S.B. 140 Election Adjustments

What this bill does

The bill corrects election deadlines that were left out when the congressional candidate filing deadline was moved to March during a special session. It changes the timing rules for congressional candidate filing and the related deadline so they line up with the state convention dates instead of a fixed March 13 cutoff.

Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.

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Every vote

• 7 yes, 0 noSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 23, 2026Who voted how
• 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Jan 28, 2026Who voted how
• 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal Senate vote · Jan 29, 2026Who voted how
• 5 yes, 0 no, 7 absentHouse Government Operations Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 3, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 6 absentHouse Government Operations Committee: Consent Calendar Recommendation · Feb 3, 2026Who voted how
• 68 yes, 1 no, 6 absentFinal House vote · Feb 6, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 23, 2026 Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Committee chair52:04

     Senator Sandall, uh, let's call you, uh,

  2. Sen. Scott D. Sandall52:07

     Senate Bill one 40 election adjustments. Thank you Chair. Thank you. Committee members. Um, this bill file, um, is a result of a couple of oversights that we did in special session when we moved the filing deadline for congressional candidates into March. And when we did that, um, there's, uh, on line 30, uh, we had to switch the 30 calendar days after the day of the candidate filing because that candidate, uh, that does not move, that does not work for congressional candidates filing in March. It has to be no earlier than 30 days before, but no later than 14 days before the fourth Wednesday in April. So that's the change there. The other change is, is at the, uh, at the bottom of the bill file. And that is that, uh, in line 2 8 98 and 2 99, um, instead of 5:00 PM on March, March 13th, it would be at the applicable deadline described above to coincide with the, the con, uh, state conventions for those county or those candidates for congressional offices. So this was just an oversight that we did, um, when we, when we moved the congressional election filing. Um, I have one question.

  3. Unknown speaker53:41speaker not certain

     The effective date on this bill, should it not be earlier than May 6th, Uh, it will take effect with two thirds vote.

  4. Sen. Scott D. Sandall53:50

     Okay. Immediately. And the governor's signature? Yes. Uh, quite honestly, those candidates that are running for congressional office need this. They need the certainty as quickly as possible. Jerry, you're correct. Okay. Alright. Uh, that in your presentation that That's it. Uh,

  5. Committee chair54:08

     any questions for the presenter?

  6. Unknown speaker54:14speaker not certain

     Did you Conflict of interest, uh, before we go into this one? So this count that as my conflict of interest disclosure here.

  7. Committee chair54:23

     Okay. All right. Um, let's go to the public. Is there anyone that wants to weigh in on this? S bill? Is there anybody online? Okay, so, we'll, no, no one online. Okay. No one online. So, we'll close public comment. We'll come back to the committee for further consideration

  8. Sen. Scott D. Sandall54:42

     As a committee member. We're all move that we pass favorably from this committee. SB one 40.

  9. Committee chair54:48

     Alright. Discussion. Seeing none. We'll go back to you wa I'll waive both. Okay. Alright. All those in favor of, uh, Senate Bill one 40 being forwarded to the Senate floor. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That is unanimous then. Pardon? Senator Plumb. Senator Plumb, how did you vote? Let's just, he didn't give us a thumbs up, right? No. Okay. My apologies.

  10. Sen. John D. Johnson55:23

      That keeps coming in and out where I am. Uh, can you hear me now? Yes. Yes, We can. I'm a Yes, please.

  11. Committee chair55:30

      Okay. Thank you. You bet. All right. Um, Senator Stratton,

• Jan 28, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. President Adams (presiding)35:26

     Election adjustments. Senator Sandall.

  2. Sen. Scott D. Sandall35:28

     Senator Sandall. Thank you Mr. President. So when we, uh, moved the filing deadline for our congressional candidates to March, we missed doing a couple of things. One of them was to modify the deadline for the Lieutenant governor to create a master ballot position list for that election. And the other thing was we needed to move when the filing, uh, deadline or when the, uh, signature deadline would be for those candidates. Uh, we're gonna ask that we get this done as quickly as possible and have an immediate effective date so that those candidates have more security in, uh, in the election process. Uh, without it be open to any questions.

  3. President Adams (presiding)36:13

     Say no question. Senator, you're gonna move this to third and then we'll, we'll move it off the third tomorrow. Is that, is That fast? Uh, yeah, let's move it to the third. I think we can do That. We ought, I think we ought to use some time. I don't think a day hurts. So I don't see any questions. I'm gonna go to you for action.

