Morning session roundup: Senate passes multiple bills, sets calendar for afternoon

The Utah Senate's morning floor session handled a broad consent and concurrence calendar and several notable final-passage items.

On the consent calendar the Senate approved substitute House Bill 371 (digital certificates for breathalyzer calibration) with the sponsor noting it will allow the Department of Public Safety to digitize calibration certificates and save about $1,800 in paperwork costs; the clerk recorded a unanimous consent with recorded votes in the consent process. House Bill 375 (polygraph examiner licensing) and multiple other consent bills were approved with voice or roll-call votes as noted on the floor.

The Senate also recorded passage of other bills: among them, first substitute Senate Bill 184 (child care licensing recodification) passed on the concurrence calendar with 25 yes votes (recorded), and substitution and passage of major substitute measures continued through the morning. The clerk transmitted numerous House-passed measures for the president’s signature and the Senate adopted a conference committee report on fourth substitute Senate Bill 15 (driving under the influence amendments) which passed by recorded vote and was referred to the House.

Senators set scheduling for the afternoon, moving first substitute Senate Bill 299 to a 3:00 p.m. time certain and lifting several fiscal-note bills to the top of the second and third reading calendars for expedited consideration after lunch. A joint resolution honoring Hill Air Force Base’s 388th and 419th Fighter Wings (Senate Joint Resolution 12) was adopted under suspension of the rules and passed the Senate (20 yes, 0 nay, 9 absent), followed by presentations from wing representatives in a Committee of the Whole.

The Senate recessed for a lunch break after final actions and scheduling for the afternoon.