Series 409
Legislature. Senate Journals

Dates: i 1882-

1.00 cubic foot and 62 microfilm reels Skip to Containers

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

These volumes constitute the published minutes of the senate from territorial days to the present. The legislature began keeping journals within a year of becoming a territory in 1850. At first the senate, then known as the Legislative Council, published its journal mixed with that of the House (see LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY JOURNALS). By 1882 the journals were kept separately, although the 1892 edition was bound jointly with the separate journal of the House.

Each day's entry covers a standard order of business. The place and date is entered: there is note of the call to order and roll, a prayer, reading of the journal entry from the previous day, legislative business, adjournment, and, until 1896, a closing benediction. While the activities are noted, details are not. The beginning day of each session usually lists all members answering to roll call; thereafter the entries just specify if a quorum is present. Often a separate table of members is included toward the start of the volume;by 1975, their photographs are included. Many of the volumes have the appropriate sections of the constitution and the senate rules recorded toward the beginning which specify the order of business and clarify procedures.

Legislative business is only slightly more detailed. Petitions, if any, are the first order of new business. These are requests from citizens for various actions and are most frequently referred to the appropriate committee. Other communications, from agencies, groups, or individuals, might also be read into the record at this time.

Committee reports are the next order of daily business. The reports recommend the passage or rejection of particular legislation. If the entire committee is not in agreement, a minority report might be presented. Initially, letters and reports from various state agencies were often entered into the record as part of a committee report. However, by the 1920s, committee reports were confined strictly to a statement recommending passage orrejection of legislation. During the 1960s, brief reasons for the recommendation were included, although not as detailed as in the early reports. These again are dropped by the 1970s, with rare exceptions such as the report of the reapportionment committee in 1981 which is recorded in full. Committee members are appointed at the beginning of the session, and may also be listed in tables at the beginning or end of many volumes.

The process of enacting legislation via bills and resolutions is the most frequent business recorded. The title of the bill is noted along with its status: which reading it is at, whether or not it is passed, whether it has been referred back to committee, what amendments or rewrites are motioned for, etc. The contents of the bills are not recorded, although brief summaries of the contents along with the actions taken are recorded in separate tables in 1977 and 1979. The names of individuals motioning for particular actions are specified, and after 1884,individual names also are recorded on the final vote on a bill or resolution.

Messages from the opposing chamber, usually relating to a joint session or the passage of a bill in that house, are recorded in full. Messages from the governor also report passage, veto, or objections to portions of particular bills. Senate confirmations of gubernatorial appointees are recorded as well. Speeches related to statehood are prevalent in 1896 and 1897. Memorial tributes to deceased notables occur intermittently. Other miscellaneous business includes such things as invitations to visit or attend various civic functions, a poem read into the record by a senator, etc.

Minutes from joint sessions are entered in the journals of both houses. From statehood in 1896 to 1913, the joint session elected U.S. senators, so much time is noted recording candidate speeches and numerous ballots. The governor's opening message was also presented in joint session and printed in full, detailing topics of concernin the state and recommending legislative action. Initially, several agency reports, particularly those of the auditor and treasurer, accompanied the governor's address; later these were simply summarized in his message. Joint memorials to Congress, pleading for federal action (or inaction), commonly appear in the joint sessions of the 1880s, but are shorter and less frequent after statehood when Utah gained more autonomy.

Arrangement

Chronological by session with daily entries thereunder.

Related Records

Working bills from the Legislature. Senate, Series 428, are the bills whose progress are noted here.

Journals from the Legislative Assembly, Series 3145, contain the Council minutes before 1882.

Territorial legislative records from the Legislative Assembly, Series 3150, contain bills and other papers from the territorial period which are discussed here.

Journal record books from the Legislative Council, Series 3167, contain handwritten minutes of the senate from 1858-1882.

Oaths of office from the Division of Archives and Records Service, Series 17170, include the subscribed oath of office forms for members of the senate and gubernatorial appointees who require senate approval. The oath is administered to senators as each legislature convenes, as noted in this series.

