Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Capitol Preservation Board (State)
Title R131 - Administration
Rule R131-11 - Preservation of Free Speech Activities
Section R131-11-5 - Time, Place, and Manner of Free Speech Activities

Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 131-11-5

Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024

(1) Free Speech and Assembly Promoted and Encouraged. Free speech and freedom of assembly, as protected by the constitutions of the state of Utah and United States, is promoted and encouraged throughout the Capitol Hill Complex. Free speech activities, as specifically defined in this rule, are subject to lawful time, place and manner rules regarding free speech activities necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare, including safety and security considerations, the rights of others to exercise free speech and freedom of assembly, and minimizing the disruption to governmental business.

(2) Subject to Capitol Hill Complex Facility Use Rule, Exception. Free speech activities shall be subject to R131-2-6, except that, in the case of conflict, the provisions of this rule R131-11 shall control.

(3) Time.

(a) Free speech activities held outdoors may take place 24 hours a day subject to duration requirements specified in this rule.

(b) Free speech activities held indoors may take place during the hours such public areas are open to the public, generally between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., during after hour legislative sessions, and during committee and agency meetings until such sessions or meetings are adjourned.

(c) In order to accommodate as many groups as may make requests to conduct free speech activities on a given day, a free speech activity in a specified public area may be limited to two hours when necessary to accommodate another pre-scheduled group in the same public free speech area. The time of a free speech activity in a specified public area may be shortened to two hours in duration if necessary to accommodate another group in the same public area that has qualified for a short notice free speech activity.

(4) Place.

(a) Health, safety and welfare restricted areas that may not be reserved for a free speech activity are the vehicular traveled portions of roads, roadways or parking lots, areas directly in front of or adjacent to parking garages' entrances or exits, paths of egress or access to emergency stairs and emergency egress hallways, areas under construction which are hazardous to non-construction workers, and those specific portions of the Capitol Hill Complex that contain storage, utilities and technology servicing the Capitol Hill Complex or other areas, which either must be available for prompt repair, are not open for public use or represent a danger to members of the public.

(b) In order to protect the public health, safety and welfare and allow for public accessibility to and the conduct of state business, a demonstration, rally, and vigil that does not use any candles, is allowed in the following locations:
(i) Capitol Hill grounds - However, candles with a wax collection container may be used for a vigil;

(ii) south grand staircase of the Capitol;

(iii) south, east and west terraces of the Capitol;

(iv) the Capitol rotunda;

(v) the plaza between the House and Senate Buildings - However, candles with a wax collection container may be used on the lawn and gravel areas only.

(vi) the main public foyer of the Senate Building;

(vii) the State Office Building auditorium; and

(viii) the main public foyer of the House Building.

(c) In order to protect the public health, safety and welfare and allow for public accessibility to and the conduct of state business, a demonstration, rally, and vigil where candles are used, parade and march are allowed in the following locations:
(i) Capitol Hill grounds;

(ii) the plaza between the House and Senate Buildings - However, the plaza shall only be used for the beginning or the end of a parade or march, and candles will not be permitted on the plaza except on the lawn and gravel areas and with a wax collection container.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, there is no registration requirement for free speech leafleting. In order to protect the public, health, safety and welfare and allow for public accessibility to and the conduct of state business, free speech activity leafleting, as defined in this rule, is allowed on the Capitol Hill Complex in the areas open to the public, without interference from capitol security, provided that it is done in a nonaggressive manner and does not prevent other individuals from passing along sidewalks and through doorways. The state is allowed to enforce any and all applicable statutes and ordinances regarding blocking public sidewalks, blocking hallways, disorderly conduct, blocking entrances to public buildings, garage entries, assault, battery and the like consistent with the requirements of the constitutions of the state of Utah and the United States. Leafleting is not allowed by placing leaflets on vehicles on the Capitol Hill Complex.

(5) Manner.

(a) Registration and Scheduling.
(i) All free speech activities shall comply with the following requirements, except that leafleting shall not be subject to any registration requirements.

(ii) An advanced planned free speech activity shall register as soon as reasonably possible, but not less than seven (7) days in advance of the free speech activity by registering with the executive director's office or online at http://www.utahstatecapitol.utah.gov.

(iii) Persons registering will provide the following information: the name of the sponsoring organization; the name and contact information of a contact person or agent; the type of free speech activity; the date, time and duration of the free speech activity; the public area requested for use; the number of anticipated participants; and a list of equipment and services to be used in connection with the free speech activity. Registration shall be on a form prepared by the executive director.

(iv) If a person or group fails to register due to a short-notice free speech activity, they may still conduct the free speech activity provided it does not create a problem of public safety or interfere with the time and location of a previously scheduled free speech activity in the same public area and meets all the other requirements of this rule. In the case of such problem of public safety or interference, the executive director will coordinate with the applicant in reasonable efforts to find an alternative reasonable time or location.

(b) Priority.
(i) The scheduling assignment of public areas shall be made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

(ii) In the case of scheduling conflicts, first priority in the use of the public areas shall be given to government business and/or state sponsored activities where the authorized governmental official is reserving the public area for an expressed governmental or state need. Free speech activities shall be given priority over community service, commercial and private activities. In the case of such problem of public safety or interference, the executive director will coordinate with the applicant in reasonable efforts to find an alternative reasonable time or location.

(iii) No group or individual will be denied access to or use of a public area unless the proposed free speech activity violates this rule, applicable law, conflicts with a scheduled state sponsored activity, or conflicts with the time and location of a previously scheduled free speech activity.

(c) Consistent with the protections of the Utah and United States constitutions in order to preserve the free speech rights of others, outbursts or similar actions which disrupts or is likely to disrupt any government meeting or proceeding, is prohibited.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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