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Utah Senate opens 2014 session with invocation, president’s remarks and introduction of more than 100 bills
Summary
The Senate convened Jan. 27, 2014, heard an invocation and musical presentation, President Niederhauser urged return to fundamental principles and the body read in and referred over 100 bills to committees; interns and staff were introduced and the chamber recessed for lunch.
The Utah Senate convened the first day of the 60th Legislature on Jan. 27, 2014, opening with an invocation by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, the Pledge of Allegiance and a musical presentation by the Calvary Baptist Church Choir and soloist Nicole Cordova.
Senate President Niederhauser delivered a lengthy opening address urging frequent recurrence to foundational principles, quoting historical documents and Article I, Section 27 of the Utah Constitution. In that address the president asked members to focus on simplifying and repealing outdated or unenforceable statutes during the session.
Clerks read into the record the membership certification from Lieutenant Governor Spencer J. Cox listing senators chosen in recent elections. The presiding officer then called roll and announced a quorum. Senators recognized the Utah National Guard color guard and offered condolences to Senator Davis, whose mother had died Saturday.
Procedural business included adoption of certain rules and a motion to suspend the reading of long titles of bills by the required two-thirds majority. Senator Valentine and the Rules Committee were identified as taking up an early rules change (Senate Resolution 1) concerning committee hearings on House and Senate bills.
The clerk read for first time more than 100 bills and several concurrent and joint resolutions covering education, public safety, budget, taxation and other subject areas (examples read on the floor included SB 1 higher education budget; SB 12 age limit for tobacco; SB 26 air conservation reauthorization; SB 37 statewide online education revisions; and SCR 1 recognizing the Pledge wording anniversary). The presiding officer placed most bills on referral to the Rules Committee and directed SB 10 to the top of the second-reading calendar for immediate consideration.
Senator Henderson introduced a large group of interns by name and university affiliation and the Senate recognized pages, secretaries and staff in a short ceremony.
Ending After floor business and a short Committee of the Whole for guest remarks, the Senate recessed for lunch and planned to reconvene at 2:30 p.m.
