Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislation Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate advances array of bills on taxes, utilities, wildland fire and forfeiture; several measures pass, some fail
Summary
The Utah Senate on Feb. 24 moved a large slate of legislation — including tax clarifications, a Public Service Commission mediation measure and wildland-fire funding — passing several bills by roll-call and filing others after defeat. Key votes included SB307, SB173, SB235, SB301 and HJR9.
The Utah Senate met Feb. 24 and took final action on a broad set of bills covering tax treatment, utility easements, wildland-fire funding and law-enforcement forfeiture accounts.
Senators advanced a measure to authorize the Public Service Commission to mediate disputes over the use of existing utility easements, arguing it will prevent the proliferation of new poles and lines. Sponsor Senator Watson said the bill “allows the Public Service Commission to mediate that, to authorize access, and to set an amount of cost on it.” The Senate placed that measure on the third-reading calendar and recorded a roll-call that showed SB307 passed with 25 ayes and no nays.
On wildland-fire funding, Senator Leonard Blackham described SB173 as an insurance-style pool to protect small counties from catastrophic fire costs, saying it “sets up an insurance policy so that a small county isn't impacted negatively.” The Senate passed SB173 on roll call (26 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent) and placed it on the third-reading calendar.
On tax-related clarifications, the Senate approved several committee-recommended bills intended to resolve double taxation and sale/leaseback treatment. Senator Mantis, sponsor of SB308 (sale/leaseback financing), told the body that the bill “clarify[s] existing statute to ensure that only the particular sales tax applicable financing arrangements are taxed.” The roll call reported SB308 passed (27 ayes, 0 nays reported).
The Judiciary and revenue package included measures affecting justice-court surcharges and implements of husbandry; the Senate passed SB235 (justice-court surcharges and fines) and SB265 (implements of husbandry) by roll call (SB235 recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent). The body also advanced SB285 (financial-fraud forfeiture account) to the House after a roll-call of 25 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent.
A package of bills addressing appraisal-expert testimony (SB301) also moved forward after the Senate adopted substitute amendments and passed the measure on roll call (first-substitute recorded 20 ayes, 6 nays, 3 absent).
Not all measures succeeded. HJR9, a joint resolution rescinding any prior application to Congress for a constitutional convention, failed on final roll call (11 ayes, 14 nays) and was filed. Senate Bill 269 (governmental-immunity amendments) drew heated debate over liability caps and government accountability; after floor amendments and debate, the bill ultimately failed on final roll call (12 ayes, 13 nays).
Several measures were discussed but remained at second reading or were returned to rules for further handling. Senate leaders said they would reconvene at 9 a.m. the following day to continue floor action and committee work.
Votes at a glance (selected roll-call results recorded on the floor): SB307 — 25 ayes, 0 nays (passed); SB173 — 26 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent (passed); SB235 — 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent (passed); SB301 (first substitute) — 20 ayes, 6 nays, 3 absent (passed); SB308 — 27 ayes, 0 nays (passed); SB285 — 25 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent (passed); SB269 — 12 ayes, 13 nays (failed); HJR9 — 11 ayes, 14 nays (failed); SB136 — 8 ayes, 18 nays, 3 absent (failed).
The Senate adjourned with leadership noting executive-appropriations and capital-facilities committees would meet later and with plans to resume floor work the next morning.
