SALT LAKE CITY — State legislators discussed bills on cellphone use while driving, Medicaid expansion, budgets for public and higher education and other issues during the Utah Legislative session.

Below are highlights and links to the most recent stories.

Utah lawmakers considering competing bills on cellphone use while driving

Leslee Henson started pushing for tougher distracted driving laws after a texting driver caused an accident that killed her husband on a St. George sidewalk.

The Santa Clara woman and her three children mounted an awareness campaign and enlisted Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, to sponsor a bill last year to do just that. But now she worries a new proposed measure would undo the stricter law.

"My concern is that it's going to take away enforcement," said Henson, who was severely injured when the driver hit her and her husband on a morning walk in March 2013.

David and Leslee Henson were walking along Dixie Drive in St. George when a car that was rear-ended by a texting driver slammed into them, killing 57-year-old David Henson almost immediately as he pushed his wife away from the impact. She broke her back and neck and needed more than 5,000 stitches and minor facial reconstruction surgery.

Rep. Jacob Anderegg, R-Lehi, wants to pull back parts of the 2014 law that makes it illegal to send, write or read text messages, instant messages or email; dial a phone number; access the Internet; view or record a video; and type in data on a smartphone or other mobile device.

Senate Republicans talk Medicaid expansion but make no decisions

Senate Republicans expressed frustration Tuesday after spending 90 minutes in a closed-door caucus talking about the state's options for Medicaid expansion without reaching any decision.

"We're not finished," Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, told reporters.

The caucus plans to tackle the issue again Thursday because there are still unanswered questions, he said.

"It's a frustrating issue to grapple with because there isn't anything definite," Niederhauser said.

Asked if he thought the Legislature would reach an agreement this session, he said, "Possibly."

House Republicans delayed discussions on Medicaid expansion until next week. House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said some of their caucus meetings on the issue will likely be closed.

Bill offering incentives for early high school graduation passes Senate

A bill that would require Utah schools to inform parents and their eighth-grade students of the options and monetary incentives to graduate high school early passed the Senate on Tuesday.

Under SB33, schools would be required to prepare coursework pathways that allow students to graduate ahead of schedule while still being prepared for college. That coursework could include concurrent enrollment, advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses.

The bill also increases the maximum amount offered through the Centennial Scholarship program to early graduates from $1,000 to $2,000. The bill is expected to create $9,100 in savings annually from having some students graduate early.

The bill passed its third reading in the Senate with a 24-2 vote. It now awaits approval by the House.

House approves sexual assault bill without debate

A bill clarifying the definition of sexual assault that was the subject of controversial comments by a lawmaker passed the House 75-0 Tuesday without debate.

HB74, sponsored by Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, is intended to clarify the definition of "without consent of the victim" regarding sexual offenses. Romero said the bill protects those who are vulnerable.

Last week, Rep. Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, apologized after asking in a committee hearing on the bill whether having sex with an unconscious spouse would be rape. His comments were criticized around the country on social media.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Bill puts brakes on Salt Lake City ordinance requiring drive-thrus to serve pedestrians, cyclists

A bill putting the brakes on a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring drive-thrus to serve pedestrians and cyclists was approved 52-21 by the Utah House on Tuesday.

The sponsor of HB160, Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville, said it is necessary for lawmakers to exercise their authority over municipalities when they have "crossed the line" to "bring them back in line."

Rep. Justin Miller, D-Salt Lake City, said he opposed the bill because as a "big proponent" of local control, he didn't believe lawmakers should meddle in the municipal affairs of Salt Lake City.

But Rep. Kim Coleman, R-West Jordan, said she favored free enterprise over local control.

Bill seeks to adjust property tax rate to equalize school funding

Lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday that would adjust Utah's property tax rate to equalize the possible revenue for school districts and charter schools.

SB97 would adjust the minimum basic property tax rate to generate new state revenue that would be used to equalize local tax levies and to compensate for student enrollment growth and capital expansion.

For most families, that would mean an extra $46 per year in property taxes, according to bill sponsor Sen. Aaron Osmond, R-South Jordan.

Osmond said the bill would address the "Robbin Hood" effect of property tax equity for schools, or having to take from one school district to give to another.

House, Senate approve base budgets for public, higher education

The Legislature on Tuesday approved base budgets for public and higher education at 98 percent of current funds as part of a budgeting exercise.

But lawmakers say the other 2 percent not included in the base budgets will be reallocated later in the session as new funds are distributed.

The exercise was intended to give legislators an opportunity to seek out areas in the budget where efficiency could be improved and to better understand how each item is prioritized.

Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, called it a "worthwhile exercise" for legislators and education leaders.

"It's an exercise that will prepare them (so that) when the storms that are out there somewhere do start to roll across the horizon, we're ready," Wilson said.

Base budgets are established somewhat early on during the legislative session to ensure Utah's education systems have funds to operate on if lawmakers aren't able to agree on the finer points of budget appropriations by the end of the session.

Herbert signs executive order ramping up Utah protections for sage grouse

Gov. Gary Herbert said an executive order he signed Tuesday means Utah's greater sage grouse conservation plan now has an exclamation point emphasizing the seriousness and determination of the state's efforts.

"This transcends politics and is really about protecting the greater sage grouse and its habitat," Herbert said during a signing ceremony.

The event at the Capitol means Utah joins just a handful of Western states where governors have implemented executive orders to ramp up protections for the imperiled species.

All 11 states where the bird exists, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, are mounting a concentrated attack to save the chicken-size bird to ward off a threatened listing of the animal come this fall.

The bird has seen in excess of 50 percent of its historic range decline and is facing continued threats such as urban encroachment, wildfires, oil and gas development, and grazing.

Utah lawmaker unveils religious liberty recognition, protection bill

SALT LAKE CITY — A state lawmaker Wednesday unveiled a bill designed to preserve religious rights while protecting against discrimination of any kind.

The proposed Religious Liberty Recognition and Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, would add religious liberty provisions to the state's anti-discrimination and fair housing laws.

HB322 "establishes that perfect toleration of religious sentiment is guaranteed and that rights of conscience shall never be infringed," according to the bill. It also says the lawful exercise of religious liberty is a recognized defense to claims of discrimination.

Christensen said the language in the bill is rooted in the U.S. and Utah constitutions.

The bill says all people are entitled to fair access to employment opportunities and housing, but does not include specific protections against discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Utahns.

Whether the bill ends up as the vehicle to balance LGBT and religious rights remains to be seen. Either way, GOP Senate leaders said Wednesday one would not pass without the other.

Patient advocate coalition urges lawmakers to adopt Healthy Utah

Kyle Jones shared a story Wednesday about two middle-class parents who fell into the coverage gap when they needed health insurance most: when their 5-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia.

Jones, a University of Utah family physician, spoke during a news conference as a coalition of health advocacy groups announced an alliance in support of Gov. Gary Herbert’s Healthy Utah plan as is the best option, and they urged lawmakers to come to an agreement on the state’s health insurance approach.

Jones said the family faced the same dilemma as many working Utahns due to the state’s current approach to health insurance. Because the boy’s mother and father both worked full time, they made too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, he said, but they didn’t make enough to be eligible for premium support under the Affordable Care Act.

The couple sold their home and spent their life savings for their son’s treatment, but it still wasn’t enough, Jones said. So they both began working part time so their son could receive Medicaid.

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