Cottonwood Heights and Holladay voters will see a proposed constitutional amendment on their Nov. 3 ballots that would require 60% approval for any citizen-led initiative that raises taxes.

Amendment B would replace the current simple-majority threshold. The change would apply to initiatives that impose a new tax, expand an existing tax, increase a tax rate or reduce a scheduled property tax decrease, as first reported by Utah News Dispatch.

The Utah Legislature approved the resolution (SJR002) during the 2025 session to place the question before voters. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, sponsored the measure in the Senate; Rep. Jason Kyle, R-Huntsville, sponsored it in the House.

An opposition group called Utahns Protecting Our Constitution launched a campaign Monday, Sept. 28, urging a "no" vote. The group, led by executive director Elizabeth Rasmussen, has raised about $593,000 in contributions, according to campaign finance disclosures cited by Utah News Dispatch. Rasmussen also leads the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries.

"The initiative process belongs to the people of Utah, not to the politicians it was designed to check," Rasmussen said in a prepared statement Sept. 28. "Amendment B changes that balance, making it harder for Utah voters to exercise that power."

On the other side, the Utah Taxpayers Association and a group called Taxpayer Shield PAC back the amendment. In a joint statement Sept. 28, Fillmore and Kyle said the measure protects the initiative process while requiring broad support before any initiative can raise taxes on Utah families.

Fillmore told the Salt Lake Tribune that rising property taxes and stagnant incomes justify the higher threshold. Rasmussen countered that the amendment's language is vague and could let the Legislature stretch its reach over future initiatives.

In 2018, Utah voters approved Medicaid expansion with 53.3% and medical marijuana with 52.7%. Both created new tax revenue to fund themselves. Under a 60% threshold, neither would have passed. According to the Tribune, only two citizen initiatives in Utah's 125-year history have cleared 60%: a 2000 measure making English the official language and a 2000 change to property forfeiture laws.

A Noble Predictive Insights poll conducted Sept. 8-12 of 602 registered voters found 50% support the amendment, 21% oppose it and 23% are unsure. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Support rises sharply with age: 29% among voters 18-29 versus 64% among those 65 and older.

Independents are the least settled, with 35% unsure.

Utah already sets a high bar to get initiatives on the ballot. Proponents must gather nearly 141,000 signatures from registered voters, meet thresholds in 26 of 29 state Senate districts and hold regional meetings before a majority vote.

Registered voters will receive ballots by mail in mid-October, according to Utah News Dispatch. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.