Utah

Utah’s congressional and state legislative lines are both drawn by the state legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.

The legislature receives input from a statutory seven-person independent commission appointed 30 days after delivery of census data; the governor and each of the four legislative leaders (majority and minority leader in each legislative house) select one commissioner, the majority leader in the Senate and party leadership in the House together choose one commissioner, and the minority leader in the Senate and party leadership in the House together choose one commissioner.  None of the commissioners may be (or may have been for the four previous years) a lobbyist; be a candidate for or hold elected public office, statewide appointed public office, or an office in a political party; be a consultant or employee of a party, candidate, or state or federal legislator; or report directly to an elected or statewide appointed public official.  And for the previous five years, the commissioners chosen jointly by each party’s legislative leadership may not have been affiliated with a political party or voted in a party primary.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-201]  In 2021, pursuant to SB 200 (now invalidated), some of these restrictions were relaxed; the names of the commissioners appointed in 2021 are listed here.  [Utah Code § 20A-20-201]

Commissioners must approve 1-3 draft maps for each of the congressional, state Senate, and state House plans.  If a five-member supermajority does not agree on a plan, the commission must submit at least two options (including at least one supported by each of the commissioners chosen jointly by each party’s legislative leadership) to the chief justice of the state supreme court, who will submit 1-3 draft maps to the legislature.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-203]

These maps are presented to the legislature with a written report.  The legislature may then adopt or reject the commission’s proposal; if the legislature adopts a proposal of its own, it must wait 10 days and must submit a public written report explaining its rationale.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-204]   In 2021, pursuant to SB 200 (now invalidated), the legislature allowed itself to adopt, modify, or ignore the commission’s proposals.  [Utah Code § 20A-20-303(5)]

No later than 30 days after its final public hearing, the advisory independent commission must present its plans to the legislature, along with an explanatory report.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-203]

The legislature must draw congressional and state legislative lines no later than the end of the first legislative session after census data is received, though the 2001 legislature passed redistricting legislation in special session.  [Utah Const. art. IX, § 1]  The legislature was called into a special session in 2021 beginning on Nov. 9, 2021.  [Utah Const. art. VI, § 2; Utah Const. art. VI, § 16]   Candidates were required to file for primary elections by Mar. 17, 2022. [Utah Code § 20A 9-408]

Utah prohibits the drawing of both congressional and state legislative lines mid-decade. [Utah Const. art. IX, § 1; Utah Code § 20A-19-102]

The advisory independent commission must hold at least seven public hearings, in particular designated regions of the state, for members of the public to propose maps and comment on maps; the legislature may not enact a plan unless that plan has been made available to the public for public comment for at least 10 days.  The commission is subject to Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act.  [Utah Code §§ 20A-19-202, -204; 52-4-103(7)(b)(iii)]

The commission must also maintain a website for the public to access records of commission meetings and hearings, and to access and submit maps and comments on maps.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-202(7)]  Comments from 2021 are archived here. The commission’s 2021 meeting schedule for public input is here.

Like all states, Utah must comply with constitutional equal population requirements.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-103(2)(a)]  In 2021, pursuant to SB 200 (now invalidated), congressional districts recommended by the advisory commission had to have a total deviation of no more than 1% from largest to smallest, and state legislative districts recommended by the advisory commission had to have a total deviation of no more than 10% from largest to smallest.  [Utah Code § 20A-20-302(4)]

Utah must also, like all states, abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.  [Utah Code § 20A-19-103(2)(a)]  In 2021, pursuant to SB 200 (now invalidated), state statutes further provided that a plan recommended by the advisory commission may not “use race as a predominant factor in drawing district lines.”  [Utah Code § 20A-20-302(4)]

State statutes also require, “to the greatest extent practicable” and in the following order of priority, that each district minimize the division of municipalities and counties, be geographically compact; be contiguous and allow ease of transportation across the district; preserve traditional neighborhoods and communities of interest; follow natural and geographic features, boundaries, and barriers; and nest boundaries of different types of districts.  The maps also may not  not intentionally or unduly favor or disfavor candidates or parties. [Utah Code § 20A-19-103(2)(b-g), (3)]  In 2021, pursuant to SB 200 (now invalidated), the legislature adopted slightly different criteria for the commission to use, with some different priorities and without a set priority order — and the statutory criteria for maps recommended by the commission did not appear to constrain the maps finally passed by the legislature.  [Utah Code § 20A-20-302(4)-(5)]

In 2018, Utah voters passed a reform initiative (Proposition 4), which was rendered fully advisory by the legislature (SB 200) in 2020.

The state’s advisory independent commission proposed three each of congressional and state legislative maps — but the legislature ignored each.  The legislature passed a congressional plan (HB 2004), a state Senate plan (SB 2006), and a state House plan (HB 2005) on Nov. 10, 2021; the governor signed the congressional plan on Nov. 12, 2021, and the state legislative plans on Nov. 16, 2021.

On July 11, 2024, the state supreme court indicated that SB 200 may have violated the people’s right to reform their government through initiative. On Aug. 21, 2024, the legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 401), signed by the governor the next day, that would have allowed the legislature to amend popular initiatives, effectively reversing the state supreme court decision.  The state courts struck the proposed amendment based on misleading ballot language and other process failures.  [LWV of Utah v. Utah State Legis., 554 P.3d 872 (Utah 2024); LWV of Utah v. Utah State Legis., 559 P.3d 11 (Utah 2024)]

On Aug. 25, 2025, a state trial court declared SB 200 void as an abrogation of the people’s right to reform their government, and restored Proposition 4.  The court also struck the congressional plan; the legislature will have until Sept. 24, 2025, to design a remedy.  [LWV of Utah v. Utah State Legis., No. 220901712 (Utah Dist. Ct., Salt Lake Cnty. Aug. 25, 2025)]

Utah’s legislature passed a congressional plan (SB 3002) on Oct. 17, 2011, which was signed by the Governor on Oct. 20, 2011.

The legislature passed state Senate (SB 3001) and state House (HB 3001) plans on Oct. 4, 2011; the Governor signed the state House plan on Oct. 19, 2011, and the state Senate plan on Oct. 20, 2011.  On Jan. 27, 2012, the legislature passed SB 125 and HB 286, with amendments to state legislative boundaries; both were signed on Jan. 30, 2012.

It appears that these plans were not challenged in court.

Utah’s legislature passed a congressional (SB 2002), state Senate (SB 2001), and state House (HB 2001) plan; all were  signed on Oct. 11, 2001.

It appears that these plans were not challenged in court.