HB 158 Utah House · 2025 General Session

State Sovereignty Amendments

HB 158, titled "State Sovereignty Amendments," prohibits Utah state and local governments from implementing or enforcing rules, mandates, or policies issued by international organizations that claim legal authority within Utah. The bill specifically declares that such organizations have no power or jurisdiction in the state and bans governors or local leaders from declaring emergencies solely due to an international organization's emergency proclamation. It affects all state agencies, counties, municipalities, and special districts by restricting their ability to comply with international directives. The law amends Utah's emergency management statutes to reinforce state authority over local emergency responses.

Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill adds new definitions and clarifies restrictions on state and local emergency powers to prevent them from being triggered by international organizations. It defines 'international organization' and prohibits state and local officials from implementing international directives or declaring emergencies in response to international proclamations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of state sovereignty protections by explicitly prohibiting implementation of international directives and banning emergency declarations based on international organization proclamations.

DEFINITION

Added new definition of 'International organization' to include the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and World Health Organization.

Added new definition of 'International directive' to cover rules, resolutions, taxes, policies, or mandates from international organizations that purport to have legal force.

REQUIREMENT

Added prohibition on state, state agencies, or local governments from implementing or enforcing international directives.

Added prohibition on governor or local chief executive officers from declaring state of emergency in response to international organization proclamations.

Modified Section 53-2a-206 to prevent governor from basing emergency declarations on international organization proclamations.

Modified Section 53-2a-208 to prevent local officials from declaring local emergencies in response to international organization proclamations.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified Section 53-2a-205 to explicitly prevent chief executive officers from exercising emergency powers in response to international organization emergency proclamations.

TECHNICAL

Added new Section 63G-16-203 establishing that international organizations have no power, jurisdiction, or legal authority in Utah.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor