The Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs has compiled policy resources and information to help communities get engaged civically and be aware of Legislative Session activity that impacts multicultural communities and equity-related issues. 



Our Policy Priorities

We form our policy priorities based on comprehensive guidance from the Utah Multicultural Commission, Utah Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, and our statewide mission and vision that is founded on increasing equity and opportunity across multicultural communities and various sectors.

The Division focuses on increasing awareness, education, and access to resources for communities to be more civically informed. 

  • Increase Awareness of Legislative Action

    Communities are stronger when they are informed of relevant issues that impact them.

  • Promote Education of Legislative & Civic Process

    Civic and legislative education encourages understanding and respect for differences of opinion and collaboration.

  • Centralize Helpful Resources

    Serving as a centralizer of key resources and amplifying existing tools encourages public involvement overall.


Get Informed & Involved


Laws passed by the Legislature have a direct impact on your life and the lives of your communities. Review the resources below to become informed and get involved in the ways that matter most to you. You are needed. Your stories, voices, and experiences are knowledge that can help the legislative process.


Step-by-Step: How a Bill Becomes a Law in Utah

What is a bill? It is a proposed law, requiring support of both houses and the governor's action for enactment.

1. An Idea Is Developed. A bill idea can start in either the House or the Senate. A legislator draws from numerous sources in deciding what should be introduced in the Legislature as a bill. Major sources of ideas come from community members, government agencies, special interest groups, lobbyists, the Governor, and the legislator themselves. You could propose an idea!

2. The Bill is Drafted.  The idea is submitted to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, a nonpartisan legislative staff office, in the form of a bill request. An attorney is assigned to the bill and they review existing law, research the issues, and prepare the bill in proper technical form. The bill is given a number. A fiscal review is conducted and a "Fiscal Note" is attached. The bill is also reviewed for statutory or constitutional concerns.


3. The Bill is Introduced. The bill is introduced into the Legislature and referred to the Rules Committee.

*A Bill Must Be Read Three Times: No matter whether a bill starts in the House or the Senate, it must go through three constitutionally required readings in each body before it can pass into law.


4. The Bill Receives Standing Committee Review (first reading) and Public Input. The Rules Committee recommends which standing committee to which the bill should be referred to. The standing committee, in an open meeting, reviews the bill and receives public testimony. The committee may amend, hold, table, substitute, or make a favorable recommendation on the bill.


5. The Bill Is Returned to the Floor (second reading). Following the committee hearing the bill is returned to the full House with a committee report. The committee reports that the bill is favorable, favorable with amendments, substituted, or that the bill has been tabled. The house adopts the bill by motion and puts the bill on the calendar for the third reading.


6. The Bill is Debated in Open Session (third reading). During floor debate, the bill can be amended or substituted. It can also be held for a later time. In order for a bill to pass the House of Representatives, it must receive at least 38 of 75 votes. In order for it to pass the Senate, the bill must receive at least 15 of 29 votes. 


7. The Bill Passes Both Houses in the Legislature. After the bill has gone through both houses, it is signed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.

8. The Bill Receives the Governor's Action. The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel prepares the bill in final form. This is called the "enrolled" bill. The enrolled bill is sent to the Governor for his action. He can either sign the bill, veto it, or allow it become law without his signature.

9. The Bill Becomes Effective. A bill enacted by the Legislature is effective 60 days following the closing, unless another date is specified in the bill. It then becomes law.


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(Courtesy of Better Utah Institute)


Get Involved: ​Ways to Be More Civically Engaged On Your Own Time

Adapted from Deseret News


Get Involved: Bill Process


Get Involved: ​Committee Information, Agendas, and Schedules




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