What Utah’s 2026 legislative ethics resolution changed

S.J.R. 16, a joint rules resolution sponsored by Sen. Ann Millner and Rep. Tyler Clancy, amends the Legislature’s rules for handling ethics complaints against lawmakers. It passed the Senate 27-1 on March 2 and the House 65-0 on March 6, 2026. It takes effect upon a successful vote for final passage. ^[1][2][3]

The ethics commission

The resolution deletes the rule that a member of the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission may not be appointed to more than two full terms. Members still serve four-year terms, and a member still may not serve as chair for more than two consecutive years. ^[1]

Dismissing complaints

The commission must still dismiss a complaint when its allegations lack merit or do not describe a violation, or when the commission lacks jurisdiction. The resolution adds that the commission may dismiss a complaint if, after negotiating in good faith, the complainant and the lawmaker agree to corrective actions, and may reopen it if either side does not comply. ^[1]

Affidavits, subpoenas and presiding

Complainants, the lawmaker and each witness must provide affidavits, and the complainant and witness affidavits must state they are true and correct under penalty of perjury. The resolution also clarifies the subpoena powers of the commission and the House and Senate ethics committees, and lets a chair designate a member to preside in some circumstances, including a member with legal expertise for evidence rulings. ^[1]

What is public

The resolution removes language that directed staff to publicly release the commission’s recommendation, the complaint and the response, and language saying the recommendation and redacted complaint and response are “made publicly available.” The recommendation still goes to the lawmaker, the first complainant and the chair and vice chair of the relevant ethics committee, and the redacted complaint and response still go to those committee leaders. Its summary says it clarifies that the commission’s recommendation is a private record. ^[1]

Meetings and hearings of the House and Senate ethics committees reviewing a complaint remain subject to the Open and Public Meetings Act, and may be closed by majority vote for reasons the rule lists, including deliberations. ^[1]