House clarifies bond language to allow local use for I-215 work, passes HB 2,004

The Utah House passed HB 2,004 on special session, approving technical language changes to transportation general obligation bonds that sponsors said were needed to permit spending on certain Salt Lake County transportation projects, including work on I-215 and an environmental impact statement (EIS) for an interchange.

Representative Wayne Harper, the sponsor, said last session's bill allocated proceeds from a Salt Lake County quarter-cent sales tax to state and local projects but that an Attorney General ruling made the original language "too tight" for certain work to proceed on I-215's south side. Harper said the amendment clarifies intent so Taylorsville City and the Utah Department of Transportation can use the local funds to move forward, including for an EIS and related interstate improvements.

Representative Dunnegan asked where money would otherwise go if redirected to the I-215 work; Harper said part of the funds would still go to a continuous-flow intersection on 6200 South and Redwood Road and that the EIS cost was "about between $1,000,000 and $1,200,000." Members moved to "circle" the bill while copies were distributed and then proceeded with presentation, discussion and a recorded vote; the House announced HB 2,004 had received 65 yes votes and 0 no votes and referred the bill to the Senate.

Sponsor remarks characterized HB 2,004 as a technical clarification to align legislative intent with the AG ruling and to allow local and state partners to complete both local intersection work and interstate environmental review and improvements.