An independent commission of representatives from media outlets, higher education institutions and former politicians has organized debates between candidates in Utah elections for over a decade.
But under a proposal put in front of the Legislature, lawmakers would give themselves authority to oversee debates.
The House Business, Labor and Commerce Committee voted Friday not to advance “Debate Committee Amendments,” or HB557, to the full House of Representatives, with Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard, R-North Salt Lake, proposing to instead “take this issue to interim” — meaning lawmakers would discuss what direction to go in the months between legislative sessions.
That vote came at the request of the Utah Debate Commission, whose leadership attended the hearing.
“[I] have significant concerns about how this bill may impact the long-standing commitment to providing independent and nonpartisan debates,“ former state representative and commission co-chair Becky Edwards told the committee.
Edwards, who previously participated in a commission-organized debate when she ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, continued, “We would welcome the opportunity to be involved in making sure that the legislation reflects something we can fully support and continues to best serve the people of Utah.”
Despite the committee not recommending the bill, the possibility that the bill could be revived and pushed through during the last days of the legislative session remains open.
(Jeff Parrott | The Salt Lake Tribune) Becky Edwards, a former state lawmaker and co-chair of the Utah Debate Commission, addresses members of the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee about a bill that would end the commission's involvement in political debates and create a Utah Debate Committee, which would be made up of political appointees.
Rep. Nelson Abbott’s, R-Orem, bill would create a “Utah Debate Committee” with an 11-member executive board and an advisory board.
Eight appointees would be chosen by legislative leaders, with the Senate president, House speaker, Senate minority leader and House minority leader each picking two. The governor would appoint three people to the committee.
The Senate president and House speaker would choose the two co-chairs to lead the committee.
The executive board would select up to 10 members of an advisory committee from media organizations, higher education institutions and “other organizations or sectors the executive board determines relevant.”
“Everyone on the committee will be appointed by an elected official or someone running for office,” said commission co-chair Phil Cooper. “In our commission, no one is appointed by an elected official. So we see that as a very distinct difference between the two.”
The Utah Debate Committee would be housed at the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University.
“Are we replacing the Utah Debate Commission?” Abbott asked, then answered, “We are not. ... Now I think maybe they’re worried if this is operational and it works, that we may choose not to fund them.”
According to a fiscal note attached to the bill, creating the committee would cost approximately $600,000 one time, then $6,400 in ongoing funds.
Previously, the Legislature gave $65,000 to the Utah Debate Commission annually. That was increased to $225,000 last year because of the large number of statewide races during the 2024 election cycle.
During the last legislative session, however, supporters of the commission worried whether the commission would be funded at all.
The move to take over debates in the state comes after Republican officials in recent years have had multiple public disagreements with the commission.
Ahead of the 2022 congressional primary elections, the Utah GOP opted to hold its own debates after the independent commission wouldn’t allow the party to select debate topics and moderators.
Later that year, Rep. Burgess Owens refused to participate in a Utah Debate Commission event as he sought reelection because he objected to The Salt Lake Tribune’s executive editor, Lauren Gustus, hosting the 4th Congressional District spar.
The action also follows the possible demise of the independent, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates.
Both the campaigns of President Donald Trump and then-President Joe Biden — before he dropped out of the race — opted to circumvent the commission and not attend any of its scheduled debates, one of which would have taken place in Utah.
Note to readers • The Salt Lake Tribune’s CEO and Executive Editor Lauren Gustus is a Utah Debate Commission board member.
