Senate advances a slate of bills on tax, licensing, public safety and regulation

The Utah Senate on Feb. 24 advanced a number of bills on the third-reading calendar and through committee actions, moving measures on taxes, licensing and local government policy to the House or to later stages.

Among the formal outcomes on the day: Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (approval of a Class 5 landfill) passed by roll call, receiving 24 yes, 2 no and 3 absent votes and was referred to the House. House Bill 65 (commercial driver license amendments) passed the Senate on a roll call of 25 yes, 0 no, 3 absent and will be returned to the House as amended. House Bill 143 (National Guard command coordination) passed by 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absent and will be signed by the president in open session. First substitute Senate Bill 216 (amendments to the Emergency Medical Services Act) passed as amended, 26 aye, 0 nay, and will be referred to the House.

Other passage and referrals included first senate substitute SB 63 (severance tax distribution changes) 18 aye, 10 nay, 1 absent; first senate substitute SB 137 (tourism tax amendment) 21 aye, 7 nay, 1 absent; SB 62 (pawn shop / personal property transactions) 27 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent; second senate substitute SB 209 (interlocal cooperation act) 25 aye, 0 nay, 4 absent; first senate substitute SB 225 (sales and use tax clarification) 27 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent; first substitute SB 113 (employee noncompete targeted reform) 27 yes, 1 nay, 1 absent; and second substitute SB 184 (RDA reform) 29 aye, 0 nay, 0 absent. Each tally above reflects the roll-call counts announced on the Senate floor.

These measures now move to their next procedural steps (House consideration or final enrollment) as recorded on the Senate calendar.