Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House passes water-notice and protective-order bills; floor also considers notary, construction, and licensing measures
Summary
The House voted to pass House Bill 42 (water-user notification amendments, 71–0) and House Bill 57 (criminal protective-order enforcement changes, 67–1). Lawmakers also discussed HB175 (transfer of notary administration to the lieutenant governor) and other measures.
On the floor the House moved several bills.
House Bill 42 (water user notification amendments): Representative Steiler explained that HB42 would streamline newspaper notice content for applications to change water rights, making notices easier to read and reducing space purchased from newspapers. He summarized the fiscal note: a one-time setup cost to the Division of Water Rights of about $77,000 for an 1-800 information line, a projected net revenue producer of roughly $30,000 per year thereafter, and an initial net negative impact of about $47,000 in the first year. The clerk recorded the vote: HB42 passed the House, 71 yes, 0 no, and will be referred to the Senate.
House Bill 57 (protective orders): Representative Shurtleff told the House the bill addresses criminal protective-order violations by requiring a judge to see an alleged violator before release, which will likely mean a short overnight custody in many cases. She said the measure is supported by the Utah Council on Crime Victims and the Weber County Sheriffs Association. The clerk recorded HB57 as passing with 67 yes votes and 1 no.
House Bill 175 (notaries public): Representative Pace explained HB175 transfers administration of notaries public from the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code to the lieutenant governor’s office to create a one-stop service for notary and authentication needs (notably for international adoptions and authentication for missionaries and other out-of-country adoptions).
Other items: The House also took procedural actions to circle or uncircle several bills and discussed the first substitute to House Bill 48 (construction contractor licensing) and House Bill 66 (county service allocation language). The session included routine gallery recognitions and announcements.
What to watch: HB42 and HB57 advanced to the Senate; fiscal figures cited for HB42 and enforcement changes described for HB57 are summarized above. For official text, vote details, and further committee action consult the House journal and committee records.
