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House moves to consider centennial 'State Star' bill, then circles it for later
Summary
On Jan. 15, 1996 the Utah House voted to suspend rules to consider House Bill 140 (State Centennial Star and Astronomical Symbol) and then voted to 'circle' the bill for later handling; supporters said the designation would honor statehood by acknowledging a bright Big Dipper star and the Beehive cluster.
The Utah House on Jan. 15, 1996 agreed to suspend its rules to bring forward House Bill 140, a proposal to designate a Centennial Star and an astronomical symbol for the state, but members voted the same day to 'circle' the measure and defer detailed consideration.
The motion to consider the measure "under suspension of the rules" was offered on the floor and approved by voice vote. As read into the record, the motion would have House Bill 140 "be considered read for the first and second time and placed at the top of the third reading calendar." After that motion carried, a follow-up motion to "circle the bill" — that is, to set it aside and handle its actual consideration at a later date — also passed on a voice vote.
Proponents said the bill emerged from the State Centennial Committee in consultation with the planetarium. The sponsor explained the choice of star and cluster as symbolic of Utah's centennial: the star is "one of the 7 bright stars composing the Big Dipper" and the Beehive cluster was presented as a sky representation of Utah's beehive emblem, according to remarks on the House floor. The planetarium director, Vondell Chamberlain, was acknowledged as present during the explanation.
House floor procedure governed the day: the suspension allowed immediate placement on the third‑reading calendar but the subsequent motion to circle preserved the sponsor's ability to present more detail after the House completed its formal organization. The record shows only voice votes; no roll-call tally was recorded for either action.
The immediate effect is procedural: HB140 remains circled and will be scheduled for formal consideration on a future calendar once House leadership and the sponsor arrange further handling. The House's organizational actions on Jan. 15 mean a formal calendar vote will await the body’s completed organization.
