On the evening of March 8, the Utah Senate passed HB 233 unanimously. The bill is now through the legislature. The bill says that if a party meets the 2% vote test, it is then on the ballot for the next two elections, not just the next election.

Minor parties generally poll enough votes in presidential years to remain ballot-qualified, because there are either four or five statewide offices on the ballot. But in midterm years, when only U.S. Senate is on the ballot, it is difficult for minor parties to meet the vote test. But under HB 233, there will generally be no need for a party to worry about the vote test in midterm years.