Utah House adopts Rules Committee report, refers dozens of bills to standing committees

The Utah House of Representatives on Jan. 26, 2009 adopted a Rules Committee report that directed dozens of House bills and resolutions to standing committees.

"Mr. Speaker, the rules committee recommends the following bills and resolutions be assigned to standing committees," the chief clerk read as the report, dated 01/26/2009, listed multiple bills to committees including Business and Labor, Education, Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, and others.

Representative Ferri, identified in the report as Rules Committee Chair, was recognized to move adoption of the report. The Speaker put the motion to a voice vote; members responded "Aye" and the motion was adopted.

The clerk's reading named specific assignments (examples): Business and Labor: House Bills 51, 78, 85, 86, 99 and 107; Education: House Bills 15, 82, 229, 230, 242 and 244; Judiciary: House Bills 10, 13, 238, 97, 223, 228, 233 and 247; Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment: House Bills 11, 34, 62, 68, 92, 94 and 105. The full lists were read into the record as part of the Rules Committee report.

By adopting the report the House formally sent the listed measures to the standing committees indicated, which is the standard next step for bills to receive detailed committee consideration and hearings.

The House concluded the morning's business after other procedural actions and recessed ahead of an afternoon joint convention.

Next steps: each referred bill will be scheduled for committee consideration according to the receiving committee's calendar.