Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation

3
JR4-2-101
0
Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Clinton D. Okerlund
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This joint rules resolution limits requests for legislation.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
limits a senator to 10 requests for legislation;
limits a representative to six requests for legislation;
provides exceptions to the limitations; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This resolution provides a special effective date.
Legislative Rules Affected:
AMENDS:
JR4-2-101
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1.
JR4-2-101
is amended to read:
JR4-2-101
. Requests for legislation -- Timing.
(1)
As used in this rule, "appointed legislator" means:
(a)
an incumbent legislator appointed to replace another legislator who resigns or is
unable to serve; or
(b)
an individual appointed to replace a legislator who resigns or is unable to serve.
(2)
(a)
A
Subject to the limits described in Subsection
(2)(b)
, a
legislator wishing to
introduce a bill or resolution shall file a request for legislation with the Office of
Legislative Research and General Counsel within the time limits established by this
rule.
(b)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection
(2)(b)(ii)
:
(A)
a senator may file no more than 10 requests for legislation; and
(B)
a representative may file no more than six requests for legislation.
(ii)
The following do not count towards a legislator's limit described in Subsection
(2)(b)(i)
:
(A)
a request for legislation from the chairs of an authorized legislative committee
under
JR7-1-602
;
(B)
a request for legislation that exclusively appropriates money;
(C)
a request for legislation that exclusively repeals existing statute; or
(D)
the revisor's statute.
(iii)
A request for legislation counts toward the limit under this Subsection
(2)(b)

regardless of whether a legislator abandons the request.
(c)
The request for legislation shall:
(i)
designate the chief sponsor, who is knowledgeable about and responsible for
providing pertinent information as the legislation is drafted; and
(ii)
include drafting instructions for the legislation.
(c)
(d)
(i)
(A)
The chief sponsor may modify the drafting instructions provided in
accordance with Subsection
(2)(b)(ii)
(2)(c)(ii)
only if the modified drafting
instructions do not deviate from the core subject matter of the original drafting
instructions.
(B)
The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall apply the
standard described in Subsection
(2)(c)(i)(A)
(2)(d)(i)(A)
in a manner that
favors the chief sponsor.
(ii)
If the chief sponsor wishes to modify the drafting instructions in a manner
prohibited under Subsection
(2)(c)(i)
(2)(d)(i)
, the chief sponsor shall file a new,
separate request for legislation in accordance with this rule.
(3)
(a)
Any legislator may file a request for legislation beginning 60 days after the
Legislature adjourns its annual general session sine die.
(b)
A legislator-elect may file a request for legislation beginning on:
(i)
the day after:
(A)
for a single county race, the date on which the county election canvass is
completed; or
(B)
for a multi-county race, the date on which the statewide election canvass is
completed; or
(ii)
if the legislator-elect's election results have not been finalized as of the canvass
date, the day after the date the election results for the legislator-elect's race are
finalized.
(c)
(i)
An incumbent legislator may not file any requests for legislation as of the date
that the legislator:
(A)
fails to file to run for election to a seat in the Legislature;
(B)
is ineligible to be included on the ballot for the election in which the legislator
would have sought an additional term; or
(C)
fails to win reelection and the legislator's opponent is eligible to file a request
for legislation under Subsection
(3)(b)
.
(ii)
Subsection
(3)(c)(i)
does not apply to a request for legislation for:
(A)
a general session that occurs while the legislator is in office; or
(B)
a special session that occurs while the legislator is in office.
(d)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection
(3)(e)
, if a legislator who filed a request for
legislation is unable to serve in the next annual general session for any reason, the
former legislator may seek another legislator to assume sponsorship of the former
legislator's legislation.
(ii)
If a former legislator is unable to find another legislator to assume sponsorship
under Subsection
(3)(d)(i)
, the Office of Legislative Research and General
Counsel shall abandon each request the earlier of:
(A)
30 days after the day on which the former legislator is unable to serve; or
(B)
noon on the 11th day of the annual general session.
(iii)
The 30-day time period described in Subsection
(3)(d)(ii)(A)
begins the day on
which a former legislator no longer holds the former legislator's seat.
(e)
(i)
If a legislator dies while in office and is the chief sponsor of one or more
requests for legislation or pieces of legislation, the individual appointed to the
legislator's seat may assume sponsorship of each request for legislation or piece of
legislation.
(ii)
If the individual appointed to the legislator's seat chooses not to assume
sponsorship of one or more of the legislator's requests for legislation or pieces of
legislation, the following individual shall seek another legislator to assume
sponsorship of each request for legislation or piece of legislation:
(A)
if the legislator was a member of the House majority caucus, the House
majority leader;
(B)
if the legislator was a member of the House minority caucus, the House
minority leader;
(C)
if the legislator was a member of the Senate majority caucus, the Senate
majority leader; or
(D)
if the legislator was a member of the Senate minority caucus, the Senate
minority leader.
(iii)
If the individual described in Subsection
(3)(e)(ii)
does not find a new sponsor:
(A)
for a request for legislation, the Office of Legislative Research and General
Counsel shall abandon the request for legislation; and
(B)
for legislation, the legislation shall be returned to the originating chamber and
filed.
(f)
(i)
A legislator-elect who is an incumbent legislator may retain any requests for
legislation the legislator-elect filed before the date described in Subsection
(3)(b)
.
(ii)
An appointed legislator who is an incumbent legislator may retain any requests
for legislation the appointed legislator filed before assuming the seat to which the
legislator is appointed.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(c)
, a legislator may not file a request for
legislation with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel after noon
on the 11th day of the annual general session.
(b)
On the 11th day of the annual general session, the Office of Legislative Research and
General Counsel shall make public on the Legislature's website the short title and
sponsor of each request for legislation, unless the sponsor abandons the request for
legislation before noon on the 11th day of the annual general session.
(c)
(i)
After the 11th day of the annual general session, a legislator may file a request
for legislation only if:
(A)
for House legislation, the representative makes a motion to request legislation
for drafting and introduction and that motion is approved by a constitutional
majority of the House; or
(B)
for Senate legislation, the senator makes a motion to request legislation for
drafting and introduction and that motion is approved by a constitutional
majority vote of the Senate.
(ii)
The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall make public on the
Legislature's website the short title and sponsor of each request for legislation
described in this Subsection
(4)(c)
.
(5)
After a request for legislation is abandoned, a legislator may not revive the request for
legislation.
(6)
A legislator wishing to obtain funding for a project, program, or entity, when that
funding request does not require that a statute be enacted, repealed, or amended, may not
file a request for legislation but instead shall file a request for appropriation by following
the procedures and requirements of
JR3-2-701
.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This resolution takes effect May 6, 2026.
1-30-26 8:44 AM