Utah House advances scores of bills in brisk floor session; key measures on public comment, digital records and firearms move forward
February 27, 2023 | 2023 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah House of Representatives cleared a wide slate of measures on Feb. 27, voting to pass bills on public comment rules, digital verifiable records, criminal-protective-order notifications and adjustments to firearms restoration timelines, among others.
Lawmakers began the day by adopting multiple committee reports and briefly debated a procedural motion from Representative Schultz to reduce individual debate and presentation time from 10 minutes to five — a move adopted to accelerate floor business. The chamber then took up the consent calendar and a series of bills for final passage.
On the consent calendar the House passed substitute House Bill 350 (adoption modifications) by voice (69-0), and it approved substitute House Concurrent Resolution 7 supporting creation of a Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape (69-1). The body also returned several senate substitutes to the Senate for signature and recorded numerous other committee dispositions.
Floor action included votes on: first substitute Senate Bill 115 (notice of tax sales, passed 69-0); Senate Bill 203 (corporate tax amendments, passed 71-10); House Bill 409 (state construction and fire codes amendments, passed 72-0); House Bill 470 (government digital verifiable records pilot, passed 59-13); and House Bill 21 (Open and Public Meetings Act amendments, passed 72-1). Several criminal-justice items were also decided: second substitute House Bill 507 (firearm possession revisions, as amended, passed 64-8) and first substitute House Bill 509 (criminal protective order amendments, passed 71-0).
Representative Lyman, sponsor of the firearm measure, summarized the fiscal effects cited in the bill packet, saying the fiscal analyst estimated multi‑million‑dollar savings over the first two years because the bill reduces some probation and litigation costs. He also accepted Representative Lisonbee’s amendment to restore a three‑year restoration pathway for certain individuals, rather than a seven‑year timeline that had appeared in an earlier substitute.
Representative Cutler’s substitute on digital verifiable records established a pilot and a working group to study standards for state and local digital credentials, with sponsors emphasizing privacy, distributed validation systems and a one‑year reporting timeline. Representative Cutler said the pilot would focus on a secondary credential — for example, a food‑handler permit — and he noted Utah County has volunteered for pilot work.
Several bills failed or were returned to staff. House Bill 485 (restricted-person amendments) failed on final passage (26 yes, 47 no). House Bill 505 (feral cat amendments) resulted in a 36-36 tie and failed to pass.
The House adjourned for a shortened lunch and planned to reconvene at 12:30 p.m. for additional business.
Votes at a glance (selected recorded outcomes): substitute HB 350 — passed, 69-0; HCR 7 — passed, 69-1; SB 115 — passed, 69-0; SB 203 — passed, 71-10; HB 409 — passed, 72-0; HB 470 — passed, 59-13; HB 21 — passed, 72-1; HB 507 (as amended) — passed, 64-8; HB 509 — passed, 71-0; HB 485 — failed, 26-47; HB 505 — failed (tie), 36-36.
The session included committee and floor debate on a broad set of policy areas, and several measures were transmitted to the Senate for further consideration, while others were sent to staff for filing.
Lawmakers began the day by adopting multiple committee reports and briefly debated a procedural motion from Representative Schultz to reduce individual debate and presentation time from 10 minutes to five — a move adopted to accelerate floor business. The chamber then took up the consent calendar and a series of bills for final passage.
On the consent calendar the House passed substitute House Bill 350 (adoption modifications) by voice (69-0), and it approved substitute House Concurrent Resolution 7 supporting creation of a Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape (69-1). The body also returned several senate substitutes to the Senate for signature and recorded numerous other committee dispositions.
Floor action included votes on: first substitute Senate Bill 115 (notice of tax sales, passed 69-0); Senate Bill 203 (corporate tax amendments, passed 71-10); House Bill 409 (state construction and fire codes amendments, passed 72-0); House Bill 470 (government digital verifiable records pilot, passed 59-13); and House Bill 21 (Open and Public Meetings Act amendments, passed 72-1). Several criminal-justice items were also decided: second substitute House Bill 507 (firearm possession revisions, as amended, passed 64-8) and first substitute House Bill 509 (criminal protective order amendments, passed 71-0).
Representative Lyman, sponsor of the firearm measure, summarized the fiscal effects cited in the bill packet, saying the fiscal analyst estimated multi‑million‑dollar savings over the first two years because the bill reduces some probation and litigation costs. He also accepted Representative Lisonbee’s amendment to restore a three‑year restoration pathway for certain individuals, rather than a seven‑year timeline that had appeared in an earlier substitute.
Representative Cutler’s substitute on digital verifiable records established a pilot and a working group to study standards for state and local digital credentials, with sponsors emphasizing privacy, distributed validation systems and a one‑year reporting timeline. Representative Cutler said the pilot would focus on a secondary credential — for example, a food‑handler permit — and he noted Utah County has volunteered for pilot work.
Several bills failed or were returned to staff. House Bill 485 (restricted-person amendments) failed on final passage (26 yes, 47 no). House Bill 505 (feral cat amendments) resulted in a 36-36 tie and failed to pass.
The House adjourned for a shortened lunch and planned to reconvene at 12:30 p.m. for additional business.
Votes at a glance (selected recorded outcomes): substitute HB 350 — passed, 69-0; HCR 7 — passed, 69-1; SB 115 — passed, 69-0; SB 203 — passed, 71-10; HB 409 — passed, 72-0; HB 470 — passed, 59-13; HB 21 — passed, 72-1; HB 507 (as amended) — passed, 64-8; HB 509 — passed, 71-0; HB 485 — failed, 26-47; HB 505 — failed (tie), 36-36.
The session included committee and floor debate on a broad set of policy areas, and several measures were transmitted to the Senate for further consideration, while others were sent to staff for filing.
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