Utah Senate ends 2007 session with dozens of bills passed, child-support measure fails and county debt forgiveness revived

The Utah Senate convened its final day of the 2007 session on Feb. 27, opening with a prayer from Richard Turley and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved rapidly through a stacked concurrence and third‑reading calendar to finish work before adjournment.

The chamber rejected a motion to concur in House amendments to second substitute Senate Bill 23, a bill updating child‑support guidelines. Sponsor discussion and floor debate centered on whether the amendment restored a system that left judges discretion within decrees. After members raised concerns that the revised guidelines would set Utah higher than neighboring states, the motion to concur failed on the roll call (the chair announced 12 yes, 14 no, with 3 absent) and the bill was filed.

Lawmakers then processed several high‑profile concurrence items and appropriations: Senate Bill 160 (pharmacy practice act amendments) was concurred and passed to the House; a revised measure using severance‑tax revenues (Senate Bill 18) was passed after the Senate agreed to read a substitute version under suspension of the rules; and third‑substitute Senate Bill 49, restructuring optional extended‑day kindergarten funding, passed and was sent to the House.

On criminal‑justice matters, the Senate amended and passed bills tightening penalties and clarifying statutes related to internet enticement and sex‑offender provisions. First‑substitute House Bill 5, which reduces the…