Commission of 18 members created by Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. on 22 January 2009 to study various issues aimed at restoring public trust in government and citizen political participation, including voting. The commission will attempt to "find out why so many Utahns 'lack confidence' in the state's political institutions." It will make recommendations to the Legislature and public in November 2009.

Pollster Dan Jones found that 74% of Utahn's want state ethics reform, 87% want all gifts to legislators banned, 84% want an independent ethics commission to look into complaints, 84% want officeholders banned from lobbying for at least one year after leaving office, 83% want limits on the size of contributions to candidates, 77% want campaign funds ineligible for personal use.

The Commission examined the following areas critical to Utah’s democracy and reported back to the Governor and Utah citizenry regarding its findings, conclusions, and recommendations:
1. Ethics laws (gift and conflict-of-interest laws and independent ethics commission)
2. Campaign finance laws
3. Redistricting laws and procedures
4. Lobbying regulations (disclosure and revolving door issues)
5. Elections (caucus and convention system, open or closed primary, voter registration, and voting options)

Members of the commission are: Larry H. Miller (chairman) [note: died after first two weeks], Kirk Jowers (vice chairman) [note: assumed chairmanship upon the death of Larry Miller], one Republican and one Democrat from both the House (Rep. Craig Frank and Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck) and Senate (Sen. Scott Jenkins and Sen. Scott McCoy), Yvette Donosso, Randy Dryer, Dave Hansen, Meg Holbrook, Bruce Hough, Dan Jones, Frank Pignanelli, Dick Richards, Ken Verdoia, LaVarr Webb, Bishop John C. Wester, Doug Wright.

Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and an adviser to Government Herbert, headed up the commission. Commission recommendations included limits for campaign contributions. Jowers said, "The simple fact is, when you're allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money, particularly from special interests seeking favors or to do business with the state, it leaves the elected officials vulnerable. The contribution limits can help insulate officials from criticism."

The Commission developed eight final recommendations for:
1. Requiring Disclosure of Employment Data
2. Requiring Mandatory Electronic Filing
3. Overseas Military Voting Reform
4. “Revolving Door” Provision
5. Elections, Lobbying, & Campaign Finance Enforcement Commission
6. Campaign Finance Reform
7. Making Voter Registration Automatic & Portable
8. Improving the Voter Registration Process

The 2012 Legislature passed two ethics bills sponsored by Senator Curtis Bramble. S.B. 177 Substitute (2012), Government Records Access and Management Act Amendments, passed unaimously creating the position of a Government Records Ombudsman to be appointed by the Director of the Utah State Archives and Records Service.

S.B. 180 Third Substitute (2012), Political Subdivision Ethics Amendments, passed nearly unanimously authorizing municipalities to establish a municipal ethics commission; authorizing a political subdivision to establish an ethics commission within the political subdivision or by interlocal agreement; and establishing a Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission to meet annually for the purpose of reviewing ethics complaints.

"There is currently no independent forum to hear complaints directly from citizens," said Senator Bramble. "This will fix that." Cities, counties and special districts are not required to use the ethics commission; it is merely an option to be used if the entity chooses to do so. The commission will be made up of seven members including a former judge, a former mayor or city council member, a former member of a local school board, two members of the public, and two more members who can be former local elected officials, former members of a special district board or former judges.