Utah House adjourns second special session; presiding speaker offers farewell

The Utah House of Representatives adjourned the second special session of the 2010 Legislature on Nov. 17, 2010, after approving motions to appoint committees to inform the governor and the Senate and receiving a farewell address from the presiding speaker.

The clerk reported communications from the Senate dated Nov. 17, 2010, saying the Senate passed HJR 201, a joint resolution approving acceptance of federal education funds, and concurred in House amendments to SJR 201, a joint rules resolution concerning Appropriations Subcommittee amendments. The communications were transmitted to the speaker by Annette B. Moore, Secretary of the Senate.

A motion (mover recorded in the transcript as Representative D.) to authorize the speaker to appoint a committee to wait upon the governor passed unanimously as the ayes were called. The presiding officer named the appointees listed in the transcript: Representative Ben Ferry, Representative Dean Sanpai, Representative Trish Beck and Representative Lipback.

A separate motion to authorize the speaker to appoint a committee to wait upon the Senate also passed. The presiding officer announced appointees recorded in the transcript as Representative Sheryl Allen, Representative Steve Handy and Representative Jay Seggmiller (spelling per transcript).

During a lengthy personal statement, the presiding speaker reflected on nearly 10 years in the chamber and two years serving as speaker. He thanked colleagues and staff for service during a period he described as “the deepest financial recession our state has experienced in 80 years,” and said the House produced a balanced budget while preserving critical programs. He also offered “congratulations to representing Becky Lockhart as she takes over the speakers’ dais as the first female speaker in our state’s history” (phrase appears in the transcript as spoken).

House housekeeping items included direction that Sandy Kenny read and certify the bound Daily House Journal as an accurate record of the second special session. Members were urged to convene brief committee meetings immediately after adjournment to finish remaining business.

Representative Agard moved that the second special session adjourn sine die. The ayes were called and the motion passed; the House adjourned sine die.

The House record as read in the transcript lists motions and committee appointments and records the communications from the Senate; the transcript does not include roll-call tallies for the voice votes recorded as “ayes,” nor does it provide a formal second in every instance. The Speaker’s personal remarks and the named appointments are the most substantive actions recorded before adjournment.