Utah House closes final general session with staff honors and a voice vote to adjourn

An adjournment motion ended the Utah House's final general session before the next general election, after lawmakers spent the last minutes offering unanimous thanks to staff, interns and colleagues.

An unidentified legislator delivering closing budget remarks summed up the mood: "We've kept faith with the education system. We've kept faith with the taxpayers, and we've stayed on the tight wire in Utah," adding that the body had "touched the main bases" and treated people fairly.

Representative Moody then rose to move that the chamber "dissolve ourselves in the community of the whole" and later formally moved "that we adjourn, sign, and die." The presiding officer called for ayes; members responded and the motion carried by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Throughout the closing sequence, members singled out staff and interns for praise. One speaker named long-serving clerks and staffers — Richard, Leo, Wayne, Carol, Holly, Sylvia, Arlene, Shirley and Nancy — and noted the essential, often unpaid work of interns.

During the remarks Alexander Morton asked the body to recognize a member of the highway patrol in the gallery. "We have somebody up in the gallery that's been with us for 13 years ... it's Kent Whitney," Morton said, and members acknowledged Whitney's service.

Other speakers who offered parting remarks included Representative Harwood, who urged appreciation for interns; Representative Harlan, who thanked Appropriations Chairman Glenn Brown, Appropriations Vice Chairman Gerald Wilson and Rules Committee Chairman Rob Bishop; and Representative Wright, who singled out Afton Bradshaw for sustained service.

The House adjourned without additional motions or recorded votes. The transcript records a final affirmative voice vote and the presiding officer's statement, "We're adjourned."