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Senate advances wide slate of bills; key votes and outcomes
Summary
The Utah Senate advanced a large number of House and Senate measures on Feb. 22, including unanimous passage of HB204 and passage of bills ranging from recreational-liability limits to cigarette-tax distribution adjustments; several measures were tabled or failed after debate.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 22 moved dozens of bills forward, taking recorded votes on legislation spanning tax, public safety, education and health.
On the consent and third-reading calendars the Senate recorded unanimous or large-majority approvals for several House-origin bills. House Bill 204, clarifying expedited jury-trial language, passed unanimously (24-0, five absent) and was signed by the president for return to the House. House Bill 208, which extends recreational-use liability protection to aviation activities (including private landing strips and hot-air balloons), passed 27-0 and was placed on the third-reading calendar. Several other House bills (HB62 on school-supplies guidance; HB85 on paramedic forensic phlebotomy; HB18 on certain offender-registry amendments; HB246 on county correctional-facility funding; HB285 and others) were placed on the third-reading calendar after recorded votes.
The Senate also took action on multiple Senate measures, placing numerous bills on the third-reading calendar after committee reports and roll-call votes. Notable procedural outcomes: the rules committee report assigning bills to standing committees was adopted by voice vote; several first-substitute bills were adopted or circled for later action.
A handful of bills were separated for additional review. House Bill 55 (health-care-associated infection reporting) drew questions about a fiscal note and was tabled on third reading for consideration with other fiscal-note bills. Senate Bill 139, a proposal to lower from 16 to 14 the age at which a child’s custody preference receives greater weight, was debated and failed in the Senate (11-16), and will be filed.
The Senate introduced at least one new measure for referral to rules (SB177 – government records access and management act amendments) and adjourned until 10 a.m. the following day.
Votes at a glance (selected, recorded during this session): HB204 – passed (24-0, 5 absent); First substitute SB112 – passed (20 aye, 8 nay, 1 absent); HB208 – passed (27-0, 2 absent); HB62 – passed (25-0, 4 absent); HB55 – tabled on third due to fiscal note; SB139 – failed (11-16).
