Senate approves wide slate of bills on third reading; many pass unanimously
February 23, 2026 | 2026 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Senate advanced a large portion of its third‑reading calendar on day 34, approving a broad set of bills covering education, public safety, health care and consumer protections.
Among consent items, the chamber passed House Bill 351, a cleanup to school vision‑screening law that sponsors said will allow schools and partner nonprofits to inform families about free eye exams and glasses. "That's what that's all the bill does," Senator Escamilla said while describing the change. The measure passed the Senate by roll call, receiving 21 yea votes, 0 nay and 8 absent; it was returned to the House for the speaker's signature.
Multiple notable third‑reading bills also passed. Senate Bill 133 (offender registry amendments) was described by its sponsor as technical clarifications and passed on a roll call (22‑0 among those voting). Second substitute Senate Bill 183, which sponsors said prohibits law enforcement from tampering with privately installed cameras on private property, passed 23‑0. First substitute Senate Bill 201, which standardizes notice procedures for animal shelters to inform rescues before euthanasia, passed 22‑0.
Other measures the Senate sent to the House for further consideration included bills on tax credits and exemptions, professional licensing adjustments and public‑safety resolutions. Senator Vickers said a tax‑credit extension in first substitute Senate Bill 223 would add battery storage to existing alternate‑energy equipment incentives; that first substitute passed 24‑0. Several bills amending notary practice, regulating health‑care scope review, and adjusting statutes of limitation for wage claims also passed by wide margins.
Some measures drew more divided results. Senate Bill 224 (vital records access amendments), which was discussed in two modes in the transcript, passed the Senate 16‑11. Third substitute Senate Bill 73, an online age‑verification and excise tax proposal intended to fund mental‑health prevention and enforcement, passed the Senate 22‑2 after sponsor presentations that outlined reporting, enforcement and a proposed restricted revenue account to pay for investigation.
Most of the votes were final third‑reading or consent approvals; where the Senate substituted bills or circulated them to wait for fiscal notes, members said they would 'circle' the bill until fiscal information was filed. Several bills were amended on the floor with sponsor‑described technical clarifications before passage.
The Senate recessed for a caucus lunch and planned to resume at 2 p.m. The House is the next stop for the passage process on measures returned for concurrence or final action.
Among consent items, the chamber passed House Bill 351, a cleanup to school vision‑screening law that sponsors said will allow schools and partner nonprofits to inform families about free eye exams and glasses. "That's what that's all the bill does," Senator Escamilla said while describing the change. The measure passed the Senate by roll call, receiving 21 yea votes, 0 nay and 8 absent; it was returned to the House for the speaker's signature.
Multiple notable third‑reading bills also passed. Senate Bill 133 (offender registry amendments) was described by its sponsor as technical clarifications and passed on a roll call (22‑0 among those voting). Second substitute Senate Bill 183, which sponsors said prohibits law enforcement from tampering with privately installed cameras on private property, passed 23‑0. First substitute Senate Bill 201, which standardizes notice procedures for animal shelters to inform rescues before euthanasia, passed 22‑0.
Other measures the Senate sent to the House for further consideration included bills on tax credits and exemptions, professional licensing adjustments and public‑safety resolutions. Senator Vickers said a tax‑credit extension in first substitute Senate Bill 223 would add battery storage to existing alternate‑energy equipment incentives; that first substitute passed 24‑0. Several bills amending notary practice, regulating health‑care scope review, and adjusting statutes of limitation for wage claims also passed by wide margins.
Some measures drew more divided results. Senate Bill 224 (vital records access amendments), which was discussed in two modes in the transcript, passed the Senate 16‑11. Third substitute Senate Bill 73, an online age‑verification and excise tax proposal intended to fund mental‑health prevention and enforcement, passed the Senate 22‑2 after sponsor presentations that outlined reporting, enforcement and a proposed restricted revenue account to pay for investigation.
Most of the votes were final third‑reading or consent approvals; where the Senate substituted bills or circulated them to wait for fiscal notes, members said they would 'circle' the bill until fiscal information was filed. Several bills were amended on the floor with sponsor‑described technical clarifications before passage.
The Senate recessed for a caucus lunch and planned to resume at 2 p.m. The House is the next stop for the passage process on measures returned for concurrence or final action.
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