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Senate clears long consent and reading calendars; dozens of bills advanced or passed
Summary
The Utah Senate adopted committee reports, moved a large consent calendar and advanced numerous House and Senate bills (many by unanimous recorded votes). Several technical and policy bills were advanced to third reading or passed and returned to the House; one bill (HB19 Navajo revitalization fund) was tabled on third due to fiscal concerns.
The Utah State Senate spent a large portion of its floor session adopting committee reports, taking up the consent calendar and advancing a broad set of bills across policy areas including taxation, elections, notary statutes, and health.
What passed on consent and by recorded votes: Senate and House sponsors briefly explained measures before unanimous or near-unanimous roll-call votes. Notable outcomes included:
- Senate Bill 99 (revised business corporation act): unanimous recorded action (26–0 with 3 absent) placing the vote on record and referring to the House.
- House Bill 16 (mental retardation professional amendments): unanimous recorded action (28–0 with 1 absent); sponsor said the bill adds licensed marriage and family therapists to the list of professionals who may serve people with disabilities.
- Senate Bill 156 (Public Service Commission equipment distribution program): moved and unanimously referred to the House (29–0, 0 absent); sponsor described updating rule-making authority to respond to technology changes to assist the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Senate Bill 150 (property exempt from execution): unanimous recorded action (29–0, 0 absent); sponsor said the change clarifies trust-owned interests for estate planning purposes.
- House Bill 62 (lobbyist disclosure technical amendments): passed by roll call (27–0, 2 absent) after sponsor said the bill clarifies reporting distinctions for travel vs. other expenses.
Several other second- and third-reading items were advanced or passed (HB24, HB33, HB42, HB51, HB80, SB53, SB133 among them) with recorded tallies noted on the floor. Procedural moves included circling and uncircling bills and a motion to table HB19 (Navajo revitalization fund) on third reading because of fiscal impact; that motion passed.
Context: Many of the bills were described on the floor as technical corrections or clarifications, while others carried policy implications for taxation, education, and adoption law. Sponsors repeatedly presented the bills as either technical fixes or routine legislative updates and the Senate generally moved them forward en masse.
What’s next: Bills that passed the Senate where required were transmitted to the House for concurrence or signature; circled bills remain held for future floor action. HB19 was tabled on third reading due to fiscal concerns and may return for later consideration.
