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House adopts rules reports, advances dozens of bills to committee and third-reading calendar
Summary
The Utah House adopted two rules committee reports and moved a large set of bills forward — some to third reading under suspension of rules and many assigned to standing committees — while reminding members of a same-day prioritization deadline.
The presiding member opened the third day of the 1996 centennial legislative session and the House adopted two rules committee reports that advanced numerous bills either to the third-reading calendar or to committee consideration.
In a motion accepted by voice vote, the House approved the first rules committee report that placed HB79 (Student Education and Occupational Plan) and HB86 (annual sunset reauthorization) directly on the third-reading calendar after explanation that HB79 had been handled in the interim and was unanimously recommended. The presiding member said the chamber had "resolved the problem with the voting system," and reminded members of the rule that a legislator may not vote for another.
A second, larger rules report was adopted by voice vote and recited a long list of bills to be treated under suspension of rules for second reading and placement on the third-reading calendar. The speaker explained some bills were reassigned across committees to help balance workloads; members were told that prioritization requests would be accepted only through the end of the day.
The House announced committee assignments for many bills. Notable committee placements included: business, labor and economic development (HB6, HB102, HB103, HB113, HB127, HB132, HB133); education (HB65, HB73, HB93, HB149, HJR7); energy, natural resources and agriculture (HB61, HB69, HB77, HJR6); health and environment (HB85, HB94 — later corrected in part to human services for some bills); judiciary (HB80, HB128, HB136, HB139); retirement (HB23); revenue and taxation (HB63, HB112, HJR2); state and local affairs (HB67, HB89, HB100, HB142); and transportation and public safety (HB31, HB53, HB54).
The clerk read additional bills into the record for first reading that were then referred to the rules committee (including HB166–HB175 and others). Where committee assignments were unclear or technical issues remained, the presiding member said those bills likely would not be taken up until the next day to allow members adequate time to read them.
The House completed its business for the morning and adjourned by voice vote until 10:00 a.m. the following day.
What happens next: bills placed on the third-reading calendar may be taken up later in the session for debate or final passage; others assigned to standing committees will be scheduled for committee hearings per the revised schedule.
