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Senate advances wide range of House bills: health-pay, adoption, scooters, DUI and more
Summary
During Feb. 18–19 floor action, the Utah Senate passed multiple House bills on the third-reading calendar — including a women’s health insurance change (Substitute HB86), adoption amendments (HB264), motorized-scooter regulation (HB63), and expansion of DUI penalties (Senate Bill 63) — mostly by strong margins; several bills were amended and returned to the House.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate moved through a heavy third-reading calendar Feb. 18–19, advancing dozens of House measures across health, public safety and administrative law.
Key outcomes
- Substitute House Bill 86 (health-insurance primary-care provider): Floor sponsor Senator Peterson said the substitute would allow obstetrician–gynecologists who opt to provide primary care to be paid by insurers without increasing overall insurance costs; the Senate passed the measure by roll call, 26–1, with 2 absent.
- House Bill 72 (unlawful activity with a minor): The Senate called the question with no further discussion and passed HB72 by roll call, 25–0, with 4 absent; the bill affects offenses involving 14- and 15-year-olds.
- Second Substitute House Bill 219 (residents’ lien recovery fund amendments): Senators passed the amended bill 23–0, 6 absent; the bill was amended and will return to the House for concurrence.
- House Bill 63 (regulation of motorized scooters): Floor sponsor Senator Nielsen described the bill as removing license-plate requirements for certain motor-assisted scooters; HB63 passed 26–0 (3 absent) and will be returned to the House for final signatures and enrolling.
- House Bill 45 (wildlife license fees, first substitute): The Senate amended the bill on the floor to adjust senior fishing-license fees and to clarify capital investment use; the first substitute passed and will return to the House for concurrence and enrolling.
- House Bill 58 (oil and gas severance tax amendments): The Senate passed HB58, which extends severance-tax credits and addresses a Ute tribe-related revitalization fund, by roll call (28 aye, 1 absent); it will be signed and returned to the House for final action.
- Senate Bill 63 (DUI / serious bodily injury): Senators advanced S.B. 63 to third reading after floor discussion about definitions of serious bodily injury and prosecutor utility; the motion passed with 27 aye votes and 2 absent and S.B. 63 moves forward in the process.
Most bills on the third-reading calendar received only brief floor discussion and voice or roll-call votes; where amendments were adopted, the Senate returned measures to the House for concurrence. The Senate also handled numerous committee reports, consent-calendar items and scheduling items during the session, and recessed to resume afternoon business.
