Utah Senate advances a slate of bills, fast-tracks redistricting fixes and honors Kanab’s centennial

The Utah State Senate advanced and passed a series of measures on the floor during its day five session, including measures touching higher education appointments, public-land trespass provisions, school construction rules and time-sensitive boundary corrections ahead of ballot printing.

Senator Brent Reid, sponsor of Senate Bill 39, told the chamber the bill “requires the State Board of Regents, and the UCAT board, upon the selection of the commissioner of higher ed and the president of UCAT, [to] receive the permission of the governor and the Senate” and also “gives the governor authority to fire in consultation with the regency and with the UCAT board.” The Senate adopted a small language amendment clarifying the timing of consultation and approved SB 39 as amended; the President announced the vote as 23 ayes, 2 nays and 4 absent. The bill will be sent to the House for its action.

Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 33, which addresses safety and sanitation on state lands. Senator Dayton, presenting the bill, said it comes from the director of forest fire and state lands to protect public lands and waters; the roll call recorded 24 yeas, 3 nays and 2 absent and the bill will be transmitted to the House.

On school construction, Senator Jenkins explained Senate Bill 93 would align the retention rate for school projects at 5 percent; he described the change as a simple technical correction. The Senate voted 27–0 (2 absent) to pass SB 93 and forward it to the House.

The Senate expedited two House-passed redistricting bills because clerks need corrected maps to print ballots. Senator Okerlund said county clerks flagged technical corrections to district lines that “have very little population effect” but must be fixed quickly so ballots can be printed on time. Under suspension of the rules, the body read and passed House Bill 2 86 (state House boundary amendments) by a vote announced as 27–0 (2 absent), and House Bill 2 87 (State Board of Education boundary amendments) passed 25–0 (4 absent); both were signed by the President in open session and returned for the House speaker’s signature.

Senate business also included placement of multiple bills on calendars for further consideration — including worker-compensation clarifications (SB 121) and corporate-transfer parity (SB 36) — and passage or circling of several committee-recommended items placed on the consent calendar. Senator McAdams presented amendments clarifying the state’s securities reporting program (SB 90) to avoid overlapping federal regulation and to encourage internal corporate reporting.

Beyond legislation, the Senate recognized the 100th anniversary of Kanab’s election of the nation’s first all-woman city council. Senator Okerlund read an official citation honoring the milestone, the gallery included descendants and local officials, and the Kanab High School chorus performed for the body.

The Senate also distributed base budget bills to appropriations members for review ahead of committee action next week; Senator Hilliard noted those documents reflect one-time funding adjustments (he cited a $500,000 one-time item for a Shakespearean festival affecting the apparent higher-education reduction). Before adjourning, the Senate discussed routine housekeeping (committee schedules, device-return windows for legislative phones) and recessed until 10:00 a.m. Monday.

Votes at a glance: - SB 39 (gubernatorial authority over higher-education appointments and firing): Passed 23–2 (4 absent). (President announced result.) - SB 33 (trespassing/safety on state lands): Passed 24–3 (2 absent). (President announced result.) - SB 93 (school construction retention rate alignment): Passed 27–0 (2 absent). (President announced result.) - HB 2 86 (state House boundary amendments): Passed under suspension, announced 27–0 (2 absent); signed by the President in open session. - HB 2 87 (State Board of Education boundary amendments): Passed under suspension, announced 25–0 (4 absent); signed by the President in open session. - SB 121 (workers’ compensation waivers clarifying transfer to Labor Commission): Passed and placed on third-reading calendar (vote announced 25–0, 4 absent for placement). - SB 36 (corporate transfer parity): Passed/placed on calendar (announcement noted 27–0, 2 absent in roll recording). - SB 90 (securities fraud reporting program amendments): Passed/placed for third reading (announced 26–1, 2 absent). - First substitute SB 92 (Commerce/owner-employee licensing clarifications): Passed out of committee and placed on third-reading calendar (roll announced passage to third reading).

What’s next: several base budget bills were distributed to appropriations members with plans to take action early next week. The concurrent resolution establishing a fund to assist families of fallen officers (SCR 1) was uncircled and set as time certain for Feb. 1 at 11:00 a.m. for further consideration.

Reporting notes: quotes and vote tallies above are taken from the chamber record read into the transcript during today’s session; all attributions use the titles and names as spoken on the record during the meeting.

Ending: The Senate adjourned with a motion from Senator Jenkins and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. Monday for scheduled business and appropriations work.