Utah Senate passes package of bills, tables domestic-violence data measure for fiscal review
February 08, 2023 | 2023 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah State Senate convened on Feb. 28, 2023, and approved a set of measures ranging from technical code recodification to operational changes for state programs, while tabling one domestic-violence data measure pending fiscal review.
Senators unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to consider federal funding after a private landowner donated 100 acres in Weber County for a Northern Utah veterans cemetery. "We've had a generous donation of a hundred acres by a private landowner in Weber County so that we could have a veterans and military cemetery," Senator Milner said while urging passage.
On the consent and second-reading calendars, the Senate approved House Bill 238 to extend access to public meeting facilities for political party events at institutions of higher education (26-0, 3 absent). The chamber also advanced a suite of third-reading bills: first substitute Senate Bill 132, which permits approved private fingerprint vendors to submit digital fingerprint scans and a photograph to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for driving-privilege card applicants, passed on a roll-call vote (23-1, 5 absent). "This bill simply allows an approved private fingerprint vendor to take and submit digital fingerprint scans and a photograph of the applicant to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation," Senator Wyler said in floor remarks.
House Bill 30 and its companion cross-reference bill, House Bill 31, implement a recodification of the wildlife resources code. Sponsors described the package as lengthy, technical work undertaken by an interim committee; HB30 passed unanimously (29-0-0) and HB31 passed (28-0-1). House Bill 41, clarifying certain Utah Retirement Systems processes including appeals and long-term disability review, passed (25-0-4).
The Senate also passed first substitute House Bill 122, described by Senator Pitcher as a consensus product of the Sentencing Commission and multiple stakeholder working groups to resolve inconsistencies in the sex-offender registry code (26-0, 3 absent). "These changes have resulted in inconsistencies that have made monitoring and management of the registry difficult," Pitcher said, urging the bill.
Second substitute House Bill 43, a package of domestic-violence modifications that sponsors said would create a domestic-violence data task force and coordinate related lethality-assessment work, was placed on the table after a motion citing a fiscal note. "I make a motion that we table second house bill 43 domestic violence modifications for fiscal note," Senator Ibsen stated; the motion passed and the bill was set aside for further fiscal review.
Votes at a glance
- SCR 7 (Northern Utah Veterans Cemetery grant submission): Passed, unanimous voice/unanimous recorded vote (26-0, 3 absent). (Proponent: Sen. Milner.)
- HB 238 (Political party public meeting facilities amendments): Passed (26-0, 3 absent). (Proponent: Sen. Anderegg.)
- 1st Sub. SB 132 (Driving-privilege card fingerprinting requirements): Passed (23-1, 5 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Wyler.)
- HB 30 (Wildlife resources code recodification): Passed (29-0, 0 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Sandle.)
- 1st Sub. HB 31 (Wildlife recodification cross references): Passed (28-0, 1 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Sandle.)
- HB 41 (Utah Retirement Systems revisions): Passed (25-0, 4 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Harper.)
- 1st Sub. HB 114 (Theft Defense Amendments, "Piglet Bill"): Passed (recorded roll call indicated 19 yea, 7 nay, 3 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Vickers.)
- 2nd Sub. HB 43 (Domestic violence modifications): Tabled for fiscal note (motion passed). (Sponsor: Sen. Escamilla.)
- 1st Sub. HB 122 (*** offender registry amendments): Passed (26-0, 3 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Pitcher.)
Why it matters
The bills passed Feb. 28 include both technical cleanups (wildlife code recodification, registry clarifications) and operational changes that affect government processes (fingerprint vendor submission to BCI, retirement-system appeal procedures). The domestic-violence package was not decided on the floor because senators voted to table the bill pending fiscal analysis, delaying collection or consolidation of statewide data recommended by sponsors.
What comes next
Passed bills will be transmitted for signatures or returned to the House as appropriate; the domestic-violence measure remains on the third calendar for fiscal review. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow, with the Rules Committee meeting immediately following floor time.
Senators unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to consider federal funding after a private landowner donated 100 acres in Weber County for a Northern Utah veterans cemetery. "We've had a generous donation of a hundred acres by a private landowner in Weber County so that we could have a veterans and military cemetery," Senator Milner said while urging passage.
On the consent and second-reading calendars, the Senate approved House Bill 238 to extend access to public meeting facilities for political party events at institutions of higher education (26-0, 3 absent). The chamber also advanced a suite of third-reading bills: first substitute Senate Bill 132, which permits approved private fingerprint vendors to submit digital fingerprint scans and a photograph to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for driving-privilege card applicants, passed on a roll-call vote (23-1, 5 absent). "This bill simply allows an approved private fingerprint vendor to take and submit digital fingerprint scans and a photograph of the applicant to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation," Senator Wyler said in floor remarks.
House Bill 30 and its companion cross-reference bill, House Bill 31, implement a recodification of the wildlife resources code. Sponsors described the package as lengthy, technical work undertaken by an interim committee; HB30 passed unanimously (29-0-0) and HB31 passed (28-0-1). House Bill 41, clarifying certain Utah Retirement Systems processes including appeals and long-term disability review, passed (25-0-4).
The Senate also passed first substitute House Bill 122, described by Senator Pitcher as a consensus product of the Sentencing Commission and multiple stakeholder working groups to resolve inconsistencies in the sex-offender registry code (26-0, 3 absent). "These changes have resulted in inconsistencies that have made monitoring and management of the registry difficult," Pitcher said, urging the bill.
Second substitute House Bill 43, a package of domestic-violence modifications that sponsors said would create a domestic-violence data task force and coordinate related lethality-assessment work, was placed on the table after a motion citing a fiscal note. "I make a motion that we table second house bill 43 domestic violence modifications for fiscal note," Senator Ibsen stated; the motion passed and the bill was set aside for further fiscal review.
Votes at a glance
- SCR 7 (Northern Utah Veterans Cemetery grant submission): Passed, unanimous voice/unanimous recorded vote (26-0, 3 absent). (Proponent: Sen. Milner.)
- HB 238 (Political party public meeting facilities amendments): Passed (26-0, 3 absent). (Proponent: Sen. Anderegg.)
- 1st Sub. SB 132 (Driving-privilege card fingerprinting requirements): Passed (23-1, 5 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Wyler.)
- HB 30 (Wildlife resources code recodification): Passed (29-0, 0 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Sandle.)
- 1st Sub. HB 31 (Wildlife recodification cross references): Passed (28-0, 1 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Sandle.)
- HB 41 (Utah Retirement Systems revisions): Passed (25-0, 4 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Harper.)
- 1st Sub. HB 114 (Theft Defense Amendments, "Piglet Bill"): Passed (recorded roll call indicated 19 yea, 7 nay, 3 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Vickers.)
- 2nd Sub. HB 43 (Domestic violence modifications): Tabled for fiscal note (motion passed). (Sponsor: Sen. Escamilla.)
- 1st Sub. HB 122 (*** offender registry amendments): Passed (26-0, 3 absent). (Sponsor: Sen. Pitcher.)
Why it matters
The bills passed Feb. 28 include both technical cleanups (wildlife code recodification, registry clarifications) and operational changes that affect government processes (fingerprint vendor submission to BCI, retirement-system appeal procedures). The domestic-violence package was not decided on the floor because senators voted to table the bill pending fiscal analysis, delaying collection or consolidation of statewide data recommended by sponsors.
What comes next
Passed bills will be transmitted for signatures or returned to the House as appropriate; the domestic-violence measure remains on the third calendar for fiscal review. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow, with the Rules Committee meeting immediately following floor time.
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