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Show 4 1st Legislative Session Ends Working long hours and amid a rush to consider legislation leg-islation , the House of Representatives Rep-resentatives finished the 41st session. During the ninth and final week of the session, 92 measures were considered. Several important appropriation approp-riation bills were passed. This action provided funds for the operation of state government programs. The final state budget resulted from several weeks of work by legislators and other public pub-lic officials. A slate of nine committees heard testimony and considered requests for finances. They prepared a balanced budget of over $400 million In state funds. A package of 15 bills dealing deal-ing with the development of Utah's natural resources for energy was also approved by the House. Speaker Ronald L. Rencher (D-Ogden) explained, ex-plained, "One of the Innovative Innova-tive ideas included in these . energy bills was to have companies prepay some of their taxes so money would be available to build roads and schools. This will provide pro-vide facilities as people need them and will avoid some of the hazards possible when a large number of people suddenly sud-denly move into an area." The 55 mile per hour speed limit was approved for all roads within Utah. Debate on the measure indicated that slower speeds had prevented accidents and also conserves gasoline. Measures to reorganize the legislature were also passed this week. "This action ac-tion is designed to make the legislature more efficient," said Speaker Rencher. "Legislative committees will meet throughout the year so thorough study of bills can be made. This will also facilitate fa-cilitate the consideration of more bills. Another important impor-tant part of this bill is to hire a legislative auditor. This is necessary to give the legislature legis-lature a better basis for making financial decisions," said Speaker Rencher. The position of legislative auditor audi-tor was a constitutional amendment which was approved ap-proved by Utah voters. A comprehensive revision of the probate code was approved ap-proved by the House. This lengthy law deals with how property is distributed after the death of a person who did not have a will. It affects areas such as trusts, guardianships, guard-ianships, and joint banking accounts. A bill requiring lobbyists to register was among the bills passed. "Lobbyists provide a great deal of information infor-mation to legislators, but it is important to know whose interests these people represent rep-resent so we can make decisions de-cisions which best represent bur constituency," said Speaker Rencher. "Voters should have easier eas-ier access to responsible comments on legislation submitted for a general election. elec-tion. This will be possible because of a bill passed which will send a voter Information In-formation pamphlet to each resident mailing address in Utah," said Speaker Rencher. Rench-er. It will contain arguments for and against legislation to be considered in general elections. There will also be analysis of the measure Including its financial effects. ef-fects. The first federal geother-mal geother-mal leases in Utah were issued is-sued by the Bureau of Land Management in mid-1974 for the Roosevelt Hot Springs area northeast of Milford. |
