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Utah Senate opens 2017 session: oaths, rules adopted and dozens of bills introduced
Summary
Senators were sworn in, the chamber adopted existing rules, voted to read only short titles by default and introduced dozens of bills (SB1'SB97 among others) that were referred to the Rules Committee for assignment and future consideration.
The Utah State Senate convened its 2017 organizational session in January, administering oaths to newly elected and reelected senators, adopting existing chamber rules and introducing dozens of bills for referral to committee.
Spencer J. Cox, the lieutenant governor, read the official certification of election results for multiple districts, after which the President led administration of the oath to individual newly elected senators and a collective oath for returning members.
Senator Henderson moved that the Senate "continue its practice of reading only the short title of bills and resolutions as they are introduced or considered on a Senate calendar," saying the long title should be read only if a majority so directs; the motion passed by the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
The Senate also adopted the Senate, joint and interim rules put in place by the 2016 special session to remain in effect until the 2017 general session adopts new rules. That motion passed by voice vote.
Clerks read the short titles of a large batch of Senate bills (the transcript lists SB1 through SB97, several concurrent resolutions and joint rules resolutions). The President said bills read for the first time would be referred to the Rules Committee for assignment and that appropriations subcommittees would meet to consider base changes and timing for lifting bills later in February.
Senators and leaders reminded members about logistics: lunch provided in the Rotunda by The Road Home and a recess until 2:00 p.m. to receive the judiciary committee. The procedural motions and the bill introductions set the session's schedule and committee workload for the coming weeks.
A summary of formal organizational actions and procedural decisions was recorded on the floor, and introduced legislation will proceed through standard committee and calendar processes.
