Utah Senate, in short special session, unanimously consents to governor’s slate of appointees

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate met in its first extraordinary session on April 14, 2021, to consider and consent to a package of gubernatorial appointments, and approved the slate by a roll call vote of 28 to 0 with one senator absent.

The session opened with an invocation by Senator Owens and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a reading of a proclamation from Governor Spencer J. Cox calling the Senate into special session under the Utah Constitution and state law to consider nominees submitted since the close of the 2021 general session. The governor’s communication referenced Utah Code 67-1-1 and 67-1-2 and listed appointments to multiple state agencies and boards.

Senate committees reported unanimous or favorable recommendations for the nominees before the full chamber. “We were honored a few weeks ago to have confirmation hearings… We are thankful for the input from the citizens of the state and their opportunity to voice their support or concerns,” Senator Owens said while describing the committee process. Senator Thatcher, reporting for the Government Operations Confirmation Committee on the Department of Human Resource Management nominee John Burand, called him “imminently qualified and, frankly, delightful.”

Senator Hinkins moved that the Senate vote to consent to the appointments as read by the secretary. The secretary conducted a roll call. A sequence of senators answered “Aye,” and President Adams also recorded his vote in the affirmative. President Adams announced the result: 28 "yay" votes, 0 "nay," and 1 absent, and said the Senate had consented to the governor’s appointments.

The governor’s communication named appointments and reappointments across agencies including the Department of Technology Services (Chief Information Officer), the Public Service Commission, the Department of Human Resource Management, the Board of Pardons and Parole, the State Board of Education and state charter board nominees, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, the Air Quality Board, the Board of Aging and Adult Services, and other boards and commissions. The secretary corrected a typographical issue during the session to clarify one nomination (Eric Olsen to replace James Moss as the state charter school board nominee).

After the vote, Senator Cullimore reported that the governor’s representative had been notified that the Senate had concluded its business. Senator Vickers moved that the Senate adjourn sine die; the motion carried and the extraordinary session was adjourned.

The session was procedural in nature and limited to the statutory purpose set out in the governor’s proclamation — consent to executive appointments. The Senate did not take other legislative action in this session.