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Utah Senate advances tax package, approves multiple bills in late-night session
Summary
Faced with dwindling hours, the Utah Senate moved a series of tax and budget bills Feb. 28 — including HB 349, HB 393 and HB 401-related amendments — advancing key parts of a tax and appropriations package after extended procedural debate.
The Utah State Senate spent the late hours of Feb. 28 processing a broad tax-and-appropriations package, moving numerous House bills under suspension of the rules and returning them for enrollment.
Leadership stated the clock behind the president’s chair would determine midnight for the session ("the clock that is behind the president's head will be the clock that will determine what midnight is" (SEG 641–644)). Senators then focused on tax-package logistics and calendar placement before debating individual bills.
Substitute House Bill 349 (gross receipts/tax modifications) was discussed for its fiscal effect and cleared both readings in succession. Senator Blackham summarized the fiscal estimate and moved to call the question; the roll call produced 28 aye votes, no nays and one absent, and the bill passed for enrollment (SEG 966–1027).
The chamber also debated and passed several other bills on the second- and third-reading calendars, including House Bill 393 (infrastructure sales tax) and House Bill 309 (coin-operated amusement devices). For example, HB 393 passed with 27 aye votes and was ordered to enrollment (SEG 1138–1186). House Bill 404, an income-tax deduction for certain health-insurance premiums, was discussed with a fiscal estimate in the $4 million range before passage motions (SEG 1064–1074).
A larger appropriations and spending-cap bill — discussed as Substitute HB 401 — drew detailed debate over the treatment of revenue bonds and the state's spending cap. Senators urged caution about making structural changes in the final hours; an amendment and later votes adjusted the treatment of certain bonding items to avoid immediate cap exposure (SEG 1666–1794).
The Senate recorded numerous roll-call outcomes and transmitted many passed measures back to the House for final signature and enrolling. The late-night agenda also included concurrence items and conference-committee reports, reflecting the end-of-session flurry of inter-chamber bargaining (SEG 4890–5216).
What happens next: Passed bills were returned to the House for its final signature and enrollment, while some interchamber differences were set for conference committee or further negotiation.
