House advances a batch of bills: gambling enforcement, visitation enforcement, appropriations and committee referrals

During a busy floor session the Utah House advanced a series of bills and committee reports.

Gaming enforcement: House Bill 176 was presented to allow public safety enforcement and liquor license revocation against establishments that knowingly host video gambling machines. The sponsor noted an estimated 2,000–3,000 such machines statewide and presented revenue estimates; the House passed the bill and it will go to the Senate.

Visitation enforcement: House Bill 81, which allows courts to include police enforcement authority in some divorce decrees, was amended on the floor to require a specific judicial finding before police enforcement and to suspend enforcement while a court petition to modify visitation is pending. The body approved the Ballantine and subsequent amendments and passed the bill.

Appropriations and local projects: HB93, a direct appropriation to the nonprofit Ogden Nature Center for a visitor/learning pavilion ($109,000 requested) passed the House after members asked about oversight and nonprofit fundraising. The measure will be referred to the Senate.

Other floor business: The House passed HB188 (Interlocal Financing Authority amendments), HB203 (insurer cancellation notice — discussed elsewhere), HB86 and HB100 on consent, and HB180 (animal damage control funding language) among others. The Rules Committee reported dozens of bills for assignment to standing committees.

Next steps: Many of these bills were transmitted to the Senate or assigned to committees for further consideration.