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Utah House elects Martin R. Stevens as speaker, adopts rules to start 2001 session
Summary
On the opening day of the 2001 legislative session the Utah House of Representatives elected Representative Martin R. Stevens as Speaker by acclamation, administered oaths, adopted procedural rules (including a suspension of the three‑reading requirement), and assigned dozens of bills to standing committees.
SALT LAKE CITY — On the opening day of the 2001 legislative session, the Utah State House of Representatives elected Representative Martin R. Stevens as Speaker and moved quickly to adopt procedural rules to begin the chamber’s work.
During the organizing meeting Representative Becker formally nominated Martin R. Stevens for Speaker, saying, "I'm pleased to nominate representative Martin r Stevens as speaker of the House of Representatives." The House approved the nomination by voice vote and Stevens repeated the oath of office after the chair administered it.
Lieutenant Governor Emily S. Walker read the certificate of membership confirming the winners of the November 7, 2000 election and the start of terms. After the swearing-in, Stevens addressed the chamber, urging members to "trust the people," avoid excessive partisanship and to place integrity above all. He asked every member to consult the U.S. and Utah Constitutions as guides for legislation.
The House adopted procedural items by voice votes: the prayer and the Speaker’s remarks were ordered printed in the House journal; the House adopted the same rules as the prior (50th) legislature; and members authorized the Speaker to appoint a rules committee to draft joint House‑Senate rules. The Speaker named members of the House rules committee and a joint rules committee and asked them to report back to the House.
Members also approved a motion to suspend the constitutional requirement that every bill be read three separate times in the House; the motion, as presented, applies to all bills and resolutions introduced during the session unless the majority directs otherwise. The suspension is procedural and, according to the motion language, allows the majority to require a reading and short title for any individual bill if desired.
Clerks read dozens of House bills for first reading and referred them to committees. The House announced standing committee assignments for specific bills (for example, House Bill 59 to Business, Labor and Economic Development; House Bill 46 to Education; House Bill 31 to Health and Human Services). The session recessed until 2 p.m. after a brief presentation later in the morning.
The organizing actions set the chamber’s leadership and the procedural framework that will govern how quickly bills may be considered this session.
