Senate adopts prior rules, suspends reading requirements and introduces several bills at second special session

The Utah State Senate opened its second special session Nov. 9, 2021, adopted interim rules carried over from the 2021 extraordinary session and suspended several procedural reading and calendar rules to expedite consideration of special‑session business.

Senator Buxton moved that the Senate "adopt the same rules, joint rules, and interim rules adopted by the 2021 sixth extraordinary session of the 60 fourth legislature" until the second special session adopts new rules. That motion passed by voice vote, recorded in the transcript as unanimous. Buxton also moved that the chamber continue the practice of reading only short titles of bills and resolutions unless a majority directs otherwise; that motion likewise passed without recorded opposition.

Senator Vickers successfully moved to suspend rules that otherwise would place bills on the third‑reading calendar until the following day, enabling measures to be read for first consideration and placed on the second‑reading calendar for immediate action.

The clerk read four bills on first reading to be placed on the second‑reading calendar and referred to the rules committee for consideration: Senate Bill 2,001 (election schedule amendments), SB 2,002 (interlocal cooperation act amendments), SB 2,003 (state flag amendments) and SB 2,004 (workplace COVID‑19 amendments). Only SB 2,001 received substantive floor explanation and a final roll‑call vote during this session; the other bills were introduced and sent to committee.

After completing the introductions and passing SB 2,001, the Senate recessed until 4 p.m. for caucusing and committee meetings.

The session’s actions included multiple temporary procedural suspensions intended to allow rapid consideration of the proclaimed items; the transcript records no recorded opposition to the procedural motions.