Laws of Utah from the Legislature, Series 83155, contain the final, published, version of passed bills discussed here.

Custody History

2020 Journal received from Legislative Services (formerly known as Legislative Printing Office). Past issues came from a variety of sources including this same office and the State Library's Depository system.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.

Copies of these records are located at Utah State Legislature View Online.

Access Restrictions

Microfiche holdings require staff assistance due to fewer reference copies. Handle masters under supervision.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

Microfiche processed by Rebekkah Shaw under the National Historical Publications and Records Commission grant to the Utah State Archives and Records Services for the Utah Microfiche Backlog Project (Grant No.: NAR10-RB-50086-10). July 2010 - December 2011

Finding Aids

Indexes: The 1882 volume and most after 1899 contain numerical indices to bills and resolutions acted on during the session. Indexes: Often there are type of business/chronological indices to reports, communications, and miscellaneous business. Indexes: There are alphabetical subject indices to the bills, covering from 1955.

Indexing Terms

  • Utah. Legislature. Senate--Rules and practice.
  • Utah. Governor.
  • Legislative bodies--Utah--Publication of proceedings.
  • Legislative bodies--Utah--Committees.
  • Legislators--Utah.
  • Legislation--Utah.
  • Utah--Politics and government.

Container List

REEL DESCRIPTION
1 1882, 25th session; 1884, 26th session; 1886, 27th session; 1888, 28th session
2 1890, 29th session; 1892, Council and House Journals, 30th session; 1894, 31st session, start-p. 373
3 1894, 31st session, p. 373-end; 1896, 1st session; 1897, 2nd session
4 1899, 3rd session; 1901, 4th session; 1903, 5th session, start-p. 375
5 1903, 5th session, p. 373-end; 1905, 6th session; 1907, 7th session, start-p. 517
6 1907, 7th session, p. 515-end; 1909, 8th session; 1911, 9th session, start-p. 321
7 1911, 9th session, p. 319-end; 1913, 10th session
8 1915, 11th session; 1917, 12th session, start-p. 595
9 1917, 12th session, p. 593-end; 1919, 13th session; 1919, 13th special session
10 1921, 14th session; 1923, 15th session, start-p. 616
11 1923, 15th session, p. 615-end; 1925, 16th session; 1927, 17th session, start-p. 622
12 1927, 17th session, p. 621-end; 1929, 18th session; 1930, 18th special session
13 1931, 19th session; 1933, Special and 20th session, start-p. 674
14 1933, Special and 20th session, p. 673-end; 1933, 20th second special session; 1935, 21st session; 1936, 21st special session; 1937, 22nd session, start-p. 240
15 1937, 22nd session, p. 239-end; 1939, 23rd session
16 1941, 24th session; 1941, 24th special session; 1943, 25th session, start-p. 402
17 1943, 25th session, p. 401-end; 1944, 25th first special session; 1945, 26th session; 1946, 26th first special session; 1947, 27th session, start-p. 50
18 1947, 27th session, p. 51-end; 1948, 27th first special session; 1949, 28th session, start-p. 542
19 1949, 28th session, p. 541-end; 1951, 29th session; 1951, 29th first special session, start-p. 130
20 1951, 29th first special session, p. 129-end; 1952, 29th second special session; 1953, 30th session; 1953, 30th first special session; 1955, 31st session and first special session, start-p. 90
21 1955, 31st session and first special session, p. 89-end; 1957, 32nd session, start-p. 706
22 1957, 32nd session, p. 705-end; 1959, 33rd session and first special session; 1961, 34th session, start-p. 472
23 1961, 34th session, p. 473-end; 1963, 35th session and first special session; 1965, 36th session, start-p. 24
24 1965, 36th session, p. 25-end; 1966, 36th first-second special sessions
25 1967, 37th session
26 1969, 38th session, start-p. 1376
27 1969, 38th session, p. 1375-end; 1969, 38th first special session; 1970, 38th budget session; 1971, 39th session, start-p. 1058
