Utah House opens third special session, reaffirms leadership and rules to consider tax bill amendments

The Utah House convened its third special session of the 50th Legislature in Salt Lake City on June 24, 2004, at the Capitol Complex, called by a gubernatorial proclamation to consider amendments to Senate Bill 147 and House Bill 273. The session opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Representative Peggy Wallace.

Gayle F. McKeachnie, the lieutenant governor, formally certified the governor's proclamation and read the certification into the record, saying, "I ... do hereby certify that the attached copy of a proclamation issued under the date of 06/24/2004 ... is a true and correct copy of the original proclamation calling the 50th Legislature into a special session." The proclamation, issued by Governor Olene S. Walker, named two matters for immediate legislative attention: amendments related to Senate Bill 147 (Streamline Sales Tax Project Amendments) and House Bill 273 (Tax and Charge Amendments). The proclamation language and certification were read aloud and the great seal noted as affixed.

Early in the session the presiding officer raised a motion that the House "continue with the same organization for the third special session" — maintaining the existing speakership and majority and minority leadership. Members responded with a rapid series of "Aye" votes called by the presiding officer and the motion was recorded as passing. The House then completed an electronic roll call and the presiding officer announced several representatives as excused, including LeVar Christiansen, Ron Bigelow, Carl Duckworth, Ralph Becker, Calvin Byrd, Marta Dailey, and Margaret Dayton, but said a quorum was present.

A member moved that the House adopt the same House rules and joint rules for this special session as had been adopted in the 2003 general session; the motion passed without discussion. The Speaker was also authorized to appoint a committee to "wait upon the Senate," and the Speaker named Representative Mike Thompson, Representative Kurt Webb and Representative David Litvak to that committee.

The Speaker was further authorized to appoint a small committee to notify the governor that the legislature was organized; members mentioned to participate in that notice included Representative Love, Representative Bush and Representative Bordeaux. To speed consideration of the amendments, the House moved to suspend the full reading of bill and resolution titles on first, second, and third readings for the remainder of the session unless a representative requests a full reading. That suspension was adopted.

Members were advised that copies of the proposed amendments were being distributed; extra copies were placed on Representative Curtis's desk for those who had not received them. The presiding officer noted that notifying the governor would take somewhat longer because she was in a different building.

The session proceeded as a procedural, expedited convening focused on organizing the chamber, confirming rules and delegating representatives to notify the Senate and governor so substantive consideration of SB 147 and HB 273 may follow once amendments are in hand and inter-branch notifications are complete.