A new campaign launched Monday by the political issues committee Utahns Protecting Our Constitution is urging Utah voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment on the upcoming Nov. 3 ballot. The amendment, known as Amendment B, seeks to raise the voting threshold for certain ballot initiatives that would increase or impose new taxes. Ogden residents and voters across Utah will begin receiving their ballots in about two weeks, featuring this significant proposal.
Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers approved a resolution to present Amendment B to voters. If approved, the measure would change the Utah Constitution to require some ballot initiatives to pass with at least 60% voter support, moving beyond the current simple majority requirement. This higher threshold would apply to new laws enacted through ballot initiatives that impose a new tax, expand or increase an existing tax, or alter a property tax rate to decrease less than it would under current law.
This change could significantly impact future ballot initiatives in Northern Utah and statewide. For example, in 2018, when Utah last saw a wave of ballot initiative efforts, none received more than 60% of the vote. Initiatives passed that year, such as full Medicaid expansion (53.3%) and medical marijuana legalization (52.7%), both created new tax revenue streams. Had Amendment B's 60% threshold been in place then, neither would have passed. Even Better Boundaries' initiative to create an independent redistricting commission passed with a narrow 50.3%.
Supporters of Amendment B, including the Utah Taxpayers Association, contend the change would help safeguard taxpayer money. Senator Lincoln Fillmore, a Republican from South Jordan and the question's sponsor, argued during this year's legislative session that voters should determine the threshold. He questioned whether a simple majority should be able to raise taxes on a substantial minority, suggesting the need for a broader consensus on such matters. In a prepared statement issued Monday, Senator Fillmore and Representative Jason Kyle, a Republican from Huntsville and the question's House sponsor, stated that Amendment B aims to protect the initiative process while recognizing a principle that raising neighbors' taxes should require broad support from those neighbors. They emphasized that the decision ultimately remains with Utah voters.
However, critics like Utahns Protecting Our Constitution argue that Amendment B would constitute an unnecessary and permanent rewrite of the state's founding document, which they contend would weaken a key tool citizens use to hold government accountable, according to a news release issued Monday by the political issues committee. Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Utahns Protecting Our Constitution, who also leads the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries, stated that the initiative process belongs to the people of Utah, not to the politicians it was designed to check. Rasmussen further contended that Amendment B shifts this balance, making it more challenging for Utah voters to exercise their power, and that the Utah Constitution should only be altered when absolutely necessary.
Utahns Protecting Our Constitution is committed to spreading its "vote no" message through a variety of channels in the coming weeks, including TV ads, mail campaigns, canvassing, and digital outreach. The group has also launched a dedicated website. Financial campaign finance disclosures indicate that Utahns Protecting Our Constitution has accumulated approximately $593,000 in contributions as of this month, providing significant resources for its opposition efforts.
Despite the substantial funding for the opposition campaign, the group may face an uphill battle to sway voters. A poll released last week by Noble Predictive Insights indicated that about 50% of Utah voters support the proposed constitutional amendment, while 21% oppose it. A significant portion, 23%, remain unsure. The poll surveyed 602 registered voters between September 8-12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.99 percentage points.
Amendment B is one of two proposed constitutional amendments that Utah lawmakers have placed on this year's ballot. The other, Amendment A, seeks to modify the Utah Constitution to remove the explicit requirement that state officials publish proposed constitutional amendments in "at least one newspaper in every county of the state... for two months" before an election. Instead, it would require publication "in a manner provided by statute, for 60 calendar days" immediately preceding the election. Lawmakers proposed this change after two constitutional amendments were voided from the 2024 ballot due to court rulings, partly citing failures to meet the specific constitutional publication requirements. Proponents argue that in the current digital age, newspapers are becoming less common and are no longer the primary information source for most Utahns. Elizabeth Rasmussen confirmed in a text message Monday that Utahns Protecting Our Constitution has not taken a position on Amendment A.
