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Senate approves toned-down climate stewardship resolution after floor disagreement over explicit 'climate change' language
Summary
Senators passed a first‑substitute of House Concurrent Resolution 7 that affirms environmental and economic stewardship while removing an explicit mention of 'climate change' in the version the Senate considered; debate focused on whether removing language about health consequences and changing wording dilutes the resolution.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate approved a first substitute to House Concurrent Resolution 7, a consensus resolution on environmental and economic stewardship that the sponsor characterized as an effort to build constructive dialogue on natural-resource stewardship.
Senator Wyler presented the substitute version as intentionally toned down. He said the resolution grew out of a climate-solutions panel led by students and stakeholders and aims to reset the Legislature’s tone on environmental topics. Senator Escamilla and others objected to deletions in the substitute that removed direct references to 'climate change' and to a sentence referencing Department of Health findings about respiratory illnesses; they warned the edits undercut the bill’s stated purpose and conveyed the wrong message about scientific findings.
The sponsor said the resolution restores a more cautious approach than an older, hostile resolution and is intended to encourage cooperation among researchers, industry and government.
After discussion and explanations of votes, the Senate passed the first substitute and moved the resolution forward. Senators recorded a mix of aye and no explanations on the floor; the resolution passed and will be returned to the House for consideration.
What’s next: The resolution will be transmitted to the House and remains a nonbinding statement of legislative intent and tone rather than an enforceable policy change.
