Utah Senate approves broad package of bills, including public-lands resolution and multiple House measures

The Utah Senate on Feb. 11, 2022 advanced and approved a wide-ranging set of bills and resolutions, returning several measures to the House for signature and adopting a concurrent resolution condemning Venezuela.

Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 15 (Department of Government Operations), which the sponsor said clarified limited circumstances when meetings may be closed to protect cybersecurity; Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, strengthening language on state cooperation with federal partners for public-lands management; and a host of House-originated bills on economic development, rural coworking grants, tax-credit clarifications and administrative updates.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Senate Bill 15 (Department of Government Operations): motion to concur and to pass carried; the president announced the bill will be returned to the House for the speaker’s signature (passage announced by the chair).
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (public-lands cooperation): concurred to and passed by voice/roll call (28-0-1) and returned to the House.
- Third substitute House Bill 35 (economic development modifications): substituted and passed (25-1-3), returned to the House.
- House Bill 101 (Rural Coworking and Innovation Center grant amendments): sponsor amended the bill to allow nonprofits to apply for the grant; bill passed (26-0-3).
- House Bill 26 (circuit-breaker/renter credit clarification): sponsor said the bill codifies Tax Commission practice; bill passed (25-0-4).
- Second substitute Senate Bill 119 (pre-construction and construction liens): amended language replacing archaic “at the instance of” with “authorized” to clarify consent for liens; bill passed (25-0-4).
- Second substitute House Bill 106 (tax-sale notice amendments): sponsor said the change allows tracked commercial carriers beyond USPS for tax notices; bill passed (25-0-4).
- House Bill 78 (Wildlife Conservation Fund): creates a consolidated conservation fund with annual review by the Natural Resources Appropriations Committee; bill passed (26-0-3).
- First substitute House Bill 142 (donation of wild game): allows legally harvested game meat to be donated to nonprofits under specified handling and labeling requirements; bill passed (24-0-5).
- House Bill 68 (commercial driver license amendments): sponsor said the changes keep state CDLs in compliance with federal regulation; bill passed (23-0-6).
- First substitute Senate Bill 160 (Colorado River Authority amendments): adds a tribal seat and adjusts county recognition; bill passed (24-0-5).
- House Concurrent Resolution 5 (condemning the undemocratic government of Venezuela): adopted under suspension of the rules after welcoming Venezuelan youth to the Capitol (24-0-5).

Many bills were presented with brief sponsor remarks or technical amendments and saw little floor debate before substitution or passage. A handful of measures required amendment on the floor; sponsors said the changes addressed drafting or policy clarifications. Several bills will be returned to the House for final action or signature, and other measures will be sent to House committees for further consideration.

The Senate adjourned after recognizing guests in the gallery and making committee announcements; the next scheduled convening was Monday at 10 a.m.