28 1971, 39th session, p. 1057-end; 1971, 39th extraordinary session; 1971, 39th first special session; 1972, 39th budget session; 1972, 39th second extraordinary special session; 1973, 40th session, start-p. 894
29 1973, 40th session, p. 893-end; 1973, extraordinary session; 1974, 40th first special session; 1974, 40th budget session; 1974, 40th second special session; 1975, 41st session, start-p. 668
30 1975, 41st session, p. 667-end; 1975, 41st special session; 1976, 41st budget session; 1976, 41st extraordinary session; 1977, 42nd session, vol. I, start-p. 72
31 1977, 42nd session, vol. I, p. 71-end
32 1977, 42nd session, vol. II; 1977, 42nd first special session
33 1978, 42nd budget session; 1978, 42nd second special session
34 1979, 43rd session, vol. I
35 1979, 43rd session, vol. II; 1979, 43rd extraordinary session
36 1980, 43rd budget session
37 1980, 43rd first special session; 1981, 44th session; 1981, 44th first veto override session; 1981, 44th extraordinary session; 1981, 44th reapportionment session; 1982, 44th budget session, start -p. 294
38 1982, 44th budget session, p. 293-end; 1982, 44th budget veto override session; 1982, 44th second special session
39 1982, 44th third special session; 1983, 45th session; 1983, 45th veto override session
40 1983, 45th first special session; 1984, 45th budget session; 1984, 45th second special session; 1984, 45th third special session; 1984, 45th extraordinary session; 1985, 46th session, start-p. 340
41 1985, 46th session, p. 339-end; 1985, 46th first-second extraordinary sessions; 1985, 46th first special session; 1985, 46th third-fifth extraordinary sessions; 1986, 46th session, start-p. 696
42 1986, 46th session, p. 695-end; 1986, 46th second-third special sessions; 1986, 46th sixth-seventh extraordinary sessions; 1986, 46th fourth special session; 1987, 46th ninth extraordinary session; 1987, 47th session, start-p.960
43 1987, 47th session, p.961-end; 1987, 47th first extraordinary session; 1987, 47th first special session; 1987, 47th second-fourth extraordinary sessions; 1988, 47th session; 1988, 47th fifth-sixth extraordinary sessions; 1988, 47th second-fourth special sessions; 1988, 47th seventh extraordinary session; 1989, 48th general session, start-p. 170
44 1989, 48th general session, p. 170-end; 1989, 48th first extraordinary session; 1989, 48th first special session; 1989, 48th second extraordinary session
45 1989, 48th third extraordinary session; 1989, 48th second special session; 1989, 48th fourth extraordinary session; 1990, 48th general session; 1990, 48th fifth extraordinary session
46 1990, 48th sixth-seventh extraordinary sessions; 1991, 49th general session; 1991, 49th first special and first veto override sessions; 1991, 49th first-second extraordinary sessions
47 1991, 49th second special session; 1992, 49th general session; 1992, 49th third extraordinary session; 1992, 49th third special session; 1992, 49th fourth-sixth extraordinary sessions
48 1992, 49th seventh-eleventh extraordinary sessions; 1993, 50th general session; 1993, 50th first special session; 1993, 50th first-fourth extraordinary sessions
49 1993, 50th fifth extraordinary session; 1993, 50th second special session; 1993, 50th sixth-eighth extraordinary sessions; 1994, 50th general session
50 1994, 50th twelfth-seventeenth extraordinary sessions; 1995, 51st general session; 1995, 51st first special session; 1995, 51st first-third extraordinary sessions
51 1995, 51st fourth-sixth extraordinary sessions; 1996, 51st general session; 1996, 51st second special session
52 1996, 51st seventh-thirteenth extraordinary sessions; 1996, 51st third special session; 1997, 52nd general session
53 1997, 52nd first-third extraordinary sessions; 1997, 52nd first special session; 1997, 52nd fourth extraordinary session; 1997, 52nd second special session; 1997, fifth-seventh extraordinary sessions; 1998, 52nd general session; 1998, 52nd eighth-ninth extraordinary sessions
