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Utah Senate moves multiple bills forward; Medicaid audit changes and workers— comp measure pass
Summary
On a House-heavy calendar, the Utah Senate passed a series of bills to send to the House and took other procedural action: SB 61 (Medicaid audit amendments) passed 25-0; SB 63 (workers' compensation fund changes) passed 27-0; several House bills were read for third time and advanced; HB 18 (hearing aid program) was read then tabled because of a fiscal note.
The Utah Senate spent its floor session addressing both Senate and House measures and recorded multiple roll-call outcomes.
First substitute Senate Bill 61 (Medicaid audit amendments) was presented by Senator Hilliard, who said stakeholders supported the substitute and that the measure maintains audit authority while adding fair-procedure protections. "I've had no questions ... Mike Hales ... says, really good bill," Hilliard said. The Senate voted 25-0 in favor and sent the bill to the House.
First substitute Senate Bill 63 (workers' compensation fund amendments) was described by Senator Bramble as repealing a federal tax exemption, keeping the workers' compensation fund (WF) as the insurer of last resort and changing board makeup to increase distance between the fund and the state. The roll call showed 27 yays and no nays; the bill passed to the House.
First substitute Senate Bill 76, a physician loan repayment program intended to incentivize new doctors to practice in-state with repayment funded by hospitals and the state, received 24 yays and was sent to the House.
On the House bills calendar, the Senate handled a sequence of measures including HB 19 (insurance comparison tables), HB 23 (insurance disclosure clean-up related to ACA enrollment), HB 30 (math teacher training amendments), HB 31 (natural gas pipeline emergency-plan and fine adjustments) and HB 21 (repeal of workforce services sunset). Recorded votes included HB 31 (first substitute) at 23-0 and HB 21 at 22-1; several other House bills were read for a third time and advanced with recorded tallies reported on the floor.
House Bill 18, which extends eligibility for an existing hearing-aid program from age 3 to age 6, drew attention for a $100,000 fiscal note. Senator Jerry Stevenson moved to table HB 18 on third reading; the motion to table passed and the bill was not advanced that day.
The Senate concluded morning business, provided notices about rules and events, recognized visiting delegations and adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.
