Utah Senate advances dozens of bills, approving age-verification, early-childhood expansion and a photo‑radar pilot
February 28, 2023 | 2023 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah State Senate met Feb. 27, 2023, and moved a broad package of measures to the House after suspending several rules to speed consideration. Lawmakers voted on bills ranging from online age verification and traffic‑safety pilots to education, tax and utility assistance measures.
Senators debated a measure to require commercial websites that distribute material harmful to minors to use “reasonable” third‑party age verification. Sponsor Senator Wyler said the bill “does not prevent any adult in the state of Utah from viewing [adult] material” but would hold commercial entities civilly liable if they fail to verify ages; supporters said third‑party verification services are already used by government agencies and businesses. Opponents raised enforcement limits for out‑of‑state or foreign sites and concerns about cybersecurity when identity data are involved. The Senate passed the bill under suspension of rules, 26‑0.
The chamber also debated and passed a one‑year pilot to permit limited use of photo‑radar at up to three school zones and three active construction zones. Sponsor Senator Stevenson said the pilot is aimed at improving safety where police resources or pursuits are impractical; the substitute specifies warnings for first offenses and limits point assessments and reporting. Detractors warned the technology could create a pathway to expanded surveillance and raised privacy concerns. The force substitute passed narrowly, 15‑13.
On education policy, the Senate approved a substitute expanding the Upstart home‑based preschool program statewide and authorizing outreach to families in intergenerational poverty, with Department of Workforce Services participation. Senator McCall said the program has been in operation for 14 years and “has actually served 158,000 kids since it started.” Some senators questioned whether the program’s current vendor model and past demographic reach justify expanded state support; the substitute passed 23‑2.
Lawmakers also approved legislation to establish processes for spending opioid litigation proceeds (Senate Bill 155), a utility bill assistance program using a restricted account of roughly $12 million (SB 288), and a set of tax and administrative items including nicotine‑product tax amendments and performance‑reporting changes. Several bills were placed on consent or circled for later action and will continue through the legislative process in the House.
Votes at a glance
- SB 287 (online age verification): Passed under suspension of rules, 26 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Wyler. Key issue: enforcement against out‑of‑state/foreign operators and data security for verification services.
- SB 105 (photo‑radar pilot): Force substitute passed, 15 yea, 13 nay; sponsor: Senator Stevenson. Key issue: limited one‑year pilot in school and construction zones, first‑offense warning, distribution of fines to safety initiative.
- SB 258 (Upstart program amendments / first substitute SB 2 58): Passed under suspension, 23 yea, 2 nay; sponsor: Senator McCall. Key issue: statewide expansion, partnerships with workforce services, evaluation and contractor requirements; debate over prior spending levels cited by critics.
- SB 155 (opioid settlement fund process): First substitute passed, 26 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Plumb. Key issue: establishes reporting and RFA process for proposed uses of settlement proceeds.
- SB 288 (utility bill assistance): Passed under suspension, 27 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Ibsen. Key issue: creates a program administered by the Department of Public Utilities using a restricted account to assist underserved ratepayers.
- SB 263 (second substitute Senate Bill 263, nicotine tax amendments): Passed, 25 yea, 0 nay.
- SB 279 (sales tax modifications / funding for cultural organizations): Failed, 11 yea, 14 nay.
What happens next
Bills that passed will be transmitted to the Utah House of Representatives for further consideration. The Senate recessed and planned to reconvene at 4 p.m. to continue work on circled and third‑reading items. Members flagged several bills for follow‑up during interim work and asked staff to prepare substitutes or amendments for later consideration.
Speakers quoted in this report are drawn from the Senate transcript for Feb. 27, 2023; vote tallies and procedural actions are reported as recorded on the Senate floor.
Senators debated a measure to require commercial websites that distribute material harmful to minors to use “reasonable” third‑party age verification. Sponsor Senator Wyler said the bill “does not prevent any adult in the state of Utah from viewing [adult] material” but would hold commercial entities civilly liable if they fail to verify ages; supporters said third‑party verification services are already used by government agencies and businesses. Opponents raised enforcement limits for out‑of‑state or foreign sites and concerns about cybersecurity when identity data are involved. The Senate passed the bill under suspension of rules, 26‑0.
The chamber also debated and passed a one‑year pilot to permit limited use of photo‑radar at up to three school zones and three active construction zones. Sponsor Senator Stevenson said the pilot is aimed at improving safety where police resources or pursuits are impractical; the substitute specifies warnings for first offenses and limits point assessments and reporting. Detractors warned the technology could create a pathway to expanded surveillance and raised privacy concerns. The force substitute passed narrowly, 15‑13.
On education policy, the Senate approved a substitute expanding the Upstart home‑based preschool program statewide and authorizing outreach to families in intergenerational poverty, with Department of Workforce Services participation. Senator McCall said the program has been in operation for 14 years and “has actually served 158,000 kids since it started.” Some senators questioned whether the program’s current vendor model and past demographic reach justify expanded state support; the substitute passed 23‑2.
Lawmakers also approved legislation to establish processes for spending opioid litigation proceeds (Senate Bill 155), a utility bill assistance program using a restricted account of roughly $12 million (SB 288), and a set of tax and administrative items including nicotine‑product tax amendments and performance‑reporting changes. Several bills were placed on consent or circled for later action and will continue through the legislative process in the House.
Votes at a glance
- SB 287 (online age verification): Passed under suspension of rules, 26 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Wyler. Key issue: enforcement against out‑of‑state/foreign operators and data security for verification services.
- SB 105 (photo‑radar pilot): Force substitute passed, 15 yea, 13 nay; sponsor: Senator Stevenson. Key issue: limited one‑year pilot in school and construction zones, first‑offense warning, distribution of fines to safety initiative.
- SB 258 (Upstart program amendments / first substitute SB 2 58): Passed under suspension, 23 yea, 2 nay; sponsor: Senator McCall. Key issue: statewide expansion, partnerships with workforce services, evaluation and contractor requirements; debate over prior spending levels cited by critics.
- SB 155 (opioid settlement fund process): First substitute passed, 26 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Plumb. Key issue: establishes reporting and RFA process for proposed uses of settlement proceeds.
- SB 288 (utility bill assistance): Passed under suspension, 27 yea, 0 nay; sponsor: Senator Ibsen. Key issue: creates a program administered by the Department of Public Utilities using a restricted account to assist underserved ratepayers.
- SB 263 (second substitute Senate Bill 263, nicotine tax amendments): Passed, 25 yea, 0 nay.
- SB 279 (sales tax modifications / funding for cultural organizations): Failed, 11 yea, 14 nay.
What happens next
Bills that passed will be transmitted to the Utah House of Representatives for further consideration. The Senate recessed and planned to reconvene at 4 p.m. to continue work on circled and third‑reading items. Members flagged several bills for follow‑up during interim work and asked staff to prepare substitutes or amendments for later consideration.
Speakers quoted in this report are drawn from the Senate transcript for Feb. 27, 2023; vote tallies and procedural actions are reported as recorded on the Senate floor.
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