Vote Utah Completes Signature Verification, HB267 Referendum Moves Forward
Salt Lake City, UT – On Thursday, Vote Utah announced the successful completion of the signature verification process for the HB267 referendum, confirming a total of 251,590 verified signatures. This marks a significant milestone for the coalition seeking to repeal the controversial law prohibiting public sector collective bargaining.
The verification process was conducted under the supervision of the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office and involved collaboration with county clerk offices statewide, including Salt Lake County. Although 73,136 signatures were rejected for various reasons, such as issues with registration or illegibility, the number of validated signatures far exceeds the required threshold of 140,748. This benchmark was reached as early as April 28.
The HB267 law, which was passed by the state legislature in February and quickly signed by Governor Spencer Cox, has faced backlash from labor advocates and union members. Following its passage, the Protect Utah Workers coalition initiated a signature-gathering campaign to put the repeal on the ballot. The law is set to restrict public sector unions from acting as the exclusive bargaining representative for employees.
In a timely development, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson issued a temporary stay on the enforcement of HB267, which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1. This stay maintains a pause on the law until either the lieutenant governor declares the petition insufficient or the governor enacts the law.
As the next steps unfold, advocates for the referendum remain hopeful about securing a place on the ballot, promising to rally support as they challenge the implications of HB267 on workers’ rights in Utah.
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