Senate approves multiple bills including punitive-damages changes, municipal land-use changes and highway litigation fund

The Utah State Senate moved through committee reports, consent calendar items and several contested floor votes during the morning session.

Consent calendar and House bills: The Senate adopted committee reports and approved multiple House bills on the consent calendar. House Bill 297 (calculation of credit for certain repossessions of a motor vehicle) was presented by Senator Niederhauser and passed the Senate by unanimous recorded vote (25 yes, 0 nay, 4 absent) and was returned to the Speaker for signature. House Bill 114 (first substitute prisoner long-term health care) was presented by Senator Peterson and passed by a unanimous recorded vote (25 yes, 0 nay, 4 absent) and will be returned for the Speaker’s signature. House Bill 356 (DNA exoneration amendments) was presented by Senator Hilliard; the Senate ordered and recorded the vote with 22 yes, 0 nays, 7 absent and passed the body.

Selected Senate bills and actions: The Senate took up third reading of Senate Bill 240 (litigation fund restricted account for highway projects), presented by Senator Kilpack; after the roll call the chair reported that SB240 received 16 aye votes, 5 nay votes, with 8 absent and the bill will be referred to the House. First substitute Senate Bill 64 (tourism/recreation advisory board) was debated and the first-substitute motion failed for lack of a 15‑vote majority (recorded 14 aye, 9 nay, 6 absent). Senate Bill 172 (municipal land-use and development changes) was considered under suspension of the rules and, after a roll call, was reported to have passed under suspension (23 aye, 2 nay, 4 absent) and referred to the House. Senate Bill 206 (punitive damages amendments), uncircled by Senator Hilliard, was moved under suspension of the rules for final passage and recorded 28 yes, 0 nays, 1 absent; the bill passed and will be referred to the House.

Appropriations and fiscal notes: Senator Fife presented Senate Bill 231 (veterans amendments), which appropriates $50,000 of ongoing general funds to the Division of Veterans Affairs for outreach and economic‑empowerment efforts; sponsors clarified that the appropriation supplements an existing $25,000 ongoing appropriation and would bring the total outreach funding to roughly $75,000 for outreach if both appropriations are enacted.

Procedural and scheduling notes: Several bills were circled or uncircled (a procedural move to delay or advance consideration). Senator McCoy indicated he would prepare an amendment to SB192 (service and emotional support animals) to add a misdemeanor penalty for fraudulent certifications and present that on third reading. The Senate recessed for lunch and caucus and adjourned until 2:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance (selected recorded outcomes): HB297 — passed (25 yes, 0 no, 4 absent); HB114 — passed (25 yes, 0 no, 4 absent); HB356 — passed (22 yes, 0 no, 7 absent); SB240 — passed (16 yes, 5 no, 8 absent); SB64 first-substitute — failed (14 yes, 9 no, 6 absent); SB172 — passed under suspension (23 yes, 2 no, 4 absent); SB206 — passed (28 yes, 0 no, 1 absent).