HB 504 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Financial and Conflict of Interest Disclosures by Candidates Amendments

HB 504 requires candidates for county, municipal, special district, state school board, or statewide offices to file conflict of interest disclosures when declaring candidacy or seeking to fill a midterm vacancy (e.g., if an officeholder resigns mid-term). It eliminates the need to disclose spousal information, allows candidates to redact personal details if they or their spouse are at-risk government employees, and mandates public online access to these disclosures. The bill also clarifies vacancy timelines, updates financial reporting deadlines for midterm vacancies, and amends related election codes to streamline processes. No new funding is required, and the changes aim to increase transparency in candidate disclosures without altering campaign contribution limits.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #2 → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill transitions from a draft version to an enrolled, final version by adding a cosponsor, removing a specific coordination clause with another bill (S.B. 300), and updating the effective date to May 7, 2025. The core policy content regarding campaign finance reporting, conflict of interest disclosures, and residency requirements remains substantively unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability and substantive policy requirements remain the same; only the legislative metadata and a specific coordination clause were modified.

TECHNICAL

Added 'Cosponsor: Paul A. Cutler' to the bill header, reflecting the final legislative sponsor list.

Deleted Section 23, which previously contained a coordination clause intended to align this bill with S.B. 300 if both passed.

Updated the 'Other Special Clauses' section in the Long Title to remove the statement that the bill provides a coordination clause.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from '3-5-25 2:28 PM' to '3-13-25 12:14 PM', indicating the bill will take effect on May 7, 2025.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates campaign finance and conflict of interest rules for candidates running for county, municipal, and special district offices, as well as those filling midterm vacancies. It requires new conflict of interest disclosures at the time of candidacy filing for local offices and modifies financial reporting deadlines for state and legislative candidates seeking appointment to fill vacancies. The bill also refines definitions of 'expenditure' to clarify what counts as a reportable contribution and adjusts disclosure requirements to better protect at-risk government employees.

Scope change

The bill expands conflict of interest disclosure requirements to include candidates for county, municipal, and special district offices when they file for candidacy, whereas previously these requirements were less uniform or focused primarily on state offices. It also clarifies procedures for filling midterm vacancies in various offices.

REQUIREMENT

Requires candidates for county, municipal, and special district offices to file a conflict of interest disclosure statement at the time they file a declaration of candidacy.

Updates financial reporting deadlines for state and legislative office candidates seeking appointment to fill midterm vacancies to align with specific party nomination meeting dates.

Allows candidates or officeholders who are at-risk government employees to request redaction of certain personally identifiable information, such as spouse or household member details, from their conflict of interest disclosures.

DEFINITION

Clarifies the definition of 'expenditure' to include compensation paid by a candidate for personal services rendered to a reporting entity without charge.

TIMELINE

Adjusts specific deadlines for filing interim financial reports and conflict of interest disclosures for candidates appointed to fill vacancies in state, legislative, and local offices.

TECHNICAL

Makes technical corrections to section numbering and formatting throughout the bill text to ensure consistency with existing statutes.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 24, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 8, 2025

Legislature · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ to House with amendments

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor