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Utah Senate passes asset‑forfeiture, police‑training and corporate tax changes and advances several house bills
Summary
The Utah Senate approved a slate of measures on third reading, including asset‑forfeiture reforms, police‑training qualification changes and amended corporate tax rules; several bills with fiscal notes were tabled for later consideration. Lawmakers also passed a resolution recognizing public‑health workers’ COVID‑19 response.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Wednesday advanced a package of bills on third reading, adopting changes to asset forfeiture, peace officer training and corporate tax treatment and passing a concurrent resolution honoring public‑health workers for COVID‑19 response.
Senators passed Senate Bill 98, an asset‑forfeiture reform bill described by sponsor Senator Wyler as “the byproduct of 22 years worth of work” on behalf of stakeholders and former Representative Lee Perry. Wyler said the measure would move seized property into district court jurisdiction and require judicial oversight before property transfers to federal or out‑of‑state agencies. The bill passed on a roll call of 25 yea, 0 nay, with four members absent and will be transmitted to the House for concurrence.
The chamber also approved first substitute Senate Bill 102, which updates peace‑officer training qualifications. Sponsor Senator Maine noted the proposal reflected prior discussion in committee; the substitute passed 28‑0‑1 (one absent) and will be sent to the House.
Senate Bill 108, which narrows when a prior conviction may be used as an enhancement for later‑prosecuted conduct, was approved 29‑0‑0 after sponsor remarks clarifying the bill’s limited scope.
Tax policy changes were central to the floor’s longer discussion. First substitute Senate Bill 25 (corporate tax amendments) was amended on the floor; sponsor Senator Bramble introduced Amendment 1 to make net operating‑loss (NOL) treatment electable — allowing taxpayers to choose a carryback or carryforward — to address timing anomalies tied to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. “It would make that net operating loss electable to either be carried back or carried forward,” Bramble said during his presentation. After questions about the fiscal note and timing from Senator Vickers, the amendment was adopted and the bill passed as amended 28‑0‑1.
Senators also approved vehicle registration changes in third substitute Senate Bill 73 to avoid double taxation when ownership transfers occur mid‑registration year; the measure passed and will go to the House.
In other action, the body adopted Senate Joint Resolution 4 to align Utah’s civil deposition practice with the federal rule about who pays deposition costs, and it read an official citation and passed House Concurrent Resolution 6 recognizing the work of public‑health directors and staff during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Senator Milner, sponsor of H.C.R. 6, told the Senate the measure was intended to “express our deepest appreciation to the unsung local health department directors and public health workers.” The resolution passed 27‑0‑2.
Several bills carrying fiscal notes were held for later consideration. Sponsor motions were made to table fiscal‑note bills — including House Bill 16 (Veterans and Military Affairs Commission per‑diem changes) and House Bill 50 (government insurance amendments) — so the Senate can reconcile funding later in the session.
Votes at a glance: Senate action on selected measures from today’s floor session — each bill will be transmitted to the House unless noted.
- S.B. 98 (Asset forfeiture amendments): Passed 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent (sponsor: Senator Wyler). - First substitute S.B. 102 (Peace officer training qualifications): Passed 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent (sponsor: Senator Maine). - S.B. 108 (Penalty enhancements): Passed 29 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent (sponsor: Senator Wyler). - S.J.R. 4 (Civil deposition/expert‑witness rule adoption): Passed 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent (sponsor: Senator McCall). - First substitute S.B. 25 (Corporate tax amendments, as amended): Amendment adopted; bill passed 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent (sponsor: Senator Bramble). - Third substitute S.B. 73 (Vehicle registration fee amendments): Passed (27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent; sponsor: Senator Fillmore). - Third substitute S.B. 83 (POLST/post‑order amendments): Passed 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent (sponsor: Senator Iwamoto). - H.C.R. 6 (Recognition of COVID‑19 response efforts): Passed 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent (sponsor: Senator Milner). - Fiscal‑note bills tabled for later consideration included H.B. 16 and H.B. 50.
What’s next: Bills that passed third reading will be transmitted to the House for consideration; fiscal‑note measures tabled on third will be revisited when funding allocations are clearer. The Senate adjourned until 11:00 a.m. the following day.
Reported from the Senate floor.
