Senate advances multiple bills to third-reading calendar in wide-ranging floor session

The Utah Senate used an extended floor session to advance a broad package of measures to the third-reading calendar.

Among the measures advanced by recorded vote or unanimous consent were: • SB 175 (Mental Health and Corrections Law Amendments) — Sponsor Sen. Montgomery explained transfers between corrections and the state hospital and clarified Board of Pardons primacy; SB 175 passed by roll call with 25 ayes and 4 absent and was placed on the third-reading calendar. • SB 66 (criminal protective orders, substitute) — A first substitute and amendments (removing ex parte criminal sanctions and clarifying defenses for voluntary invitation) were adopted. The substitute passed to third reading (26–0, 3 absent). • First substitute SR 4 — A resolution directing that bills passed to the Senate must have a Senate hearing passed under suspension (26–2, 1 absent) and will be signed by the president in open session. • SB 181 — A companion bill to implement income-tax application for residents within the exterior boundaries of the Uinta and Ouray Reservation was advanced to third reading (26–0, 3 absent); sponsor said attorneys reviewed constitutional questions and did not identify fatal flaws. • SB 176 — Highway bond funding for an interchange at 5600 West on I-80 was advanced and passed to the House (26–1, 2 absent). • Additional measures advanced to third reading included SB 56 (digital certificates), SB 248 (wildlife licensing), SB 55 (mineral lease corrections), SB 246 (probate code notice), SB 251 (dram shop), and others, with roll-call tallies recorded in the floor transcript.

Clerks recorded roll-call tallies on the floor for each bill; several bills were accompanied by short sponsor explanations or brief committee notes. Leadership reminded standing committees that committee work would continue the next day and adjourned the Senate until 9 a.m. the following morning.