Committee holds HB 167 after privacy, technology and timing concerns

Representative Kohler described House Bill 167 as a targeted reform to reduce ambiguity in petition and candidate nomination signature records. The bill would post a signer’s name on the lieutenant governor’s website five days after a signature is certified and keep the name posted for 90 days; it would also create a process for signers to request removal and refer suspected fraudulent entries to the county attorney for investigation.

Committee members raised privacy and technical questions. Representative Andrew Stoddard told the committee he had “some real concerns about the privacy aspect” and warned the change could make victims of domestic violence or other at-risk individuals easier to find. Representative Welton and others asked how fraud would be identified in practice.

Ricky Hatch, speaking for county clerks, said clerks oppose the bill in its current form because he was not aware of technology that can reliably publish a signature’s date as required and expressed concern about ambiguity in removal deadlines tied to signature dates. Hatch said clerks preferred the alternative reflected in Representative Cutler’s later bill and asked for more coordination.

After debate, Representative Stoddard moved to hold the bill. The committee took a roll-call vote; the motion to hold passed 5–2. The sponsor agreed to work with clerks and other members to resolve outstanding implementation and privacy questions.