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Senate advances and passes a slate of bills on vehicles, taxes and public safety
Summary
On Feb. 9, 2009 the Utah Senate adopted committee reports and advanced or passed multiple bills including SB136 (diesel farm-vehicle inspection exemption), SB22 (ATV/utility vehicle amendments), SB36 (sales tax/prepaid phone cards), SB95 (mobile-home billing disclosure), SB99 (renewable energy certificate correction), and others; several were sent to the House or placed on the third-reading calendar.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 9, 2009 cleared a substantial portion of its second- and third-reading calendars, adopting committee reports and passing multiple bills by unanimous or near-unanimous voice and roll-call votes.
Key outcomes at a glance: SB136 (Diesel Powered Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program Amendments) was amended to extend an agricultural exemption to diesel farm vehicles and passed with a recorded unanimous vote (26-0, 3 absent). First substitute SB22 (vehicle operation and all-terrain vehicle provisions) was concurred with House amendments addressing reflective equipment, allowable operating positions and changes to dimension and weight thresholds; the Senate voted to concur and returned the bill to the House (26-0, 3 absent).
The chamber combined SB34 and SB36 into a first substitute that revises sales-tax rules affecting prepaid phone cards and the location of transactions; the sponsor reported a combined fiscal note with a net positive of $28,500 and the Senate moved the bill to third reading where it passed. Senate Bill 95, requiring mobile-home park owners to disclose utility-billing arrangements when lots are rented, was passed and referred to the House. Senate Bill 99 made a minor drafting correction to renewable energy certificate language and passed to the House.
Other bills moved forward on their calendars: SB85 (homicide element adjustments) passed after floor discussion about the standard of proof for mitigating defenses; SB107 (communications fraud penalty amendments) and SB49 (raising recoverable litigation expenses for small-business cases from $10,000 to $25,000) were placed on third reading; SB120 and SB121 (labor-advisory-board items, including changes to workers' compensation attorney fees) were advanced, with a conflict of interest noted on SB121 by Senator Valentine.
Votes were recorded by roll call during the morning session and several items were placed on the consent and third-reading calendars for final action later in the week or the same day in afternoon session.
The Senate recessed to reconvene at 2 p.m.
