All Roll Calls
Yes: 162 • No: 19
UtahH.B. 2422026 General SessionHouse
Initiative and Referendum Signature Gathering and Removal Amendments
Sponsored By: Karen M. Peterson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Election LawInitiativesCrimesGovernment Operations (State Issues)Referenda
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
One-year date errors need not disqualify signatures
County clerks cannot reject a petition signature or packet solely because a signature's date is one calendar year off. Correcting it must place the date between the packet's first signature and its submission. This correction does not change the first-signature date used to set the packet's submission deadline.
Petition signers get email privacy protections
People or groups receiving a petition signer's email may use it only for purposes allowed by Utah's petition law. A stricter rule covers gatherers obtaining emails through the specified disability-accommodation process: they cannot use those addresses for any purpose. That rule applies when gathering petition signatures or removal statements.
Voters protected from petition deception and payments
Gatherers cannot make claims likely to deceive voters or falsely claim government ties while seeking petition signatures or removal statements. No one may pay or offer money, prepaid postage, or another direct financial benefit to get someone's signature removed. These protections cover state and local initiatives and referenda. Beginning May 6, 2026, the law expressly extends these rules to referendum activity. Violations are class A misdemeanors.
Petition removal gatherers need hourly pay
Beginning May 6, 2026, anyone paying workers to collect petition signature-removal statements must pay by the hour. Per-signature pay and other non-hourly payment methods are prohibited. The law does not set an hourly wage.
Voters face tighter petition removal rules
Voters cannot submit petition signature-removal statements by prepaid-postage mail, email, or other electronic means, including for electronic petitions. A clerk may accept prepaid mail only if postmarked on or before the law's effective date, generally May 6, 2026. For referendum removals, statements must arrive before 5 p.m. on the earlier of two deadlines. These are the first business day at least 30 calendar days after signing, or at least 45 calendar days after the local clerk posts the voter's name.
New rules for petition removal gatherers
Anyone collecting petition signature-removal statements must be at least 18. Beginning May 6, 2026, paid gatherers must wear a clearly visible badge on the front of their torso. It must show their assigned ID number, petition title, payer, and the words “Paid Signature Removal Statement Gatherer.” Badges must use black ink on white laminated cardstock and at least 24-point type. The lieutenant governor assigns statewide IDs; local clerks assign local IDs. Paid gatherers' statements must warn that removal may keep the petition off the ballot. Gatherers must verify under penalty of perjury their age and that they witnessed signing, and verify identity when required. For a qualifying disability, they may sign at the voter's direction and in the voter's presence, marking “AV.”
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Karen M. Peterson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Calvin R. Musselman
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 21 • No: 7
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 57 • No: 12
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 68 • No: 0
House vote • 1/26/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/7/2026House/ to Governor
3/7/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/7/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/7/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/7/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/7/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/7/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/7/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/7/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/7/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/26/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/26/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/7/2026
Substitute #3
3/5/2026
Substitute #2
3/4/2026
Substitute #1
2/27/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026