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Utah Senate advances wide slate of bills in brisk floor session; key measures pass
Summary
The Utah Senate passed a series of concurrence and third‑reading items Feb. 8–9, 2001, including measures on child welfare reauthorization, telecommunications facilities, justice‑court salary limits and public‑safety provisions. Votes were often lopsided and many bills were returned to the House for signature.
The Utah Senate moved rapidly through its concurrence and third‑reading calendars on Feb. 8–9, passing multiple measures on public safety, education, local government and technical code updates.
The body concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 29 (Families, Agencies and Communities Together) — shortening a reauthorization period — by recorded roll call; Senator Allen announced the motion and the clerk reported the vote as 22 ayes, no nays and 7 absent. The measure will be returned to the House for the speaker’s signature.
Senate Bill 38 also cleared the floor after senators voted to concur with the House changes. The clerk recorded 16 ayes, 9 nays and 4 absent; the bill was transmitted to the speaker for signature.
Other concurrence and passage actions included Senate Bill 41 (passed 25–0) and first substitute Senate Bill 98, the telecommunications‑facility bill requested by rural communities, which passed 26–0 after the sponsor noted Salt Lake City was excluded under the House amendment.
On the third‑reading calendar the Senate approved a number of House bills. House Bill 60 (justice court amendments) was amended on the floor to clarify salary limits for justices serving multiple courts and then passed by roll call, 27–0. House Bill 200 (ignition interlock amendments) and education funding bills also passed with large yea tallies and were referred back to the House for signature.
Several technical and administrative bills moved as consent items or by voice vote, including measures reported favorably by standing committees on business, education, health, human services, revenue and state and local affairs.
The presiding officer noted the pace of the session and urged senators to be prepared when their bills were called so debate could proceed without delay. The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday.
Votes at a glance (selected): - SB 29 (F.A.C.T. amendment): concurred, 22 ayes, 0 nays, 7 absent (referred back to House) - SB 38: concurred, 16 ayes, 9 nays, 4 absent (referred to speaker) - SB 41: passed, 25 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent - 1st sub SB 98 (telecommunications facilities): passed, 26 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent - HB 60 (justice court amendments, amended): passed, 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent - HB 200 (ignition interlock amendments): passed, 25 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent
The floor record shows few prolonged debates on most items; several bills were handled as consent or on voice votes, and a number of measures were amended on the floor before final passage. Measures that were amended will be returned to the House for further action as required.
