Bill > HB0356

This bill amends Utah law regarding county governance, with a primary focus on counties operating under a council-manager form of government. For counties of the third through sixth class with a council-manager system, the bill mandates that each council member must represent a single district, be elected by a majority vote from within that district, and be a resident of the district they represent. The bill requires counties that do not currently meet these district representation requirements to establish a county districting commission by June 1, 2025. This commission must create district boundaries that are population-balanced, contiguous, compact, and do not divide existing voter precincts. The bill also modifies the composition of study committees that examine potential changes to county government, now requiring a more balanced representation with members from both the county legislative body and the county's council of governments. Additionally, the bill places restrictions on what can be included in optional plans for changing county government forms, such as prohibiting specifications of compensation or full/part-time status for officials if the plan is proposed after March 20, 2020. The bill is set to take effect on May 7, 2025, providing counties with ample time to implement the new district representation requirements.

Government Affairs

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0356.html