[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328445,"mediaKeyId","2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456","parentId",2320143,"title","Committee replaces and advances election‑law cleanup bill adding signature audits, USPS coordination","audioSeconds",2096,"startMs",3355000,"endMs",1259000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456&start=3355&end=1259","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456/thumbnail_3355000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328445/Utah/Committee-replaces-and-advances-electionlaw-cleanup-bill-adding-signature-audits-USPS-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328445-a235c1555121480d598a349fcaf6b02c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037510&Signature=Fnl-Pjl9oSZ6vCuw7qGpSeoqZVOFcg2Pk6UXS9YKO2Yruymnof5-7FKH4NtuuDqJ6ZJEWF~7MVZV3UEFaQKAEaa90KRBWYPZJCqhLk1BTxzXMYSiGl6HbCK4Ou1KTzqaqvY8eMkT6B6Xy0CjzoWRZAobcKS1pOG3CTducKmVIUCvsJK8gYD2lbHC-KBwyxJzTt3HJUkP2HMt17z2LglCSvv91GD~MoWb2SrH4ms6n8BAubK49jFccNAr8fSlc4egxiUorqai03nBRmm1i4Iz-qJMxGS~LflaicTTpFNVhBpmGGzmbVSxpt2uqMC6RQUp89gQFaXBpuAGhcvIkmUhwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee unanimously approved a motion to delete the title and body of Senate Bill 164 and replace it with the first substitute, then favorably recommended the substitute.

Senator Harper, the bill sponsor, said the measure responds to a legislative audit and “is a very good cleanup bill that I think will address and addresses some of the questions and challenges we had in the last election.” The substitute adds provisions on signature removal, custodial tracking, and other chain‑of‑custody requirements the sponsor said were not in the original bill.

Key provisions described during the hearing include a requirement that county clerks coordinate with local post offices so ballots receive a clear postmark, expanded poll‑watcher access that can observe signature‑verification procedures, a requirement for an additional audit of at least 1% of signatures on mailed ballots, and a clear chain‑of‑custody regime that gives the lieutenant governor’s office authority to track signatures together with ballots. The bill text also allows counties to count up to 10% of signatures for verification purposes and clarifies who bears costs for primary elections.

Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, described how coordination with the post office worked in Weber County: centralizing incoming ballots at a main post office, providing logs, and hand‑stamping ballots that lacked machine postmarks so they could be accepted under current law. Davis County Clerk Bridal McKenzie told the committee clerks support the substitute and said the language “is written in a way that works very well for the clerks.”

Committee members pressed for clearer language about what “coordination” requires — for example, whether clerks must visit every local post office or may work with a county’s central postal hub. Senator Sandle and others said they wanted more specific compliance guidance; Senator Harper said he would work with clerks to tighten the language.

The committee approved two formal actions on the bill: (1) a motion by Senator Vickers to replace the bill with the first substitute (carried by voice vote and announced as unanimous), and (2) a motion to favorably recommend the first substitute (also carried unanimously). The committee opened for and received public comment in support from county clerks and citizens who said the bill implements several recommendations from the legislative audit.

The bill now advances with the committee’s favorable recommendation; further amendment language is expected to clarify post office coordination and other implementation details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee - February 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee unanimously approved a motion to replace Senate Bill 164 with a first substitute and favorably recommended the substitute, advancing changes intended to strengthen signature verification, chain of custody and postmark coordination.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328441,"Committee advances substitute to update GRAMA, clarify FERPA handling and records‑committee membership",556,1284000,1840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456&start=1284&end=1840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","/articles/6328441/Utah/Committee-advances-substitute-to-update-GRAMA-clarify-FERPA-handling-and-recordscommittee-membership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328441-26d1a034277c10cc733f156585dffe79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037509&Signature=iBAtkC-lbynBbnXo0DlBJ2MSuZR1LWY4gPwNGMy37QqILhJvqbDCFG2RzsphrBGzDOaFrRL949ItttFeIJ6wmPOx5S7asvszF7gJGn9CHU1Z3Zu1-yRVqGwiIP7TmF2rl5AuaGmURSqg-vYQovBHGxD2Od~uJikxYHsMH6rcN6hF4Z-F596uPqeHA~LsoPITH7Z1Z-eqp3hAdcokUUtOworkxZcvNCszMEGupIO0E4jfQx~qZdFMio7JWkp-rwcSvbo6Eb2m874JOO-a-b7TKx5vncgt0zr~U4GXg5pccS~PXPfrvdjpn4BWcfbj3aZImCTyMXVVFm~tB9x5xvR2hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee unanimously approved replacing Senate Bill 163 with a first substitute and favorably recommended the substitute to the full Senate.

Senator Harper, the sponsor, described the bill as an update to the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) that strengthens training, record retention, reporting and access while criminalizing knowing destruction of records to avoid disclosure. He told the committee the substitute also moves several election‑related record provisions into the GRAMA bill where they fit better.

Public commenters included Michael Judd of the Utah Media Coalition, who thanked the sponsor and urged refinements to avoid removing GRAMA protections for university records, and John Gadd, an attorney who supported most of the bill but objected to an amendment that would change response times from 10 business days to 15 business days for records requests. Vanessa Walsh, an assistant attorney general, reminded the committee that this body previously addressed FERPA/GRAMA balance in 2016 via House Bill 288.

Key changes discussed: clarifying state records‑committee membership (moving one citizen seat toward law‑enforcement representation and adding a data/database expert), adding training and education requirements for records officers, strengthening chain‑of‑custody and retention rules, and clarifying how requests that may touch FERPA‑protected records should be handled. Witnesses and senators urged careful language so requests touching student records are not summarily dismissed without the back‑and‑forth that GRAMA currently provides.

Committee actions: Senator Vickers moved to replace the title and body with the first substitute (motion carried by voice vote and announced as unanimous), and the committee then voted to favorably recommend the first substitute (also unanimous). Sponsors and intervenors said they will continue working on clarifying language related to universities and FERPA.

The substitute advances to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation; committee members signaled willingness to continue negotiating clarifications on response times and FERPA‑related procedures.","The Senate committee unanimously replaced Senate Bill 163 with a first substitute and favorably recommended the measure, which updates GRAMA, modifies State Records Committee membership and clarifies how requests that may implicate FERPA are handled.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328426,"Committee OKs alternative game‑of‑chance method for resolving multi‑way elected‑office ties",157,3756000,3913000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456&start=3756&end=3913","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456/thumbnail_3756000.jpg","/articles/6328426/Utah/Committee-OKs-alternative-gameofchance-method-for-resolving-multiway-electedoffice-ties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328426-9ae44d0348bd3dcc0c3c526b9c03c99f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037509&Signature=mK101tKE~BUmHXZUO3MsjXSLQmYnGLw300IUk5Rnyn608kx9NGg4F65337iWfSVxKuvuYjzP7~TXwnMLAypNEU58RCWAFA4FOnf00RAwM-qBiT98VtKmKQ8sxWi6jKj9xPZPqbnZBdOTFoPIskgU~OJ~f05~MgP0XPhGZSbO1t~gdyAe8QPRNZyeqTt4YIVvRHP5e1W1-8dKDhiLDiYt5m7Fg3O-A-7o1HCxHR0AHy0taGdZsxQgQn797FyF4qGGFsFTdgJskT2fOLKdl09kx6ZCg692JMxVIMm7Czbf2I6ustApridcapzsbB4udZQbjVb8zqaeT0IN-k3OI~55pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend House Bill 315, which modifies the statutory tie‑breaking procedure for elected‑official vacancies.

Representative Stoddard, the sponsor, said the bill responds to a December mayoral vacancy in his city that produced a three‑way tie and required multiple coin flips to resolve. The new language allows the legislative body of a municipality, when faced with a tie among more than two candidates, to choose a game of chance in advance provided every participant has an equal probability of winning.

Senators asked whether local bodies could pick unusual games; the sponsor said the outcome must be determined by chance and every participant must have equal odds. No public commenters testified on this bill. Senator Blum moved to favorably recommend HB315 and the committee carried the motion by unanimous voice vote.

The bill advances with a favorable recommendation to the full Senate.","House Bill 315 lets a municipal legislative body adopt an equal‑odds game of chance (declared in advance) to resolve an elected‑official tie involving more than two candidates. The committee favorably recommended the measure unanimously.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":92,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328431,"Committee advances bill requiring transparency when state agencies capture administrative fees on passed‑through grants",258,3498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456&start=3498&end=3756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456/thumbnail_3498000.jpg","/articles/6328431/Utah/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-transparency-when-state-agencies-capture-administrative-fees-on-passedthrough-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328431-7f8a5f6b0e1a730cbc2f459dff4cec8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037509&Signature=VhmfeXQjXMmMwPF7mrMN9TlogGeyJsT4g1slojgKb5golAMnCPKpCcoNb44zySNOAtBmttvRqTZ3ePHF1fJ7hJcaHQvQgLxxAO6i0lpHBM9vzqpGhTOsDFh8oUztdb-K-Nw7YWz3MRZCZFV4joHW1NFXiBCHyKJlHJdQ6hhPZz43tKdUXHOuUNs-cGSXkvNarVmKrFPmHxkbyusLwiRB~Vy8zGzJMsZUKtmsqg1hPM4PBzHuCfL2HyyVuZMMID9SDKbHqfs0LZG5tGAZsoW2G35Fv2x7yGxw3JZgl4Pv7Nm7rToI~hpQZIW8-EcVMcf-dcdQowuE6W8HXp~8d2aerg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee favorably recommended House Bill 223, a proposal that aims to increase transparency when state agencies retain administrative fees from grants that are passed through to nonprofit or private recipients.

