Votes at a glance: Utah Senate advances multiple bills, rejects social media measure

The Utah Senate on the floor advanced dozens of bills across a wide array of policy areas on the floor and adopted several sponsor amendments, while a social media regulation measure failed on a third‑reading vote before being reconsidered and placed on the second‑reading calendar for further work.

Among the bills the Senate approved were S.B. 128 (Public Safety Officer Scholarship), a fourth substitute carrying a $5 million fiscal note that passed 24‑0; S.B. 126 (Hospital Assessment Amendments) as amended, which the Senate approved 23‑0 after sponsors added reporting and accountability requirements; S.B. 122 (Drug Paraphernalia and Syringe Policy) with an amendment clarifying verification of syringe‑exchange participation, passed 22‑0; and S.B. 133 (Postpartum Medicaid Coverage), substituted to expand postpartum coverage to one year via a Medicaid waiver pathway and passed 23‑0.

Other floor actions included passage of S.B. 81 (property tax deferral revisions), S.B. 65 (charter school authorizers), S.B. 58 (expungement timing), S.B. 120 (property and contraband retention rules), S.B. 135 (government transportation cost amendments), S.B. 113 (local agricultural amendments), S.B. 123 (boards and commissions modifications), S.B. 151 (food preparation exemptions for small youth vendors), S.B. 145 (higher education for incarcerated youth), and S.B. 146 (higher education governance) after adoption of sponsor amendments. Vote tallies reported on the floor included unanimous or near‑unanimous support for many measures; a sample of roll calls recorded on the floor: S.B. 128 (24‑0), S.B. 81 (22‑0), S.B. 65 (23‑0), S.B. 126 (23‑0), S.B. 58 (22‑0), S.B. 120 (21‑0), S.B. 133 (23‑0), S.B. 122 (22‑0), S.B. 135 (21‑0), S.B. 113 (21‑2), S.B. 123 (21‑0), S.B. 151 (23‑0), S.B. 145 (22‑0), S.B. 146 (22‑1), and S.B. 134 (23‑0).

S.B. 152 (Social Media Regulation) failed a third‑reading vote (12‑11) after several senators said they were not comfortable advancing the bill before sponsor substitutes were publicly released. Later, members voted to reconsider that action and to circle the bill while sponsors draft a substitute focused on age verification and parental controls.

What happens next: Several of the bills approved on third reading will be transmitted to the House for its consideration; S.B. 152 remains circled for further drafting and stakeholder review. The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 11 a.m. the following day.