- Gov. Spencer Cox calls a special session to address several legislative issues.
- Key topics include repealing HB267, which banned public sector collective bargaining.
- The session also focuses on Utah's congressional redistricting and election jurisdiction issues.
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox announced a special Utah Legislature session scheduled for Tuesday to handle several issues, including repealing a controversial law passed earlier this year that effectively banned collective bargaining for public sector labor unions.
The governor's press release indicated that since the ending of the 2025 legislative session, "certain matters have arisen which require immediate legislative attention."
The press release listed a handful of items to be considered at the session:
- The process of getting placement on the ballot for local elections.
- A joint resolution by the Legislature's House and Senate related to the congressional redistricting process.
- The Utah Supreme Court's jurisdiction over election, voting and redistricting cases.
- The repeal of HB267, Public Sector Labor Union Amendments.
The battle over Utah's new congressional map has been a pressing topic among Republican legislators in the state since the selection of new boundaries by a Utah judge.
Last month, 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson threw out a new U.S. congressional map passed by the Republican-led Legislature in favor of an alternative map. The map selected by Gibson included a district encompassing the Salt Lake area that members of both parties saw as increasing the odds of a Democrat being elected there.
GOP lawmakers decried the move and said they planned to appeal Gibson's ruling to the Utah Supreme Court.
In a statement posted to X on Sunday, Cox said: "Most items are intended to facilitate the state's appeal of recent court decisions regarding redistricting. I support the state's appeal and have confidence the Utah Supreme Court will consider it in a timely way so we have clarity for the 2026 election.
"The call also includes the repeal of HB 267. I support the repeal, and appreciate the Legislature's work to refocus this conversation to ensure government is doing its best to support our first responders, educators, and all those who serve our state."
Passed in the 2025 legislative session, HB267 banned public sector collective bargaining. Backlash to the bill's passage included a movement to put the details of the bill up for a voter referendum next November.
The HB267 referendum signature-gathering process quickly garnered the signatures necessary for a referendum. GOP lawmakers deliberated in the fall about what to do amid the public criticism of the bill.
This report may be updated.
