[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6304363,"mediaKeyId","2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357","parentId",2465269,"title","Committee actions and roll calls: summary of bills considered","audioSeconds",4010,"startMs",1000,"endMs",4011000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357&start=1&end=4011","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357/thumbnail_1000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304363/Utah/Committee-actions-and-roll-calls-summary-of-bills-considered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304363-6aaec3cb8eba51d09e063de3c630c38b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152930&Signature=T34BK9G-U-8mphgxACCaS3ZHPb2~3B-cQVSGKVPWRPVwWV7Lyq6ajG-3l5fjBDYub5d1lSKslBnfFaDdniw1B74B~uiJJoYloPrtGksrIROo-Bmhx1OBCPlYFYjwm5c~PekK9kmlxiiy7mAnalQTVxi8lci3AE6IpMLTtVS5MfjUBkCekh5IIiWw0xuHyjch14wxDxPhmKhXIRHntxAx5mTlaRxASFHpL7SON6lGvfGBPBWbfYTbCnDYimQwhJJoDSZDNk~Y8hz66qNjiTCFx8-VG-oYRA3uqgbxSIdtx8oOfTrqzw9cuTojLfZeNbYVkMj1tTUgQ9~1auR1oGxKKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Legislature","date","2025-02-28T00:00:00Z","article","Votes at a glance — Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Standing Committee (selected items considered during the hearing):

• Senate Bill 340 — Protected person amendments: Committee voted to pass SB 340 out with a favorable recommendation unanimously (6–0). Sponsor Senator Ibsen presented the measure, which creates a process for people who receive credible threats to request investigation by the Department of Public Safety and to establish safety protocols. No public testimony was recorded.

• House Bill 261 (second substitute) — Towing modifications: Committee adopted amendment 5 and passed the second substitute out with a favorable recommendation, 7–0. Representative Malloy said the bill clarifies access to life‑essential items from impounded vehicles, expands full access to personal property after towing‑fee payment, eases signage requirements and standardizes towing fees.

• House Bill 407 (third substitute) — Mini‑motorcycle amendments: Committee passed the third substitute unanimously. Sponsor said the measure clarifies definitions and enforcement for small electric motorcycles and adds insurance/driver‑license language. No public opposition was recorded.

• House Bill 425 (second substitute) — Department of Public Safety fee amendments: Committee passed the second substitute unanimously. Jason Ricks of the Bureau of Criminal Identification explained fee increases for out‑of‑state firearm background checks and a $25 increase for registry annual fees to support IT costs for the offender‑tracking program cited as FenderWatch; committee adopted the substitute and voted to advance the bill.

• In addition to the bills above, the committee considered and took action on HB 162 (transportation funding amendments, 6th sub), HB 392 (driver credential/impound bill, 2nd sub), HB 492 (drinking water cybersecurity, 1st sub) and HB 241 (solar power plant amendments, 2nd sub) — see separate articles for those items with fuller context and public testimony.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee - February 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A concise summary of final committee actions on bills considered in the hearing, including votes, tallies and short notes on public comment or amendments.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304368,"Committee backs bill requiring water systems to file security plans and report breaches to state cyber center",1314,1864000,3178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357&start=1864&end=3178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357/thumbnail_1864000.jpg","/articles/6304368/Utah/Committee-backs-bill-requiring-water-systems-to-file-security-plans-and-report-breaches-to-state-cyber-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304368-95ddb9ea3dec0839d6a82be029b4786d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152930&Signature=KPWhRYNsASJZAgVeIAbd7FZN213MCdK0WovJ6jM1tJN0Z2sNAJwRlolX26ntYIkg2Rv5VfOtJuvchBnjTYjgAy2ss48DA1VBaYCgl9wsNYQTaxlTL6AANoJxWT5sTgUqQoFzO9KZVFb8uc6l1H6GfcNkMJLpSifffrDusQqgmlogI8uY31NZt9Gm76Zl9rAkQR-KL7tAvUQGiaRnk0IoGep~DwHhxvtHn~EFPVPdNxyMNodL3vL9n~mG3P3sog9qnM5ElEZpv4vuFib7WbcJIUx-P-DSdbvPBykKbj22m8IK4QpOL8OuxV00Gama9o-~tPzhN0lnhSWhChoKf6gGfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Transportation committee voted to pass House Bill 492 (first substitute) out of committee with a favorable recommendation after testimony from the sponsor and the Division of Drinking Water.

