Utah Voters to Decide on Ballot Initiative Tax Threshold

Utah voters will decide on two state constitutional amendments, Amendment A and Amendment B, during the November 3 general election. Amendment B proposes raising the approval threshold for citizen-led ballot initiatives that create, expand, or increase taxes from a simple majority to 60 percent.

Supporters of the measure, including Republican legislators, argue the higher threshold protects taxpayers and rural residents from initiatives driven by urban populations. Opponents, however, claim the move is a tactic to consolidate power and hinder the public's constitutional right to use ballot initiatives.

Simultaneously, Amendment A seeks to modernize the notification process for constitutional amendments. It would replace a 130-year-old requirement to publish amendment language in county newspapers with a system established by state law. If passed, a companion bill would require the lieutenant governor to publish these notices on the Utah Public Notice website. This proposal follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that voided a previous amendment because the legislature failed to follow the existing newspaper publication requirements.