Utah Senate advances wide range of bills, circles high‑profile criminal procedure reform

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate on the floor advanced a broad package of second‑reading measures to third reading and set aside a contentious criminal‑procedure reform for further work.

Senators approved measures ranging from technical fixes to new policy tools. Among the bills moved forward were SB 49, which expands custodial‑interrogation protections for juveniles and lengthens the time to locate a ‘‘friendly adult;’’ SB 86, which removes fentanyl test strips from the state paraphernalia code so public‑health and harm‑reduction programs can use them; and SB 84, a first substitute tightening definitions and procedures for Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones. Lawmakers also approved a special Great Salt Lake preservation license plate (SB 92) whose fees would flow to the Sovereign Land Management account.

Why it matters: The package mixes public‑safety, health and economic development items that could alter how local programs operate and how state funds are administered. The Senate’s decision to 'circle' SB 87 — effectively pausing it for further stakeholder work — preserves time to resolve disputes on criminal‑procedure rules while advancing other measures.

Key votes and…