Utah House passes measure to create radon task force after clarifying amendment

Representative Mike Stratton introduced Second Substitute House Bill 45 on Jan. 21 in the Utah House of Representatives, saying the bill would create a short-term task force for radon awareness and response and direct the Division of Environmental Quality to report back with recommendations.

"Radon gas is something that naturally occurs throughout the state," Stratton said during his presentation, adding that testing is a "fairly simple and straightforward" way to address risk and that radon "can potentially be the second leading cause to lung cancer behind smoking cigarette smoke." The sponsor said the task force would be time-limited and would present any required implementing legislation in 2022.

Representative Andrew King moved a textual amendment on the floor to strike the word "divergent" on line 83 and insert the phrase "the range of valid" scientific views so the bill would read: "consistent with best available science and taking into account the range of valid scientific views." King said the change was intended to avoid ambiguity that could allow minority scientific views to cancel out the best available science. Stratton called the change a friendly amendment, and the House approved the amendment by voice vote.

With summations waived, the House opened and closed voting. Second Substitute House Bill 45 passed the House 68 yes to 8 no; the clerk recorded the result and announced the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill's sponsor emphasized outreach and the development of an emergency response plan for invasive species in waterways during committee work and said the task force would include stakeholders and produce a near-term report. The bill does not specify an appropriation in the floor remarks; implementation details will be determined during the task force's work and in any legislative follow-ups.