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Senate advances broad slate of measures in morning floor session; budget and campaign finance among major approvals
Summary
The Utah Senate approved a long consent calendar and a series of substantive bills in a morning floor session, including final passage of House Bill 2 (supplemental appropriations), campaign finance revisions and the child-abuse prevention instruction bill after floor amendments clarified parental consent and statutory coordination.
The Utah State Senate moved through dozens of bills on March 12, 2014, approving a long consent calendar and a set of substantive measures that Senate leaders said reflect agreements reached in committee and between chambers.
Key floor actions included final passage of House Bill 2, the new fiscal-year supplemental appropriations act, which the Senate recorded as passed and ordered returned to the House for the speaker’s signature. Senator Lyle Hilliard, sponsor on the floor, summarized the bill as adding “$541,000,000 to operating and capital budgets” and explained the split of funds across general and education sources. The Senate recorded 28 yeas, 0 nays, and 1 absent on final passage.
Other measures approved included: House Bill 130 (mobility and pedestrian vehicle rules); First Substitute Senate Bill 193 (naturopathic practice changes with sponsor intent language regarding FDA approval); First Substitute House Bill 155 (creating a Utah Communications Authority to consolidate 9-1-1 and public-safety communications functions); and multiple economic and administrative bills that the sponsors said had been negotiated in committee.
Two items drew extended floor debate before passage. Senator Joel Valentine’s amended campaign finance revisions (second substitute House Bill 394) prompted lengthy exchanges about disclosure rules for regulated professionals and how candidate loans are reported. Valentine said the bill balances transparency and professional confidentiality, and the Senate approved the amended measure (26 yeas, 1 nay, 2 absent).
Second substitute House Bill 286, addressing child-abuse prevention instruction, also generated detailed debate over whether the bill would conflict with the Utah Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Senator Valentine successfully offered an amendment to add a new subparagraph requiring that participation “requires compliance with sections 53A-13-301 and 53A-13-302,” which the body adopted before passing the bill on final tally.
Procedurally, the body used numerous circle/uncircle motions and substitute-bill substitutions to adjust language on the floor; several items were sent back to the House for concurrence or signature as required. The Senate recessed for scheduled recognitions and a musical presentation at the close of the morning session.
