Utah Senate advances package of bills on corrections, education, energy and tech; votes at a glance

The Utah State Senate on Day 21 advanced a large set of bills spanning corrections operations, child-abuse sentencing, technical college planning, energy transmission siting and parental education on student technology.

Why it matters: The measures affect how state agencies implement programming and oversight (corrections programming and school outreach), how certain criminal offenses are classified, and how energy infrastructure developers approach siting and eminent-domain decisions in Utah.

Most important votes and short descriptions

Votes at a glance: - Third Sub. Senate Bill 41 (kidnap and child abuse offender registry amendments): passed 25–0 with 4 absent. The Senate concurred with House amendments and returned the bill to the House for enrollment. - First Sub. Senate Bill 23 (First Home Investments — formula changes): passed 22–4 with 3 absent. Sponsors described minor formula and wording changes to clarify calculation. - First Sub. House Bill 91 (technical college amendments, placed on consent calendar): passed 24–0 with 5 absent. The bill removes a legislative restriction that prevented technical colleges from pre‑planning construction without explicit legislative approval. - First Sub. Senate Bill 24 (child abuse and torture amendments; sentencing clarification): passed 25–0 with 4 absent. The substitute clarifies felony classification and judges’ sentencing ranges. - Second Sub. Senate Bill 74 (corrections modifications): passed 26–0 with 3 absent. The bill broadens language to permit use of electronic devices and clarifies investigative practices within the Department of Corrections. - Senate Bill 83 (law enforcement policy requirements): passed 25–0 with 4 absent. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to publish written policies for handling protective order violations and post them on agency websites. - First Sub. Senate Bill 115 (substance use disorder screening in carceral settings): passed 25–0 with 4 absent. The substitute directs screening in prisons and jails and was described as helping the state qualify for a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver. - First Sub. Senate Bill 110 (summons modifications; presumption of notice before warrant): passed 26–0 with 3 absent. The bill creates a presumption that, for certain defendants released pending filing and complying with pretrial conditions, notice should be issued before a warrant. - Fourth Sub. Senate Bill 142 (App Store Accountability Act, as amended): passed 24–1 with 4 absent. The bill requires parental verification and age‑verification steps for child accounts; a technical amendment clarified compliance language and timing. - Second Sub. Senate Bill 61 (energy corridor amendments): passed 24–0 with 5 absent. The substitute asks transmission planners to consider existing federal energy corridors before exercising eminent domain. - Senate Bill 98 (parental education on student technology, sexting/sextortion outreach): passed 26–2 with 1 absent. The measure directs the State Board of Education to produce a short parent-oriented video and includes a related RFA discussed during floor debate.

Other activity: The Senate received committee reports and transmitted several House bills and substitutes to the rules committee for consideration. A number of bills were circled for further work in subsequent committee or floor sessions.

Process notes and forward look: Many of the bills passed on unanimous voice or roll-call votes with little floor debate after sponsors described amendments or substitutes. A few items drew questions from colleagues that sponsors said were addressed by the substitute language; those bills were carried forward to the House or to enrollment as required by the legislative process.

The Senate recessed until 2 p.m.