The Utah legislature adjourned Thursday night, March 8. Neither of the two bills that had passed the House, affecting how parties nominate, received a vote in the Senate, so both bills died.

HB 485 would have said that parties can’t change their rules affecting nominations in the election year itself. The bill was aimed at the Republican Party, which had passed a bylaw earlier this year saying any Republican who submits a petition to get on the primary ballot is deemed not to be a Republican.

HB 338 would have repealed the law that lets members of qualified parties petition for a place on the primary ballot, even if they lack much support at a party convention.