Utah Senate advances a slate of bills on first day, suspends several rules

The Utah State Senate on Jan. 21 suspended standard timing rules for the day and moved dozens of bills forward, approving a broad package of measures ranging from tourism board reauthorization to election-code changes.

Senate President Adams opened the afternoon session by recognizing procedural motions and allowing the body to dispense with some routine timing requirements so multiple bills could be considered the same day. "I move that the senate spend the rule requiring bills be on the calendar for 1 day for the remainder of the day," Senator McKell said when offering the first motion to accelerate the schedule, and the body approved the change. The Senate also voted to suspend the constitution's three-reading requirement for bills on the second-reading calendar so they could be passed on the floor the same day.

Why it matters: The votes let the Senate move a broad set of bills quickly to the House for consideration while some measures were held for further work. Several items generated brief technical questions from senators; a few bills were "circled" for further work or substitution instead of a final vote.

Most bills were considered under suspension of rules after short sponsor presentations and limited floor discussion. Sponsors stressed the bills were vetted in interim or standing committees; several senators urged colleagues to request a bill be moved to third reading if it required more scrutiny.

Votes at a glance - Senate Bill 12, "Board of Tourism Development Amendments" (sponsor: Senator Plumb): extends sunset and makes technical changes; Plumb said the board helped advertise campaigns that she said have "generated an estimated $14,400,000,000 in travel revenue and $2,100,000,000 in state and local revenue over the last 5 years." Outcome: passed; recorded result: 25 yay, 0 nay, 4 absent. - Senate Bill 13, "Property Tax Reimbursement Amendments" (sponsor: Senator Fillmore): allows heavy-equipment lessors to charge a recovery fee that is exempt from sales tax to address taxation of leased equipment across state lines. Outcome: passed; recorded result: 26 yay, 0 nay, 3 absent. - Senate Bill 15, "Certified Public Accountant Licensing Amendments" (sponsor: Senator Vickers): changes education/licensure pathways so candidates with specified business/accounting degrees and hour thresholds may sit for the CPA exam and creates clearer endorsement paths for out-of-state CPAs. Outcome: passed; recorded result: 24 yay, 0 nay, 5 absent. - Senate Bill 16, "Property Tax Notice Amendments" (sponsor: Senator Fillmore): requires county treasurers/assessors to include notice on property tax statements that homeowners age 75 or older may be eligible to defer property taxes and to contact county offices for details. Fillmore said the measure was drafted with the Utah Association of Counties and noted an earlier $8,000,000 hold-harmless appropriation tied to the original…