Utah House approves COVID-era fixes and funding moves in Aug. 20 special session

The Utah House of Representatives convened in a special session Aug. 20, 2020 and approved a package of measures aimed at addressing technical, public‑health and economic problems created or highlighted by the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Chief business during the floor session included passage of HB 6001, the Uniform Electronic Wills Act, which allows a testator and witnesses to execute and attest wills electronically. Representative Snow described the change as a tool for elderly or ill Utahns who cannot safely appear in person, and he tied the measure to recent adoption of remote notary procedures. Representative Miles said he had initial concerns about fraud and undue influence but ultimately supported the bill after safeguards were added; Representative Dahn said electronic execution could provide a stronger record of identity and demeanor. The House approved HB 6001 and transmitted it to the Senate.

Other measures the chamber advanced included HB 6003, which increases a monthly employer‑coverage premium subsidy for low‑income adults from $150 to $300 and allows the subsidy to be used for COBRA payments; HB 6004, which temporarily suspends statutory requirements for large emergency evacuation drills at schools through Feb. 28, 2021 while preserving smaller, classroom‑based instruction alternatives; HB 6005, which raises the allowable share of online instruction for cosmetology programs from 30% to 50% with a July 2, 2022 sunset; and HB 6006, which clarified alcohol license transfers within airport concourses, adjusted treatment of reception centers for sales‑mix calculations and delayed certain license renewal deadlines to give hospitality businesses breathing room.

The House also read and moved multiple other bills, including HB 6007 (municipal annexation revisions), HB 6011 (extending the start date for pharmaceutical price reporting at the Department of Insurance) and HB 6012 (public education funding and enrollment amendments). Under suspension of the rules, several bills were lifted from the Rules Committee for second reading and placed on the third‑reading calendar.

Votes at a glance: HB 6001 (Uniform Electronic Wills Act) — House: 71 yes, 1 no; transmitted to Senate. HB 6003 (Premium subsidy amendments) — House: 73 yes, 0 no; transmitted to Senate. HB 6004 (School emergency drills amendments) — House: 71 yes (no no count stated); transmitted to Senate. HB 6005 (Cosmetology instruction limits) — House: recorded as passed and transmitted to Senate (no full tally recorded in the transcript excerpt). HB 6006 (Alcohol license and permit amendments, amendment adopted) — amendment adopted; bill advanced. HB 6007 (Municipal annexation revisions) — lifted for consideration; sponsor sought further stakeholder input. HB 6011 (Pharmaceutical reporting amendments) — House: recorded as transmitted to Senate (tally announced later in the transcript as 75 yes, 0 no). HB 6012 (Public education funding and enrollment amendments) — House: 75 yes, 0 no; transmitted to Senate.

The body moved through the agenda quickly under virtual‑session rules adopted for 2020, with sponsors and a handful of members asking clarifying questions on safeguards, eligibility and funding sources. Several speakers emphasized the bills were intended as time‑limited, pandemic‑era adjustments rather than permanent overhauls; where sunset dates or re‑evaluation points were included, sponsors noted they expected to revisit the matters in future sessions.

The House also began consideration of a supplemental budget bill (HB 6002) and placed it on the third‑reading calendar; separate floor debate and a fuller accounting of appropriations for CARES Act funds and other state resources were recorded during the session.

The House recessed after completing morning business and transmitting passed measures to the Senate for further consideration.