Representative Jack said the bill responds to an increasing number of cyber attacks on small water systems and would require public water systems to complete a security plan and to report breaches to the Utah Cyber Center within two hours so the state can marshal response resources. The bill also directs the Division of Drinking Water to report annually to two legislative committees and designates water‑system security plans as protected records to avoid public disclosure of sensitive information.

Nathan Lundstedt, director of the Division of Drinking Water, and Debbie Johnson of the Utah Cyber Center testified in support. Lundstedt called public water systems “high‑risk critical infrastructure” and said the bill will help protect residents; Johnson said the Cyber Center appreciated being included and supported the requirements for rapid reporting.

The committee adopted a substitute and returned the measure to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Sponsor Representative Jack said the division and the Cyber Center had been engaged throughout drafting and implementation considerations, including protections for sensitive records.

","The committee sent House Bill 492 (first substitute) to the floor with a favorable recommendation after sponsors and the Division of Drinking Water described new cybersecurity planning and two-hour reporting to the Utah Cyber Center; the bill also protects water‑system security plans from public disclosure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304373,"Committee deadlocks on bill to criminalize and impound vehicles driven by unlicensed motorists",840,2015000,2855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357&start=2015&end=2855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357/thumbnail_2015000.jpg","/articles/6304373/Utah/Committee-deadlocks-on-bill-to-criminalize-and-impound-vehicles-driven-by-unlicensed-motorists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304373-fb8774d13331e6c3f5706478b786fbd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152931&Signature=EjWtC3Nx03pgQuX9FwVp7Et~6dvf-NHpiSpBwPJdWOeFojqItcQkVn~yS6iFdPAnhIysA5RB92TAb4YPr1S8pfyV5MJ8aKTv3CLvnNiV57zS2ovsgSWONj7egTvZkNRcJU00dPSzewkk4fgJTuUbOyB6vcg5MUPYrtCgL8N8f06ACNweIkDPNB~x7VHHC6-bdgO237RaD2IR~-I4FmJ6RieiMJQYVp7-5Aum45uaKlf0SW0Gg7X-H2O4Xl70jlYO0T8YvOUtOOFS1Lp179JxAsFltLEWRyRSKrJ6-yvejk-VodL3IAfWmoQ-RE37U-ew4sGYGDDiD4wSJSyUw0QTLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 392 (second substitute) would have added a class C misdemeanor penalty and a mandatory vehicle impound for drivers who have never been issued any valid driver credential, and it would have authorized rapid fingerprint scans when officers cannot confirm a driver’s identity.

Representative McPherson, the bill sponsor, said local law enforcement had tracked that 30–46% of drivers officers stop in certain jurisdictions lacked any issued driver credential, and that officers often had no legal tool to prevent those drivers from continuing to drive. He described the mandatory‑impound provision as a response to officers’ requests for a clear, uniform enforcement option and said the bill would create parity with other invalid credential offenses.

Colonel Michael Rapich of the Department of Public Safety and Nate Mudder, chair of the law‑enforcement legislative committee, testified in support and described technology and safeguards. Rapich said agencies can and do use in‑vehicle fingerprint scanners and that the Bureau of Criminal Identification has the systems to support checks. Mudder requested a clarification to ensure registered owners could authorize another licensed driver to retrieve an impounded vehicle.

Liliana Bolanos of Voices for Utah Children opposed the bill as written, arguing it focused on enforcement without addressing barriers—she said the driving‑privilege card test is only offered in English and that language access prevents many eligible people from obtaining lawful credentials. She warned the bill’s fines and impoundments would fall disproportionately on low‑income and immigrant communities.

The committee adopted the second substitute into the record and then voted on a motion to pass the bill out of committee with a favorable recommendation. The committee vote resulted in a 3–3 split and the motion failed. The chair announced the tally as a 3–3 tie; the motion to advance did not carry.

Law‑enforcement supporters emphasized public‑safety benefits and existing fingerprint tools; opponents emphasized language access, disproportionate economic harm, and urged a balanced approach that pairs enforcement with improved accessibility to licensing.

