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House debate on freeway speed limits escalates as amendment fails and bill is circled
Summary
House debate on HB29 included a failed amendment to add 'prima facie' language (27–34) and a controversial first-substitute proposal to remove rural speed caps; lawmakers ultimately 'circled' the bill to allow further work rather than vote on final passage.
Lawmakers on Jan. 23 debated HB29, a measure to adjust freeway speed limits. The bill’s sponsor explained that the Department of Transportation should consider design speed, prevailing vehicle speeds and safety factors when designating speeds, and that committee amendments had raised the proposed cap from 70 to 75 mph.
Representative Bradford offered amendments (changing several references from ‘‘reasonable and safe’’ to ‘‘prima facie’’) intended to alter the standard used in enforcement and make the posted speed establish a rebuttable presumption of a basic-speed-law violation. The House recorded vote on Bradford’s amendment was 27 yes and 34 no, and the amendment failed.
Representative Hickman then offered a first-substitute to the bill that would eliminate a speed cap in rural counties outside Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties, effectively allowing drivers to choose a higher speed on rural interstates during daylight hours under normal conditions. Hickman framed the change as reflecting roadway design and driver behavior and noted that Montana had implemented a similar policy; other members raised safety and equity concerns for users who share rural roads with slower-moving agricultural vehicles.
After extended discussion and offers to refine the bill, the House moved to ‘‘circle’’ HB29 — a procedural action to pause consideration so members can work on substitute language. The motion to circle carried and the bill was set aside for further work rather than being voted up or down on final passage.
