Utah House advances clean-fuel loan program, urges EPA action on hazardous tailings and adopts health-care conference report

The Utah House of Representatives on March 3 moved a series of late-session measures that its leaders said wrap up major priorities for the 1993 session, approving a revolving loan program for clean-fuel vehicle conversions, urging federal and state action to remove hazardous mine tailings in a Salt Lake neighborhood, and adopting a conference committee report on a health-care access bill.

Representative Alexon presented Senate Bill 247, a revolving loan program for private and public fleets to purchase or convert vehicles to clean fuels and to fund refueling equipment, stressing that the assistance would be repayable: "Let me emphasize loan. It's not a grant." The House recorded that the measure carries an initial state match of $500,000 and expects a matching federal contribution of $500,000 to create a $1 million loan pool for the program. Voting closed with the House reporting 63 affirmative and 3 negative votes; the bill passed and will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.

On environmental concerns, Representative Johnson urged support for Senate Concurrent Resolution 12, which asks the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to relocate and monitor the Sharon Steele tailings after agency findings that the tailings are hazardous. Johnson said neighborhood home valuations were already affected, telling colleagues, "They're now worth a hundred dollars a piece." The House approved the resolution.

Lawmakers also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 asking federal leaders to exempt Utah coal exports from a proposed BTU energy tax. Opponents and proponents debated the economic effect on Utah mining; Representative Pignelli argued the tax "would have a detrimental impact upon Utah because it would place an export tax on Utah coal." The resolution passed the House.

The chamber accepted a conference committee report on House Bill 130, a package the sponsors described as the last vehicle this session for health-care changes. Members discussed compromises reached in conference, including an amendment that lowered an age-related provision in the bill; the House adopted the report and passed HB130.

Other bills moved through the floor with limited debate. The House advanced measures affecting local revenues and administration — including Senate Bill 173, which changes procedures for excess mill levies and gives the tax commission clarified verification authority — and substitute Senate Bill 43, which recognizes public kindergarten and directs state funding under Title 53A, Chapter 17A. Lawmakers also acted on bills dealing with professional licensing, state parks access and appropriations, and insurance exemptions.

Votes at a glance - Senate Bill 247 (clean-fuel vehicle revolving loans): passed (House recorded 63–3); returned to Senate for concurrence. - Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 (Sharon Steele tailings; urge EPA/DEQ action): passed (House recorded 50–14 reported in the reading). - Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 (BTU tax exemption request): passed (House reported 64–3). - Senate Bill 280 (Industrial Commission advisory council; add ex officio insurance commissioner): passed (House reported 57–7) and will be returned to the Senate. - Senate Bill 193 (voter registration information sharing): passed (House reported 43–23). - Senate Bill 173 (excess mill levy procedures): passed (House reported 60–2). - Substitute Senate Bill 185 (advisory council membership): passed (House reported 54–9). - Senate Bill 151 (money-laundering provisions): passed (House reported 65–2). - House Bill 130 (health-care conference report): adopted (House reported 55–13) and will be transmitted to the Senate for signature. - Substitute Senate Bill 43 (kindergarten): passed (House reported 49–23).

What happens next Most passed Senate bills will be returned to the Senate for consideration of the House action and any amendments. Several bills the House circled (set aside for later review) were marked for further fiscal or technical work. Governor Leavitt attended the late-night adjournment and offered closing remarks; the House adopted motions to appoint committees to notify the Senate and the governor that the House had concluded its work and then adjourned sine die.

Reporting notes: Quotes and vote tallies above reflect the House floor reading and votes as recorded in the March 3, 1993 floor transcript. Where the transcript presented a clear numerical tally it is reported above; procedural items described as "circled" indicate the House delayed immediate final action for later consideration.