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House advances bundle of bills, from water rights to stalking updates; several measures sent to Senate
Summary
The Utah House passed a series of bills Feb. 29, 2008 — including water-rights amendments, stalking and animal-cruelty reforms — moving them to the Senate. Several concurrence items passed unanimously; one city sales-tax bill failed on a 36–36 tie.
The Utah House of Representatives advanced a broad set of measures on Feb. 29, sending the majority of its third‑reading and concurrence calendar to the Senate.
Key outcomes included passage of House Bill 38 (education and outreach regarding substances harmful during pregnancy) with a voice recorded 66‑0; second substitute House Bill 40 (safe drinking water revisions) passed 69‑0; and a fifth substitute to House Bill 51 (water‑rights amendments) passed on final reading with a recorded 65‑5 vote. The House also approved first substitute House Bill 470 (animal‑cruelty amendments) after debate; the final recorded tally reached 61 yes votes after a late allowed aye. Other measures forwarded to the Senate included HB486 (wrongful liens), HB493 (stalking amendments), HB174 (Traumatic Brain Injury Fund) and various franchise, water quality and procedural bills.
Not every item moved forward. First substitute House Bill 405, a measure clarifying city or town sales and use tax provisions for botanical, cultural, recreational and zoological organizations, failed on the floor after a call of the House produced a 36‑36 tie and the bill was filed.
What passed (selected roll calls): HB38 — 66 yes, 0 no; HB40 — 69 yes, 0 no; HB51 (final passage) — 65 yes, 5 no; HB486 — 72 yes, 0 no; HB174 — 68 yes, 0 no; HB464 — 70 yes, 0 no; HB470 — 61 yes (final outcome reported after procedural allowance), 9 absent; SB15 (fourth substitute, DUI amendments) — 70 yes, 1 no.
The House also accepted a conference committee report on Senate Bill 15 (DUI amendments) that restored a sunset clause for a plan of bans, and it moved several fiscal‑note bills to the top of the calendar in preparation for budget work. Many of the bills were described on the floor as technical or clarifying changes or as efforts to align House and Senate language; sponsors frequently noted department or stakeholder concurrence.
