# Utah S.B. 194: Election Modifications Utah S.B. 194, Election Modifications, is a 2026 General Session Senate bill sponsored by Michael K. McKell (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-23 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-14). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB194-2026GS - As of: 2026-10-14 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah S.B. 194 - State: Utah - Session: 2026 General Session - Title: Election Modifications - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-23 - Last action: 2026-03-23, Governor Signed - Sponsor: Michael K. McKell (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Election Law, Voting and Voter Registration, Crimes, Government Operations (State Issues), Campaign Finance, Election Administration, Lieutenant Governor, Elected Official - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 13 (151 yes, 23 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 9 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger protections against election communication abuse: benefit, medium. The law sets penalties for electronic communication abuse involving election information or specified election-related retaliatory, threatening, deceptive, or fraudulent intent. A first violation is a class A misdemeanor. A second or later violation is a third degree felony. Charges use this electi… - Election deadlines move past weekends and holidays: benefit, low. Utah election-law deadlines that end on a weekend or holiday move to the next business day. This extension does not cover deadlines in the two chapters concerning the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission. - Ballots show titles instead of officials: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, election officers' and county clerks' names cannot appear on ballots or return envelopes unless listed as candidates. Ballot certification endorsements must say “Certified by” followed by the officer's title, without their name. Before 2027, return envelopes must show the… - Candidates can fund security through campaigns: benefit, low. Beginning May 6, 2026, candidates and officeholders can use campaign money for reasonably necessary security for themselves, families, or staff. These expenses are not treated as personal use, but weapons are excluded. Allowed purchases include security systems at homes, businesses, or campaign off… - Election clerks face stronger neutrality safeguards: benefit, low. Election clerks cannot change election procedures to favor or discriminate against candidates, people seeking candidacy, or ballot measures. This includes proposed ballot measures in elections they administer. County clerks running for reelection must contract with another county clerk to handle sp… - Lieutenant governor must publish conflict safeguards: benefit, low. Utah's lieutenant governor must create a written conflict plan before August 31, 2026, and post it online. The plan must reach the Government Operations Interim Committee by September 1, 2026. It must address actual or perceived conflicts tied to the lieutenant governor's candidacy, including stepp… - Fewer address documents accepted from voters: cost, low. Utah voters can no longer use utility bills or bank and other financial account statements in the two-document identification option. That option requires documents showing the voter's name and residence in the voting precinct. Other identification options remain available. - Clerks lose ballot postmark coordination duty: cost, low. County clerks no longer must work with post offices to ensure ballots carry a postmark or another mailing-date mark. They must still coordinate with post offices to promote prompt ballot delivery. - Mail voters get notices about restrictions: mixed, medium. Starting November 5, 2025, election officers must include a separate paper notice with mailed ballots. Through December 31, 2028, it warns that voters must request mailed ballots starting in 2029. Beginning January 1, 2029, it explains the last-four-digit requirement for Utah driver licenses or sta… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Michael K. McKell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Burton, Jefferson S. ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate/ concurs with House amendment | pass | 20 | 7 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 63 | 7 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2026-02-18 | Senate | Senate/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-18 | Senate | Senate/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 23 | 2 | | | 2026-02-18 | Senate | Senate/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Senate/ floor amendment | fail | | | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 22 | 6 | | | 2026-01-28 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-01-28 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 6 | 1 | | ## Actions (46) - 2026-03-23: Governor Signed - 2026-03-13: Senate/ to Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2026-03-10: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2026-03-10: Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling - 2026-03-06: Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ concurs with House amendment (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ substituted (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar (House) - 2026-02-27: House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact (House) - 2026-02-27: House/ comm rpt/ substituted (House) - 2026-02-27: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-02-27: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-02-26: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2026-02-18: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2026-02-18: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ passed 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ uncircled (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ circled (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ floor amendment (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ substituted (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-01-28: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-01-27: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/SB0194.pdf) - Substitute #6, 2026-03-06: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S06.pdf) - Substitute #5, 2026-03-02: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S05.pdf) - Substitute #4, 2026-02-26: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S04.pdf) - Amended 2/17/2026 11:02:838, 2026-02-17: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0194S03_2026-02-17_11-55-12.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2026-02-15: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S03.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2026-02-10: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-01-23: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194.pdf) ## Related bills - H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments (signed) - H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments (signed) - H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments (signed) - H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments (signed) - H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments (signed) - H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/SB0194.pdf) - [Substitute #6 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S06.pdf) - [Substitute #5 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S05.pdf) - [Substitute #4 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S04.pdf) - [Amended 2/17/2026 11:02:838 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0194S03_2026-02-17_11-55-12.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S03.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0194.pdf) ## Related - [H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB136-2026GS) - [H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB101-2026GS) - [H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB134-2026GS) - [H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB178-2026GS) - [H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB94-2026GS) - [H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB220-2026GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB194-2026GS (as of 2026-10-14).