Representative Daley Provost, the bill sponsor, said the statute responds to concerns from appropriations subcommittees where nonprofits request funding and the state agency that disburses the funds sometimes captures an administrative fee; the bill requires agencies to provide justification for such fees if requested by the grantee or requester.

The sponsor said the provision is not intended to ban pass‑through administrative charges when they are appropriate, but to provide visibility when grantees and appropriators request that information. No public testimony was offered during the committee’s public‑comment period on this bill.

Senator Blum moved to favorably recommend HB223; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. The bill now proceeds to the next legislative stage with a committee recommendation.","House Bill 223 was favorably recommended out of committee. The bill requires transparency and optional reporting when state agencies capture administrative fees from grants that pass through the agency to nonprofit or private recipients; it does not prohibit such fees but makes justification available on request.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328436,"Committee endorses framework bill to study state‑endorsed digital identity, emphasizing privacy and no‑surveillance guardrails",1179,2315000,3494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456&start=2315&end=3494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320143-73a4b4073876de153a3f60a4f0c40456/thumbnail_2315000.jpg","/articles/6328436/Utah/Committee-endorses-framework-bill-to-study-stateendorsed-digital-identity-emphasizing-privacy-and-nosurveillance-guardrails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328436-3b41213f663a99716cf4e0f72a606850/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037509&Signature=ZX1z4XDQftt3kePCWHRWWsjuEstCB-Cdu6JkHRCE~qtm23IQLzpovAxpwZDNoyaqdid4MPW-yxvPQrSc1bIcu71kCl-XT~xa-7XYd3gu-A2o12aSPJD-ASQ6IC5Ih9vutEdyDVrbD1-Tzv51s0F~CJMGZHLdc4DZTRHl5GOmHTt-G-9QeIegobr19wum3nyslUXqEoeH63knfYRjgnkKb3qSW25cCqCji-0IOvhfYLk4crKAPWsb2ec9wXKhdcMXSd4rPI-IwRv~hXkUeug8lUkhuSWMuEn3voEg~8DwUi3dpmjNMX2mzs4lZdOOYPICxanc2wEy0FmIzgwsauTxrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend Senate Bill 260, which establishes principles for any future state‑endorsed digital identity program and requires the Department of Government Operations to study implementation options.

Senator Cullimore/Colomore (sponsor identified in transcript as Senator Colimore) introduced the bill and turned the presentation to Christopher Bramwell, the state’s chief privacy officer, who said the measure is a forward‑looking framework that keeps the individual at the center of identity and requires strict security, privacy and use standards. Bramwell said the bill “does not create a state endorsed digital identity” today but requires study and recommendations so any future program would be built on privacy, security and individual control.

Witnesses from the private sector and state technology leadership spoke in favor but urged caution. Timothy Ruff, an industry expert in digital identity, said the bill “largely accomplishes” privacy objectives but recommended removing any latent surveillance capability so the program could not be turned into a tracking mechanism in the future. Steve McCown, a member of the Utah Bridal Commission with cybersecurity experience, and Alan Fuller, the state CIO, also supported the bill and emphasized the urgency of establishing privacy‑protective standards given other states’ digital‑identity work.

Provisions discussed include a policy statement that an individual’s identity is personal and not created by government, that no person can be coerced or penalized for not adopting a state‑endorsed digital identity, protections that allow guardians to act on behalf of minors while ensuring control transfers at adulthood, and a prohibition on surveillance when the credential is used. The CIO noted some states keep detailed logs of credential use — a surveillance mechanism the state does not intend to replicate.

The committee moved and carried a favorable recommendation (motion by Senator Vickers announced as unanimous). Presenters said the bill will require further work on privacy technicalities and that earlier legislative appropriations and pilot funds will cover study work; Fuller said the bill should not carry a fiscal note.","The committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend Senate Bill 260, which sets policy statements and tasks the Department of Government Operations to study options for a state‑endorsed digital identity while prioritizing individual control, privacy, and prohibiting surveillance in use of the credential.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee replaces and advances election‑law cleanup bill adding signature audits, USPS coordination

Committee advances substitute to update GRAMA, clarify FERPA handling and records‑committee membership

Committee OKs alternative game‑of‑chance method for resolving multi‑way elected‑office ties

Committee advances bill requiring transparency when state agencies capture administrative fees on passed‑through grants

Committee endorses framework bill to study state‑endorsed digital identity, emphasizing privacy and no‑surveillance guardrails