Utah Senate confirms governor appointees, passes banking compromise and adopts resolution opposing proposed wilderness designation

The Utah State Senate convened Feb. 28, 2008, and completed a packed floor session that included confirmation of numerous gubernatorial appointments, passage of a compromise financial-institutions bill and the adoption of a Senate-amended House Joint Resolution opposing a proposed federal wilderness designation.

The Senate confirmed the governor’s slate of appointments after a motion to accept the retirement committee report. Senator Bramble moved to accept the report; the motion carried on a roll-call vote recorded as 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent. The governor’s transmittal letter, signed “Sincerely, John Huntsman, Jr.,” listed appointees to multiple water conservancy district boards, the Board of Parks and Recreation, the Youth Parole Authority and other state entities.

Why it matters: the confirmations fill seats on regional water and resource boards that oversee local water delivery, infrastructure and recreation management; the session also moved several policy items quickly via the consent calendar and addressed two higher-profile debates that could affect state economic and land-use policy.

Banking compromise wins passage

First substitute Senate Bill 296, a negotiated package of financial-institutions amendments, passed the Senate after amendment. Senator Bramble, explaining the outcome of multi-party negotiations, said the bill “changes the limit on individual loans from 1% to 4%,” modifies the six-month moratorium for new members to take certain loans, and indexes a commercial lending limit to $250,000 with cost-of-living adjustments (first index adjustment scheduled May 5 if enacted). The sponsor credited representatives of both the Utah Bankers Association and credit union leaders for reaching a compromise. The bill passed the Senate and was referred to the House for further action; President Valentine noted and recorded conflicts where appropriate.

Public-lands resolution draws extended debate

House Joint Resolution 10, offered by Senator Dimitrych, directs the Senate to oppose a congressional wilderness designation proposed by Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Dimitrych argued the resolution because, he said, the proposal would lock up millions of acres and restrict multiple use and energy development. The resolution was amended on the floor (Amendment No. 3) to note the potential disproportionate impact rising energy prices have on low-income Utahns. Senators spoke both for and against the resolution during an extended debate: Senator Stevenson linked federal land ownership to education funding shortfalls, Senator Jenkins warned against revisiting the Transportation Commission’s authority, and Senator Romero voted no while explaining his reservations about an absolute ban on additional wilderness protections. The motion to adopt HJR 10 under suspension of rules passed on recorded final passage, 22 yes, 3 no, 4 absent; the resolution was amended in the Senate and returned to the House.

Consent calendar and other floor business

A large block of bills moved via the consent calendar, including House Bill 304 (revenue transfer to qualified emergency food agencies, discussed by Senator Dimitrych with $900,000 identified for transfer), House Bill 336 (establishing a Refugee Services Fund and a Refugee Advisory Board), House Bill 141 (creation of an Identity Theft Reporting Information System, IRIS), and numerous school community council timing and notice adjustments. Most consent items were recorded with unanimous or near-unanimous support and were transmitted to the House for further action.

Coal mine safety and other measures

First substitute Senate Bill 224 (Coal Mine Safety Act) received debate on the fiscal note; sponsors noted an ongoing-revenue figure of $250,000 was appropriated in the executive appropriations process, though an earlier fiscal note figure of $280,000 was referenced on the floor. The bill, which establishes an Office of Coal Mine Safety within the Department of Labor and outlines inspector selection and advisory-group authority, was passed by the Senate and returned to the House.

Votes at a glance

- Confirmations of gubernatorial appointments: motion passed (confirmations recorded as 26–0; 3 absent). - First substitute Senate Bill 296 (Financial institutions amendments): passed in the Senate; referred to the House. - House Joint Resolution 10 (opposing wilderness designation), as amended in the Senate: passed in the Senate 22–3; returned to the House. - First substitute Senate Bill 224 (Coal Mine Safety Act): passed in the Senate; referred to the House. - Consent calendar highlights (sent to the House): House Bill 304 (food agency funding), HB 336 (Refugee Services Fund), HB 141 (IRIS identity-theft system), HB 149 (protective order amendments), HB 157 (alcoholic beverage control violations), and multiple school community council bills.

What’s next

Passed measures were referred back to the House for its concurrence or further action. The Senate recessed the floor session for lunch and leadership meetings and planned to reconvene at 2:00 p.m.

Quotes

“Thank you for your timely consideration and confirmation of the above appointments,” the governor wrote in the transmittal letter signed John Huntsman, Jr., requesting prompt Senate action on appointees.

Senator Bramble, on the banking bill negotiations: “I can now say with absolute certainty that all final negotiations on the Bank Credit Union compromise have been accomplished. It changes the limit on individual loans from 1% to 4%.”

Senator Dimitrych, sponsor of the public-lands resolution: “HJR 10 is a resolution opposing Congressman Hinchey’s wilderness designation in Congress” and urged protection of multiple uses and energy access.

Sources and attributions

All quotes and vote tallies are taken from the Senate floor transcript for Feb. 28, 2008. Attributions use speakers explicitly named in the transcript.