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Utah House approves several technical and regulatory bills in Feb. 17 session
Summary
The Utah House approved a batch of primarily technical and regulatory measures Feb. 17, including updates to SNAP terminology, e-prescribing, rules on asbestos testing, and measures addressing sales-tax software and synthetic drugs. Most measures passed by wide margins and will be transmitted to the Senate.
The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 17 cleared a series of largely technical and regulatory bills, sending them to the Senate after largely favorable votes.
On the consent calendar, House Bill 180 updated Utah statutory language from “food stamps” to the federal term “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” Representative Chavez-Houck described the change as technical and non-substantive and urged support; the House approved HB 180, 53 yes to 14 no. “Representatives, it should be a snap to support this bill,” she said on the floor.
Other measures that passed with little debate include a first substitute to HB 485 concerning change applications and state–federal coordination over water-rights projects (66–0) and HB 189, which narrows when the Air Quality Board may require asbestos testing on small residential properties and was described as a technical cleanup (68–0).
The chamber also concurred with Senate amendments and gave final passage to HB 18 (kidnapping-offender registry amendments) unanimously (70–0) and advanced several other third-reading items with recorded roll-call tallies.
Lawmakers adopted procedural motions to “circle” or delay several bills for additional work, including HB 223 (retention of evidence) and HB 76 (pharmacy audit rights). The House substituted and passed a second substitute for HB 122 updating e-prescribing rules — moving the effective date to Feb. 2013 to give practitioners more time — by a unanimous recorded vote (68–0).
Most bills passed by comfortable margins and were transmitted to the Senate for further consideration. The House adjourned and will reconvene Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
