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Utah House approves rule to record committee votes verbally; sets in‑session employee pay
Summary
The Utah House adopted a rules change requiring committee chairs to verbally record vote results for committee minutes and approved a resolution setting in‑session employee pay at last year—s rates; HR 3 passed 62‑1 and HJR 4 was approved after being moved to the top of the calendar.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives on Jan. 2 adopted a change to House rules requiring committee chairs to indicate committee votes verbally for the record and approved a resolution setting compensation for in‑session employees.
Representative Marta Dilley introduced House Rules Resolution 3 on behalf of Legislative Research, saying the measure would improve committee minutes and tapes by making vote outcomes and dissenting members explicit. "This bill, which would allow committee chairs or require committee chairs, to vote verbally ... so it's on the recorded tape ... whether the vote was in favor or against," Dilley said on the floor.
The measure passed on the floor; the clerk recorded HR 3 as carrying with 62 yes votes and 1 no vote. The resolution will be returned to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel for enrolling.
Separately, the House lifted House Joint Resolution 4 to the top of the third‑reading calendar after Representative Curtis moved the change in order. Representative Newbold described HJR 4 as setting the compensation amounts for session employees and said "the employee rates are the same as last year." The chamber moved and voted on the resolution during the same floor period; voting was opened and later closed with members present.
Other procedural business on the agenda included first readings and referrals of several bills — among them House Bills 87 (property tax assessment and low‑income housing covenants), 88 (payment of reward upon arrest and conviction) and 162 (amendments related to financial institutions) — and consideration of House Rules resolutions affecting committee names and clerk duties.
Representative J. Morgan Philpott introduced HR 2 to clarify certain duties of the Chief Clerk and to address permission for distribution of materials and pay‑related questions; members asked whether the resolution would change end‑of‑session staff compensation and were told it would not affect the two‑day compensation referenced. Philpott waived summation and the chamber proceeded to vote on the item.
Leadership told members to expect several hours of floor time the following morning and noted that many bills on the board had passed interim committees unanimously. The House recessed after completing the scheduled floor actions.
