Utah Senate advances package of bills on jail funding, election rules and procurement for people with disabilities; refuses to concur on some House education am

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate moved a broad set of bills forward on Jan. 27, passing legislation on jail reimbursements, election-language corrections and state procurement to expand employment for people with disabilities while refusing to concur with several House amendments to the education spending plan.

Senators passed first substitute SB 50, described by sponsor Senator Jason E. Thomas as "not a complete fix to our jail funding problems, but ... a meaningful step at least forward," and said the measure has the backing of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and law-enforcement legislative committees. The Senate recorded 27 yes votes, 1 nay and 1 absent and referred the bill to the House.

On election law, the Senate approved second substitute SB 55 with an amendment to correct statutory references. Sponsor Senator Tiara Mansell said the changes were "a correction of language to make sure that those referenced sections are correct as to the intent of the bill." Debate touched on whether the bill could bar discussion of a candidate's sexual orientation; Senator Michael J. McCoy said he had a procedural concern but did not oppose the substance. The amended bill passed 28–0 with one…