Paywall? Not today.

This story's for everyone. But if you want more of this—investigations, GRAMA deep dives, calling out the bullshit—subscribe. Support independent journalism that answers to readers, not billionaires or political agendas.

Utah flirted with term limits three decades ago; lawmakers killed them before they ever took effect. Now a GOP lawmaker wants an 8‑year cap that, if it passes, would be baked into the constitution—and a lot harder for the legislature to wriggle out of.

In 1994, a ballot initiative effort led by Merrill Cook was gaining steam among voters. Cook’s proposal, known as Initiative A, established a 12-year term limit for state lawmakers and officials, and imposed term limits for Utah’s congressional delegation. It also contained a provision that said if no candidate in an election received majority support, there would be a runoff election between the top two candidates.

⏰ Tick Tock
Today is the last day candidates (except congressional candidates) can file for the 2026 election. (1/8/2026)
12 days - Start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026)
60 days - First day congressional candidates can file to run for the 2026 election. (3/9/2026)
68 days - Neighborhood caucus night. (3/17/2026)
93 days - Utah Forward Party nominating convention (4/11/2026)
107 days - Utah State Republican and Democratic State Party nominating conventions (4/25/2026)
166 days - Utah's 2026 primary election (6/23/2026)
299 days - 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026)
1,034 days - 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028)

That same year, Orrin Hatch was running for his fourth term in the U.S. Senate. Polling at the time showed overwhelming support for term limits. Republican officials worried that if Initiative A qualified for the ballot, voters would face a contradiction: vote for term limits, then vote for Hatch to serve beyond those limits.

To blunt Cook’s proposal, lawmakers passed their own 12-year term limit law for members of the legislature but grandfathered themselves in by delaying implementation until 2007. Initiative A qualified for the ballot, but voters rejected it by a 2-1 margin.

In 2003, four years before the term limits were set to kick in, lawmakers quietly repealed the law with minimal debate. Since then, multiple bills to impose term limits have been introduced and failed.

Enter HJR3 from Rep. Nelson Abbott, R‑Orem: a constitutional amendment capping service at 8 years in the same office.

Example: Someone could serve 8 years in the House, then 8 years in the Senate. If a person is appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy before winning a full term in either chamber, that would not count toward the limit. No one could be appointed to finish a term if that appointment would push them past the 8-year cap.

Statewide officers—the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, and treasurer—would also face an 8-year limit per office. One wrinkle: you couldn’t become lieutenant governor if you’ve already served more than one term as governor.

Members of Congress wouldn’t be touched by the limits.

If approved, the clock starts Jan. 1, 2027—for everyone, including current officeholders. Because it’s a constitutional change, HJR3 needs two‑thirds in both chambers to make the 2026 ballot.

Unlike the 1994 term limit measure, Abbott’s proposal, if approved, would be much harder to repeal, since that would take another constitutional amendment.

Unlike 1994, Abbot’s version would be much harder to undo. Repeal would require another constitutional amendment—meaning lawmakers can’t just make it disappear like last time.