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Utah special session: judges confirmed, $2.5M in supplemental appropriations and several bills pass
Summary
In a one-day special session, the Utah Legislature confirmed two district-court judges, approved $2.5 million in supplemental appropriations (including a $1.5 million settlement), and passed multiple technical bills on election timing, beer transition and tax-credit oversight.
The Utah Legislature used its Sept. 2019 special session to confirm two district‑court judges, approve supplemental spending tied to the 2020 census and a settlement, and pass several technical and procedural bills.
Confirmations: The Senate consented to Gov. Gary R. Herbert's judicial appointments. The Senate confirmed Chelsea Koch to the Third District Court and Angela Fonsbeck to the First District Court; each confirmation was accepted by roll call (both recorded as 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent). Both judges addressed the body briefly following confirmation.
Appropriations and settlement: The House transmitted House Bill 1001 (supplemental appropriations) to the Senate. Senator Jerry Stevenson described a $2,500,000 supplemental appropriation: $1,000,000 for 2020 census work and $1,500,000 for legal fees/settlement related to John Swallow. The Senate passed HB1001 (26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent). The Legislature also passed House Joint Resolution 101 approving the Swallow settlement.
Other bills: The Senate passed Senate Bill 1001 (election-code date changes) to fix a timing conflict affecting the 2020 primary, and the House later transmitted and returned first substitute SB1002 (medical cannabis amendments) for signature. The Senate also passed House Bill 1002 (beer transition period amendments) and House Bill 1003 (tax incentive oversight amendments), each under suspension of the rules.
Votes at a glance - Chelsea Koch (Third District Court) — Confirmed by consent (27‑0; 2 absent). - Angela Fonsbeck (First District Court) — Confirmed by consent (27‑0; 2 absent). - SB1001 (election code date changes) — Passed Senate (27‑0; 2 absent); referred to House. - First substitute SB1002 (medical cannabis) — Passed Senate (27‑0; 2 absent); later passed by House and transmitted for signature. - HB1001 (supplemental appropriations) — Passed Senate (26‑0; 3 absent). Funds: $1,000,000 census; $1,500,000 Swallow settlement. - HB1002 (beer transition period) — Passed Senate (25‑0; 4 absent). - HB1003 (tax incentive oversight amendments) — Passed Senate (25‑0; 4 absent). - HJR101 (Swallow settlement approval) — Passed (25‑0; 4 absent).
What legislators said: Senator Stevenson framed the supplemental appropriation as necessary to meet census deadlines and to resolve a negotiated settlement; "He was acquitted... and as a result we need to appropriate this money," Stevenson said on the floor. Several senators raised policy and fiscal questions during debate but ultimately supported the bills under suspension of the rules.
Next steps: Measures passed in the special session were sent for enrollment and signature as required by legislative process.
