Lawmakers instead may just "meet," "gather," or "hang out."

That's because no one wants to violate the state Constitution, which expressly prohibits the Legislature from conducting business outside Salt Lake City, the "seat of government."

So when Huntsman - who announced this week the State of the State would be in Fillmore's Territorial Statehouse - starts into his report on the condition of the state and his plans to make it better, lawmakers won't be officially "convening."

The Legislature's general counsel, Gay Taylor, warned in an e-mail to leadership this week that, "the Legislature cannot go to Fillmore to listen to the governor's State of the State address, nor can he present it there. It must be given in Salt Lake, the only place the Legislature is authorized to hold an annual general session."

Associate General Counsel Robert Rees said Wednesday the Constitution doesn't preclude Huntsman from speaking and legislators listening anywhere they want.

"If the governor wants to give a speech in Fillmore and invite the Legislature, that can happen," Rees said, adding that it wouldn't fulfill a constitutional requirement for a report on the condition of the state.

Huntsman's inauguration director, Mike Deaver, who also is planning the State of the State speech, said there were discussions about this very topic.

"There were thoughts given to the legality, thoughts given to the cost, thoughts given to the logistics," Deaver said. "What I've been told is we're OK to do it outside" the capital city.

Huntsman can still call his speech the State of the State, according to House Speaker-elect Greg Curtis, who joked that there is no copyright on the name.

But it won't be the official report to the Legislature and Huntsman likely will have to present a written copy to the House and Senate sometime later in Salt Lake City.

"There may have to be some follow up thing," Curtis said.

It's unclear how many lawmakers will make the jaunt to Fillmore, about 2 1/2 hours from Salt Lake City. But if they skip the bus Huntsman has lined up for them, they could make a lot better time driving on their own and have fun doing it.

The Utah Constitution forbids the arrest of lawmakers while they are in session, except for treason, felonies or breach of the peace. So can they speed with impunity?

"The way I understand it, they probably could," says Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Wade Bruer. "We would just urge them to drive with due regard."

tburr@sltrib.com