House advances rules changes, limits chamber admittance and reappoints two legal officers

The Utah House on Jan. 20 moved several procedural and rule measures through debate and votes, including reappointments, rule cleanups and limits on chamber admittance.

Representative Melvin R. Brown introduced HJR 7 to reappoint Richard Strong as director of the Office of Legislative Research and Jay Taylor as legislative general counsel for new six-year terms. Representative Brown said the appointments reflect the management committee’s recommendation; the House approved HJR 7 with 66 yes votes and 0 no votes.

Representative John W. Hickman presented a package of house-rule changes (HR 4 and related measures) intended to clarify presiding procedures before the speaker is elected and to make technical corrections. Several members debated proposed edits to HJR 3, including language on notice for Rules Committee meetings, the parliamentary effect of motions to "circle," and whether to replace the word "table" with "hold" for interim committees. Representative Rachael Howard proposed five targeted amendments to the draft rules; sponsors and opponents exchanged views about whether the changes would permit tactics such as circling a bill to cause pending amendments to lapse.

A notable contested item concerned interim-committee quorum language in HJR 6. Sponsors argued that allowing whoever is present at the scheduled start (so long as at least one House and one Senate member are present) would make interim work feasible; critics warned it could allow a small number of members to approve committee recommendations without broad participation. Representative Stevens offered and won an amendment that deleted the most controversial quorum language from the proposal.

Representative Hickman also carried HR 2, which places limits on admittance to the chamber (restricting floor access to one guest or a family member and limiting lobbyist presence except by prior notice and under the speaker’s permission). Hickman said the rule seeks order and security in the chamber; members asked how technical advisers (for example, an attorney general staffer assisting a sponsor) would be handled. Hickman said such advisers would be required to remain on the benches unless the speaker granted permission to come to a legislator’s desk. HR 2 passed 65 yes to 7 no.

Votes at a glance: HR 1 (circled), HJR 7 (reappointment) — passed 66–0; HJR 6 (interim rules cleanup, as amended) — passed (voice vote recorded in transcript; clerk recorded yes votes when closed); HR 2 (admittance restrictions) — passed 65–7; HJR 3 and HR 4 were circled for later consideration.

Representative Hickman summarized the package and urged support for orderly procedures; opponents emphasized preserving amendment rights and guarding against procedural tactics that could disadvantage minority positions. The House recessed for caucuses and scheduled the Rules Committee to meet immediately after adjournment.