Senate moves select statutory rules into chamber rules, passes SR2 and clears mirror statutory edits

The Utah State Senate on Jan. 30 approved a first-substitute of Senate Resolution 2 to relocate a handful of procedural provisions from statute into Senate rules, a change sponsors said will allow the chamber to update internal practice without requiring the governor's signature. The resolution passed third reading by roll call: 22 yea, 6 nay, 1 absent.

Proponents argued the change reflects existing practice and corrects an imbalance between chambers. "There are a lot of things in statute that really belong in rule," Senator Fillmore said during floor remarks, urging the chamber to align the rule language with current practice and the House. Sponsor David G. Buxton, the Rules Committee chair, had earlier delivered the rules committee report listing committee assignments that accompanied the session's business.

Opponents in the minority caucus warned removing certain statutory lines would eliminate a tool they use to ensure bills are referred to committee and placed on agendas. "As the members of the minority caucus, we feel that this is one of the few tools we have available to make sure our bills get into a committee and actually get into an agenda," Senator Escamilla said, arguing the provisions help guarantee committee consideration.

Senators adopted a first substitute to SR2 and later uncircled Senate Bill 97 so mirrored language could be removed from statute and placed into rule; Senator Fillmore told colleagues the statutory language in SB97 will be trimmed to match the newly adopted rule language and that SB97 also clarifies the Capitol Preservation Board's authority over exterior appearance of buildings on Capitol Hill.

Separately, the Senate substituted and advanced Senate Bill 136, the annual reauthorization of administrative rules. Sponsor Senator Bramble said the first substitute deletes a State Board of Education rule (R277-328) that conflicted with prior legislation on DEI; first substitute SB136 passed third reading by roll call: 21 yea, 6 nay, 2 absent.

The measures are procedural and technical in nature but received sustained floor attention because they change how and where certain legislative requirements will be maintained. After the votes the Senate moved to other policy business on the calendar.