House rejects substitute language for HB213 after procedural dispute; third substitute fails 38–36

A floor battle over substitute language for House Bill 213 dominated the Utah House on Feb. 11, 1999, with members contesting whether amendments were procedurally in order and whether substitution should proceed. After back-and-forth points of order and a pair of rulings from the chair, the House ultimately rejected the third substitute version of HB213 by a 38–36 vote.

Representative Brown raised points of order arguing Representative Gladwell's and Representative Hickman's motions were out of order under House rules 29-01 (amendments over 15 words must be on pink paper and filed) and germaneness rules. The Speaker read the rule and ruled the motions out of order, returning the matter to third substitute HB213 with no pending motions.

Representative Rowland moved to substitute the third substitute with a fourth substitute. Debate grew contentious; Representative Rowland urged a simple up-or-down vote and criticized procedural delay. "All I wanna see is a yes or a no," she said. A previous-question motion to end debate passed, the substitution occurred, and a division was called.

During the subsequent vote procedures there were disputes over vote locking and whether late changes were allowed while a call of the House was happening. After votes were taken and voting closed on the third substitute, the Clerk announced the motion failed — 36 yes, 38 no — and the substitute was filed.

Representative Rowland later moved to strike the enacting clause on the third substitute; that motion also failed. The bill will not advance in its substituted form based on the House tally.