Votes at a glance: Utah House advances scores of bills on March 5, 2009

The Utah House moved a large group of Senate-origin bills and concurrent resolutions through final action on March 5, 2009. Most measures passed by wide margins; below are key items, vote tallies as announced on the floor and brief descriptions based on sponsor remarks.

• Senate Bill 90 — Metal Theft Amendments and Penalties: Passed 67–0. The bill was returned from the Senate for a technical correction, placed atop the third-reading calendar and passed on final passage.

• Senate Bill 134 — Transportation Funding Amendment: Passed 64–0. Representative Dougal said the bill increases transparency by requiring some federal earmarks be reviewed and prioritized by the Transportation Commission and placed on the STIP before funds are spent.

• First substitute Senate Bill 147 — Driver's license revisions: Passed 70–0. The bill authorizes limited driving privileges for certain suspended drivers for work and school under specific conditions, including physician certification and no conviction in the prior year.

• First substitute SJR 16 — Joint resolution supporting nuclear power: Passed 56–17. (See separate article for extended debate on cost, reprocessing and waste disposal.)

• First substitute SCR 3 — Council on Financial and Economic Education (concurrent resolution): Passed 72–0. The concurrent resolution expresses support for the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education.

• Senate Bill 161 — Repeal of maximum charge to publish legal notice (as amended): Passed 70–0. Sponsor said the measure updates charges that small weekly newspapers may levy for legal notices.

• Senate Bill 182 — Criminal Restitution Amendments: Passed 74–0. Sponsor explained the bill removes the statute of limitations for criminal restitution orders so victims can eventually receive ordered restitution.

• First substitute SB 271 — Judicial Conduct Commission amendments: Passed 69–0. The measure allows the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee to review Judicial Conduct Commission materials when assessing nominees' fitness.

• Senate Bill 210 — Property tax amendments (aircraft valuation): Passed 74–0. Sponsor described a two-year period to resolve valuation disagreements between taxpayers and counties.

• SCR 2 — A Call to Civility (concurrent resolution): Passed 73–0. A nonbinding call to renew respectful public and civic discourse.

• SCR 4 — Obesity awareness (first substitute): Passed 64–5. Designates September 2009 as Obesity Awareness Month and urges health-care providers to review coverage of obesity-related services.

• Fourth substitute SB 83 — Condemnation Amendments: Passed 73–0. The bill clarifies use identification in condemnation, a repurchase option for prior owners and related protections.

• Second substitute SB 52 — New Motor Vehicle Franchise Amendments: Passed 72–0. The bill clarifies franchise agreement definitions and dealer protections amid economic pressures.

• SB 146 — Homeschooling Amendments: Passed 68–0. Requires school districts to return a signed affidavit within 30 days after a parent files homeschool notice, protecting families' access to certain discounts and an affirmative truancy defense.

• SB 148 — Low Profit Limited Liability Company Act (L3C): Passed 68–0. Establishes an L3C entity form to facilitate program-related investments by foundations; an amendment provided for an immediate effective date contingent on two-thirds approval.

• SB 185 — Federal Education Agreement Requirements Amendments: Passed 72–0. Raises monetary thresholds for required review of federal contracts by the governor or legislative committees.

• SB 220 — Cohabitant Abuse Procedures Act Amendments: Passed 71–0. Clarifies that no-contact orders issued by courts become effective immediately and remain in effect pending case resolution.

A number of additional bills were placed on the third-reading calendar, returned for technical correction, or otherwise processed during the session. Where a bill or resolution had extended floor debate (for example, SJR 16) reporters are advised to consult the fuller floor transcript for detailed exchanges and quotes.