The bill also lets students slated to attend Cottonwood High remain in that school's boundary for six years, if the Granite District splits. Students attending that school come from both the east side and the west-side Taylorsville area.

The measure creates more flexibility in the requirements for a feasibility study prior to a school district split, so if a proposed new school district's boundaries change after the feasibility study is finished, the organizers don't necessarily have to restart the process.

Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said the Legislature's efforts Wednesday "absolutely cleared the way for a vote by the citizens on the east side of the Jordan School District to create a new district."

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is expected to sign the bills when they reach his office, which typically takes a couple of days after lawmakers pass bills, spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said.

State law doesn't set a specific deadline for when the ballot language on the Jordan split must be certified, Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said, based on a legal opinion she recently received from the district attorney's office. Even so, Swensen said she would like to have all the information by Sept. 1, or Sept. 4 at the latest.

Her biggest worry, however, is delays from a possible lawsuit.

"If there is some kind of legal challenge, then it really puts us against the wall," Swensen said. "Who knows how long that might take."

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Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; jtcook@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com