2026 General Legislative Session Day 29 (2/18/2026) Part 1 Recording 2 [Source] Translate

The meeting commenced with a quorum declaration. The Senate passed several bills, including Senate Bill 45 (Kratom Adjustments), Senate Bill 65 (Minimum Basic Tax Rate Amendments), Senate Bill 80 (Physician Practice Amendments), and SJR 8, a joint resolution for a law school at Utah Valley University. The Government Operations Committee favorably reported on House Bill 453 (Unspent Funding Amendments), House Bill 493 (Pricing Protection Amendments), and House Bill 508 (State Facilities Modifications), which were adopted without opposition. The Political Subdivisions Committee recommended and adopted House Bill 400 (Landscaping Water Amendments), first substitute House Bill 422 (Public Infrastructure Districts Amendments), and House Bill 483 (Flower Sales Modifications). The Public Utilities and Energy Committee reported favorably on House Bill 489 (Water Infrastructure Amendments) and House Bill 534 (Firearm Immunity Amendments), both of which were adopted. The Revenue and Taxation Committee recommended several bills, including second substitute House Bill 15 (Medicaid Amendments) and House Bill 124 (Veteran Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption Amendments), the latter being placed on the consent calendar. Representative McPherson moved to authorize the speaker to sign a citation honoring John Absey, which was approved. House Bill 84 (Dangerous Weapon Amendments) was discussed and adopted after clarifying open carry laws on public education campuses, passing with 67 votes in favor. House Bill 144 (School Community Council Amendments) was presented by Representative Miller, focusing on updating language regarding internet filtering responsibilities, and passed unanimously. House Bill 145 (School Excused Absence Amendments) was introduced by Representative Albrecht, allowing excused absences for students in specific extracurricular activities while maintaining a 2.0 GPA, passing with 66 votes in favor. Representative Thompson moved to reconsider House Bill 263 (Heavy-Duty Vehicle Amendments), which passed after discussions on its importance. House Bill 194 (Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments), introduced by Representative Hayes, aims to establish independent ethical oversight for the State Board of Education and passed with 61 votes in favor and 2 against. House Bill 273, known as the Balance Act, presented by Representative DeFay, regulates technology use in classrooms while preserving local control for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and passed with 68 votes in favor and 1 against. House Bill 358, introduced by Representative Welton, allows LEAs to adjust school days and hours while maintaining required seat time, passing with 65 votes in favor. House Bill 448, presented by Representative White, amends the governance of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind and passed unanimously with 67 votes in favor. House Bill 255, introduced by Representative Abbott, amends health share ministry code for consumer awareness and passed with 65 votes in favor and 1 against. House Bill 277, Traditional Healing Amendments, was presented by Representative Atisimano, providing exemptions for traditional healers and passed with 51 votes in favor and 18 against. House Bill 339, Street Medicine Amendments, introduced by Representative Clancy, codifies street medicine for unsheltered individuals and passed without opposition. House Bill 380, Hospital Workplace Violence Reporting Requirements, presented by Representative Hall, requires hospitals to report workplace violence incidents and passed with 68 votes in favor and 1 against. Representative Thompson introduced House Bill 190, the Child Business Care Tax Credit, addressing childcare issues and updating employer childcare credits. An amendment was passed, and further discussion is anticipated. House Bill 388, aimed at protecting the public from contaminants in lodging establishments, passed with 67 votes in favor and 1 against. House Bill 390, proposing a clinical study on psychedelic treatments for veterans with PTSD, was discussed, with support from various representatives, and passed with 68 votes in favor and 2 against. Representative Hawkins provided announcements about upcoming events, and Representative Snyder thanked everyone for their work before the House adjourned until the following day at 10 a.m. The motion to adjourn was passed unanimously.