Organizers seeking to overturn Utah's HB267 reached their first major milestone Tuesday morning, securing the required number of verified signatures in Senate District 9, represented by Democrat Jen Plumb. It's the first of 15 districts needed to put the referendum on the ballot.
HB267 is the so-called “union busting” bill that strips public employee unions of their ability to negotiate for wages and benefits. The GOP-controlled legislature rammed the bill through during the 2025 session despite massive public opposition.
Protect Utah Workers, a coalition of labor unions, turned in petitions with approximately 320,000 signatures last week in their bid to overturn the law at the ballot box.
To qualify for the ballot, organizers needed to collect signatures from 8% of registered voters statewide. They must also hit the 8% target in 15 of Utah's 29 Senate districts.
Utah election officials have verified 43% of the 140,748 signatures required statewide.
Nine Senate districts have surpassed the halfway mark toward their signature requirements, with three districts exceeding 80% completion. The effort has gained significant traction in both Republican and Democratic-held districts, with five Republican and four Democratic districts leading the way:
- SD14 (Stephanie Pitcher - D) - 92.18%
- SD13 (Nate Blouin - D) - 89.92%
- SD8 (Todd Weiler - R) - 83.37%
- SD15 (Kathleen Riebe - D) - 62.10%
- SD7 (Stuart Adams - R) - 62.03%
- SD2 (Chris Wilson - R) - 55.01%
- SD16 (Wayne Harper - R) - 52.8%
- SD10 (Luz Escamilla - D) - 52.13%
- SD6 (Jerry Stevenson - R) - 51.32%
Additionally, four other Senate districts have surpassed 40% of their signature requirements, showing steady progress toward the referendum goal.
County clerks have until May 7 to verify or reject signatures.
