Utah Legislature: Stats show wild rush, big hitters 487 bills 1/3 passed on the last day

On that last day, the two houses were in session a combined 26 hours. Members passed 162 bills that day — averaging one every 9.6 minutes in each body.

During this year’s Legislature, leaders reported weekly that members were passing far fewer bills than usual. Then the last week arrived, and lawmakers hit the afterburners.

They ended up approving the third most bills ever: 486. Most of those — 57 percent — passed in the last week — and a third of the total on the harried final day. That may raise questions about how much scrutiny the legislation received in the rush.

» Nine of every 10 bills passed were sponsored by Republicans, showing perhaps how much of a one-party state Utah is. Republicans hold 82 percent of the seats in the Legislature and passed 89 percent of the bills.

» Lawmakers introduced the most bills ever: 784 (two more than the previous record of 782 in 2011). Three of every five bills passed, 62 percent.

» Fifteen lawmakers passed every bill they introduced. Nine failed to

pass any, and four introduced no bills. 

Senator Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan introduced and passed 17 bills, Senator Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe introduced and passed 13 bills, Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, introduced and passed 12 bills, and Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville introduced and passed 12 bills.  Senator Stuart Adams, R-Layton, passed 11 bills, Senator Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, passed 10 bills and Senator, Deidre Henderson, R-Spanish Fork passed 10 bills.

Lee Davidson Salt Lake Tribune
Batting average for each legislator