Utah Senate advances wide slate of bills in single floor session; several measures pass under suspension of rules

The Utah Senate used suspension of rules to advance and pass a broad set of bills in a single floor session, sending measures back to the House or on toward enactment.

Lawmakers approved third substitute House Bill 298, intended to centralize homelessness governance and data collection, and passed bills addressing energy, water planning, regulatory relief, teacher stipends, and public‑safety reporting. Many bills were considered and voted on after floor substitution or after resolving fiscal-note questions.

Highlights of actions taken include: third substitute HB 298 (homelessness services amendments) passed 27–0 with two absent; first substitute HB 48 (Utah Energy Act amendments) passed 23–6; fifth substitute HB 280 (water plan and financing study) passed 28–0; first substitute HB 13 (infrastructure finance districts) passed on the floor; SB 273 (district attorney reporting pilot) passed 20–7; first substitute SB 274 (administrative law judge amendments) passed unanimously 29–0; HB 282 (Office of Regulatory Relief amendments) passed 29–0; first substitute HB 59 (federal funds contingency planning) passed 22–6; SB 275 (medical preauthorization amendments) passed 28–1; and second substitute HB 78 (film incentives) passed 19–8.

Several bills were temporarily circled while clerks reconciled fiscal notes on the floor, including HB 48 and HB 352 (expungement amendments). Where fiscal notes were corrected, sponsors returned bills to the floor and proceeded to final votes. Motions to substitute were used frequently to update titles, bodies and appropriations to match fiscal documentation.

Many passages occurred "under suspension of the rules," which allowed bills to be read for a second and third time and voted on the same day. The Senate recorded roll-call tallies on the floor and returned passed measures to the House for further consideration or signature.

The chamber adjourned after concluding its calendar and set a reconvene time for the next morning.

Votes at a glance (selected floor outcomes announced by the clerk): third substitute HB 298 — passed, 27 yay, 0 nay, 2 absent; first substitute HB 13 — passed (tally announced in transcript); first substitute HB 48 — passed, 23 yay, 6 nay; fifth substitute HB 280 — passed, 28 yay, 0 nay, 1 absent; SB 273 — passed, 20 yay, 7 nay, 2 absent; first substitute SB 274 — passed, 29–0; HB 282 — passed, 29–0; first substitute HB 59 — passed, 22 yay, 6 nay, 1 absent; third substitute HB 153 (childcare revisions) — passed, 15 yay, 12 nay, 2 absent; SB 275 — passed, 28 yay, 1 nay; second substitute HB 78 — passed, 19 yay, 8 nay, 2 absent.

What’s next: Bills passed under suspension will be returned to the House for further consideration, signature, or enrollment as appropriate. Several items that were circled remain subject to fiscal-note or technical follow‑up.