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Senate advances base budget bills including SB 1 (education), SB 5 and SB 6 after floor votes
Summary
On Jan. 30 the Utah Senate moved multiple base-budget bills through the second/third-reading calendars and passed several on the floor, including SB 1 (public education base budget), SB 5 (natural resources/agriculture/DEQ base budget) and SB 6 (retirement/independent entities). Several amendments and transfers were discussed; final floor roll calls were read for those bills.
The Utah Senate on Jan. 30 moved and passed a slate of base budget measures required early in the legislative session. Senator Jay Stevenson presented SB 1, the public education base budget, describing a FY 2014 base of $3.7 billion with $2.5 billion from state funds and noting the weighted pupil unit (WPU) values carried forward from FY 2013. The Senate ordered SB 1 for third reading and later moved it to the top of the third-reading calendar under suspension of rules to expedite passage.
Senate Bill 5 (Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality base budget) was amended on the floor; an amendment added a $74,800 allocation from the general fund restricted to the Department of Natural Resources (wildlife resources). The sponsor summarized SB 5 as a base-budget appropriation (the sponsor referenced roughly $276.2 million total and specific transfers). SB 5 was moved to third reading under suspension and the clerk announced SB 5 "having received 27 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 2 being absent," and it will be sent to the House.
Senate Bill 6 (retirement and independent entities base budget) was likewise moved under suspension of rules. Senator Wyler described SB 6 as appropriating approximately $39.16 million, including amounts from the education fund and various sources for operating and capital budgets. The floor roll call showed SB 6 "having received 25 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 4 being absent," and SB 6 will be sent to the House.
Sponsors emphasized that these measures establish base budgets so state agencies may continue operating if the final appropriation process is incomplete; amendments were limited to program-level adjustments and schedule transfers. The Senate also managed procedural motions to ensure bills were properly noticed on the calendar and recorded members who missed votes due to sound problems in the Senate lounge.