  4. Sen. Scott D. Sandall36:27

     Okay. I would, um, move that to Senate Bill one 40. Be read for a third time.

  5. President Adams (presiding)36:32

     Thank you. And the question is, shall Senate bill one 40 be read a third time Roll call Vote. Senator Vickers Baldy Lein Brammer bus Aye. Colmore Escamia Fillmore Grover Harper Aye. Kinins Ipson Ipsen Johnson. Kwan McKay. Mikel Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton. Yes. Vickers. Weiler Aye. Wilson. Aye. Winterton President Adams Aye. Senate Bill one 40 Having received 28 a votes zero na votes one being absent shall be read a third time. So let's go back to the third reading calendar. Now I'm gonna call the first bill that has been there for, for over 24 hours. Uh, first substitute Senate bill 51 First substitute Senate Bill 51 School Safety Modifications. Senator Owens. Senator Owens.

  6. Sen. Derrin R. Owens37:44

     Thank you. Thank you Mr. President. Um, I, I have a substitute that I've approved waiting

• Jan 29, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (7 turns)

  1. Sen. Scott D. Sandall42:52

     changed the date of the candidate filing for congressional offices, there were a couple of dates that we missed. One of those is for the Lieutenant Governor to create a master ballot position and the other one is around the deadline for turning in of signature gathering. Uh, we need to get this done, um, and make it, uh, applicable as soon as possible for certainty in the candidate, uh, filing period. With that, I'll conclude my presentation.

  2. Presiding officer43:22

     Thank you for that presentation. Is there discussion to this bill saying none. Senator Senate for summation or motion?

  3. Sen. Scott D. Sandall43:31

     I'd move it. Uh, Senate bill one 40 pass.

  4. Presiding officer43:34

     And the question is, shall Senate bill one 40 pass Roll call vote.

  5. Unknown speaker43:38speaker not certain

     Senator Vickers Baldy Aye. Lein Brammer Bus Comore Escamilla Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Aye. Kinins Ipson Johnson Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musman Owens Pitcher Plum Rebi Sandal Stevenson Stratton Bickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye.

  6. Presiding officer44:26

     President Adams Senate Bill one 40 Having received 24 yay votes, zero na votes five being absent passes, the Senate will be sent to the house for further consideration. Senator Olands?

  7. Presiding officer44:59

     Discussion to that motion? Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes. The bill is un circle now to the bill.

• Feb 3, 2026 House Government Operations Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (21 turns)

  1. Committee chair32:33

     We'll move on to item number one. Uh, Senator Sandall, come on up. Senate bill one 40. Election adjustments.

  2. Sen. Scott D. Sandall32:43

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. You should be on now. Am I on now? Thank you. Okay. This bill is, uh, simply something that we had to do to clean up when in special session this summer. We moved the congressional filing date for congressional candidates into March. We missed a couple of things that, uh, need to make the dates line up. One of them is that we modified the deadline for the Lieutenant Governor to create a master ballot. And the other is that we, uh, modified the date for signature turn in and gathering to coordinate, um, trying to move this bill file forward so we can get immediate action on it, give all of our congressional candidates some surety and what these dates are gonna be With that Mr. Chair, that's my presentation.

  3. Committee chair33:33

     All right. Thank you, Senator. We'll go to the committee for clarifying questions, and I do not see any at this point, so we'll, uh, move right out to the public.

  4. Committee chair33:42

     Anybody from the public want to speak to this bill? Raise your hand. Okay. I see one. Come on up. Uh, Ricky, there's just one, so you can stay right there. Senator, go. Go ahead and, uh, Ricky Hatch, we know you, but tell us who you are. Sign in and speak.

  5. Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor33:56

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ricky Hatch. I'm the Weber County Clerk auditor and representing the clerks of the state. Uh, we don't have any concerns with this bill. Um, just know that as elect as candidates are listed now online, there are no rules surrounding the governance of which order they, we show them. Some counties will do them in the order in which the candidates have filed. Some will do alphabetical, some might do it with the current existing order of ballots or order of candidates. Um, and, uh, then we will just wait until we get that guidance. Uh, if this bill is passed, then we'll wait. And once that guidance is provided, then we rearrange the, the order that they're shown.

