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House passes a package of bills; votes at a glance
Summary
The Utah House passed a series of bills on third reading and referred them to the Senate, including HB 285 (71–0), HJR 17 (60–9), HB 348 (66–0), HB 420, HB 344 (57–13 after amendment), HB 394 (55–12 after amendment), HB 128 (69–0), HB 405 substitute (41–26), and others; several measures were amended before passage.
The Utah House of Representatives completed third reading on a broad slate of bills and referred the measures to the Senate after debate and several amendments.
Among the measures the House passed were House Bill 285, which the sponsor said addressed alleged problems in the judiciary and received unanimous support ("71 yes votes and 0 no votes," clerk announcement). The chamber also passed House Joint Resolution 17 urging Congress to send a federal constitutional amendment to "protect the most innocent of our society, the life of the unborn," which the clerk recorded as receiving 60 yes votes and 9 no votes.
Other votes and actions included: House Bill 348 (unlawful use of theft-detection devices), presented as a retail-protection measure and passed with the clerk reporting 66 yes votes and 0 no votes; House Bill 420 (Utah Commission on Volunteers amendments), described as a cleanup of appointments and terms and referred to the Senate after passage; and House Bill 282 (Life Insurance Guarantee Association changes), which raises certain consumer-protection caps and was reported passed.
The House also considered bills that generated extended debate and amendments. House Bill 344 (Utah Horse Promotion) carried a sizable amendment package that the sponsor said would remove a fiscal note and change multiple lines of the bill; after debate, the bill passed the House and will be referred to the Senate. House Bill 394 (notification to custodial and noncustodial parents) drew extensive floor debate and several substitute amendments to clarify that schools should "attempt to notify" the noncustodial parent in cases of serious injury; the clerk announced the bill passed with 55 yes votes and 12 no votes.
On DUI law revisions, House Bill 128 passed in third reading. Sponsors said the bill clarifies implied-consent procedures and increases administrative licence sanctions in certain circumstances; floor exchanges clarified that individuals must submit to the chemical test offered by the officer, but may request an independent test so long as it does not delay the officer's test.
A notable fiscal- and procedural action came with first substitute House Bill 405, which raises the ceiling for school-board compensation. A substitute motion changed the cap from $6,000 to $5,000; that substitute passed and the first substitute passed on the floor and will go to the Senate.
Several other bills were approved on the consent or third-reading calendar after brief presentations or technical amendments. The House recessed briefly and adjourned at the end of the calendar, scheduling budget bills for the next morning.
Votes at a glance (as announced on the floor): - HB 285 — passed ("71 yes votes and 0 no votes"). - HJR 17 — passed ("60 yes votes and 9 no votes"). - HB 348 — passed ("66 yes votes and 0 no votes"). - HB 420 — passed (clerk announced referral to the Senate; exact tally recorded on the floor). - HB 344 — passed after amendments (clerk announced 57 yes votes and 13 no votes). - HB 394 — passed after substitute amendments (clerk announced 55 yes votes and 12 no votes). - HB 128 — passed (clerk announced 69 yes votes and 0 no votes). - HB 405 (first substitute) — passed (clerk announced 41 yes votes and 26 no votes). - HB 282 — passed (clerk announced passage and referral to the Senate). - HB 365 — passed (clerk announced 67 yes votes and 0 no votes).
What happens next: Bills that passed will be transmitted to the Senate for further action; the House adjourned and scheduled the next session to address budget bills the following morning.
