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House approves driver‑education alternative for adults after heated debate over waiting period and verification
Summary
House Bill 266 passed the Utah House 65‑2 after debate: it lets adults 19 and older choose 40 hours of supervised behind‑the‑wheel experience instead of a six‑hour driver's‑ed course; floor fights centered on whether to require a 3‑ or 6‑month learner's permit period and whether to require signed hour logs.
The Utah House on Feb. 9 passed House Bill 266, which allows adults older than 19 to satisfy licensing prerequisites by documenting 40 hours of supervised behind‑the‑wheel driving instead of completing a six‑hour classroom driver’s education course.
Sponsor Representative Daw said the measure gives an option for first‑time adult drivers to gain experience behind the wheel without incurring the $250–$500 cost of a formal driver’s‑ed program. “What really teaches you how to drive more than anything else is just simply time behind the wheel,” the sponsor said, arguing the change improves readiness for some older new drivers.
Floor debate concentrated on competing amendments. Representative Peterson proposed an amendment (No. 5) requiring a three‑month learner’s permit hold before a license test; Representative Nielsen moved a substitute (No. 4) proposing a six‑month hold plus a signed log of supervised hours verified by licensed drivers over age 21. Nielsen argued for verification: licensing typically requires “education, experience, and examination,” and when skipping education the state still has a public‑safety interest in verifying experience. Opponents said a signed log would create undue paperwork and be easy to falsify.
The substitute amendment (No. 4) failed in floor votes; the underlying amendment (No. 5) failed on a division (27 yes, 40 no). After debate and summation, the House approved HB266 65‑2 and the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
What changed: For adults over 19, a 40‑hour supervised driving option becomes an alternative path to licensure; the House rejected stricter verification and longer waiting periods on the floor.
What’s next: HB266 will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
