Utah Senate clears consent calendar, concurs on consumer‑protection changes and advances weapons bill to third reading

The Utah Senate approved a slate of consent items and moved several second‑reading bills forward during its morning session.

On the consent calendar the Senate recorded unanimous support for HB199 (insurance adoption indemnity clarifications), HB295 (child‑support amendments) and House Joint Resolution 14 (urging agencies to update the term “mental retardation” in agency references). Senate staff indicated the consent votes were unanimous or recorded as such.

Senators concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 147, which the sponsor said removed Pilates and yoga instructors (and certain sole‑proprietor personal trainers) from a statutory exemption. The motion to concur passed on a recorded vote of 22–0 with seven senators absent.

Under suspension of the rules, the Senate also considered medical‑billing and natural‑resource measures. Second substitute Senate Bill 145 (regulating direct pathology billing) was uncircled, described by its sponsor as a technical amendment to prohibit up‑charging by referring doctors when no interpretation or added value was provided, and passed the Senate by a recorded vote of 22–0 with seven absent.

First substitute Senate Bill 241, a natural‑resources development measure that the sponsor described as offering incentives for research and equipment tax reductions related to tar sands and oil shale and permitting certain utility contracting for coal‑gasification gas, passed after a roll call vote of 20–0 with nine absent; the sponsor noted a fiscal note is still under negotiation (cited in debate at roughly $100,000).

Third substitute Senate Bill 24 (weapons amendments) drew extended debate and was amended on the floor. The sponsor said the bill (1) permits an unloaded firearm to be stored in a vehicle glove box or console; (2) clarifies that an individual may possess a concealed weapon on private property or in a residence; and (3) adds references to federal statutes, including the United States Code and the Brady Act, to align state criminal code provisions. Amendment No. 3 (dated Feb. 22) was adopted. After debate over proposed intent language, the sponsor moved SB24 to third reading (23–0, six absent) rather than seeking final passage under suspension of the rules so the body can consider intent language before final action.

Procedural motions approved during the morning included resolving into a committee of the whole to hear U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and lifting Senate Bill 236 from rules to the top of the second‑reading calendar so it can be taken up later the same day. The Senate recessed until 2:00 p.m.

Votes and recorded tallies announced on the floor matched the session record provided by the presiding officer; the clerk will return passed measures to the House or proceed with enrollment as required.