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House adopts recodified rules after debate over public testimony requirement
Summary
H.R. 3, a technical recodification of House rules with a few practice clarifications, passed the House 75–0 after floor debate and a failed amendment that would have mandated public testimony at standing committee meetings.
The Utah House passed H.R. 3 on Friday, a recodification of the chamber's rules intended largely to restate existing practice with a few minor technical changes.
Sponsor Representative Ferri said the project had been nearly two years in the making and stressed the aim was "a pure recodification as a beginning point" with only technical adjustments and cross references to align old and new rule text. "The point of HR3, the recodification of our rules as they exist, we've tried to be very careful only technical changes," he said.
Floor debate focused on an amendment (moved by Representative Vazquez) that would have required a public testimony opportunity in standing committee meetings. Vazquez framed the amendment as preserving access: "This is the People's House and it is, I believe critical that citizens have opportunity to come up to the legislature and have their opinion heard." Opponents, including Ferri, argued the change would convert ordinary committee meetings into mandatory public hearings and remove necessary discretion from committee chairs: "I would oppose this strongly," Ferri said, adding that committees need flexibility to manage time and agendas.
The motion to amend failed on a division (21 yes, 53 no). With amendments settled, H.R. 3 passed the House unanimously, 75–0, and was sent on for enrolling and later signature.
The resolution includes cross-reference materials to help members compare old and new rule language; the sponsor said the recordification should make routine practice clearer and identify discrete policy items for future work.
