Utah Senate advances wide package of bills, suspends a rule to speed Medicaid funding

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Feb. 21 advanced a broad slate of legislation on areas including elections, public health, consumer protection and energy policy and took an unusual procedural step to expedite consideration of a Medicaid funding measure.

The chamber approved a conference committee report and then passed third substitute Senate Bill 107, an election-process amendments bill. Senate leaders also moved a number of House-originated measures to the Senate floor; several passed by recorded vote and will return to the House for final action.

Sponsors used the consent calendar to pass items ranging from a resolution honoring Tanner Dance Utah to technical adjustments in state fund accounting. "They are, truly an asset to this state," said Senator Plumb in support of a concurrent resolution recognizing Tanner Dance's 75th anniversary.

Senators also took up larger-policy matters. The Senate passed First Substitute House Bill 374, a state energy policy bill the sponsor described as the product of an interim working group to set long-term direction for electricity and other energy sources. "We've got good partners — geothermal, wind, solar, and hopefully nuclear in the near future," Senator Vickers said during floor remarks.

On a procedural but consequential move, the Senate voted to read First Substitute House Bill 51 (Health and Human Services funding amendments) a third time and then suspended the usual rule that would have delayed the bill despite a fiscal note, citing the need to prepare the budget.

Several bills addressing consumer complaints, behavioral health licensing, and adjustments to criminal-registry administration were also acted on, with sponsors describing either technical fixes or negotiated compromises that produced substitute language. The Senate recessed until 2 p.m. following the morning session.

What’s next: Most measures passed by the Senate will be returned to the House for concurrence or enrollment; HB51 is being advanced so its funding language can be considered during upcoming budget deliberations.