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Senate concurs with House on SB60 after tense exchange over HIP pool earmark
Summary
Senators debated House amendments to SB60 (open enrollment for individual coverage) after the House removed a cigarette-tax earmark for the HIP pool. Sponsor Senator Mantis expressed concern that removing the earmark undermined carrier confidence; senators considered refusing to concur but ultimately concurred and passed the substitute bill.
The Senate debated and then concurred in House amendments to second substitute Senate Bill 60, which changes open-enrollment provisions for individual coverage. The central floor dispute concerned House language that removed an earmark of cigarette-tax revenue that previously funded the HIP pool, a state program providing insurance for individuals.
Senator Mantis, sponsor of the Senate measure, told the chamber the House—s amendment "take[s] away the earmarking of the cigarette tax" and moved to concur only after seeking and obtaining assurance from leadership that the HIP pool would continue to be funded in future budgets. "If we lose our will to fund this, the carriers will walk out of this marketplace... and we will be left without insurance coverage for individuals in the state of Utah," Mantis said.
Senator Holmgren and others criticized removing the earmark, calling it a breach of prior commitment. Senator Montgomery offered a substitute motion to refuse to concur (arguing for preservation of the earmark); that substitute motion was discussed on the floor but withdrawn when sponsors acknowledged funding would continue in the general fund or via other intent language. The Senate ultimately concurred and passed the bill under suspension of the rules; the substitute SB60 was recorded with 20 ayes and 9 absent/other votes, and will return to the House for signature.
Why this matters: The exchange highlights the policy and political tensions that can arise when a specific dedicated revenue source is replaced by a general-fund appropriation or an unspecified intent to fund. Sponsors sought assurances to keep carriers engaged in the HIP market; opponents warned that removing the earmark risks program stability.
Next step: Substitute SB60 will be sent back to the House for signature and enrollment.
