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Utah House debates House Bill 47 on school vending sales; substitutes and amendments advance
Summary
Lawmakers debated House Bill 47, which addresses vending-machine sales in public schools and whether local school boards or the state should set standards. The House substituted and amended the bill (substitute passed 43–30; amendment passed 50–24) and then suspended rules to 'circle' the bill for later consideration.
Representative Pat Jones put House Bill 47 before the Utah House for third reading, setting off an extended debate over whether vending-machine policy in schools should be governed by statewide standards or left to local school boards.
The bill's sponsor and Representative Jason Lawrence proposed an amendment (Amendment No. 3) that would make local school boards the primary authority to adopt vending policies after public comment, with the state law serving only as a default where local boards decline to act. Jones told colleagues she supported the PTA-backed amendment as a reasonable compromise that preserves local control while ensuring healthier options for students.
Opponents on the floor argued against state mandates. Representative Last moved to replace the first substitute with a fourth substitute version of HB47 to…
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