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Senate advances multiple bills on consent and third‑reading calendars; several bills circled for further review
Summary
The Utah Senate approved a slate of consent and third‑reading items Feb. 15, including unanimous or near‑unanimous passage of Senate Bill 187 and House Bill 269, concurrence on First Substitute SB 11, and passage of municipal and consumer‑protection measures; the body circled several complex bills for further consultation.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 15 moved a large consent and third‑reading calendar, approving multiple bills and delaying several contentious items for further work.
Key votes at a glance
- Senate Bill 187 (capital offense bail provision): Passed by unanimous recorded consent (24 yes, 0 no, 5 absent). Senator Griner described the bill as designating aggravated murder as a capital felony not subject to bail unless the prosecutor files a waiver of the death penalty.
- Senate Bill 290 (private investigators’ access to driver information): Passed on consent (23 yes, 0 no, 6 absent). Senator Dayton said the change deletes the word 'registrant' so only properly qualified agents retain access.
- First Substitute Senate Bill 11 (Utah Venture Capital Enhancement / tax credit cap): The Senate concurred in House amendments to raise the tax credit cap and adjust oversight language; concurrence carried on roll call (26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent).
- House Bill 269 (Scott V. Lundell military survivors’ tuition waiver amendments): Senator Dayton moved to suspend rules and read the bill for second and third time; final passage recorded 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. The bill adds the National Guard to the list of eligible military personnel whose dependents may receive tuition waivers.
- Third Substitute Senate Bill 20 (municipal government amendment): Sponsor Senator Walker characterized the substitute as an agreed consensus that adjusts the process for changing mayoral powers; the bill passed and will go to the House.
- House Bill 275 (vehicle towing requirements): The Senate adopted Amendment No. 2 under Senator Wadsworth’s name to require posted contact information (not just an Internet notice) and then passed the amended bill by roll call (25 yes, 0 no, 4 absent).
Items circled for further work
- First Substitute Senate Bill 70 (emotional support animals): Sponsor Senator McCoy explained the bill breaks emotional support animals out of the service‑animal definition and allows reasonable security deposits; Senator Walker said amendments were being prepared and the Senate voted to circle the bill for later consideration.
- Second Substitute Senate Bill 46 (flow control for solid waste): Sponsors outlined definitions, exceptions and a grandfathering window to 01/01/2013 for certain facilities; several senators asked for additional municipal consultation and the bill was circled.
What this means: The consent calendar cleared multiple, mostly noncontroversial measures while the Senate reserved time to work through more complex or locally sensitive items. Bills that were circled will return to the floor after additional consultations with affected municipalities, agencies or stakeholders.
Next steps: Circled bills were scheduled for reconsideration later in the day or after caucus; bills passed on final reading will be delivered to the House or returned for enrollment as the clerk directed.
