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Utah House approves batch of bills, including school budget adjustments and waste-to-energy policy
Summary
The Utah House on Feb. 9 passed a series of bills and resolutions, moving multiple items to the Senate and adopting appropriations and policy changes. Major actions included a supplemental education budget adjustment, a controversial designation of municipal solid waste as a renewable energy source, and an appropriations substitute; many measures passed unanimously or by large margins.
The Utah House of Representatives adjourned its Feb. 9 floor session after passing a wide set of bills, ranging from technical fixes to substantive policy changes and budget items.
Members began the day with a prayer and a citation honoring Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox, followed by more than a dozen first-read bill introductions. The House quickly processed its consent calendar and moved multiple measures to the Senate.
The session’s larger floor items included House Bill 4, a supplemental adjustment within the minimum school program that reallocates funds to restore educator salary adjustments and to shore up levy guarantees; sponsor Representative Berlin Newbold said the bill “does not increase or reduce the total amount of money in that budget” and that the move simply reallocated existing funds. HB4 passed final passage 73–0 and will go to the Senate.
Also on the floor, the chamber passed first substitute Senate Bill 3 (current fiscal year supplemental appropriations) after placing it on the calendar; Representative Bigelow said the substitute reflects a previously distributed list of items with one small Veterans Affairs restoration. The substitute passed 73–1 and will be returned to the Senate for the president’s signature.
Several technical and policy bills also advanced: HB263 (technical cross-reference revisions) passed 68–0; SB111 (repeal of a severance tax holding account) passed 69–0; HB108 (meat inspection amendments) passed 69–0; and HB205 (impact-fee amendments affecting how school-built roads are treated) passed 69–0.
The House also approved HB112, which removes fixed statutory deadlines that had attempted to prescribe timing for Supreme Court review of initiative or referendum matters; supporters said the change respects separation of powers. HB112 passed 69–0.
Not every measure was uncontested. HB228, a bill to add municipal solid waste to Utah’s statutory definition of renewable energy, drew extended questions from members about emissions and public-health risks; supporters pointed to federal precedent and modern emissions controls. HB228 passed 68–4.
The presiding officer excused a member and announced the House would adjourn until Tuesday, Feb. 16. Most measures that passed the House will now be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
