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Utah Senate advances broad package of bills; key votes move measures on education, Medicaid and taxes forward
Summary
The Utah Senate on Feb. 29, 2012, adopted a wide-ranging set of bills and amendments, approving measures on education reform, Medicaid changes, telecommunications, and a severance-tax constitutional proposal while passing multiple House bills to third reading. Several items were amended on the floor following extended debate.
The Utah State Senate spent its Feb. 29 session considering a large package of bills and floor amendments, approving numerous measures and sending them to third reading or forwarding them to the House.
Among the bills the Senate advanced were measures on taxation, health care and education. First substitute H.B. 323 (sales and use tax collection amendments) passed on a roll call of 25-0; the measure aims to align sales-tax remittance with receipt of payment by sellers. Second substitute H.B. 75 (property taxation of low-income housing), after substitution and an amendment to change penalties from a per-unit to a per-project basis, passed 25-0. H.B. 108 (Internet gambling) passed 26-1, preserving Utah's prohibition on gambling and authorizing the state to opt out should federal law change. H.B. 98 (continuous eligibility for Medicaid) passed 26-0. S.B. 229 (telecommunications regulatory amendments) passed 28-0 with intent language clarifying the bill is not intended to change the current tax/fee status for VoIP services.
The Senate also acted on larger policy packages. First substitute S.B. 64 (public education employment reform), after lengthy debate and several floor amendments addressing teacher evaluation, student-growth measures and compensation access, passed on final tally 26-2. Second substitute S.B. 85 (Medicaid cost control amendments) passed 19-10 after proponents offered amendments intended to narrow objections from stakeholders.
Several bills were circled (set aside for further drafting or amendment) during the day to allow sponsors and stakeholders to refine language: the Senate circled bills including H.B. 312 and S.B. 191 to permit additional work outside the floor proceeding.
Why it matters: the floor actions move a cluster of bills closer to final enactment. The education and Medicaid changes in particular carry fiscal and operational consequences for state agencies, school systems and providers. The Senate also advanced a constitutional resolution to preserve severance-tax revenue for future use; that measure will require additional steps to appear on a ballot as an amendment.
Votes at a glance (selected outcomes) H.B. 323 (First sub) — sales/use tax collection amendments: 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent — passed to third reading. H.B. 237 (Second sub) — child welfare amendments (as amended): 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent — placed on third-reading calendar. H.B. 75 (Second sub) — property taxation, low-income housing: 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent — placed on third-reading calendar. H.B. 108 — Internet gambling: 26 yea, 1 nay, 2 absent — placed on third-reading calendar. H.B. 98 — continuous Medicaid eligibility: 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent — placed on third-reading calendar. S.B. 64 (First sub) — public education employment reform: 26 yea, 2 nay, 1 absent — forwarded to the House. S.B. 229 (First sub) — telecommunications regulatory amendments: 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent — forwarded to the House. S.B. 85 (Second sub) — Medicaid cost-control amendments: 19 yea, 10 nay, 0 absent — forwarded to House.
What’s next: most measures were placed on the third-reading calendar for final passage or were forwarded to the House for its consideration. Sponsors circled several bills to finalize technical language and address stakeholder concerns before final action.
Source: Floor transcript of the Utah State Senate, Feb. 29, 2012.
