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Special session roundup: Senate approves bills on data centers, arena, drones, judicial nominations and more
Summary
The Utah Senate in a July 2016 special session approved a package of measures and several House bills, including targeted tax exemptions for enterprise data centers, a $10 million appropriation for a State Fair Park arena, new rules to restrict drones over wildfire zones, judicial nominating changes, continuing-care protections, and technical criminal-justice amendments. Multiple measures passed under suspension of rules.
The Utah State Senate wrapped a third special session in July 2016 by passing a set of measures the governor called the Legislature together to consider. Lawmakers voted to advance or consent to the items the proclamation listed, moving bills quickly under suspension of the three-reading requirement.
Key outcomes included: SB 3,001 (Controlled Substance Database Modifications) — sponsor Senator Weiler said the bill clarifies that probation and parole officers need not obtain a search warrant to query the controlled-substance database in specified circumstances; final passage was announced as 23 ayes, 2 nays, 4 absent. SB 3,002 (Economic Development Revisions) — a targeted sales-tax exemption for qualifying enterprise data centers passed after debate (announced vote: 24 yeas, 1 nay, 4 absent). SB 3,003 (Judicial Nominating Commissions Amendments) passed (25 yeas, 0 nays, 4 absent). SB 3,004 (Continuing-Care Retirement Communities Amendments) passed (25 yeas, 0 nays, 4 absent).
From the House the Senate received and passed multiple measures: HB 3,001 (Tax Credit Review Amendments) was processed and returned to the House for signature; HB 3,002 (State Fair Park Amendments) authorizing a $10 million state appropriation toward a multipurpose 10,000-seat arena at State Fair Park passed (25 yeas, 0 nays, 4 absent). HB 3,003 (Unmanned Aircraft Amendments) — intended to address drone interference with wildfire suppression, restitution, and authority to neutralize drones in restricted airspace — was passed under suspension of the rules. HB 3,004 (Criminal Justice Reinvestment Amendments) passed; sponsors said it clarifies probation risk-assessment language and earned-time program details.
The Senate also gave consent to multiple gubernatorial appointments, including Craig Bunnell to the Seventh District Juvenile Court (confirmed 25–0 with four absent) and several board and commission nominees listed in the governor's communications.
Several bills advanced under expedited procedures with relatively brief debate but included substantive policy issues: the SB 3,002 data-center exemption drew questions about scale and whether the incentive primarily targets very large, out-of-state firms; HB 3,002 (the State Fair Park arena) generated discussion about public funding that might compete with private venues; and HB 3,003 (unmanned aircraft) prompted questions about notice and federal-law interactions with FAA restrictions.
The Senate recessed briefly during the session and formally adjourned after completing signatures and notifying the House and governor.
