Utah Senate advances wide slate of bills, marks Day of Remembrance and hears updated revenue forecast

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate on Feb. 19 moved dozens of measures through third reading, approved an official Day of Remembrance citation recognizing the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, and heard fresh revenue estimates that lawmakers said will shape budget decisions in the coming weeks.

The chamber approved measures spanning public safety, education reporting and administrative changes. Senator McCall urged support for House Bill 135, which redefines "congregate care" to align state definitions with federal interstate-compact standards for youth placement; the Senate passed the bill on a roll-call of 24 yeas and 0 nays, with 5 absent. Senator Thatcher summarized House Bill 22, which requires the chief medical examiner to investigate deaths resulting directly from law enforcement actions; the Senate passed HB 22 23-0 with 6 absent.

Other bills the chamber passed included first substitute House Bill 65, which provides funding and a public risk map for wildland fires and directs a comparison of federal, state and municipal wildland agencies; the Senate recorded 25 yeas, 0 nays, 4 absent. First substitute House Bill 175 raised some risk-management settlement thresholds and clarified evidentiary protections; the Senate approved it with the vote recorded as 23 yeas, 0 nays, 6 absent. First substitute Senate Bill 51 (technical group/gang enhancement amendments) was approved on unanimous recorded support mentioned in the floor action.

A notable floor exchange centered on first substitute Senate Bill 113, a transportation cleanup bill that authorizes a pilot for a Department of Public Safety-managed towing-rotation system. Sponsor Senator Harper said the pilot would let DPS investigate vendor options, issue an RFP, and, if a contract is awarded, limit the program to a single county with a statutory expiration (12/31/2023). Several senators raised concerns about rural dispatch practicality, vendor consolidation and potential insurance or user fees being passed to motorists. "If this is something the Department of Public Safety says is really needed... they should fund it," said Senator Andrick, pressing the sponsor on whether general taxpayers should bear costs that could be charged to users.

The chamber also took up HB 113 (shared medical costs) and passed the third substitute; after passage Senator Fillmore identified an apparent drafting oversight that could obligate a noncustodial parent to pay half of an employer-subsidized premium. Fillmore said he intended to work with the sponsor to reconsider and fix the language; the Senate discussed the proper process for reconsideration.

During a ceremonial portion of the session, Senator Iwamoto read an official citation recognizing February 19 as a Day of Remembrance for Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes following Executive Order 9066 and detained in relocation centers such as Topaz in Delta, Utah. "Over 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were uprooted from their homes," the citation states; senators spoke in support and personal reflection.

Senator Stevenson delivered updated consensus revenue estimates from the Tax Commission and the governor's budget office: an increase of about $315 million in one-time revenue and $112 million in ongoing revenue. He said roughly $205 million in ongoing funds were available at that point, and that lawmakers faced about $1.3 billion in new or one-time funds and about $2.0 billion in spending requests, framing a coming period of prioritization and likely cuts.

Votes at a glance (recorded tallies as stated on the floor): - First substitute Senate Bill 51 (group/gang enhancement): 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent — passed. - House Bill 135 (congregate care program amendments): 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent — passed. - House Bill 22 (medical examiner amendments): 23 yea, 0 nay, 6 absent — passed. - House Bill 23 (voter referendum amendments): roll-call/voice vote recorded on floor and passed (ayes recorded in transcript). - House Bill 100 (post-conviction relief process): 22 yea, 0 nay, 7 absent — passed. - First substitute House Bill 175 (risk management settlement authority): 23 yea, 0 nay, 6 absent — passed. - House Bill 196 (ballot amendments): 23 yea, 0 nay, 6 absent — passed. - First substitute House Bill 65 (wildland fire amendments): 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent — passed. - House Bill 188 (state stone designation): 24 yea, 1 nay, 4 absent — passed. - First substitute House Bill 252 (state pay plan amendments): 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent — passed. - House Bill 238 (marriage amend. allowing legislators to officiate): recorded as passed on the floor (vote entries present). - Third substitute House Bill 113 (shared medical costs): 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent — passed; sponsor and floor raised a drafting concern for possible later amendment/reconsideration. - House Bill 109 (wildlife removal notice to property owners): 22 yea, 3 nay, 4 absent — passed. - First substitute House Bill 83 (migratory bird production area amendments): 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent — passed. - Senate Bill 179 (DUI probation amendments): read for third and advanced (votes recorded/read on the floor). - Senate Bill 181 and 182 (creation of Department of Government Operations and cross-references): advanced to third reading; SB 181 recorded as 23 yea, 3 nay, 3 absent on floor.

What comes next: bills that passed will be signed by the President and returned to the House for the Speaker's signature where required; some measures that the Senate refused to concur on will go back to the House or be resolved in conference committees. Sponsors and senators signaled plans for follow-up amendments (notably on HB 113 and HB 113/113-related drafting concerns) and the Senate recessed until 2 p.m. The revenue update sets the stage for budget negotiations over the next two weeks.

Sources: floor proceedings and roll-call announcements read into the record on Feb. 19, 2021.