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Utah House: votes on several bills including adoption and drug scheduling; ethics measures circled for later debate
Summary
The House moved and passed a slate of bills on third reading and placed several ethics and disclosure bills on a prioritized calendar. Notable votes: HB47 (Board of Pardons technical amendments) passed 72–0; HB74 (Adoption and child custody amendments) passed 54–18; HB19 (post-conviction remedies) passed 68–0; HB30 (drug law amendments scheduling Soma) passed 55–6; HR1 passed 73–0. Several ethics bills were circled for later debate.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House cleared multiple bills on Tuesday and rearranged its calendar to prioritize a package of ethics and disclosure measures.
On the floor:
- HB47 (Board of Pardons and Parole technical amendments) — Sponsor Representative Eric Hutchings said the bill authorizes use of video hearings, permits electronic recording in lieu of a court recorder, and streamlines Board vacancy vetting. The House passed HB47 on third reading by recorded vote, 72 yes, 0 no.
- HB74 (Adoption and Child Custody Amendments) — Representative Allen moved to uncircle and bring HB74 forward and sponsored Amendment No. 1 to remove provisions concerning non-relatives; he described statutory cleanups across contested adoption rules, pre-placement evaluations, and parentage jurisdiction consistent with a recent Utah Supreme Court ruling. The House adopted the amendment and passed HB74, 54 yes, 18 no.
- HB19 (Post-Conviction Remedies Amendments) — Representative Kay McKiff outlined a bipartisan, interbranch effort to align statute with Utah Supreme Court rules and reduce repetitive post-conviction petitions (with an exception for ineffective assistance claims). The House passed HB19, 68 yes, 0 no.
- HR1 (Healthy Family Partnership) — Representative Curtis Oda described the House-only resolution urging age-appropriate family violence prevention materials in public schools and community partnerships; the House passed HR1, 73 yes, 0 no, and referred it to enrolling staff.
- HB30 (Drug Law Amendments) — Representative Beck explained scheduling the muscle relaxant carisoprodol (Soma) to Utah’s controlled substances list to better track and curb abuse; HB30 passed third reading, 55 yes, 6 no.
The House also accepted a series of standing committee reports and moved several ethics-related measures (House Joint Resolution 14; House Joint Resolution 15; HB267; HB270; HB124) to the top of the third-reading calendar and circled them for debate on a later day. Rules committee assignments for dozens of bills were also announced.
The House adjourned until Wednesday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m.
