Senate advances multiple house bills, tables several on third for fiscal review

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate moved a number of house bills forward and temporarily set others aside during its floor session on day 16 of the 2026 legislative session.

The chamber adopted the rules committee report and then took up its second-reading calendar. First Substitute House Bill 45, a bill to modernize the state fire code, was read a third time after sponsor Senator Vickers said the fiscal note showed no direct cost impact; the clerk recorded 25 yay votes, 0 nays and 4 absent and the bill advanced.

Behavior Analyst Licensing Act sunsets were considered in House Bill 14; sponsor Senator Wyler said the measure would extend the statute to July 1, 2036. The clerk reported the roll call for third-reading, and later Senator Fillmore successfully moved to table HB 14 on third for placement on the table-on-third calendar.

Other bills advanced on third reading with recorded tallies: HB 50 (Child Protection Ombudsman amendments) passed third reading with 24 yay, 0 nay, 5 absent; HB 11 (dye‑diesel inspection clarifications) recorded 26 yay, 0 nay, 3 absent; HB 47 (vehicle registration and insurance amendments) recorded 25 yay, 0 nay, 4 absent; HB 19 (drinking water utilities security and emergency response requirements) was read a third time with 23 yay, 0 nay, 6 absent.

Several measures were tabled on third for fiscal impact after members asked for further review. Senators moved to table HB 14, HB 34 (victim-rights cleanup), HB 39 (prison and jail standards), HB 52 (tribal endorsement on driver licenses), HB 35 (Bears Ears Visitor Center sunset), HB 73 (public employee retaliatory action amendments), and others, sending those items to the table-on-third calendar for later consideration.

The session concluded with joint rules resolutions advancing to third reading after debate on procedural wording and a plan for substitute language.

The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.