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Utah Senate advances major budget bills, passes dozens of measures and rejects under‑18 cellphone restriction
Summary
On March 12, 2013 the Utah Senate moved a package of supplemental appropriations and several high‑profile bills — including education and compensation measures — while voting down a proposal to further restrict cellphone use by drivers under 18. Multiple bills were passed under suspension of rules to expedite floor action.
The Utah Senate convened March 12 and moved swiftly through its second‑reading calendar, approving a slate of budget measures and policy bills while using suspensions of the three‑reading requirement to speed final action.
Senate leaders elevated key budget measures — including Senate Bill 2 (new fiscal‑year supplemental appropriations), Senate Bill 4 (current school‑year public education amendments) and Senate Bill 7 (state agency and higher‑education compensation appropriations) — and reported passage on roll calls. Senate Bill 2, the large supplemental appropriations act, passed after floor amendments and committee work; the sponsor said the bill funds STEM, scholarships, applied technology centers and substantial Health & Human Services obligations. Senate Bill 4 passed 28‑0 (1 absent) and Senate Bill 7 passed 26‑0 (3 absent).
The chamber also approved a variety of House bills sent to the Senate: among them, House Bill 310 (adoption of the 2012 building codes and state code amendments) passed 23‑1 (5 absent); House Bill 324 (bicycle passing/right‑edge rules) passed 26‑0 (3 absent); House Bill 172 (public safety radio communications consolidation) passed 25‑0 (4 absent); and House Bill 318 (classroom‑size data and reporting) passed 27‑0 (2 absent). The fifth substitute of House Bill 66, addressing protest and hearing rules for special service and assessment districts, passed 26‑0 (3 absent). The chamber also passed a third‑substitute package of Alcohol Beverage Control Act amendments (House Bill 228) on a roll call of 24‑2 (3 absent).
Votes at a glance: - Senate Bill 2 (new fiscal‑year supplemental appropriations): passed 27‑0 (2 absent). Sponsor: Senator Hilliard. Key provisions: STEM and higher‑education funding, juvenile court funding, health and human services appropriations. - Senate Bill 4 (public education supplemental amendments): passed 28‑0 (1 absent). - Senate Bill 7 (state agency and higher‑education compensation): passed 26‑0 (3 absent); includes a 1% COLA for state employees plus health and retirement adjustments. - House Bill 310 (building codes update): passed 23‑1 (5 absent). Sponsor: Senator Bramble. - House Bill 324 (bicycle passing/shoulder rules): passed 26‑0 (3 absent). Sponsor: Senator Wyler. - House Bill 172 (public safety radio communications, amendment adopted to clarify coordination with private carriers): passed 25‑0 (4 absent). Sponsor: Senator Vickers. - House Bill 134, second substitute (parental notification for student safety — suicide/bullying): passed 27‑1 (1 absent). Sponsor: Senator Robles. - House Bill 318 (classroom‑size reporting): passed 27‑0 (2 absent). - House Bill 66, fifth substitute (political subdivision/protest rules): passed 26‑0 (3 absent). - House Bill 103 (wireless telephone use restrictions for drivers under 18): failed 11‑13; sponsor asked to hold the bill. - House Bill 228 (Alcohol Beverage Control Act third substitute): passed 24‑2 (3 absent).
Contested measures and floor debate House Bill 103 drew the most pointed debate of the day. Supporters framed the bill as a targeted safety step to reduce distractions among newer drivers; opponents argued existing distracted‑driving rules and enforcement already reach the problem or that the policy unfairly singles out youth. Senator Thatcher summarized the opposition viewpoint by arguing, "The problem isn't teenagers. The problem is every driver." The bill failed on the floor by a narrow margin.
On student safety, supporters of HB134 stressed parental notification when schools encounter threats of suicide or serious bullying and emphasized privacy protections in the substitute. Senator Robles, the sponsor, described the substitute as designed to "make sure parents are notified of an incident and not do we have this information be public for any other purpose," and argued it protects both privacy and safety. Senator Backus offered a personal account about a local fatality and urged passage, saying the state "does have a very high youth suicide rate" and schools must do more to alert families.
Procedure and next steps Senators used suspensions of the three‑reading rule repeatedly to move multiple House bills through second and third readings on the same day; leadership also 'circled' several bills to return later in the day. The Senate recessed at the end of the recorded floor session until 5 p.m., planning evening work on fiscal‑note bills and remaining calendar items.
The Senate's formal roll calls and the motions recorded on March 12 will be transmitted to the House or to the governor’s office as required by procedure, and bills designated for third reading will appear on subsequent calendars for final action where appropriate.