54 1998, 52nd tenth-fourteenth extraordinary sessions; 1999, 53rd general session
55 1999, 53rd first-seventh extraordinary sessions; 2000 53rd general session; 2000, eighth-tenth extraordinary sessions
56 2000, 53rd eleventh-thirteenth extraordinary sessions; 2001, 54th general session; 2001, 54th first-second extraordinary sessions
57 2001, 54th first and second special sessions; 2002, 54th general session; 2002, 54th third-fifth special sessions
58 2002, 54th sixth special session; 2003, 55th general session
59 2003, 55th first and second special sessions; 2004, 55th general session
60 2004, 55th third and fourth special sessions; 2005, 56th general session; 2005, 56th first special session
61 2005, 56th second special session; 2006, 56th general session; 2006, 56th third special session
62 2006, 56th fourth and fifth special sessions; 2007, 57th general session
VOLUME DESCRIPTION
2008 2007, 57th first special session; 2007, 57th fifth-seventh extraordinary sessions; 2008, 57th general session; 2008, 57th eighth-tenth extraordinary sessions
2009 2008, 57th eleventh-thirteenth extraordinary sessions; 2008, 57th second special session; 2009, 58th general session; 2009, 58th first special session; 2009, 58th first extraordinary session
2010 2009, 58th second-seventh extraordinary sessions; 2010, 58th general session; 2010, 58th eighth extraordinary session
2011 2010, 58th ninth-thirteenth extraordinary sessions; 2011, 59th general session, 2011, 59th first special session; 2011, 59th veto override session; 2011, 59th first-second extraordinary sessions
2012 2011, 59th second special session; 2011, 59th third-fourth extraordinary sessions; 2012, 59th general session; 2012, 59th fifth extraordinary session
2013 2012, 59th fourth special session; 2012, 59th sixth-tenth extraordinary sessions; 2013, 60th general session; 2013, 60th first-second extraordinary sessions; 2013, 60th first special session
2014 2013, 60th third extraordinary session; 2013, 60th second special session; 2013, 60th fourth extraordinary session; 2014, 60th general session; 2014, fifth-eighth extraordinary sessions
2015 2014, 60th ninth-twelfth extraordinary sessions; 2015, 61st first extraordinary session; 2015, 61st general session; 2015, 61st second-fourth extraordinary sessions
2016 2015, 61st fifth-ninth extraordinary sessions; 2015, 61st first special session; 2016, 61st general session; 2016, 61st tenth extraordinary session; 2016, 61st second special session
2017 2016, 61st eleventh extraordinary session; 2016, 61st third special session; 2016, 61st twelfth-thirteenth extraordinary sessions; 2016, 61st third special session; 2017, 62nd general session; 2017, 62nd first-second extraordinary sessions
2018 2017, 62nd third extraordinary session, 62nd fourth extraordinary session, 62nd first special session, 62nd fifth extraordinary session, 62nd sixth extraordinary session, 62nd seventh extraordinary session; 2018, 62nd general session, 62nd veto override session, 62nd eighth extraordinary session
2019 2018, 62nd ninth extraordinary session, 62nd second special session, 62nd tenth extraordinary session, 62nd eleventh extraordinary session, 62nd twelfth extraordinary session, 62nd third special session; 2019, 63rd general session
2020 2019, 63rd first to fifth extraordinary sessions, 63rd first and second special sessions, 63rd fifth extraordinary session; 2020, 63rd general session, 63rd third and fourth special sessions, sixth extraordinary session, fifth special session
2021 2020, 63rd sixth special session, 63rd eighth-eleventh extraordinary sessions; 2021, 64th general session, 64th first extraordinary session, 64th first special session, 64th first Senate extraordinary session
2022 2021, 64th third-seventh extraordinary sessions; 2021, 64th second special session; 2022, 64th general session; 2022, 64th veto override session; 2022, 64th third special session; 2022, eighth-tenth extraordinary sessions

Page Last Updated .