Utah Senate passes multiple bills on transportation, energy and elections; several measures circled for further work

The Utah State Senate spent a large portion of its March 2, 2023 floor session moving a broad second‑reading calendar and voting to pass a string of bills that will return to the House for further action or signature.

Among the bills the Senate approved were a substitute to Senate Bill 175 (Rural Transportation Infrastructure Fund), which the Senate passed unanimously 27‑0 after sponsors said the substitute secures ongoing allocations to counties through UDOT rather than requiring annual legislative reallocation. Senator Owens, the floor sponsor, said the change "is going forward for ongoing funding" and that it corrects prior annual reallocations.

The chamber also approved First Substitute House Bill 389 (Electrical Power Delivery Quality Amendments) after sponsor Senator Hinkins described the measure as granting the Public Service Commission authority to regulate the quality of electricity entering transmission lines; roll call recorded 21 ayes, 6 nays and 2 absent. Senator Hinkins told colleagues the measure would ensure generators (for example, large solar projects) demonstrate power quality compatibility with the grid.

Other bills passed under suspension of the rules included House Bill 392 (Care Facilities Tax Amendments) to allow certain counties to seek a voter‑approved sales tax for EMS in national‑park counties (27‑0), House Bill 487 requiring state health officials to review surveillance and treatment for sickle cell disease in Utah (23‑3), House Bill 433 (Public Land Geographic Data Amendments) requiring online public‑land data (25‑0), and third substitute House Bill 303 (Elections Record Amendments), which restores limited name/address access for elections functions while preserving opt‑outs for protected individuals (27‑0). A series of additional technical and administration bills also passed by recorded or voice votes.

Not every measure cleared the floor. Second Substitute House Bill 195 (criminal investigations of school employees) failed on a roll call (9 ayes, 17 nays, 3 absent) and will return to staff for filing.

Several bills that prompted more extensive debate were either circled for later consideration or sent to conference committee. The Senate appointed a conference committee on emission reductions and took a substitute on an energy security bill that reoriented certain provisions into a funded study.

What happens next: Most passed measures will be returned to the House for the speaker’s signature or for further action as required. The Senate recessed to permit committee work and said it would reconvene after Executive Appropriations Committee business.

Votes at a glance (selected roll calls cited on the floor):
• First Substitute HB 389 (Electrical Power Delivery Quality Amendments): passes, 21 ayes, 6 nays, 2 absent.
• Substitute SB 175 (Rural Transportation Infrastructure Fund): passes, 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent.
• Third Substitute HB 303 (Elections Record Amendments): passes, 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent.
• Third Substitute HB 392 (Care Facilities Tax Amendments): passes, 27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent.
• First Substitute HB 487 (Sickle Cell Disease study): passes, 23 ayes, 3 nays, 3 absent.
• Second Substitute HB 195 (Criminal investigations of school employees): fails, 9 ayes, 17 nays, 3 absent.

The Senate recessed at 5:00 p.m. for Executive Appropriations Committee work and expected to return to complete any circled items.

Sources: Senate floor proceedings, March 2, 2023 (Senate session).