Top Republican lawmakers made a surprise announcement Sunday that the Utah Legislature will vote to repeal a law banning public union collective bargaining in a special legislative session called by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Cox urged lawmakers to call Tuesday as the state prepares to launch an appeal of a state redistricting case that resulted in a district court judge replacing the state’s congressional boundaries with a map that all but guarantees a Democratic seat in Salt Lake County.
But legislative leadership also plans to use the opportunity to overturn one of 2025’s most controversial bills.
Repeal of Public Union Bill
HB267 prohibits taxpayer-funded union activity and prohibits public employers from recognizing unions as bargaining agents for public employees. GOP supporters of the bill argue that it prevents unions from acting as the sole representatives of public employees, including those who are not members, in negotiations with elected officials.
The bill drew thousands of public employees, mostly teachers, to the state Capitol in protest on several occasions during the regular session. Its passage in February spurred a referendum campaign that successfully gathered more than 251,000 valid signatures before May and placed it on the general election ballot for voters to decide.
On Sunday, Legislative Leadership and Protect Utah Workers, the coalition behind the referendum effort, issued a joint statement supporting the end of the law, expressing a shared desire for public employees to have a seat at the table and pledging to work together to find common ground.
“It is clear that heated debate around these issues has created unnecessary division, which was never intended,” said Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper. “Repealing the bill allows us to reset the debate and move forward to ensure we get this right.”
The two lawmakers, who previously defended HB267 as “good policy,” said they will continue to talk with stakeholders to find solutions that support public employees, while protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring government remains accountable to voters.
A Deseret News poll conducted in April found that 34% of Utah voters said they supported the law, 38% opposed it and 28% said they didn’t know. A Deseret News poll conducted a month later found voters evenly split, with 36% saying they would vote to repeal the law, 32% against and 31% undecided.
“We know Utahns support the rights of public workers,” said Protect Utah Workers. “The coalition thanks legislative leadership for listening to the public and appreciates the conversations we’ve had to support public employees. This repeal protects the rights of first responders, teachers, and all other critical public employees who improve the lives of Utahns every day.”
The circuitous legislative process that led to the signing of HB267 included several versions of the bill based on conversations between union leaders and bill sponsors. But after not being able to reach an agreement, the MPs went ahead with the original version.
When he signed the bill into law, Cox said he was “disappointed” that the process did not produce a compromise, as one that was considered by stakeholders but not accepted by all. Utah, Cox said, has been a state known for working across divisions to “solve tough problems.”
Preparation of appeal
Tuesday’s special session marks the latest escalation in Utah’s years-long redistricting saga that began in 2018 with the narrow passage of the Better Boundaries initiative, which created an independent commission to guide redistricting and anti-gerrymandering restrictions.
The purpose of the special session, according to GOP leadership, is to respond to a Nov. 10 court ruling in which Third District Judge Diana Gibson rejected lawmakers’ efforts to comply with Proposition 4 and chose an uncompetitive map drawn by nonprofit plaintiffs.
Republican lawmakers reacted with anger at the ruling, which not only appeared to deliberately create +20 Democratic seats, but also chose a map without approval from the legislature — which retains the constitutional right to divide the state into congressional districts.
In interviews with the Deseret News, Cox, Adams and Schultz each said their concern about the ruling is that it would enable special interest groups to use judicial fiat to override the state’s elected policymakers.
In response to requests from legislative respondents to pause the new congressional map, Gibson on Friday reiterated her claim that “Map C” — lawmakers’ attempt to comply with her interpretation of Proposition 4 — was “an extreme partisan gerrymander,” and defended her legal right to choose a new map because she failed to follow the lawmaker.
The GOP supermajority has vowed to appeal the entire case to the state Supreme Court — and, if necessary, to the U.S. Supreme Court. But Cox, Adams and Schultz said Gibson’s pattern of delaying legal orders past deadlines forced them into a difficult timeline to challenge her decision.
What will the MPs vote for?
On Tuesday, lawmakers will vote to extend the state’s congressional candidate filing period from the first week of January to after the legislative session in March to give candidates and campaign workers more time to adjust their plans based on Utah’s legal fate.
The congressional filing period for declaring intent to collect signatures will be cut from the deadline, which will remain unchanged. It allows congressional hopefuls currently serving in the legislature to act as if they are running for re-election until the 2026 map is finalized.
If a current state lawmaker announces in March that they intend to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, they must withdraw their prior declaration from January of their intent to run for the state legislature. The bill does not affect the timing of party conventions or primary elections.
Sen. The bill, sponsored by Scott Sandle, R-Tremonton, would allow candidates hoping to qualify for congressional primaries to collect signatures anywhere in the state, not just within their preferred congressional district, because district boundaries are still up.
Lawmakers will also vote on a bill-resolution package sponsored by Sen. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, that would clarify that the Utah Supreme Court has jurisdiction to redistrict cases, and make an exception for election-related cases so the Legislature can finalize attorney fees after the appeals process is over.
Last on the agenda, lawmakers will vote on a resolution sponsored by Rep. Casey Snyder, R-Paradise, that would reaffirm the legislative majority’s position that lawmakers have a constitutional responsibility over redistricting, and condemn the court’s decision in the redistricting case.
The Legislature-Parliament will hold a public committee hearing at 4 pm on Tuesday to respond to the proposed bill and resolution. A special session will be convened at 6 pm, with some members attending the live video call.
