Utah Senate advances wide package of bills, passes genetic‑genealogy limits and other measures
February 21, 2023 | 2023 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah Senate met Feb. 21, 2023, and moved a heavy third‑reading calendar, approving multiple bills to send to the House while amending and circling several substitutes for later consideration.
At the top of the agenda, senators advanced the third substitute of Senate Bill 156, limiting law‑enforcement access to consumer genetic genealogy databases to violent felonies and missing‑person cases, with additional prosecutor consent and certain warrant and data‑use safeguards. The measure passed the Senate 24‑2.
Lawmakers also approved first substitute Senate Bill 198 to create a Human Services Fund and Account Amendments to place licensing fines into a restricted account for training and services (passed 25‑0), and adopted changes to pharmaceutical practice in Senate Bill 193, which moved an amendment addressing so‑called “brown bagging” and a narrow methadone transition allowance (passed 24‑0).
Other bills that passed include measures on transit district apportionment (SB213), scholarship program safeguards and auditing (SB77), fiduciary duty clarifications for public funds (SB96), and a package of education and transportation items that were substituted or circled for later public review. Several bills were circled for stakeholder meetings or further public review, including State Fair Park amendments (SB187) and legislative auditor authority changes (SB136).
Not every proposal cleared the floor: Senate Bill 195, a plan to create a restricted account to acquire and retire personal medical debt in collections, failed on a roll call (9 yea, 13 nay) and was filed. The Senate also recalled and substituted House Bill 162 (voter accessibility) to address coordinating language.
Revenue and procedural context framed the day. Senator Stevenson reported an updated state revenue estimate that left fewer funds available for new allocations, signaling tighter budget choices ahead. Senator Buxton and other members also recognized visiting students in the gallery and noted upcoming public events before adjourning for a 2 p.m. recess.
Votes at a glance
- SB156 (investigative genetic genealogy modifications): passed, 24‑2.
- SB198 (Human Services Fund and Account Amendments): passed, 25‑0.
- SB57 (child sexual‑abuse material handling): passed, 24‑0.
- SB193 (pharmaceutical amendments, as amended): passed, 24‑0.
- SB213 (transit district apportionment amendments): passed, 26‑0.
- SB77 (scholarship amendments): passed, 25‑0.
- SB195 (medical debt relief): failed, 9‑13 and filed.
What’s next: Most passed bills will be transmitted to the House for consideration. Several substituted bills were circled for stakeholder follow‑up or placed later on the third‑reading calendar for additional public review.
At the top of the agenda, senators advanced the third substitute of Senate Bill 156, limiting law‑enforcement access to consumer genetic genealogy databases to violent felonies and missing‑person cases, with additional prosecutor consent and certain warrant and data‑use safeguards. The measure passed the Senate 24‑2.
Lawmakers also approved first substitute Senate Bill 198 to create a Human Services Fund and Account Amendments to place licensing fines into a restricted account for training and services (passed 25‑0), and adopted changes to pharmaceutical practice in Senate Bill 193, which moved an amendment addressing so‑called “brown bagging” and a narrow methadone transition allowance (passed 24‑0).
Other bills that passed include measures on transit district apportionment (SB213), scholarship program safeguards and auditing (SB77), fiduciary duty clarifications for public funds (SB96), and a package of education and transportation items that were substituted or circled for later public review. Several bills were circled for stakeholder meetings or further public review, including State Fair Park amendments (SB187) and legislative auditor authority changes (SB136).
Not every proposal cleared the floor: Senate Bill 195, a plan to create a restricted account to acquire and retire personal medical debt in collections, failed on a roll call (9 yea, 13 nay) and was filed. The Senate also recalled and substituted House Bill 162 (voter accessibility) to address coordinating language.
Revenue and procedural context framed the day. Senator Stevenson reported an updated state revenue estimate that left fewer funds available for new allocations, signaling tighter budget choices ahead. Senator Buxton and other members also recognized visiting students in the gallery and noted upcoming public events before adjourning for a 2 p.m. recess.
Votes at a glance
- SB156 (investigative genetic genealogy modifications): passed, 24‑2.
- SB198 (Human Services Fund and Account Amendments): passed, 25‑0.
- SB57 (child sexual‑abuse material handling): passed, 24‑0.
- SB193 (pharmaceutical amendments, as amended): passed, 24‑0.
- SB213 (transit district apportionment amendments): passed, 26‑0.
- SB77 (scholarship amendments): passed, 25‑0.
- SB195 (medical debt relief): failed, 9‑13 and filed.
What’s next: Most passed bills will be transmitted to the House for consideration. Several substituted bills were circled for stakeholder follow‑up or placed later on the third‑reading calendar for additional public review.
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