Utah House adopts interim rules, appoints notification committees and reads dozens of bills on first day

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives completed organizational business on the first day of the 2016 general session, adopting interim rules, appointing notification committees, and reading a broad slate of bills for first referral.

Members voted to adopt the same House joint and interim rules previously used until new rules are formally adopted by the 2016 general session. The House also voted to continue the practice of reading only short titles of bills and resolutions on the House calendar unless a majority directs otherwise.

The Speaker authorized committees to notify the governor and the Senate that the House was organized and ready to do business; named committee members to deliver those notifications; and received a report that the governor would address a joint convention on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m., with members asked to convene at 6:15 p.m.

The reading clerk read an extensive list of House bills and resolutions (short titles), including budget-related bills (for public education, natural resources, criminal justice, social services), policy measures (initiative and referendum amendments, Medicaid-related items, election revisions), and many others spanning transportation, tax, education, environment and public safety. The Speaker placed those bills on the House Rules Committee and later on the third-reading calendar where indicated.

Representative Dunigan moved that the prayer and the Speaker's remarks be printed in the House Journal; that motion was called in order. Representative Dunigan also moved that the House recess until 2:15 p.m. for the State of the Judiciary address; the House agreed by voice vote and recessed.

No recorded roll-call vote tallies were published in the transcript for the voice votes taken that morning; the record shows motions called and carried by voice vote.