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House advances dozens of bills; votes at a glance
Summary
On Feb. 1 the Utah House adopted multiple committee reports, moved several bills to second/third reading, and passed a slate of measures including school-reporting changes, water-loan amendments, OHV registration checkoff, motor-vehicle dealer clarifications and Terrell H. Bell funding.
The Utah House spent Thursday taking up committee reports, advancing multiple bills to later calendars and approving several measures on the floor.
Key actions and votes:
- House Bill 215 (first substitute) — school reporting amendments: sponsor Representative Karen Morgan said the bill clarifies how average class sizes and teacher-pupil ratios should be calculated for annual reports; vote recorded 67 yes, 0 no (moved to second/third reading as appropriate).
- House Bill 99 — water loan program amendments: Representative Patrick Painter explained the bill expands allowable uses of the drinking-water and water-quality loan funds to include studies, planning and engineering as well as infrastructure; passed 66–0 and will be referred to the Senate.
- House Bill 227 — motorboat liability insurance (airboat exemption): Representative Carrie Gibson said the bill defines and exempts small airboats from the minimum liability-insurance requirement; passed 70–0.
- House Bill 96 — motor vehicle dealer amendments: Representative Painter explained clarifications that selling without a dealer license constitutes separate violations per transaction; declared a conflict and the bill passed 70–0.
- House Bill 241 — Terrell H. Bell program appropriation: Representative Menlove presented the bill to restore funding levels so scholarships meet statute; passed 70–0.
- House Bill 97 — motor vehicle registration checkoff for off-highway vehicle (OHV) education and access protection: Representative Michael Noel described a voluntary $2 checkoff at registration; bill passed 69–0 and will be transmitted to the Senate.
Committee reports adopted included recommendations from Public Utilities & Technology, Judiciary, Natural Resources, Transportation, Government Operations, Political Subdivisions and Revenue & Taxation committees. Several bills were referred to the rules committee for prioritization because of fiscal impact (for example Senate Bill 38). Many items were circled or uncircled for further consideration on later calendars.
What happens next: Most passed House bills will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration; bills placed on third-reading calendars or circled will return to the floor when scheduled.
