Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB85: State Sovereignty Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill addresses state sovereignty.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, December 23, 2025:
0 State Sovereignty Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Lisa Shepherd Senate Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses state sovereignty. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - defines terms; - prohibits the governor or the chief executive officer of a political subdivision from declaring a state of emergency exclusively in response to an international organization's proclamation declaring a state of emergency; - declares that an international organization has no power, jurisdiction, or legal authority in the state; - prohibits the state, state agencies, and local governments from implementing or enforcing an international directive issued by an international organization; and - makes technical changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 53-2a-203 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 16 53-2a-205 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 39 53-2a-206 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 381 53-2a-208 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 438 ENACTS: 63G-16-102 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 53-2a-203 is amended to read: 53-2a-203 . Definitions. As used in this part: (1) "Chief executive officer" means: (a) for a municipality: (i) the mayor for a …
Sponsors
- Lisa Shepherd (R, 61) · primary sponsor
- Ronald Winterton (R, 20)
- Cheryl Acton (R, 38)
- Chevrier, Kristen (R, 54)
- Chew, Scott H. (R, 68)
- Christofferson, Kay J. (R, 53)
- Tyler Clancy (R, 60)
- Elison, Joseph (R, 72)
- Fiefia, Doug (R, 48)
- Hawkins, Jon (R, 55)
- Ivory, Ken (R, 39)
- Colin Jack (R, 73)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ failed
- : Senate/ 3rd reading
- : Senate/ passed 2nd reading
- : Senate/ 2nd reading
- : Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- : Senate/ committee report favorable
- : Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Votes
- Senate/ failed (February 5, 2026): 12 yea, 17 nay, failed
- Senate/ passed 2nd reading (February 4, 2026): 19 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (January 28, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (January 23, 2026): 55 yea, 11 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (January 21, 2026): 6 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: Government Operations (State Issues), Governor, Constitutional Officers, Federalism
Common questions
- What is HB85?
- HB85 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): State Sovereignty Amendments.
- What does HB85 do?
- This bill addresses state sovereignty.
- What is the status of HB85?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB85?
- Lisa Shepherd (R, 61), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB85?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0085.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.