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Votes at a glance: Senate approves a string of bills on consumer protection, veterans flags, scholarships and more
Summary
The Utah Senate moved a large batch of bills through the second and third reading calendars: notable outcomes include passage of Second Substitute HB 65 (29–0), First Substitute HB 245 (29–0), SB 103 (Carson Smith scholarship, 29–0), HB 113 (27–0) and HB 62 (25–0). Multiple bills were amended and placed on calendars or referred to committees.
During an extended afternoon session the Utah Senate completed votes on a number of bills spanning consumer protection, education, veterans’ honors and health policy. Several measures passed unanimously or by sizable margins and will be transmitted to the House for the Speaker’s signature. Key results:
- Second Substitute House Bill 65 (Insurance beneficiary changes): sponsor told the chamber the bill addressed beneficiary designations after divorce; roll call recorded 29 yea, 0 nay and the bill was returned to the House.
- First Substitute House Bill 245 (Consumer Protection Amendments): sponsored by Senator Jones and described as tightening telemarketing and fraud protections, passed on third reading with a 29–0 vote.
- Senate Bill 103 (Carson Smith Scholarship Amendments): sponsor Senator Adams described increases to the scholarship amount (approximate scholarship amount cited as $5,400 with fiscal notes of roughly $483,000 in FY2014 and $1,036,000 in FY2015). Senators discussed capacity and audit results; final passage recorded 29 yea, 0 nay.
- House Bill 113 (County Governing Body Authority): passed 27–0; bill allows county governing bodies to act in cooperating status with federal agencies on projects within their counties.
- First Substitute House Bill 62 (POW/MIA flag display): requires POW/MIA flag be displayed on the State Capitol Complex six days per year to honor missing U.S. veterans; passed 25–0.
Other actions included passage or third‑reading placement for SB 67 (consumer surcharge status quo), SB 67 amendments, SB 187 (food handler licensing substitute) and SB 189 (oncology insurance substitute circled). The rules committee also assigned many bills to standing committees for further work.
Where votes were recorded, the chamber’s roll calls and recorded yea/nay counts are summarized above; bills will be returned to the House where required for enrollment and the Speaker’s signature.
