HJR 1: Joint Rules Resolution - Amendments to Joint Rules - Utah

Substitute #4 → Enrolled · 3 edits · Feb 18, 2026

MINOR

This bill clarifies the rules for opening new legislative bill files during interim sessions. It establishes specific limits on how many files different types of committees can open and allows committee chairs to independently open files with majority approval, provided they report back to the full committee. These changes aim to streamline the legislative process while maintaining oversight.

Scope change

The scope was expanded to explicitly define the number of bill files allowed for interim, special, and Legislative Process committees, and to authorize committee chairs to open files independently under specific conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific numerical limits on the number of committee bill files that interim, special, and Legislative Process committees can open.

Granted committee chairs the authority to independently open bill files via majority vote, subject to reporting requirements and subject matter restrictions.

TIMELINE

Clarified the prohibition on opening bill files during the period from January 1 until the day after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add new rules for executive budget meetings, allow legislators to co-sponsor bills from the opposite chamber, and clarify sponsorship transfer procedures for former legislators. It also updated definitions and committee compositions to ensure consistency across the joint rules.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new provisions for executive appropriations duties and cross-chamber legislation sponsorship, while maintaining its original focus on modifying joint rules.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section requiring the Executive Appropriations Committee to meet by the third Wednesday in December to review revenue estimates, liabilities, and set aside special allocations for debt reduction or tax cuts.

Added a new section clarifying that a former legislator may seek another legislator to assume sponsorship of their legislation within 30 days after leaving office.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a provision allowing a legislator to co-sponsor legislation that originates in the opposite chamber of which the legislator is a member.

DEFINITION

Updated the 'Highlighted Provisions' summary to reflect the new co-sponsorship rule and changed 'draft journals' to 'draft journals' in the general description.

TECHNICAL

Added new rule numbers (JR3-2-402, JR4-2-103, JR7-1-101) to the list of amended rules and renumbered subsequent sections accordingly.

Substitute #3 → Substitute #4 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This substitute bill refines the legislative rules to clarify definitions of 'minority leader' and 'minority party,' update record-keeping and journal publication procedures, and establish specific protocols for handling 'sunset bills' and legislation that increases legislative workload. It also modifies the composition and appointment processes for ethics committees and the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, while adding new rules regarding committee bill files.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include new definitions for 'sunset bills' and 'increase legislative workload,' and to clarify procedures for cross-chamber legislation sponsorship and ethics committee appointments.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'sunset bill' and 'increase legislative workload' to clarify how these specific types of legislation are processed.

Clarified definitions of 'minority leader' and 'minority party' to ensure consistent application across various rules.

REQUIREMENT

Modified procedures for handling sunset bills, requiring the Senate to table House sunset bills on third reading and the House to refer Senate sunset bills to the House Rules Committee.

Updated rules for legislation increasing legislative workload, adding requirements for favorable committee recommendations before third reading and prioritization by legislators.

Revised the composition and appointment procedures for Senate and House Ethics Committees and the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission.

Added new provisions allowing the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to request bills on behalf of legislators implementing constitutional joint resolutions.

TECHNICAL

Made technical corrections to formatting, punctuation, and gender-neutral language in existing rules regarding record-keeping and seal usage.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

Substitute #3 modifies the legislative rules to clarify record-keeping duties for the Senate Secretary and House Chief Clerk, adjust the formatting of amendments in bill jackets, and update the highlighted provisions list to reflect these new clarifications. The substantive content of the rules regarding journals, seals, and performance evaluations remains largely consistent with the previous version, though the formatting of the amendment list was expanded to include JR1-3-101.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains the same, covering the Utah Legislature's internal rules, but the specific duties of the Senate Secretary and House Chief Clerk were clarified to include recording actions on bill jackets.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Senate Secretary and House Chief Clerk (or their designees) to record every action taken on bills and resolutions on each bill's jacket.

TECHNICAL

Modified the rule regarding bill jackets to specify that Senate amendments must be inserted on goldenrod paper and House amendments on lilac paper.

Clarified the publication requirement for journals by changing the language from publishing the journal daily to publishing a draft journal for each day of the session.

Updated the 'Legislative Rules Affected' list to include JR1-3-101 and JR4-3-302, which were not listed in the previous version.

Revised the 'Highlighted Provisions' section to accurately reflect the new clarifications regarding record-keeping and the formatting of amendments.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 3 edits

MINOR

Substitute #2 adds a new rule requiring the Senate to table House sunset bills on third reading and the House to refer Senate sunset bills to the Rules Committee, while also correcting a typo in the definition of 'increase legislative workload' and fixing formatting errors in the legislative seal rule.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new procedural requirements for handling 'sunset bills' between chambers.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new rule (JR4-3-110) mandating that the Senate table House sunset bills on third reading and the House refer Senate sunset bills to the House Rules Committee.

DEFINITION

Corrected a typo in JR4-3-301 where 'increase legislative workload' was incorrectly defined to include giving authority to appoint board members; it now correctly includes requiring legislative staff to staff such bodies.

TECHNICAL

Fixed a typo in JR1-3-201 changing 'stationarystationery' to 'stationery' and removed duplicate bracketed text in JR1-3-102.

Joint Rules Resolution - Amendments to Joint Rules

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