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Senate floor roundup: notable bills the chamber passed March 11, 2019
Summary
On March 11 the Utah Senate passed a wide set of bills on communications, elections, governmental immunity, public safety, education and appropriations; many were passed under suspension of rules and will be returned to the House for signatures.
Several bills moved or passed on the Utah Senate floor March 11. Below are results and brief notes on items that saw action or votes.
- Fourth Substitute Senate Bill 154 (Utah Communications Authority Amendments): The Senate concurred with House changes (Senator Harper noted a date change from 2028 to 2025) and passed the bill; it will be returned to the House for the Speaker’s signature. (Vote: 21 yea, 2 nay, 6 absent.)
- House Bill 445 (health-care debt collection notice): Passed (25–0, 4 absent). The bill allows first-class mail and limited email for debt-collection notices (email limited to non-Medicare recipients under age 65); sponsor said HIPAA concerns were resolved.
- House Bill 152 (voluntary firearm commitment amendments): Passed (21–2, 6 absent). The bill expands 'cohabitant' definition and creates a voluntary firearm safe-storage option via law enforcement; sponsors emphasized no confiscation.
- House Bill 119 (initiatives/referenda and political activities): Passed (21–1, 7 absent). The bill clarifies timelines for municipal ballot initiatives and prohibits municipalities from using public resources to influence citizen initiatives.
- House Bill 412 (domesticated game slaughter): Passed (20–0, 9 absent). The bill reinstates allowances for mobile slaughter trailers for large domestic game where appropriate.
- First substitute House Bill 8 (state agency and higher education compensation appropriations): Passed (23–0, 6 absent). Appropriates salary adjustments and increases for state employees.
- First substitute House Bill 311 (governmental immunity revisions): Passed (22–0, 7 absent). The bill waives governmental immunity in specified school battery claims and adjusts notice and special-master procedures for excess damages.
- First substitute House Bill 310 (solid and hazardous waste amendments): Passed (23–0, 6 absent). The bill updates definitions and rulemaking authority related to landfill regulation, following EPA concerns.
- Second substitute House Bill 288 (critical infrastructure materials): Passed (22–5, 2 absent). Floor amendments addressed vesting-date language and technical corrections; sponsors said local legislative and referendum options were preserved.
- House Bill 350 (mobile carrier amendments — delivery devices): Passed (23–0, 6 absent). The bill clarifies rules for low-speed, last-mile delivery vehicles.
- House Bill 415 (local law enforcement structure and governance): Passed (20–7, 2 absent). The bill affirms local elected officials’ authority over police department leadership and policy.
- Second substitute House Bill 303 (school community council amendments): Passed (18–5, 6 absent). The bill requires at least annual discussions on school safety between administrators and school community councils.
- House Bill 301 (Board of Pardons and Parole amendments): Passed (24–0, 5 absent). The bill increases notification to victims and other parties and implements trauma-informed recommendations.
- House Bill 444 (at-risk government employee information-protection amendments): Passed (25–0, 4 absent). Allows specified employees to request that personal information be shielded from routine public disclosures.
What this means: Most of these measures were approved by recorded roll call and returned to the House for signature or further consideration. Some—like HB288 and HB179—were amended on the floor to address technical or policy concerns, meaning the House must next accept, recede, or request conference committees on the changes.
