Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UDOT substitute to allow raising some billboards draws floor questions over $7 million estimate
Summary
A floor substitute to Senate Bill 98 would let the Utah Department of Transportation raise certain billboards rather than condemn them; sponsor said UDOT estimated $7,000,000 in savings along I‑15, but members pressed for a fiscal note and questioned impacts on nonconforming signs.
Lawmakers debated a substitute to Senate Bill 98 on the House floor that would allow the Utah Department of Transportation to raise some billboards rather than use condemnation and purchase. Sponsor Representative Garn said UDOT estimates the change could save the state about $7,000,000 along the I‑15 corridor.
Opponents and questioners pressed the sponsor on the absence of a fiscal note and raised concern that allowing billboards to be raised could preserve nonconforming signs and alter how billboards are valued for compensation. One member noted the state—s previous billboard valuation practices and urged caution about enabling nonconforming signs to remain.
Representative Aaron moved to "circle" the substitute to permit additional study; Garn argued the measure was brought by UDOT and would save the state money. The clerk recorded the motion to circle and the subsequent voice vote: those in favor said "aye" and those opposed said "no," and the motion to circle failed on the floor. The transcript does not record a final roll‑call tally on the substitute itself or show a completed vote on the substitute language during the provided segment.
The debate highlighted a practical fiscal claim from UDOT and a floor procedural dispute over whether substitute language should be taken up without an additional fiscal review.
