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Senate round-up: bills advanced to the House after Feb. 7 session
Summary
The Senate advanced several bills on Feb. 7, including SB146 (unlawful marriages, amended and passed), SB87 (antique firearms), SB60 (Uniform Athletic Agents Act), HB49 (lift-law amendments), HB206 (county retained-earnings limit amendment), HB60 (justice court salaries), HB218 (state highway access) and HB52 (unemployment insurance electronic reporting). HB6 was circled for further fiscal work.
The Utah Senate conducted a packed Feb. 7 session and advanced multiple measures to the House or to further consideration. Key outcomes and brief descriptions follow.
Votes and actions at a glance:
- Substitute Senate Bill 146 (performing unlawful marriages): Amended on the floor to remove language that senators said could create a loophole; sponsor said the bill clarifies penalties (third-degree felony in the bill text) and will forward allegations to the attorney general; passed 28–0 with 1 absent and sent to the House.
- Substitute Senate Bill 87 (antique firearms amendment): Sponsor said the bill aligns state law with federal code and Brady Act changes; passed 28–0 with 1 absent and will be transmitted to the House.
- First substitute Senate Bill 60 (Uniform Athletic Agents Act): Requires registration and limits certain contracts for agents representing student athletes; approved for third reading/passage and forwarded to the House (vote reported 25–0 on floor action).
- House Bill 49 (lift-law amendments): Floor discussion addressed safety and enforceability; passed third reading (25 ayes, 2 nays) and will be returned to the House.
- House Bill 206 (retained earnings limits for counties): Amendment tied retained-earnings limits to broader general-fund changes; amendment approved and bill passed (26–0) and returned to the House.
- House Bill 60 (justice court amendments): Proposal to raise justice court salary guideline from 72% to 85% discussed; passed third reading (24–0 reported) and advanced.
- House Bill 218 (state highway access): Sponsor sought to require DOT responsiveness within 45 days and alignment with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; moved to third reading (23–0 reported).
- House Bill 52 (unemployment insurance amendments): Requires employers with 250+ employees to transmit wage data electronically; moved to third reading (24–0 reported).
- House Bill 242 (review of sales and use tax exemptions): A floor amendment by Senator Peterson proposing objective standards failed on division; the bill was moved to third reading.
- House Bill 6 (standards for illegal drug-lab decontamination): Sponsors described mandatory certification for decontamination contractors and rulemaking by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board; senators raised unresolved questions about local fiscal impacts (fiscal note cited ~$1,000 per site and 250–400 labs per year); the Senate circled the bill for additional fiscal information.
Several committee and standing committee reports were adopted earlier in the session and a communication from the House requesting the return of SB48 for reconsideration was granted; SB48 was returned to the House on motion.
