our republic.”

Adams and Schultz said the court created “supreme laws” and stripped away the ability of state, county and municipal authorities to enact policies. Cox expressed disagreement with some of the court’s analysis and determination at the time.

“The Senate Democrats applaud the court’s recognition of these constitutional protections, including the right to fair and impartial redistricting processes,” said Utah Senate Democrats when the decision was handed down. “We stand firmly with the authority of Utah’s voters and their right to shape a transparent and just government that truly represents the voice of all Utahns.”

Now almost a month has passed since the ruling and Axson said he thinks the consequences of what could happen if an amendment is not passed are dire, which drove the decision to call for the amendment.

“I think the core issue is that in a republic you are electing folks to represent you and they are most closely accountable to the voters while also being positioned to make necessary judgments and adjustments,” said Axson, explaining there is sometimes a need to change law quickly and the Legislature is in the position to do that.

The ruling means if there is a ballot initiative, even if it is well-meaning, it could create a bad situation and there would be no speedy way to fix it, said Axson.

“That makes zero sense in a day and age when we need to be nimble to respond to changes in the needs of our population,” he said.

When asked to respond to the potential criticism that some citizens may see this as vetoing their voice, Axson said there should always be a back and forth. He said he thinks there is a difference between petitioning your elected officials and putting out a referendum.

“It removes deliberative dialogue necessary for good policy,” said Axson, adding he thinks there needs to be room for nuance, adjustment and collaboration.

“What we are calling for is the Legislature to take action, not to remove the rights of people, but instead, to enshrine the principles of a constitutional republic where dialogue and engagement is permitted,” he said.

Axson said not just in Utah, but across the country, special interest groups fund ballot initiatives. He does not think “the project of some billionaire” or foreign influence should prevent the Utah Legislature from acting in the best interest of citizens.

The decision to call for a constitutional amendment does not have to do with redistricting, said Axson, it has to do with Utah’s future.

“We will find massive amounts of money coming into Utah from outside groups and individuals to impact public policy,” said Axson. “And at best, we would be in a space of constant pendulum swinging one way or the other.”

“We should always be deferring to what Utahns want Utah to be,” said Axson. He thinks a constitutional amendment would allow that.

The Sutherland Institute also issued a statement recommending a constitutional amendment “to correct the flawed understanding of the Utah Constitution’s principle of proper exercise of legislative power reflected in the Utah Supreme Court’s recent ruling in League of Women Voters v. Utah State Legislature.”

“Any amount of experience with lawmaking quickly shows that good public policy is rarely fully established when a law is initially enacted,” said the Sutherland Institute. “Unforeseen consequences are a natural feature of our system of government – making the power to reform any new law an essential aspect of the reasonable understanding of the proper exercise of legislative power in our republic.”

Utah Minority Leader Angela Romero has not seen text of a proposed amendment, but in the case the amendment allows the Utah Legislature the ability to veto a citizen-driven initiative, she said she has major concerns.

“For truly a citizen legislature, we should be listening to the people of our state,” Romero said. “And I don’t think a majority of people in Utah would want to do anything that jeopardizes their voice.”

Romero said she has concerns about putting an amendment on the ballot, but she also thinks the effort might “backfire.”

Another concern Romero raised was the impact this could have with abortion laws. “When abortion has been put on the ballot, even in red states, the people have spoken and they don’t want the laws that are currently on the book,” she said, adding she thinks legislators having the ability to override that is “problematic.”

Romero said as a policymaker she is “very, very progressive,” but she finds value in seeking out commonality and looking for answers in the middle — that is what she thinks most Utahns want.

“I think of a lot of Utahs would be very frustrated if this was to be put on the ballot, and I hope if it is put on the ballot that they would come out in numbers and vote it down,” she said.

The process of amending the Utah Constitution

The first step to amend the Utah Constitution is the introduction of the text of a proposed constitutional amendment. It has to be proposed in either the Utah House or the Utah Senate.

Two-thirds of both the House and the Senate have to vote in favor of the amendment. If approved, the amendment would be put on the ballot. The Legislature has to ensure the public has the opportunity to see the amendment “in at least one newspaper in every county of the state, where a newspaper is published.”

Utah voters then decide whether or not to amend the state constitution.

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Utah

Utah Olympic leaders study Milan’s Games operations ahead of 2034 Winter Olympics – KSLTV.com

Published

11 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

Utah Olympic leaders study Milan’s Games operations ahead of 2034 Winter Olympics – KSLTV.com

MILAN, Italy — Inside Milan’s massive Central Station, where marble floors meet towering ceilings, and thousands of travelers pass through each hour, Utah’s Olympic planners are taking notes.

For the Utah Transit Authority, transportation is one of the most important pieces of the Olympic puzzle.

“It is beautiful to walk in here, but we all want a station where we can find our way easily and trains are on time. That’s the most important thing for a traveler,” said Jay Fox, executive director of UTA. “The Utah Transit Authority is going to be moving everybody in the Games.”

Fox said watching Milan’s system operate during the Olympics has been eye-opening.

“As big as I thought it was, it’s even bigger,” he said.

Fox said UTA’s goal in 2034 is simple: He wants to make transportation feel effortless.

“We want transportation to be seamless so that you don’t ever think about where you’re going,” he said.

Officials are paying close attention to how Italy handles moving large crowds between urban venues and mountain sites.

In Cortina, where some events are held, bus transportation has presented challenges. Many buses are often packed, forcing people to wait for the next bus, which then is often full as well.

“Having the opportunity to see mountain operations in Cortina is going to be very beneficial for us,” said Andres Colman, UTA’s chief operating officer. “I have a lot of questions, a lot of things I need to learn, to make sure we can do it seamlessly.”

