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House narrows special‑district authority on power‑line burial, approves corrected SB80
Summary
The Utah House adopted amendments clarifying a special‑districts bill to limit county involvement in power‑line construction and passed third substitute Senate Bill 80, sending it back to the Senate after a 66‑0 recorded tally. Sponsors said the changes correct earlier language that could have allowed counties to enter the power‑line construction business.
The Utah House on March 4 adopted clarifying amendments to third substitute Senate Bill 80 to restrict special districts’ powers around buried power lines and then approved the bill on third reading, sending it back to the Senate.
Representative Dave Allen moved pink‑sheet amendments intended to correct language the body said was accidentally broadened in an earlier amendment. Allen and other sponsors told colleagues the original change could have been read to allow counties to engage in erection and construction activities for power lines — a power lawmakers said they did not intend. The accepted amendment narrows the district’s role to covering additional costs related to burying power lines rather than authorizing counties to perform construction work.
Supporters described the amendments as technical corrections that restored the bill to its original purpose. Representative Allen framed the measure as a “correction of our previous action” rather than a substantive policy shift.
With summation waived, the House adopted Representative Allen’s pink‑sheet amendments and proceeded to a third reading vote. Floor tally sheets recorded 66 yes votes and 0 no votes on the bill; the clerk announced the bill passed the House and it was returned to the Senate for further action.
Next steps: The House transmitted the amended bill back to the Senate for signature and any further action required by that body.
