Votes at a glance: Utah House approves several bills on Jan. 30, 2019

The Utah House voted Jan. 30 to pass multiple bills on the third reading and to place others on subsequent calendars. The following is a concise summary of each bill, sponsor description, and the recorded House vote.

House Bill 44 — Physical Therapist Practice Act Amendments (Passed 72-0) Representative James A. Dunnigan said the bill allows students who are in their last term of education to sit for the licensure exam (currently offered four times a year) before graduation so, if they pass, they can complete education and obtain licensure without a one- to three-month delay. "So they're going to school... the licensure test is only given 4 times a year... this bill says if you're in your last term of your education, you can go ahead and take the exam," Dunnigan said. The House passed HB 44 72-0 and transmitted it to the Senate.

House Bill 54 — Fire Code Amendments; Amendment No. 1 adopted (Passed 71-0) Representative Dunnigan moved Amendment No. 1 and explained it removes language that limited required evacuation drills to fire only — noting drills may be for earthquake or other hazards — and reduces, in some rural situations, the required defensible area from 100 feet to 50 feet where a dwelling is more than 500 feet from a fire hydrant. "So we're just taking out that it the evacuations are not done for fire only... we're diminishing that to 50 feet," Dunnigan said. The House adopted the amendment and passed HB 54, 71-0.

House Bill 56 — Employers Reinsurance Fund Amendments (Passed 72-0) Dunnigan described the fund as addressing long-term liabilities for pre-1994 disability claimants and said that when outstanding claimants pass away and liabilities end, any remaining money would be returned to policyholders or the unemployment fund. The House approved HB 56, 72-0.

House Bill 24 — Property Tax Exemptions, Deferrals, and Abatements (Passed 73-0) Representative Eliason said HB 24 reorganizes and clarifies sections of the property tax code, broadens appeal rights for dissatisfied tax-relief decisions, and clarifies that armed-forces members deployed retain property tax exemptions per current Tax Commission practice. An amendment (Amendment No. 1) clarifying military-member exemptions was adopted; the bill passed 73-0 and will be transmitted to the Senate.

House Bill 25 — Tax Commission Amendments (Passed 72-0) Representative Eliason explained HB 25 extends authorization for the Tax Commission to hold non-public advisory meetings (where no official action may be taken) and requires the commission to report on the number and purpose of such meetings to the interim Revenue and Taxation Committee. The House passed HB 25, 72-0.

House Bill 45 — Higher Education Credit Amendments (Passed 72-0) Representative Peterson described HB 45 as requiring the Board of Higher Education (board of regions) to establish a statewide framework for awarding credit for prior learning, ensuring transferability and standardized advising. Representative Owens spoke in support, noting the bill could help returning adults and reduce extra coursework. The House passed HB 45, 72-0.

Other actions The House also adopted several standing committee reports and assigned bills to appropriate committees for further consideration. The House adopted the Rules Committee report assigning numerous bills across subject committees.

Where these bills go next Passed House bills will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration; joint resolutions approved by the House are returned to the Senate for its signature as appropriate.

Vote tallies and official outcomes above reflect the recorded counts announced on the House floor.