Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate approves measure redefining public attorneys’ roles after contentious debate
Summary
After hours of debate, the Utah Senate passed House Bill 139 to clarify statutory duties of public attorneys and align practice with the state constitution, prompting objections that the change would weaken the elected attorney general’s independence.
The Utah Senate voted to advance House Bill 139 on Feb. 25, 1999, a measure its sponsor said simply aligns statutory practice with the state constitution by clarifying that public attorneys’ civil legal advice is coordinated under the governor’s executive authority. The motion to suspend the rules and read the bill for immediate final consideration carried, and the Senate recorded 17 ayes and 12 nays on final action to send the bill to the House for final signature.
Supporters, led on the floor by Senator Hilliard, framed the bill as a restoration of constitutional order. "The constitution is absolutely clear that the governor is the chief executive officer," Hilliard…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
