Governor Cox convenes Utah legislature for special session on emergency measures

The first special session of the 65th legislature of Utah convened on May 17, 2023, at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The session began with a prayer led by Representative Anthony Loubet, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance offered by William Weymouth, a freshman from Kearns High School.

Chief Clerk Megan Allen then read the special session proclamation and certification of membership. Lieutenant Governor Deidra M. Henderson certified that the membership of the Utah State House of Representatives remained unchanged since the previous general session, with the exception of the appointment of Representative Brett Garner from the First District in Salt Lake County.

Governor Spencer J. Cox's proclamation outlined the reasons for convening the special session. He stated that certain matters requiring immediate legislative attention had arisen since the adjournment of the 2023 general session. The proclamation specified three key purposes for the session:

1. To consider extending the state of emergency declared in Executive Order 2023-05.
2. To reallocate the fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024 budgets to address costs related to snow removal, flooding, flood response, and mitigation, as well as other expenses associated with the conditions leading to the state of emergency.
3. To consider amendments to House Bill 225, which pertains to firearm possession, from the 2023 general session.

The session marks a critical moment for the legislature as it addresses pressing issues affecting the state, particularly in light of recent weather-related challenges and public safety concerns. The discussions and decisions made during this special session will have significant implications for Utah's governance and resource allocation in the coming months.