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Senate clears large batch of bills on final day; appointments confirmed
Summary
On the session’s final day the Utah Senate processed a substantial concurrence and third‑reading calendar: dozens of bills were passed or sent back to the House (including appropriation and taxation bills), the Senate confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments by voice or roll call, and routine procedural reorders were adopted.
The Utah Senate spent its final session day advancing a wide set of bills and confirmations across policy areas including appropriations, telecommunications, education, and family services.
Appointments: The Senate unanimously consented to multiple gubernatorial appointments transmitted on 02/13/2004 (including a State Board of Education appointment and reappointments to the Board of Pardons and Parole). Senator Valentine moved consent and the Senate confirmed the appointments with 24 aye votes and zero nays as recorded on the floor; Cheryl Hansen (Board of Pardons and Parole appointee) was introduced to the chamber.
Third‑reading and concurrence actions: The Senate acted on many House substitutes and Senate bills. Highlights recorded on the floor include concurrence or passage of (not exhaustive): fourth substitute SB26 (public safety retirees cost‑of‑living adjustment) — concurred 24–0; first substitute SB155 (county mental health amendments) — passed 23–0; first substitute SB93 (telecom annual report amendment) — passed 23–2; mortgage broker amendments (first substitute SB178) — passed; class‑action/tax bill (HB250 transmission) — Senate did not concur and asked the House to recede; and multiple house bills across topics (education career ladders, child‑welfare pilot expansions, veterans’ plate fee changes, library internet filtering rules) were considered and many passed under suspension of rules.
Procedural: The Senate reorganized the second reading calendar by unanimous vote, adopted several floor amendments, and used suspension of rules to read multiple bills for second and third times to expedite final passage. The Senate recessed for 2:00 p.m. as recorded at the session end.
Votes at a glance (selected floor tallies recorded during session): - Appointments consent: 24 aye, 0 nay, 5 absent (confirmed). - 4th substitute SB26 (public safety retirees COLA): 24 aye, 0 nay, 5 absent (concurred). - 2nd substitute SB175 (forfeiture): 16 aye, 9 nay, 4 absent (concurred). - 4th substitute HB323 (spyware): 26 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent (passed). - 3rd substitute HB140 (child & family services): 11 aye, 12 nay, 6 absent (failed).
What happens next: Bills passed by the Senate will be transmitted to the Speaker for enrollment and to the governor as applicable; items where the Senate did not concur will be returned to the House or sent to conference committees as noted on the floor.
Key quote: ‘‘We have confirmed the governor's appointments. We congratulate those,’’ the President said after the roll call.
