Senate confirms governor’s appointees and moves multiple concurrence items, creates task force and advances MIDA changes

The Utah Senate spent its afternoon session completing a range of procedural and policy items: confirming governor appointments, considering concurrence with House amendments on several bills, creating a temporary Government Communications Task Force and passing a measure that adjusts the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) tax authority and membership.

Appointments and confirmations: The Senate read a long list of gubernatorial appointments to various boards and commissions (including community college boards, the Transportation Commission, the Board of Pardons and Parole, the Air Quality Board, the Water Quality Board, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board, and the Utah State Fair Corporation Board). After correcting an appointee’s name for the Weber State University Board (changed on the record to Karen White Fairbanks), the Senate confirmed the appointments by voice/roll call consent with 27 yea votes, 0 nay and 2 absent.

Concurrence calendar actions: The Senate considered and concurred with several House amendments. Notable floor actions included concurrence on first substitute SB31 (special needs adoption tax credit), first substitute SB33 (sales and use tax revisions; fiscal note reduced to roughly $88,000 after House amendments), first substitute SB42 (medical school admissions funding with an 82% in‑state requirement clarified), and first substitute SB49 (child welfare modifications). Each bill was advanced and returned to the House for the Speaker’s signature where recorded.

HB388 — Government Communications Task Force: First substitute House Bill 388, which creates a task force to study cross‑jurisdictional communications issues, was amended to remove the appropriation for the year, add the Salt Lake City police chief (or designee) as a member and set a repeal date of Dec. 31, 2014; senators passed the amendment and then passed the bill under suspension (27–0–2 absent). The amendment removed the fiscal note for the current year.

HB325 — MIDA modifications (House Bill 325): Senator Stevenson presented changes to MIDA allowing project areas to charge a utility/energy franchise tax within project boundaries, clarifying membership appointments and publication requirements. Senators engaged in detailed questioning about the tax’s application, property transfers between counties, local participation and the potential for mission creep. Sponsor said the tax would apply only to project‑area users and noted MIDA projects have funded themselves with fees in the past. The Senate passed House Bill 325 (23 yea, 3 nay, 3 absent) and sent it to the House for the Speaker’s signature.

Prison relocation (SB72) and conference: For sixth substitute SB72 (Prison Relocation and Development Amendments), the Senate refused to concur with certain House amendments and appointed a conference committee to reconcile differences. Senators emphasized the importance of preserving the ability to evaluate all options, including whether privatization should remain on the table.

Other communications: The clerk announced numerous House‑passed items (across health, education, transportation, public safety and other policy areas) being transmitted for the President’s signature or placed on concurrence calendars. The Senate recessed to caucus and for Executive Appropriations activity after completing floor business.

Votes at a glance: SB31 (concurred) — 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent; SB33 (concurred) — 29 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent recorded; SB42 (concurred) — 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent; SB49 (concurred) — 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent; HB388 (passed) — 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent; HB325 (passed) — 23 yea, 3 nay, 3 absent; Confirmations — 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent.

Next steps: Bills passed by the Senate will be signed in open session by the President and transmitted to the House for the Speaker's signature where applicable; items where the House refused to recede will proceed to conference committees.