Committee backs phased transition to electronic petition signatures, warns on timing and security

The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Standing Committee voted unanimously to pass the first substitute of HB 223, which would phase out paper petition signature gathering and adopt an electronic signature‑collection system.

Sponsor Representative Truscher (listed in the transcript as Tushar/Truscher) said the 2022 electronic signature platform has reduced administrative burdens and supports scanning a driver's license to verify registrant identity; the substitute sets a target of an offline‑capable app by Jan. 1, 2028 and a full sunset of the paper process by 2030, with required reporting to the Government Operations Interim Committee on system adoption and readiness. "The bill sets out that this transition would happen in 2030," the sponsor said.

Senators raised security and privacy questions. Senator Johnson asked whether the system takes a photo to match a license to the signer and requested stronger chain‑of‑custody and notification mechanisms. The sponsor said gatherers must attest they checked IDs, the system can collect a holographic signature and an email address (which can be used to notify signers), and that dual‑factor authentication would be preferable but carries tradeoffs.

Kenna Stringham, Elections Coordinator at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, told the committee the office supports e‑petitions in principle but cautioned that the timeline is ambitious: only a handful of candidates had tested the system and only three electronic signatures had been gathered to date at the time of testimony. Laurie Cartwright of Mormon Women for Ethical Government asked that the manual signature option remain available for people who do not carry ID or who are uncomfortable scanning it.

Senators and the sponsor said they were willing to refine timing deadlines; the committee voted to send the first substitute to the Senate with a favorable recommendation but noted the need for technical follow‑up on security and rollout.