House reopens debate on intensive early-release parole after narrow motion to reconsider

The Utah House returned House Bill 2 to its calendar after a contested floor motion to reconsider the bill's earlier passage. Representative Peterson moved to reconsider, saying some members had not fully grasped a Senate amendment that broadened eligibility to include some third‑degree felons. He urged colleagues to give the measure another look before sending it to the governor.

Opponents including Representative Ellertson and others argued the Senate amendment did not cover minimum‑and‑mandatory sentences or violent felonies, and said the bill would allow only limited cases to be reviewed. Ellertson said the board of pardons — not judges — could review eligibility for some offenders, but that violent crimes subject to mandatory sentencing would remain excluded. Other members warned the amendment could reduce judges’ authority and limit prosecutorial participation in board hearings.

The House debated procedural questions at length: whether suspending rules to permit reconsideration was debatable, the appropriate scope of limited debate on a motion to reconsider, and whether concurrence with the Senate’s amendments already made those changes part of the bill. After a procedural vote to suspend the rules, the motion to reconsider passed 38–33, placing HB 2 atop the third‑reading calendar as unfinished business. Members then debated whether to “circle” (delay) the measure; the House voted to circle the bill to a later time to resolve outstanding questions.

No substantive change to the bill was adopted during the session; the floor record shows further action will be required to amend or remove Senate changes. The House clerk said, if members wish to alter steps the House previously took (including concurrence), they must move to reconsider those specific actions. The timing for any new amendments or final third‑reading vote was not set on the floor before adjournment.