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House concurs with Senate on revised highway bond package after dispute over project order
Summary
The Utah House agreed to concur with Senate amendments to the highway general obligation bond bill, increasing the bond amount and resolving technical edits after debate over project ordering; sponsor Representative Harper said the adjusted bond total is $78,000,000 and urged the House to approve so projects can move forward.
The Utah House of Representatives voted to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 262002, a measure adjusting general obligation bonds for state highway projects, after a floor debate over project ordering and bond size.
Representative Harper, the House sponsor, said the Senate made technical changes and increased the bond amount. "The correct amount now is at $78,000,000," Harper said, describing the bond as a state-issued obligation for state highways funded with Salt Lake County sales tax proceeds. He urged concurrence so work on listed projects could proceed as additional funding becomes available.
An opposing member argued the Senate changes removed language that preserved the prior order of projects, which could disadvantage a project in his district and asked the House to refuse concurrence so the matter could go to a conference committee. The opponent also said a senator had been "rolled by leadership," an allegation that went unanswered on the floor.
After debate, the motion to concur was carried and the measure was forwarded to the Senate for signature and further consideration. A roll-call tally announced later in the session recorded 59 yes votes and 10 no votes on the motion to concur.
The House record shows advocates framed the bill as necessary to move highway projects when Salt Lake County and other funding sources are ready, while opponents pressed for explicit protections of project priority and deeper review in a conference committee.
The House will transmit the concurred version back to the Senate for the President's signature and final processing on the Journal.
