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Senate advances a package of bills: expungement, election-law changes, crisis-line commission and multiple transportation and retirement measures
Summary
The Utah Senate placed many committee bills on the second- and third-reading calendars and passed a set of bills under suspension, including SB 12 (expungement amendments), SB 13 (election-law amendments), SB 19 (retirement payment clarifications), SB 31 (law-enforcement personal information protections), SB 37 (statewide crisis-line commission), SB 38 (license-plate option), and others. Where recorded, roll-call tallies are listed.
The Utah Senate advanced a broad slate of committee bills and passed several measures under suspension of rules during today's floor session.
Key outcomes announced on the floor include:
- SB 12 (Expungement amendments): Sponsor Senator Thatcher described changes that simplify expungement eligibility for people who have gone 10 years without an additional offense and retain judicial oversight. The clerk announced the roll call for the motion to read for a third time: 27 yays, 0 nays, 2 absent. An amendment was noted as outstanding and the sponsor said it would be prepared prior to transmittal.
- SB 13 (Amendments to election law): Senator Dayton said the bill includes technical improvements and cost-saving options for county clerks (for example, allowing a postcard notice rather than mailing a full voter information pamphlet). Under suspension the Senate gave final passage; the clerk announced 27 yay votes for SB 13 on final action recorded on the floor.
- SB 19 (Retirement systems payments to survivors amendments): Senator Dayton presented clarifications about beneficiary designations after divorce or annulment; the transcript shows final passage with the clerk announcing 27 yay votes.
- SB 26 (Transportation divisions and structure amendments): Sponsor Senator Harper said the bill reorganizes internal divisions and modernizes language; the clerk announced SB 26 received 23 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 6 absent and passed to the House.
- SB 31 (Protection of law enforcement officers' personal information): Senator Ibsen explained the bill adds penalties when the Internet is used to expose officers' personal data; the clerk announced Senate Bill 31 received 24 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 5 absent and passed to the House.
- SB 37 (Statewide crisis-line commission): Senator Thatcher said Utah currently has 19 different crisis numbers and proposed a one-year sunsetting commission to design statewide coverage and pursue a single short number (the sponsor said a 3-digit number effort is pending). The Senate passed SB 37 by roll call: 26 yays, 0 nays, 3 absent.
- SB 38 (Specialized license plate amendments): Sponsor Senator Harper said certain IRP-registered commercial vehicles could obtain a second plate on request. The Senate passed SB 38; the clerk recorded 25 yays, 0 nays, 4 absent.
- SB 42 (DUI impound fee refund amendments): Senator Harper described a 180-day deadline for processing refunds when actions were taken in error; the bill was moved under suspension for consideration. Final tally on the floor was recorded in the day's roll-call sequence (bill advanced), specific tally for final passage is not clearly specified in the transcript excerpt.
Several other committee bills were placed on calendars, circled for amendment or otherwise advanced; some were read for third time and transmittal instructions to the House were given (House sponsors are required before the bill is final on the House side). Where the transcript does not include a clear roll-call tally for final passage, the status is recorded here as "passed; tally not specified" or "referred to House; tally not specified" as indicated on the floor.
The Senate ended the day with communications from the House and adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.
