House approves series of Senate bills and committee reports during Feb. 16 session

The Utah House cleared multiple Senate bills and adopted committee reports during its Feb. 16, 2000, session, sending several measures back to the Senate and assigning numerous House bills to standing committees.

Key measures approved and their House vote tallies:

- First Substitute Senate Bill 111 (endowment care cemeteries): Sponsor Representative Iverson explained the bill would allow privately owned endowment care cemeteries, require an initial $25,000 deposit and additional deposits tied to plot sales; the House passed the bill 66–0.

- First Substitute Senate Bill 28 (public use of state‑owned/sovereign lands): The bill permits lessees to post leased sovereign lands (e.g., Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake) to protect authorized lease activities, with approvals required from the Division of Forestry director and the Wildlife Board; the House passed it 64–0 and will return it to the Senate.

- Senate Bill 104 (Uniform Child Custody Act): Representative Curtis said the bill repeals and reenacts Utah’s child custody jurisdiction provisions to align with the Uniform Laws Commission; the House passed the bill unanimously (final tally recorded as 70–0).

- Senate Bill 130 (fuel tax refunds for loss or destruction): Representative Short described a scenario in which a hauler who paid fuel tax but lost the load (for example, by fire) would be eligible for a refund or income tax credit; the House passed SB130 52–13. Members raised questions about whether Department of Transportation funds or recovery mechanisms would cover road damage from such incidents.

- Senate Bill 113 (exemption from licensure for athletic trainers): The bill exempts nationally certified athletic trainers from conflicting state licensure requirements where their certified scope overlaps other licensed professions; speakers emphasized rigorous national certification and supervision arrangements. SB113 passed 72–0.

- Senate Bill 141 (prohibiting sale/provision of tobacco to minors, including internet/catalog sales): Sponsors cited a sting operation showing internet sellers delivered tobacco to minors; a short‑title amendment was discussed and withdrawn. SB141 passed 71–0.

- First Substitute Senate Bill 7 (donation of non‑scheduled drugs or devices with liability protection): Sponsor Representative Buckmeyer described statutory categories of drugs and safeguards for donated medicines handled through licensed channels; the bill passed 68–0.

The House also adopted several Rules Committee reports to print and assign many House bills and resolutions to standing committees, including assignments to Business, Labor and Economic Development; Judiciary; Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment; Public Utilities and Technology; Revenue and Taxation; and Workforce Services. Committee chairs (including Susan Cohen and Carl R. Saunders) presented reports and the House adopted them by voice vote.

Procedure and next steps: Passed Senate bills will be returned to the Senate for further action or concurrence as appropriate. Several House bills were reassigned to specific committees for review. The House adjourned to caucus and recessed until 9:30 a.m. the next day.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified from the House proceeding on Feb. 16, 2000, including Representative Iverson, Representative Hatch, Representative Short, Representative Hendrickson and Representative Buckmeyer.