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Senate passes SCR 5 recognizing National Blue Ribbon Schools and advances a package of bills in roll-call votes
Summary
On day 11 of the 2020 Utah legislative session the Senate unanimously passed SCR 5 to recognize National Blue Ribbon Schools and approved multiple house bills and substitutes (including HB 49, HB 48, HB 24, HB 25, HB 11, HB 51) by roll-call votes; most measures passed by recorded tallies of 28–0 with one absence.
The Utah State Senate on its 11th day of the 2020 session voted to approve a package of measures, including a concurrent resolution recognizing National Blue Ribbon Schools and several technical and policy bills, advancing them to the House or onward in the legislative process.
Senate concurrent resolution 5 (SCR 5), presented by Senator Fillmore, recognizes schools in Utah that received the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon award. The body voted to suspend rules and waive three readings for the resolution and then passed it by roll-call: 28 'yay' votes, 0 'nay', 1 absent. Senator Fillmore said the award is highly competitive and praised the schools’ academics and community engagement.
Lawmakers also moved multiple house bills and senate-introduced substitutes through third readings and recorded votes. Notable actions included:
- House Bill 49 (sales tax on motor vehicles technical change), sponsor: Senator Fillmore — motion to pass carried by roll-call with 28 'yay' votes, 0 'nay', 1 absent.
- House Bill 48 (acquisition cost definition), sponsor: Senator Fillmore — described as a clean-up to define 'acquisition cost' in code; read for a third time and advanced after a roll-call vote (28–0, 1 absent).
- First substitute House Bill 24 (Health Care Professional Licensing Amendments), sponsor: Senator Christiansen — clarified that falsifying health records with malintent can be deemed unprofessional licensure; moved for third reading and advanced on a roll-call vote.
- House Bill 25 (Controlled Substance Revisions), sponsor: Senator Christiansen — a routine update adding a new substance and adjusting advisory-board composition; advanced on a recorded vote.
- House Bill 11 (Blood Alcohol Limit Amendments), sponsor: Senator Bramble — coordinates a 0.05 blood-alcohol threshold across code (for purposes such as workers’ compensation); passed on a roll-call (28–0, 1 absent).
- House Bill 51 (Property Assessment Procedure Amendments), sponsor: Senator Bramble — characterized as code clean-up to remove an implication that one commissioner could overturn county assessments; the bill was encircled for consideration, discussed, then read for a third time and advanced (28–0, 1 absent).
Senators generally offered brief descriptions of bills before votes; several measures were described as technical or clarifying changes to existing code sections. Where substantial policy changes were noted (for example, HB 24’s expansion of terminology for unprofessional licensure), sponsors provided short explanations on the floor and the bills advanced without extended debate.
The Senate rules committee report assigning additional bills to standing committees was approved earlier in the day. At the close of floor business the Senate adjourned and scheduled a rules committee meeting immediately after floor time.
Votes at a glance (selected items recorded on the floor): SCR 5 — Sponsor: Senator Fillmore — Passed 28–0 (1 absent) — waived three readings and passed under suspension of rules. HB 49 — Sponsor: Senator Fillmore — Passed 28–0 (1 absent) — technical change on sales tax for motor vehicles. HB 48 — Sponsor: Senator Fillmore — Passed 28–0 (1 absent) — defines 'acquisition cost' in code. HB 24 (1st substitute) — Sponsor: Senator Christiansen — Passed (roll-call recorded) — expands 'unprofessional licensure' to cover falsifying health records with malintent. HB 25 — Sponsor: Senator Christiansen — Passed (roll-call recorded) — controlled substances update and advisory-board change. HB 11 — Sponsor: Senator Bramble — Passed 28–0 (1 absent) — aligns a 0.05 blood-alcohol threshold across code. HB 51 — Sponsor: Senator Bramble — Passed 28–0 (1 absent) — property assessment procedure clean-up.
The Senate transmitted passed items to the House where required and signed enrolled bills as appropriate. The body concluded floor business and adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.
