Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House elects Martin R. Stevens as speaker, adopts rules and opens 2003 session
Summary
At the Utah House organizational meeting, members were sworn in, Martin R. Stevens was elected speaker by acclamation, the chamber adopted rules carried over from 2002 and the reading clerk announced a long docket of introduced bills and resolutions.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives organized for the 2003 general session on Jan. 2003, swearing in newly elected members, electing Representative Martin R. Stevens as Speaker and adopting procedural rules carried over from the previous year.
Representative Brent H. Goodfellow nominated Martin R. Stevens for speaker; the nomination was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. Stevens then took the oath of office as Speaker, repeating his pledge to “support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state” and to discharge his duties with fidelity.
In opening remarks, Speaker Stevens warned of looming fiscal challenges and urged members to scrutinize spending. “It’s going to be a pretty bad year,” Stevens said, noting concerns about the state budget and possible changes to Medicaid eligibility and copayments. He urged lawmakers to “carefully scrutinize every program that is funded by state government” and to practice civility and restraint in debates.
Early in the session the House adopted a motion to use the same House and joint rules for the 2003 annual general session as were used in 2002. Representative Guillory moved the adoption; the motion was put to a voice vote and carried. Other procedural suspensions were approved, including a motion that legislators be allowed to sign and pre-file bills with a sponsor’s permission and the suspension of the requirement that every bill be read three separate times by title in the House.
The chief clerk, on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Ollie S. Walker, read the certificate of membership certifying those elected on Nov. 5, 2002, to serve terms beginning Jan. 1, 2003. The reading clerk then enumerated a long docket of introduced measures — including House bills on topics ranging from viatical settlements and optometry practice act amendments to public safety, education, taxation and health-care-related measures — identifying sponsors as part of the session opening.
The Speaker also appointed committees to escort the Speaker-elect to the chair and to serve on joint rules; lists of committee members were read into the record. Members approved a motion authorizing a committee to wait upon the governor to inform him the Legislature was organized and ready to receive any communication or message.
The session included ceremonial items: an invocation by Elder Russell Nelson and the posting of colors by the Utah National Guard; World War II veteran Nelson Akagi led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Calvary Baptist Church choir sang the national anthem.
Next procedural steps included publication of standing committee membership in the House Journal and the Rules Committee being excused to begin work; the reading clerk’s docket established the list of bills through the early phase of the 2003 session.
(Reporting in this article is limited to actions and remarks recorded in the House’s organization proceedings; no substantive committee hearings or floor debates on specific bills occurred during the segments cited.)
