Utah Set to Repeal Term Limits

Utah Set to Repeal Term Limits

March 26, 2003

On the last day of the 2003 legislative session, the Utah House of Representatives gave approval to a bill to repeal the state's term limits. The governor signed the bill into law on March 17.

Senate Bill 240 repeals term limits for state legislators, as well as those imposed on the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer.

Utah is one of just a handful of states whose term limits are in their statutes. In most states, term limits are part of the constitution, which means that voter approval is required to amend or repeal the limits. In states like Utah, however, where the limits are statutory, the legislature may amend or repeal the limits without voter approval. Idaho was the first state to repeal term limits in 2002.

The day before the House approved the bill, the Washington D.C.-based group U.S. Term Limits filed a petition seeking to place a term limits initiative on Utah's 2004 ballot. To read a news story about the proposed initiative, click here.

Link to Utah's Senate Bill 240

Links to news stories about the repeal bill:

Deseret News, March 5, 2003

Salt Lake Tribune, March 8, 2003

Salt Lake Tribune, March 1, 2003 (opinion)

For More Information on Term Limits

Jennie Drage Bowser tracks term limits, and may be reached at 303-364-7700 or elections-info@ncsl.org.