Utah Senate clears wide range of House bills; close votes on subpoena authority and a failed change to legal-notice rules

The Utah Senate met March 8, 2010 in Salt Lake City, opening with a prayer from visiting Thai clergy and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Senator Ross Romero. The Senate took up a long second-reading calendar of House bills, concurring with House amendments and voting under suspension of the rules on multiple measures.

Senators voted to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 167, a recodification of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Senator Valentine moved concurrence, and the motion passed by voice and roll call; the clerk recorded 25 yes, 0 no, 4 absent. The measure will be returned to the House for the speaker’s signature.

On consumer and credit policy, the chamber approved House Concurrent Resolution 7 urging Congress to allow consumers free annual access to their FICO credit score. Senator Jones presented the resolution and the Senate suspended the rules for final passage.

A package of criminal and public-safety bills moved quickly. First substitute House Bill 13, intended to harmonize definitions across pharmacy and controlled‑substances statutes, was presented by Senator Knudson as a measure to reduce prosecutorial and defense confusion; it passed under…