Utah Senate advances a package of bills on health care, taxes and local bonds

The Utah State Senate advanced a broad set of bills during its Jan. 21 session, moving measures on diabetes care, tax brackets and local bonding to the next stage of consideration.

On health policy, the Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 108, the Diabetes Treatment and Management measure, sending it to the House for consideration after a roll call that produced 16 ayes and 13 nays. "The question is: shall Senate Bill 108 pass?" the presiding officer asked before the clerk announced the final tally.

Lawmakers also moved on tax policy. Senator Nielsen, sponsor of Senate Bill 24, framed the bill as an adjustment to income-tax brackets aimed at preventing residents from being pushed into higher brackets; the floor adopted an amendment to change the bill's effective date, and the amended bill passed on a roll call announced as 21 ayes and 7 nays. Senator Nielsen noted the bill carries a fiscal note; he characterized the measure as restoring progressivity to a tax system he said had become close to flat.

Floor debate on municipal finance included a sequence of votes and procedure on Senate Bill 110, which would allow water…