","A substitute for House Bill 392 that would make driving without ever having been issued a license a class C misdemeanor, require mandatory impound and allow fingerprint scans for identification failed in committee on a 3–3 tie after debate and testimony from law enforcement and immigrant‑advocacy groups.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304378,"Committee rejects bill limiting county use of optional sales tax for public safety",1040,146000,1186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357&start=146&end=1186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465269-fcaa672faf901b0ea4dd65b71ee5a357/thumbnail_146000.jpg","/articles/6304378/Utah/Committee-rejects-bill-limiting-county-use-of-optional-sales-tax-for-public-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304378-18608920d33e2ad7bee842f176ad2915/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152931&Signature=bW8qCZHafa2x9sPdNL-IS6kVCBQekCjUktyqOYW2ebLl~u9r-xNZ4O8MbdV0ZgmcP0iYqZbjX4FgAJfLYoc3WK2skoYHzmv024047Kd7gEbgcAKFQc63X3Udw-fByyQVZS4vmQDU9fPIrpN8Wj-diaU4sOQQUM3ATTU4bEOmCgbMWBB9gYQzwXB7Xa-FgGnE8gY12jsjefF~8XLDTOdLj1aWUNLPxJorjTWvc2dIzVyaC9pdZsUUGnPr~CiLasIciI0t7URkO9MYiVr2~A2X4XW2qmmUiCEs9RcHjURpiX6ca-hdSvvRKMD7aYIDfD~HhtZOK75CI7MhZQ4LGQxzpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Standing Committee voted 1–6 on a motion to favorably recommend House Bill 162 (6th substitute), which would limit how certain counties may use an optional 0.30 percentage-point local sales and use tax originally authorized last year.

Representative Shipp, the bill sponsor, told the committee HB 162 would put “guardrails” around an option some counties have used for public safety and capital projects, and would require counties in classes 3 through 6 to phase out use of the sales tax for ongoing operations, salaries and maintenance over a three‑year runway. He said the purpose was to preserve sales tax for one‑time capital purposes such as jail construction rather than recurring expenses.

The committee heard a string of public comments from county officials and law-enforcement representatives who opposed the change. Barbara Tidwell, a Cache County Council member, said the county enacted the sales and use tax option to fund school resource officers tied to an unfunded state mandate and that removing the authority would push counties to raise property taxes. “Removing this tax would force us to increase property taxes on our citizens, placing an undue burden on property owners,” Tidwell said.

Dave Erickson, also a Cache County Council member, told the committee the tool gave small counties a way to address costs passed down by the Legislature and to stabilize local budgets. Sandy Goodlander, chair of the Cache County Council, said the county implemented the tax “in good faith” under the law as it existed and said many small counties rely on sales tax revenue to offer competitive wages to retain deputies and provide school safety.

Sheriff Smith, speaking for the Utah Sheriffs Association and identifying himself as the immediate past president and Utah County Sheriff, said sheriffs are using the revenue for “legitimate public safety needs” and that the three‑year off‑ramp in the current substitute would still leave counties who enacted the tax in a difficult position.

Senator Winterton moved to favorably recommend the sixth substitute and asked the sponsor to work with stakeholders over the weekend; the motion failed on the roll call. The committee chair announced the motion failed 1 to 6.

The bill’s discussion focused on: (1) whether sales tax is an appropriate ongoing revenue source for salaries and operations; (2) consequences for small, largely rural counties that adopted the tax to meet new mandates; and (3) the compromise history that produced a three‑year phase‑out in the sixth substitute.

With the committee vote negative, HB 162 will not be reported out with a favorable recommendation from this committee at this time. The sponsor said he would continue to work with stakeholders on amendments.

","The Senate committee voted down House Bill 162 (6th substitute), a proposal to restrict how counties in classes 3–6 may use an optional 30-basis-point local sales tax, after extended public comment from rural county officials who said the change would strain budgets and school safety funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee actions and roll calls: summary of bills considered

Committee backs bill requiring water systems to file security plans and report breaches to state cyber center

Committee deadlocks on bill to criminalize and impound vehicles driven by unlicensed motorists

Committee rejects bill limiting county use of optional sales tax for public safety