Special session roundup: court security, trust law, venture capital and election law amendments pass

The Utah Senate used suspension of the rules on Nov. 19 to move several House bills to final consideration and approved multiple measures addressing court security, trust administration, venture capital and election procedures.

House Bill 2,002 (court security fund amendments): Senator Bell described two technical corrections to ensure appropriated funds can be disbursed and to cite the Utah Uniform Arbitration Act; the Senate read the bill for second and third and approved it by roll call (24 ayes, 0 nays, 5 absent).

House Bill 2,004 (Utah Venture Capital Enhancement Act amendments): Senator Jenkins described changes that include shortening certain board terms, treating contingent tax credits as loans, prohibiting public money from being invested directly in the fund to avoid ownership, and a provision to reinvest redemption reserves over $100,000,000 back into the fund. The Senate passed the bill (25 ayes, 1 nay, 3 absent).

House Bill 2,003 (trust law amendments): Sponsors said the amendments clarify choice‑of‑law and creditor access to assets placed in certain trusts, and they fixed a technical ambiguity with a text amendment; the measure passed after roll call (25 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent) and will be returned to the House because it was amended.

House Bill 2,001 (election law amendments): Senator Evans summarized changes allowing some rural counties to combine precincts when ballots are identical and restoring an election judge age provision to 18 prior to election; the bill passed under suspension of the rules (27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent) and was signed for enrollment.

The Senate completed business, transmitted companion messages to the House and adjourned sine die.