Colman has personal ties to the Olympics. He joined UTA just before the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

“Oh, the Olympics is the reason I’m at UTA,” he said.

State lawmakers are also participating in the Observer Program, using the experience to better understand what Utah will need in the coming years.

“The Olympic Observer Program allows future host committees to observe what the current host committee is doing,” said Rep. Jon Hawkins from Utah County.

Hawkins said seeing the preparations in person helps legislators understand how they can support the Games through policy decisions and funding.

“Especially around security,” he said. “We just need to make sure that we’re ready.”

Utah Olympic leaders say the Games of 2034 will look very different from those held in 2002.

“There are 40% additional events compared to ’02,” said Colin Hilton, CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. “A lot of things have changed over the years in terms of how the games operate at venues and a lot more hospitality spaces, a lot more, what we call fan engagement.”

Hilton said even those who worked on the 2002 Games are learning new approaches.

“There’s always things to learn from those who are hosting a Games,” he said.

About 80 members of Utah’s 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Committee, as well as Utah state leaders, are in Italy as part of the Olympic Observer Program.

The Committee is also learning how Milan is managing venue operations, signage, and other critical systems during the Games.

Utah’s planning efforts for 2034 have already drawn praise from international officials.

Last week, members of the International Olympic Committee told Utah organizers to slow down because they may be moving too quickly since they are so far ahead of schedule.

State and transit leaders say the feedback is encouraging, but they remain focused on improving.

“We are already very well prepared,” said Fox. “What we’re learning is really how to refine as opposed to how to do it.”

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Utah

Sacramento faces Utah on 14-game road skid

Published

23 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

Sacramento faces Utah on 14-game road skid

Sacramento Kings (12-43, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (17-37, 13th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento will try to break its 14-game road losing streak when the Kings play Utah.

The Jazz are 9-24 against Western Conference opponents. Utah has a 5-24 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Kings are 8-28 against Western Conference opponents. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in one-possession games.

The Jazz’s 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.1 more made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Kings give up. The Kings’ 46.5% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.5 percentage points lower than the Jazz have given up to their opponents (49.0%).

The teams play for the third time this season. The Jazz won the last matchup 128-119 on Nov. 29. Keyonte George scored 31 points to help lead the Jazz to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: George is averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 assists for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 15.7 points over the past 10 games.

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.7 points and 3.8 assists for the Kings. Malik Monk is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 2-8, averaging 113.3 points, 44.3 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.8 points per game.

Kings: 0-10, averaging 109.3 points, 43.0 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Kevin Love: day to day (rest).

Kings: Domantas Sabonis: day to day (back), Keegan Murray: out (ankle), De’Andre Hunter: out (eye), Zach LaVine: day to day (finger), Malik Monk: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Utah ICE arrests more than double in 2025 compared to previous year, most already in jail

Published

1 day ago

February 9, 2026

Press Room

Utah ICE arrests more than double in 2025 compared to previous year, most already in jail

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Federal immigration arrests in Utah more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to data provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Deportation Data Project.

That data shows ICE made about 1,100 arrests statewide in 2024. But between January and October 2025 alone, arrests climbed to more than 3,000.

The data offers a closer look at who is being detained and how immigration enforcement is playing out across the state.

MORE | ICE

More than half — 55.5% — of those arrested had criminal convictions. About 27.4% had pending criminal charges but no convictions, while 17.2% had no criminal history and were detained solely for immigration violations.

Of the more than 3,000 people detained in 2025, roughly 72%, or just over 2,100 individuals, have already been deported.

In most cases, ICE detention began in local jails or state prisons, where inmates were held temporarily before being transferred to federal custody and removed from the country.

The average time between arrest and deportation in Utah was 26 days, according to the data. The shortest wait was one day for someone who had previously been deported, while the longest detention lasted 247 days, just over eight months.

Most ICE arrests in Utah do not happen in street operations. Instead, they typically involve people who are already incarcerated and turned over to federal authorities rather than being released back to the street. These are typically executed through Utah 287g agreements with ICE, called detention requests.

State data provided by the Utah Department of Corrections shows Utah, as of Jan 30, has 277 individuals in custody who indicated they were here illegally. 229 have ICE detention requests, meaning they will be transferred to ICE custody upon completion of their sentence.

According to the UDC, the daily incarceration rate is $156 and includes operational costs and medical costs. If all 277 illegal immigrant inmates currently in custody in the state served at least a one-year sentence, it would cost about $15.7 million in taxpayer dollars.

The ICE arrest data used in this report did not granularly break down what crimes arrested individuals were convicted of, and whether they were violent offences or not.

Of the 277 illegal immigrants in Utah’s jails and prisons, about 71% were convicted of 1st degree felonies, 22% were convicted of 2nd degree felonies, 6% were convicted of 3rd degree felonies, and less than 1% (2 people) were convicted of capital felonies.

According to new exclusive reporting out of CBS News, using data from the Department of Homeland Security, less than 14% of the illegal immigrants arrested by ICE nationwide had violent criminal offenses. The report states that nearly 60% of people arrested by ICE over the past year had criminal charges or convictions, but the majority of the criminal charges or convictions are not for violent crimes.

Here in Utah, among people already incarcerated in county jails, DUI offenses were the most common charge. For those in state prison, sexual abuse was the most frequent offense.

2News reached out to both the Governor and Lt. Governor for comment on the cost to imprison illegal immigrants at state and local facilities, but did not hear back. We also reached out to Sen. Dan McKay, the chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation committee, but he was not available for an interview.

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