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Senate advances Appropriations Act with higher-education and health amendments; HB 1 passes the Senate
Summary
The Utah Senate lifted the General Appropriations Act (House Bill 1) from rules, adopted floor amendments including tuition-surcharge language for higher education, and passed HB 1 under suspension of the rules; the bill goes back to the House for enrollment and conference where needed.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 26, 2001, moved the General Appropriations Act (House Bill 1) to the top of its calendar, debated floor amendments tied to higher-education surcharges and health intent language, and passed the bill under suspension of the rules.
Senator Valentine (Senator Valentine) successfully moved to lift HB 1 from rules and place it atop the second-reading calendar. Floor negotiators then brought an amendment — described as the buff-colored amendment — that reinstated some higher-education surcharge language removed by the House. That amendment substituted a lower surcharge schedule (4 percent on certain institutions, 7 percent on a final institution) instead of an earlier 10 percent surcharge proposal. Senators discussed the amendment as a negotiated compromise intended to help fund higher-education priorities while limiting student impacts.
Floor members also examined appropriations language tied to veterans’ nursing home funding and intent language for primary-care health grants. Senator Blackcomb and others noted local consequences; for example, floor remarks cited a Provo City ordinance that could create a $1,492,500 annual local cost if a retirement-related provision were implemented without local adjustments.
Under suspension of the rules the Senate considered HB 1 for second and third reading and up for final passage; the presiding officer announced the Appropriations Act had passed the Senate (the transcript records 26 aye votes, no nays, 3 absent). The body referred the bill back to the House for the Speaker’s signature and confirmed further conference and bill-of-bills work where necessary to reconcile remaining technical or policy changes.
What changed: The floor amendment reinstated revised higher-education surcharge provisions (4% and 7% tiers in the adopted amendment) and included language addressing several intent and funding clarifications; lawmakers said remaining issues will be handled in a conference committee and in the bill-of-bills process.
Next steps: HB 1 proceeds to the House for enrollment and signature; conferees will be appointed to resolve lingering differences and any technical items identified in the floor debate.
