Senate approves multiple substituted base-budget bills, sends measures to House

The Utah State Senate on the floor substituted and passed a series of base-budget bills under suspension of the rules, moving multiple appropriations measures to the House for consideration.

Senators substituted and passed first substitute Senate Bill 4 (business, economic development and labor base budget). Sponsor Senator Shiozawa summarized fiscal adjustments that include lapsing $4,500,000 from Tax Commission nonlapsing balances and $265,000 from the Insurance Department to the general fund for FY2016, a $400,000 transfer to finalize funding for the Saint George Welcome Center, and internal service fund accounting changes. The Senate recorded 27 yes votes, 0 no votes and 2 absences on final passage and directed the bill to the House.

Senate Bill 5 (retirement and independent entities base budget) was substituted to authorize personnel and capital outlay adjustments for the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) and internal service fund operations. The sponsor reported appropriations including $41,789,500 for the Utah Education and Telehealth Network and $14,327,300 for DHRM. The Senate passed the substituted bill by recorded vote, 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.

Senate Bill 6 (infrastructure and general government base budget) was presented as a substitute by Senator Harper; the sponsor said the substitute reflects about $1,690,000,000 appropriated across Technology Services, Administrative Services, Transportation and the Capital Budget. The Senate passed the substitute, 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.

Senate Bill 1 (higher education base budget) and Senate Bill 7 (National Guard, Veterans Affairs and legislative budgets) also passed final passage under suspension of the constitution’s three-reading requirement and were transmitted to the House. Senate clerks recorded the funding sources and totals on the floor for SB1, including $524,000,000 from the education fund and $725,000,000 from dedicated credits as part of the recorded account.

Senators and sponsors repeatedly characterized these votes as procedural steps to move base-budget bills quickly so the House may act; several senators asked that specific technical or transition issues still be resolved in committee or in the House. No formal amendments altering the reported appropriation totals were adopted on the floor during these votes.

The Senate adjourned after correcting transmittal letters and directing enrolled bills to staff for enrollment and transmission to the House.