Utah Senate advances scores of bills, adopts committee reports and places several measures on consent

The Utah State Senate met in a floor session on Feb. 18, 2011, where senators adopted committee reports, moved numerous bills through final or intermediate action, and placed several measures on the consent calendar.

Senate President Wadsworth called the session to order, confirmed a quorum and the Senate adopted the Rules Committee report after Senator Jenkins moved to adopt it. The body then considered a consent calendar and multiple third‑reading items.

Senator Lyle Hilliard presented substitute House Bill 230, a measure that updates statutory language to use more respectful terminology for people with disabilities. "This bill goes through the law and uses more correct terms on people with disabilities," Hilliard said, and the Senate directed a recorded unanimous first‑substitute vote; the President announced the bill had received 23 yea votes, 0 nays and 6 absent and that it would be returned to the House.

Senator Jones described House Bill 241, designating April as "Clean Out the Medicine Cabinets Month," and urged legislators and staff to participate in a medication take‑back event. The bill passed on unanimous voice vote; the President announced 22 yea, 0 nay, 7 absent.

Other measures considered and advanced included:

- First substitute House Bill 257 (concealed firearm statute clarifications): Senator Hankins said the amendment clarifies instructor certification requirements and requires legible fingerprints for background checks; the bill passed as amended and will return to the House (tally not specified in the floor record).

- House Bill 235 (technology technical amendments): Senator McAdams said the substitute removes certain model‑rule submissions and adjusts reporting; the Senate passed the bill (President recorded 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent).

- Second substitute House Bill 13 (immunizations for certain teen mothers): After explanation by Senator Bramble, the Senate passed the bill and the President recorded it as having received 25 yea votes, 0 nay, 4 absent.

- First substitute House Bill 28 (penalties for unauthorized use of DMV records): Sponsors described changes clarifying access for licensed private investigators (excluding debt collection) and tightened language around prohibited purposes; the Senate amended and passed the substitute (26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent).

- Senate Bill 63 (K–3 Reading Improvement Program accountability): Sponsors said the bill requires districts and charters to report how the $30 million in program funds are used (for assessments, reading specialists, tutoring and summer school). The Senate approved SB63 (25 yea, 1 nay, 3 absent).

- Senate measures addressing vehicle registration and other technical items (including Senate Bill 139 and Senate Bill 87) were advanced by voice or roll call and forwarded to the House for further action.

On health workforce training, Senator Jones presented second substitute Senate Bill 61 to embed controlled‑substances education within existing continuing medical education requirements for prescribers (no net increase in hours). After questions about program delivery and oversight, the Senate passed SB61 (22 yea, 1 nay, 6 absent) and will forward it to the House.

The floor session included routine motions to circle (hold) or uncircle bills for later amendment. Several bills were circled for amendment where fiscal notes or pending language remained, and others were uncircled for presentment.

Most measures were resolved by voice vote or recorded roll call; where the transcript recorded vote counts, they are reported above as announced on the floor. Bills passed by the Senate will be returned to the House or forwarded for the House's further action as indicated by the President.

The Senate adjourned and set its next floor session for Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.