Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah SB299: Candidate Name Modifications
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill addresses the appearance of a candidate's name on a ballot.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 16, 2026:
0 Candidate Name Modifications 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher House Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses the appearance of a candidate's name on a ballot. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - modifies the conditions and requirements for a ballot to list a candidate using a variation of the candidate's name or a nickname. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 20A-6-109 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 39 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 20A-6-109 is amended to read: 20A-6-109 . Appearance of candidate's name on ballot -- Name variations -- Appeal. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Variation of a candidate's name" means a name: (i) that varies from the candidate's legal first name followed by the candidate's legal surname; and (ii) by which the candidate is known in the county in which the candidate resides. (b) "Variation of a candidate's name" includes the following, if the candidate is known by the variation in the county in which the candidate resides: (i) using the candidate's legal middle name in addition to, or instead of, the candidate's legal first name; (ii) using the initial or initials of a legal first name …
Sponsors
- Stephanie Pitcher (D, 14) · primary sponsor
- Watkins, Christine F. (R, 67)
Latest actions
- : Senate/ filed
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ passed 3rd reading
- : Senate/ 3rd reading
- : Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Votes
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (March 2, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd reading (February 27, 2026): 23 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 23, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Government Operations (State Issues), Election Administration, Government Records, Political Parties, Elected Official, Administrative Rulemaking and Procedures, Administrative Procedures, Election Law
Common questions
- What is SB299?
- SB299 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Candidate Name Modifications.
- What does SB299 do?
- This bill addresses the appearance of a candidate's name on a ballot.
- What is the status of SB299?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: Senate/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB299?
- Stephanie Pitcher (D, 14), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB299?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0299.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.