SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers reconvened for another charged special session on Tuesday, using the moment to deliver a sharp rebuke to the state’s judiciary while also reversing a controversial law targeting public employee unions.
In a session marked by tension, the Utah Legislature advanced House Joint Resolution 201, a forceful declaration criticizing recent redistricting rulings from the Utah Supreme Court and 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson. Both rulings centered on Proposition 4, the voter-approved initiative that created an independent redistricting commission intended to bring more transparency and neutrality to the mapping process.
House Majority Leader Casey Snider argued the courts had damaged their own credibility, saying lawmakers were left with no choice but to formally respond. According to Snider, “the reputation they have lost and tarnished, they have done and lost by themselves.”
Alongside the resolution, legislators approved changes to the congressional candidate filing calendar, new signature requirements and language urging the Utah Supreme Court to swiftly hear all election-related cases.
Public Pushback Floods the Capitol
While lawmakers pressed ahead, more than 250 Utahns filled the Capitol rotunda in protest. Instead of chants, they sang revised Christmas carols aimed at criticizing the legislature for overturning voter intent tied to Prop. 4.
“We are the voters and the legislature needs to listen to the voters,” said Jamie Carter, one of many who attended. Asked whether she believed lawmakers were hearing them, she responded, “Absolutely not. I have absolutely no faith in our legislators.”
House Speaker Mike Schultz rejected that sentiment, insisting elected officials—not the courts—represent the will of the people. He argued that judicial decisions on redistricting “took the people’s voice away” and said lawmakers are working to ensure elected officials reclaim that authority.
Voting Rights Advocates Call the Move “Grievances with the Courts”
The League of Women Voters of Utah, which sued the legislature over the redistricting overhaul, criticized the new measures as political retaliation. League president Katharine Biele said the courts fulfilled their constitutional responsibility and that lawmakers should “leave the courts alone.”
Legal experts continue to point out that Proposition 4 required maps to follow neutral criteria, eliminating partisan influence. Judge Gibson adopted a congressional map reflective of those standards, giving Salt Lake County a more competitive district — a shift that has encouraged several Democratic candidates to enter the race.
With the Republican supermajority promising an appeal, the final decision ultimately rests with the state’s high court. For now, the adopted map appears likely to remain in place for the 2026 election cycle.
Legislature Reverses Course on Union Restrictions
In a striking reversal, lawmakers also repealed a law passed earlier this year that banned collective bargaining for public employee unions. The original measure faced overwhelming public pushback; labor organizations gathered more than 320,000 signatures to force a 2026 referendum.
Rep. Jordan Teuscher, the sponsor of both the original bill and its repeal, described the move as an opportunity to “reset” and pursue more collaborative negotiations with Utah’s unions.
Jeff Worthington, president of the Utah AFL-CIO, welcomed the decision. He told FOX 13 News that withdrawing the ban offers “somewhat of a relief” and allows labor groups to focus on issues that impact working families.
What Comes Next for Utah’s Redistricting Fight?
The redistricting battle is far from over. Republican leaders maintain that only the legislature has constitutional authority to draw district boundaries and that Prop. 4’s commission should remain advisory. Voting-rights advocates counter that voters clearly demanded nonpartisan oversight.
As lawmakers prepare their appeal, Utah’s political map — and the broader debate over judicial authority, legislative power and voter intent — is set to remain a flashpoint heading into 2026.
