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House passes package of bills on telemarketing, tax allocation, weapons permits and more; several measures sent to Senate
Summary
The Utah House advanced a slate of bills including a telemarketing registration law, a change to how sales-tax shares to cities are calculated, tightened penalties for vending‑machine theft and authorization for temporary concealed‑weapon permits; each bill was recorded with its vote tally and sent to the Senate.
The Utah House on Jan. 16 approved a group of bills on consumer protection, local finance, criminal penalties and public safety and sent each to the Senate for further action.
Representatives Don Lor Leberin and Michael G. Wattis sponsored House Bill 100, a telephone‑fraud measure that requires telemarketers to register with the Division of Consumer Protection, designate a Utah agent for service and disclose the nature of offers up front. The House recorded 66 votes in favor and 2 opposed; the bill will now go to the Senate.
Lawmakers also approved House Bill 82, a change to the formula for distributing sales tax revenue to local governments. The bill replaces strict decennial‑census distribution with more frequent population estimates so growing cities receive funds sooner. After debate over the accuracy of estimates and an appeals process for cities, the House passed the measure 58–11.
House Bill 137 revised penalties and definitions for systematic vending‑machine thefts after sponsors described cases revealing gaps in existing statutes. The House passed the bill as amended (recorded as 69 affirmative, 0 negative) and transmitted it to the Senate.
On public‑safety rules, House Bill 183 authorizes the Department of Public Safety to issue temporary concealed‑weapons permits in exigent circumstances pending federal background checks and allows the department to rescind such permits without a formal appeal in specified circumstances. The House passed the bill 68–3.
Health‑privacy legislation, the Utah Health Care Information Act (House Bill 47), was offered to give patients statutory access to their own medical records and clarify confidentiality, patient authorization and third‑party disclosure. Sponsors cited cases where ambiguous records harmed employment and community standing; the House approved HB47 by a vote of 67–6.
Several other bills and committee reports were adopted or referred to committee, and substitute House Bill 20 — a licensing regime for addiction counselors — passed after floor amendments, 42–26. Most measures were adopted after brief floor presentations and committee endorsements.
What happens next: Each measure now proceeds to the Senate, where sponsors will track further committee assignments and scheduling. The House also referred multiple introduced bills and resolutions to Rules for committee assignment.
Votes at a glance (selected items as recorded on the House floor): House Bill 100 (telephone fraud): passed, 66–2. House Bill 82 (local sales‑tax allocation/estimated population): passed, 58–11. House Bill 137 (vending‑machine theft penalties): passed, 69–0 (recorded). House Bill 183 (temporary concealed‑weapons permits): passed, 68–3. House Bill 47 (Utah Health Care Information Act): passed, 67–6. Substitute House Bill 20 (licensure of addiction counselors): passed, 42–26.
Reporting note: Vote tallies and outcomes reflect the House roll calls recorded during the Jan. 16 session. Where the transcript recorded a specific tally, the article reports that tally exactly; no outside vote reconcilations have been performed.
