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Utah House clears a raft of Senate amendments and technical bills, sending measures back to the Senate
Summary
On the final day of the 2016 session the Utah House voted to concur with multiple Senate amendments and passed several Senate bills on third reading, including measures on public lands, joint tenancy, metro township rules, sage-grouse mitigation and property-tax notice changes. Several bills passed unanimously; others carried modest opposition.
The Utah House of Representatives completed its 45-day 2016 session by adopting a series of concurrence motions and passing multiple Senate bills, returning them to the Senate for the president’s signature.
Members voted to concur with Senate amendments and pass third-substitute House Bill 223 (local historic district amendments) by a recorded vote of 54–17 after floor sponsor Representative Wilson outlined two technical fixes, including clarification on joint ownership voting and retrospective signature thresholds. The House also passed first-substitute HB 276 (Utah Public Land Management Act) 60–10 after a sponsor explanation that the Senate added a grazing formula to align state calculations with federal practice.
Other concurrence and third-reading votes included first-substitute HB 159 (line-of-duty death benefits amendments), which passed 69–0; second-substitute SB 225 (notice-of-pendency-of-action amendments), which passed 69–0 after sponsor Representative Snow described a new short proceeding to challenge wrongful lis pendens filings and civil penalties for misuse; and SB 237 (immigration-related amendments), which passed 57–12. The House also approved SB 191 (school turnaround and leadership development act amendments) 65–6 and SB 187 (reclassification of misdemeanors) 62–9.
Several measures passed unanimously or with strong support. Second-substitute SB 150 (metro township amendments) passed 71–0; first-substitute SB 200 (compensatory mitigation program for sage grouse) passed 71–0; and SB 120 (property tax notice amendments) passed 71–0 after Representative Dan McKay explained the change removes bond revenue reporting from tax notices. Concurrent resolutions recognizing Broadcasters Awareness Week (SCR 14) and the education-focused SCR 19 also passed on the floor.
Most bills were handled with brief sponsor remarks and limited questioning on the House floor. Where members raised questions—such as the fiscal implications of misdemeanor reclassification or the scope of changes to notice-of-pendency law—sponsors offered clarifying remarks and summations were often waived. Bills that required technical corrections or alignment with federal formulas were presented as such by sponsors prior to recorded votes.
The House returned each passed bill to the Senate for the president’s signature; the chamber then moved through customary closing motions and adjourned sine die.
Votes at a glance (selected bills and outcomes): - Third substitute HB 223, Local Historic District Amendments — Passed 54 yes, 17 no (concurred with Senate amendments) - First substitute HB 276, Utah Public Land Management Act — Passed 60 yes, 10 no (concurred) - First substitute HB 159, Line of Duty Death Benefits Amendments — Passed 69 yes, 0 no - Second substitute SB 225, Notice of Pendency of Action Amendments — Passed 69 yes, 0 no - First substitute SB 200, Compensatory Mitigation Program for Sage Grouse — Passed 71 yes, 0 no - Second substitute SB 150, Metro Township Amendments — Passed 71 yes, 0 no - SB 187, Reclassification of Misdemeanors — Passed 62 yes, 9 no - SB 237, Immigration and Alien-Related Amendments — Passed 57 yes, 12 no
The House clerk will transmit the passed bills to the Senate for signatures; the chamber adjourned sine die at the conclusion of the day’s business.
