Utah Senate advances multiple bills on consent calendar, approves DMV fee increase and driver-license fee fix for unhoused youth

The Utah State Senate on Feb. 17 moved through a packed agenda, passing a series of bills on the consent calendar and approving measures on the third-reading calendar before recessing until 2 p.m.

Senators returned House bills on consent including House Bill 12, which expands a state parks infrastructure grant to allow trail construction and acquisition of adaptive equipment for users with disabilities. Senator Owens said the change "allows construction of a trail facility, improvement of a trail or facility, or acquisition of equipment that improves access for disabled or adaptive users." HB12 passed on voice and roll-call vote and will be returned to the House for the speaker's signature.

The Senate also approved two sunset-related changes. Senator Stratton said House Bill 66 extends the Soil Health Program sunset date from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036, while House Bill 67 removes the sunset for lead-acid battery disposal requirements so those provisions remain permanent. Both bills passed on roll-call votes.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 53, which continues a 20-year community rehabilitation program that matches state workforce vacancies with qualified jobseekers with disabilities and adds a reporting requirement before the next sunset. Senator Brammer described the bill as an extension and transparency measure.

On the third-reading calendar, the Senate approved measures with broader policy or fiscal effects. Senator Wilson described Senate Bill 91 as a $1.25-per-registration fee increase to support county-run DMV offices across the state, saying the surcharge "will go towards the other 21 counties in helping them run DMV offices" and will fund training and computer upgrades. The Senate recorded 28 "aye" votes, 0 "nay," and 1 absent and returned the bill to the House for consideration.

Senate Bill 103, described by Senator Plumb as a narrow drafting fix, clarifies that driver license fee waivers apply to youth in foster care and adolescents experiencing homelessness so they can obtain licenses. Plumb called it "a simple fix" to ensure previously intended fee waivers apply; the Senate approved the bill by roll call.

Senators also approved first substitute Senate Bill 146, which allows remaining slag from the former Geneva Steel site to be used by municipalities for more than road base, and first substitute Senate Bill 69, which sets a default school cellphone policy while allowing local districts to adapt policy to local needs. Several other bills and committee reports were adopted with little or no debate.

Not all motions carried. Senator Blue moved to lift a previously tabled Enforcement Activities Amendments bill (SB136) from rules and place it back on the second-reading calendar. Blue argued the bill sought to address federal law enforcement actions and face-covering use by federal agents; he said recent incidents "show these overreaches happening all across the country" and urged reconsideration. Senator Weiler spoke against lifting the bill, saying tabling was a stronger committee action and that lifting it would violate procedures; the motion failed following a division.

The Senate recessed for the day after routine announcements about Weber State Day activities at the Capitol. The chamber recorded multiple unanimous or near‑unanimous roll-call results on consent and third-reading measures; specific tallies are recorded in official minutes and were read aloud during the floor session.

Votes at a glance: HB12 (outdoor recreation accessibility) — passed (27–0, 2 absent); HB53 (community rehabilitation program) — passed (26–0, 3 absent); HB66 (Soil Health Program sunset extension) — passed; HB67 (lead acid battery disposal sunset removal) — passed; FS SB69 (school cellphone policy) — passed (26–1, 2 absent); SB91 (motor vehicle registration fee increase) — passed (28–0, 1 absent); SB103 (driver license fee waiver fix for foster/unhoused youth) — passed (28–0, 1 absent); FS SB146 (slag reuse) — passed; SB50 (anesthesia coverage language) — passed. The motion to lift SB136 from rules failed. The Senate recessed until 2 p.m.