This bill modifies the process for filling a vacancy in a municipal office.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently requires a city council to fill a vacancy in the mayor's office or on the council within 30 days, using an interview process and, if candidates tie, a coin toss to determine the winner. This bill would change when that 30-day clock starts, tying it to the date a council receives a resignation letter rather than the date the vacancy officially takes effect, so a future-dated resignation would trigger the process immediately upon submission. It would also replace the simple coin-toss system with a requirement that councils adopt, before the appointment meeting, their own written and publicly disclosed method for eliminating tied candidates by lot when three or more candidates are tied, while still allowing a coin toss to decide between two finalists who tie in a final vote; the bill also allows a mayor with existing legal tie-breaking authority to break ties instead, as long as the mayor is not one of the candidates being considered. Finally, the bill would require that every vote on filling a vacancy, including how each council member voted, be disclosed to the public immediately, would set clear rules for when an appointed replacement officially takes office, and would prohibit a council or the governor from reappointing the very person who vacated the seat.
Current version: HB0420S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 29
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 13
House Floor Vote
Feb 23
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 26
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 23
IntroductionJan 29
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 13
House Floor VoteFeb 23
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 26
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
Governor SignedMar 23
This bill modifies the process for filling a vacancy in a municipal office.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently requires a city council to fill a vacancy in the mayor's office or on the council within 30 days, using an interview process and, if candidates tie, a coin toss to determine the winner. This bill would change when that 30-day clock starts, tying it to the date a council receives a resignation letter rather than the date the vacancy officially takes effect, so a future-dated resignation would trigger the process immediately upon submission. It would also replace the simple coin-toss system with a requirement that councils adopt, before the appointment meeting, their own written and publicly disclosed method for eliminating tied candidates by lot when three or more candidates are tied, while still allowing a coin toss to decide between two finalists who tie in a final vote; the bill also allows a mayor with existing legal tie-breaking authority to break ties instead, as long as the mayor is not one of the candidates being considered. Finally, the bill would require that every vote on filling a vacancy, including how each council member voted, be disclosed to the public immediately, would set clear rules for when an appointed replacement officially takes office, and would prohibit a council or the governor from reappointing the very person who vacated the seat.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM