SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate approved a resolution that could mean millions of more dollars from a revision to Utah's settlement with Big Tobacco. And lawmakers set aside $150,000 in one-time funding to better address the state’s opioid abuse, addiction and overdose crisis.

For these and other stories from Utah's Capitol Hill Wednesday, click on the headlines below.

Utah in line to get more tobacco settlement money

Utah appears to be in line to receive millions of more dollars from a revision to the longstanding settlement with Big Tobacco.

The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday approving an update to the 20-year-old agreement with cigarette makers. It now goes to the House.

Opioid abuse education, rural busing needs among education issues addressed by Utah lawmakers

State lawmakers have earmarked $150,000 in one-time funding to develop secondary school curriculum to better address the state’s opioid abuse, addiction and overdose crisis.

Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, sought the appropriation to update existing curriculum on addiction developed by the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.

The funding, part of late appropriations included in the yet-to-be approved HB3, will be used to update and expand an existing educational module developed by the center on the science of addiction. Its free, evidence-based science curriculum and online teaching materials are used by nearly all Utah high schools.

Committee likely to prevent Senate hearing on bill barring Down syndrome abortions, sponsor says

The Senate Rules Committee is likely to stymie a bill barring doctors from performing abortions when they know the woman seeking it is doing so because of their child's diagnosis or risk of Down syndrome, the measure's sponsor said late Wednesday.

"It's very, very frustrating. It's heartbreaking, knowing what this bill would do if it passed," Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, told the Deseret News.

Speaking of the Senate Rules Committee, Lisonbee said "I think ... they're trying to bury it in their process."

Utah lawmakers moving bill giving selves power to intervene in court cases

Utah lawmakers are a vote away from giving the Legislature the power to intervene in court cases on its own behalf.

Rep. Lavar Christensen, R-Draper, said SB171 would prevent putting the attorney general’s office in the position of having to decide who it represents as happened when former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz resigned last year.

The Legislature sought an opinion from the attorney general on holding a special election to replace Chaffetz, but citing the governor as its client, the attorney general’s office refused to give the document to the Legislature.

Shelter funding plan stripped of fee on cities lacking affordable housing

After some final-hour negotiations, a bill that would have required cities lacking affordable housing to help pay for homeless shelters in other cities was drastically altered on the Senate floor Wednesday and got final approval from the House.

But it still accomplishes the same goal: funding half of the three new homeless resource centers' annual operation costs. The bill now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert for consideration.

Before it was substituted, HB462 would have fined Utah cities and counties having less than a statewide average of affordable housing to help pay for the operations and maintenance of new homeless resource centers.

Utah Senate supports bill defining 'adequate shelter' for animals

A bill defining "adequate shelter" for purposes of enforcing animal welfare laws narrowly passed the Senate earlier this week, but its sponsor isn't sure how it will fare in the House.

"I have no idea if we can get it prioritized," Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, said of his SB91.

Davis' bill would only apply to Salt Lake County. It defines what is meant by "shelter" in the law so animal control can properly respond to calls, he said.

Deal between Our Schools Now, lawmakers moves forward

A proposed deal between lawmakers and backers of the Our Schools Now initiative to raise income and sales taxes to bring in $700 million for education moved forward Wednesday with the passage of last-minute legislation.

The legislation approved by the House Political Subdivisions Committee allows voters to tell lawmakers in November whether they want the state's gas tax increased by 10 cents a gallon, a major part of the deal that would halt the initiative.

Lawmakers have until midnight Thursday to pass HB491, which sets up a one-time process to go to voters with a ballot question, and HJR20, the actual question that would be asked in November.

Bill restricting noncompete contracts in Utah broadcast media heads to governor

State lawmakers passed a bill Monday to restrict the use of noncompete contracts in Utah's broadcast media.

The House voted 55-11 to concur with technical amendments the Senate made to HB241, sending it Gov. Gary Herbert for consideration.

"These are so unfair and so lopsided," said Rep. Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, holding up a noncompete contract. "I just want to remind everyone that we are still on the side of angels with this legislation."

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