Utah Senate approves suite of bills on health, education and budgeting; contentious club and homeschool measures advance

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate convened Feb. 16 for a floor session that combined ceremonial observances with a string of roll‑call votes on education, health and budget issues. Senators passed multiple measures on the consent, concurrence and third‑reading calendars and referred them to the House for further action.

The session opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a floor guest’s recitation of the Gettysburg Address introduced on the record as Mr. Lincoln; the Senate then moved through committee reports and a busy consent calendar.

The Senate approved third substitute House Bill 218, a change to the Children’s Health Insurance Program that the sponsor said will benchmark CHIP benefits to the most commonly sold HMO and open enrollment slots. "This bill will open up a space for approximately 3,500 children who would otherwise not be able to receive the CHIP insurance option," sponsor Senator Sandra Knudson said on the floor. The measure passed by roll call, 27 yes, 1 nay, 1 absent, and will return to the House.

Education measures drew sustained attention. Senators approved a school‑district property tax amendment (second substitute House Bill 58) intended to preserve voted leeway when a district divides; that bill passed…