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Utah Senate opens 2020 session, adopts prior rules and suspends long-title readings
Summary
On opening day in January 2020 the Utah State Senate certified membership, adopted previously used rules, approved a practice of reading only short bill titles, introduced dozens of bills, and recessed to a joint session to hear the State of the Judiciary.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate opened its 2020 general session in January, certified its membership and moved quickly through organization and procedural steps before adjourning for a joint convening to hear the state judiciary.
President Adams called the body to order, introduced guests and invited participation in ceremonial items, including an invocation by Elder Ulysses Suarez and musical performances by the Utah Symphony brass quintet and presentation of colors by the Utah Air National Guard. "We are organized for the 2020 session," President Adams said after welcoming members and guests.
The Lieutenant Governor's certification of elected senators was read into the record by the secretary. The docket clerk completed a roll call; with 28 senators present the president announced a quorum.
Procedurally, the Senate approved a motion from Senator Buxton to adopt the same joint and interim rules used in the 2019 special session until the 2020 general session adopts new rules. Buxton also moved, and the Senate approved, a motion to continue the practice of reading only short bill titles when bills and resolutions are introduced or considered on the Senate calendar unless a majority directs otherwise. Both motions were approved by voice vote.
Clerks read lists of bills and joint resolutions to be placed directly on the second-reading calendar. The introductions included a broad set of measures covering government operations, education, water banking, public safety, tax and revenue matters, clean-energy amendments and proposals to amend the Utah Constitution related to annual general sessions and judicial vacancies.
Later in the morning, Senator Buxton moved to recall several bills (SB 42, SB 47 and SB 48) from the second-reading calendar and return them to the Rules Committee; that motion was approved. The Rules Committee reported assignments of numerous bills to standing committees, and the Senate voted to approve the committee report.
Before adjournment the Senate announced it would reconvene at 2 p.m. in the House Chamber for a joint session to hear the State of the Judiciary. Senator Vickers moved that the Senate recess and reconvene this afternoon in the House Chamber at 2:15 p.m.; the motion passed and the Senate recessed.
The session included extended opening remarks from President Adams highlighting Utah's economic rankings and future-facing priorities, recognition of staff and interns, and formal instructions for committee work during the week. No final passage votes on substantive bills were recorded on opening day; most legislation introduced was placed on the second-reading calendar or assigned to committees for consideration.
