Senate passes four bills on second and third reading; summaries and roll-call tallies

The Utah Senate on the floor passed four bills on second and third reading, advancing measures on judgment renewals, state agency fees, court fee adjustments and urban farming assessment rules.

Senate Bill 326 — Judgment renewal modifications Senator Wyler said the bill would clarify that a judgment can be renewed more than once; under current law a judgment is effective for eight years unless renewed and appellate questions had left uncertainty about multiple renewals. Senator Wyler waived summation and moved the bill under suspension of the rules. The Senate passed Senate Bill 326 by roll call, 27 yay, 0 nay, 2 absent. The bill will be sent to the House for consideration.

First Substitute Senate Bill 8 — State agency fees Senators substituted a first substitute for the original Senate Bill 8. The substitute authorizes state agencies to assess specified fees and authorizes rates and funding to address impacts to internal service funds. The substitute was adopted and, under suspension of the rules, the Senate passed First Substitute Senate Bill 8 by roll call, 24 yay, 0 nay, 5 absent. The bill will be sent to the House for consideration.

Second Substitute Senate Bill 148 — Court fees and administration amendments Senator Weiler explained that the bill updates fees tied to the online court assistance program and raises the fee for a counterclaim or counterpetition filed through that program from $20 to $60; the change also applies to protective-order filings and makes other technical adjustments. The Senate passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 148 under suspension of the rules by roll call, 26 yay, 0 nay, 3 absent. The bill will be sent to the House for consideration.

House Bill 208 — Urban Farming Assessment Modifications Senator McKay moved House Bill 208. He described the bill as removing the annual renewal application requirement for property owners who qualify under the Urban Farmland Assessment Act and providing a process for assessors to request clarifying information if needed. The Senate passed House Bill 208 by roll call, 26 yay, 0 nay, 3 absent. The president signed the bill on the floor and it was returned to the House for the Speaker27s signature.

Votes at a glance - Senate Bill 326 (Judgment renewal modifications): Passed 27-0 (2 absent). Sent to the House. - First Substitute Senate Bill 8 (State agency fees): Passed 24-0 (5 absent). Sent to the House. - Second Substitute Senate Bill 148 (Court fees and administration amendments): Passed 26-0 (3 absent). Sent to the House. - House Bill 208 (Urban Farming Assessment Modifications): Passed 26-0 (3 absent). Signed by the President and returned to the House for the Speaker27s signature.

The bills were passed under suspension of the rules where noted; the transcript records brief floor explanations for each measure and roll-call tallies for final passage.