  6. Committee chair34:38

     Okay. So, so you are supporting the bill or neutral?

  7. Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor34:42

     Neutral. Okay. Very good. Thank you for your comments.

  8. Committee chair34:45

     Uh, Ricky, anybody online? No. Alright. Well, right, we'll close public comment, come back to the committee for further questions, interaction. And it looks like, um, Representative Peterson is gonna make a motion.

  9. Rep. Michael J. Petersen35:05

     I'd make a motion that we approve SB one 40 election adjustments and, uh, send it to the house for full consideration.

  10. Committee chair35:18

      All right. Thank you, representative for the motions. We, uh, favorably recommend Senate Bill one 40 election adjustments. Um, we'll take a voice. Well, sorry, Senator, I'm not in that big of a hurry. I really, I really am not wave. So you're gonna wave summation. Uh, Representative Peterson.

  11. Rep. Michael J. Petersen35:38

      I'm gonna waive as well. All right.

  12. Committee chair35:39

      Both summations are waived. We'll take a voice vote. Uh, all in favor of favorably, uh, passing out Senate bill one 40. Say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Alright,

  13. Rep. Michael J. Petersen35:51

      I'd like to make another motion if I could Chair. You may, uh, I'd Like to make a motion that we, uh, put, uh, SB one 40 on the consent calendar.

  14. Committee chair35:59

      That's in order. Would you like to speak to it?

  15. Rep. Michael J. Petersen36:01

      No, thank You. Alright.

  16. Committee chair36:02

      Any, uh, discussion to that motion? Alright, to the, uh, bill sponsor. Thank

  17. Sen. Scott D. Sandall36:07

      You. That would be wonderful. Uh, I think, uh, our state clerk or our county clerks and lieutenant IL's offices need this certainty as quick as possible.

  18. Committee chair36:18

      Very good. Alright, so the motion is that we put this, uh, Senate bill one 40 on the consent calendar. Uh, voice vote. All in favor say aye. Yes. Of information. You may. Is it going passed? Uh, hang on, let me get your, there you go.

  19. Unknown speaker36:33speaker not certain

      And maybe staff would know, would it be faster just to put it on the Senate calendar versus the consent calendar? The delay? That would be fast. Okay. Perfect. Yeah, we checked and we think consent's the way to go. So, perfect. Thank

  20. Committee chair36:43

      You. Alright, Thanks. Alright, so the motion before us is to place Senate Bill one 40 election adjustments on the consent calendar. Uh, voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? And that passes unanimously. Good day for you, Senator.

  21. Sen. Scott D. Sandall37:00

      Thank you, Mr. All right. Thank You Mr. Chair Committee. Thank you.

• Feb 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Reading Clerk19:54

     Senate bill one 40 Election adjustments by Senator Sandall. This bill was heard in government operations with the vote of 5 0 7. The House sponsors Representative Pucci.

  2. Speaker (presiding)20:05

     Representative Pucci.

  3. Rep. Candice B. Pierucci20:14

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to circle

  4. Speaker (presiding)20:16

     That motion is in order.

  5. Rep. Candice B. Pierucci20:17

     We'll go ahead and place the motion to motion before us the house circle SB one 40.

  6. Speaker (presiding)20:21

     All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Rule that motion passes. The bill's been circled. Madam Reading Clerk

• Feb 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (3 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)27:55

     All in favor of un SB one 40. Say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Much better rule. That motion passes the bills Uncircled and before the body back to you. Representative Pucci.

  2. Rep. Candice B. Pierucci28:07

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, colleagues, this is a cleanup bill. It has to do with our special session and the bill that we passed. When we move the Congressional, uh, filing deadlines, we miss some important information. So there's two things this does to make sure we can do that successfully. One is, it changes the deadline for the Lieutenant Governor to create a master ballot position list 'cause it didn't catch that and it changes the deadline for congressional candidates, uh, to what we had intended. So that is the cleanup.

  3. Speaker (presiding)28:36

     Thank you. Representative Pucci uh, voting will now be open on SB one 40. Representative Shallenberger, would you like to vote? All present and voted. Voting is now closed. SB one 40 passed this body with 68 Yes. Votes one, no vote and be sent to the Senate for its con or signed by this speaker and sent to the Senate for the signature of the President.