It’s the start of the Utah Legislature’s 2024 general session. Here’s a breakdown of the basics to help you make sense of what the heck is happening on Capitol Hill. Because knowledge is power, right?
What Is the General Session?
This is where the magic happens, people. For 45 days from January to March, Utah legislators meet to 1. pass the state budget and 2. make laws. Legislators pass somewhere around 500-plus bills each year.
Who’s Involved?
There are 75 representatives in the House and 29 senators from across the state. Republicans have a supermajority in the Legislature, which means they have so many members, they don’t need the Democrats to pass any bills. With those margins, they can also overturn a governor’s veto.
The top officeholders in the Legislature are Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz. They set the agenda for the session.
How Does a Bill Become a Law?
Let’s “Schoolhouse Rock” this ish. Again, there are two chambers: the House and Senate. The same process happens in both. Let’s use the House for reference.
Everything starts in the House Rules Committee. It’s very powerful; it determines what bills are heard by the rest of the Legislature and general public.
The Rules Committee assigns bills to a standing committee, typically one that has the most relevant expertise on the topic. For example, a bill about education would likely be assigned to the House Education Committee. That committee hearing is where the public can weigh in.
If the bill passes the committee, it goes to the full House to be debated and voted on. If it passes the House, the process starts over again in the Senate. Once it passes both chambers, the bill heads to the governor’s desk for him to sign, veto, or become law without his signature.
What Can I Do?
You can participate in lots of ways:
- Watch committee hearings and give public comment in person or online.
- Identify your lawmakers, and message them directly.
- Follow advocacy organizations that work on issues you care about to track bills relevant to your interests.
