Utah House advances wide slate of bills in Feb. 13, 2003 floor session; several measures amended and sent to Senate

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives met in floor session on Feb. 13, 2003, adopting committee reports and approving a broad set of bills and resolutions that the chamber then transmitted to the Senate for further action.

The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before clerks read communications from the Senate and committee reports. Committee chairs moved several items to second and third reading and the House adopted the Rules Committee report that assigned additional bills to standing committees.

Why it matters: The session advanced measures that touch a range of policy areas — from criminal procedure and forensic evidence to consumer protections and redevelopment of contaminated property — and finalized vote tallies that will be part of the legislative record as these items move to the Senate.

Key outcomes and notable debates

• Sunset reauthorizations — S.B.26 (amendment and passage). The House voted to uncircle S.B.26 and then adopted an amendment offered by Representative Curtis to change two sunset dates, deleting 02/2008 and 02/2012 and inserting 02/2004 so those boards and commissions would be reviewed sooner. Curtis said he sought the change because…