Senate advances wide slate of bills on third reading; multiple measures pass by roll call

The Utah State Senate on Feb. 7 finished floor action on a large set of third‑reading items, approving dozens of bills and several concurrent resolutions. Leaders placed reports on the consent and second‑reading calendars and the body adopted committee assignments before taking roll‑call votes on multiple measures.

Among the bills the Senate passed or advanced to third reading were: Senate Bill 123 (Interlocal Cooperation Act revisions), which passed 27–0 with 2 absent; Senate Bill 133 (Benefit Corporation statute), which passed 26–0 with 3 absent; Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 (recognizing the 60th anniversary of the phrase 'under God' in the Pledge), which passed 27–0 with 2 absent; and Senate Bill 160 (workers' compensation amendments), which passed 28–0 with 1 absent. The floor also approved Senate Bill 23 (procurement and school construction provisions) by voice/recorded vote 28–0 with 1 absent and substitute Senate Bill 99 (vehicle emissions/procurement standards) after sponsor discussion.

Some votes recorded larger margins with a small number of dissenting senators. For example, Senate Bill 14 (Long‑Term Care Partnership) advanced after debate on whether the asset exclusion eases access to Medicaid; the final tally was 26 yea, 1 nay, and 2 absent. Senate Bill 121 (Tobacco Settlement Restricted Account Amendments) passed with 25 yea, 2 nay, and 2 absent after one senator said he opposed using tobacco settlement dollars because it creates dependence on smoking to fund programs.

Sponsor comments and floor explanations accompanied many votes. Senator Valentine described SB 123 as making permanent measures passed the prior year; Senator Jenkins detailed why procurement language was revised in SB 23 and noted ethics and procurement code already restrict conflicted construction contracting. Senator Jones explained that Senate Bill 115 would raise the statutory per‑page court transcript fee from $3.50 to $5, a change he said compensates transcribers; Senator Valentine protested that the increase is a 42% mandatory rise in litigation costs and announced he would vote no.

Taken together, the day's floor work moved a broad range of policy areas forward — from health and human services to energy and judiciary technical corrections. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan support on recorded voice and roll‑call votes; those that drew sustained debate were advanced with accompanying sponsor explanations and recorded roll calls. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday.

Votes at a glance (selected floor outcomes): - SB 123 (Interlocal Cooperation Act Revisions): 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent — passed. - SB 133 (Benefit Corporation statute): 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent — passed. - SCR 1 (Pledge resolution): 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent — passed. - SB 160 (Workers' compensation amendments): 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent — passed. - SB 23 (Procurement/school construction provisions): 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent — passed. - SB 14 (Long‑Term Care Partnership): 26 yea, 1 nay, 2 absent — advanced for third reading/passed. - SB 121 (Tobacco Settlement Restricted Account Amendments): 25 yea, 2 nay, 2 absent — advanced/passed. - SB 115 (Court transcript fee increase): 24 yea, 2 nay, 3 absent — advanced/passed.

The session included many additional items read for third time, bills circled for later consideration (for example, SB 19 and SJR 7 on tax commission appointments), and ceremonial recognitions. Where senators expressed concerns on specifics (funding sources, statutory cross‑references, or administrative limits), those concerns were recorded on the floor during sponsor remarks or in brief explanation of vote.