Utah House funds more drug‑lab enforcement, advances dozens of bills and circles contentious tax and initiative proposals

The Utah House of Representatives met Feb. 17 and moved a package of bills while pausing review on two politically sensitive items.

Legislators approved House Bill 131, which shifts primary enforcement for precursor and clandestine drug‑lab statutes to the Department of Public Safety and includes an appropriation. Sponsor Representative Tyler told colleagues the measure ‘‘provides [DPS] primary enforcement authority’’ and that the bill ‘‘appropriated from general fund, to the Department of Public Safety, 400000 dollars’’ to hire six agents and cover training and equipment. The House voted to pass HB131 (64 yes, 1 no) and will transmit it to the Senate.

The floor also addressed several tax and regulatory measures. Representative Allen introduced a first substitute for House Bill 65 to extend an existing sales‑tax exemption to passenger shuttle services. Opponents repeatedly raised the broader fiscal question of exemptions: Representative Becker said he would ‘‘be voting against the bill’’ on principle because each exemption increases the state’s cost, and Representative Carlson urged a broader…