Senate passes a package of third‑reading bills on Day 8, sending multiple measures to the House

The Utah Senate on Day 8 moved a broad set of third‑reading measures through final passage or procedural placement and transmitted many to the House for consideration.

Bills passed on third reading included criminal, judiciary and administrative measures. Notable floor actions and outcomes recorded in the transcript include:

• SB62 (Dog-related liability amendments). Sponsor Senator Fillmore explained the bill equalizes the statute of limitations for dog-bite personal-injury claims to four years. Fillmore moved final passage and the Senate recorded 29 yea, 0 nay; SB62 will be sent to the House.

• SB66 (Criminal offense amendments). Senator Kwan said the bill adds the word "generated" to close a potential loophole tied to emerging AI technology. The Senate passed SB66 (27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent) and will transmit it to the House.

• SB76 (Evidence retention amendments). Senator Harper presented changes clarifying retention, disposition and return of evidence in felony cases to preserve evidence for appeals; the bill passed on third reading with broad recorded support.

• First substitute SB88 (juvenile detention/DNA). The bill clarifies that juveniles cannot be detained in adult detention facilities and clarifies DNA procedures in juvenile court; the first substitute passed (28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent) and will be sent to the House.

• SR1 (Senate rules resolution on judicial candidate materials). Senator Wyler said the change limits public release of judicial candidates’ resumes to avoid targeting candidates; SR1 passed (28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent) and will be sent to the House.

• SB70 (Judiciary amendments). Wyler said the bill would add about nine judges if funding is provided; the bill carries a fiscal note of approximately $4.5 million and passed (28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent) to be sent to the House.

• SB39 (Water temporary change applications). Senator Sandel said the bill returns temporary change applications to standards used over the last 10 years; SB39 passed (29 yea, 0 nay) and will be transmitted to the House.

• SB77 (Water rights restricted account amendments). The bill allows use of restricted-account funds for additional metering devices and passed (29 yea, 0 nay).

• SB51 (Road construction bid limit amendments). Senator Winterton said the bill raises the bid limit from a historical $150,000 (2003 standard) to $350,000 and ties the limit to national highway construction limits; the bill passed (27 yea, 1 nay, 1 absent).

• SB67 (Public thoroughfare amendments) and SB74 (Port of entry amendments) also passed on third reading with recorded majorities and will be transmitted as noted from the floor.

Several bills were "lifted" from the Rules Committee and placed at the top of the second‑reading calendar for continued consideration, including several budget bills (Senate Bills 1, 4, 6 and 7). Some bills were procedurally "circled" for later floor action (for example First Substitute SB75).

The session recorded personal‑privilege recognitions and guests in the gallery throughout the floor debate. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.

Below is a compact listing of final outcomes as recorded on the floor: SB62 — passed (29‑0); SB66 — passed (27‑0, 2 absent); SB76 — passed (recorded ayes); SB88 (1st sub) — passed (28‑0, 1 absent); SR1 — passed (28‑0, 1 absent); SB70 — passed (28‑0, 1 absent); SB39 — passed (29‑0); SB77 — passed (29‑0); SB51 — passed (27‑1, 1 absent); SB67 — passed (27‑1, 1 absent); SB74 — passed (29‑0).