Utah Senate honors Wataro Misaka, approves rail‑planning and licensing changes and dozens of bills; lawmakers get an improved revenue forecast

The Utah Senate opened Day 24 with prayer and the pledge before moving quickly through committee reports and floor action, adopting a concurrent resolution honoring Wataro Misaka, and approving a slate of bills affecting licensing, transportation planning, taxation and other policy areas.

Senators suspended rules to adopt First Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 honoring Wataro Misaka, the University of Utah player credited with breaking a racial barrier in professional basketball and a World War II veteran. Sponsor Senator Iwamoto introduced family members and university officials; University of Utah athletic director Mark Harland told the Senate Misaka’s jersey will be retired at the Huntsman Center, saying the player “will forevermore be honored and celebrated with the legends who have competed at the University of Utah.” The resolution passed by roll call 27‑0 with two members absent.

On legislative business, the Senate passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 23, a licensing and occupational‑licensing cleanup that clarifies when Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) may issue a license to an out‑of‑state practitioner and changes the composition of the plumbers’ and electricians’ boards to include one union…