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Senate advances a slate of bills in brisk session; SB26, SB29, SB128 among measures sent to House
Summary
The Utah Senate on Feb. 20–21 approved a package of bills on the consent and third‑reading calendars — including SB26, SB29, SB128 and others — and handled several roll calls and committee referrals. Lawmakers also circled larger, debated measures for later study.
The Utah State Senate approved a series of bills on Feb. 20–21, moving multiple measures to the House for final action and taking procedural steps on several complex proposals.
Among the bills finalized on the floor, the Senate recorded these outcomes: Senate Bill 26 (concurrence with House amendments) passed with 21 aye votes, 6 nay votes and 2 absent; Senate Bill 29, extending the manufacturing sales‑tax exemption to scrap recyclers, passed unanimously with 29 aye votes; Substitute Senate Bill 128 (off‑highway vehicle operator requirements) passed with 26 aye votes and 3 absent; and Senate Bill 50, which would allow sales‑tax refunds on donated food to help food banks, passed 24–2 with three senators absent. House Bill 262 (statute of limitations amendments) was approved on the consent calendar with a unanimous recorded vote of 26 ayes and 3 absences.
Several other bills were recorded as passed and forwarded to the House for enrollment, including Senate Bill 153 (a $30,000 appropriation to study centralized urban services for Native Americans), which passed 27–0 with two absences, and Senate Bill 140 (an appropriation for domestic violence shelters), which the clerk recorded as having 28 aye votes with one absence.
Most consent‑calendar items were handled without floor debate; senators were reminded that the measures had been available for review and that members could move items off the consent calendar for separate consideration. The president directed that unanimous voice votes be recorded where no senator objected.
The Senate also took procedural action on several more contentious measures. Second substitute Senate Bill 53 (Redevelopment Agency Amendments) was circled for further study and later referred to an interim committee so sponsors and opponents can address multiple proposed amendments. Senate Bill 40, which seeks to change the process used to place candidates for the State School Board on the ballot, drew extended floor debate and a recorded vote that sent the measure forward for additional consideration.
Senators said the pace reflected both the workload of the session and a desire to keep the calendar moving while reserving time to refine complex policy changes. No enactments take effect until they complete the legislative process in both chambers and are signed, if required.
What happens next: Bills that passed the Senate will be forwarded to the House for its signature or further action. Measures that were circled or referred to interim study will return to committee for additional drafting and stakeholder input.
