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Floor roundup: key bills the Utah House passed and failed March 7, 2016
Summary
The House advanced or rejected a large package of bills during an extended evening floor session March 7. Notable outcomes: HJR18 (term limits) passed 38–37; HB403 (asbestos) passed 69–6; HB419 (education licensing) failed 38–44; HB423 (federal education amendments) passed 62–13; HB440 (suicide prevention/gun data) passed 73–1.
The Utah House handled dozens of bills in an extended March 7 floor session. Below are the key votes and short descriptions from the record.
Votes at a glance
- HJR18 — House Joint Resolution, Congressional Term Limits: PASSED 38–37. Narrowly written Article V resolution to seek term limits via a constitutional convention mechanism; transmitted to the Senate.
- HB403 — Asbestos Litigation Transparency Act (second substitute): PASSED 69–6. Sponsor said the substitute reflected compromise language that extended disclosure deadlines, removed contested sanctions, and removed a requirement for certain trust-listings; transmitted to the Senate.
- HB419 — Education Licensing Amendments (second substitute): FAILED 38–44. Extended debate about codifying disciplinary standards in statute versus leaving details to UPPAC/State Board rulemaking; members raised due-process concerns.
- HB423 — Implementing Federal Education Program Amendments: PASSED 62–13. Establishes a structure for the State Board of Education to evaluate and respond if federal education funds carry requirements at odds with state policy; transmitted to Senate.
- HB440 — Suicide Prevention and Gun Data Study (first substitute, as amended): PASSED 73–1. Funded a study by the state suicide prevention coordinator to assemble unbiased data on suicides, including whether firearms or drugs were involved; floor amendments broadened drug/alcohol language.
Other votes recorded on the floor (all transmitted to the Senate unless noted): HB380 (Utah Communications Authority amendments) PASSED 58–14; HB441 (child placement amendments) PASSED 72–0; HB415 (motor vehicle accident cost recovery) PASSED 73–0; HB464 (public lands wildfire study) PASSED 73–0; HB431 (affordable housing revisions) PASSED 58–14; HB453 (bail bond recovery act amendments) PASSED 52–22; HB463 (personal representative amendments) PASSED 66–9; HB433 (minimum school program amendments) FAILED 23–52.
Procedural notes
Several bills were acted on under suspension of the rules and multiple committee reports were adopted earlier in the evening. Rules committee assignments and committee time reminders (16 minutes) were announced by the Speaker. A variety of substitutes and committee amendments were adopted on the floor before final votes.
What happens next
Passed bills will be transmitted to the Utah Senate for its consideration; failed items were referred to staff for filing or returned to committee as recorded in the floor transcript.
