It's frustrating, he said, but even more, a sore spot with House leadership. He said he was asked to prioritize his bills, and he set the seat-belt bill as a top priority. Yet, the bill has been held in Rules since the start of the session.

"Even if I do not care for the issue, it doesn't mean it should be stifled," said Greenwood.

Under HB87, a motorist age 19 and older could be ticketed just for not wearing a seat belt — a primary offense. Current law makes not wearing a seat belt a secondary offense, so a person can only be ticketed if they commit some other violation first.

Last year, the seat-belt measure was approved by the Senate but died in the House on the last night of the legislative session.

Dating-violence bill clears House committee

Victims of dating violence would be granted the right to file for protective orders in a bill passed by a House committee on Wednesday.

Current law makes protective orders applicable only to spouses and cohabitants who are victims of domestic violence.

Vigorous debate accompanied the hearing of HB247, sponsored by House Minority Whip David Litvack, D-West Valley, who characterized his legislation as addressing "a significant problem in our society."

"Dating violence is very similar to domestic violence," Litvack said. "Current protective orders are only obtainable through cohabitant definitions ... but do not provide the same protections" for dating relationships. Litvack's proposal extended these rights to victims age 16 and older.

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the pro-family group, Utah Eagle Forum, testified at the hearing that courts issue protective orders "frivolously" and that they should not extend to teenagers.

Health-care overhaul advances to the Senate

A bill that is the form and foundation of a multiyear renovation of the state's health-care system was approved Wednesday afternoon by unanimous vote and now moves on to the full Senate.

Committee review of HB133, which was approved unanimously by the House last week, was pretty much a formality on the way to becoming law. The omnibus bill outlines a general approach to trying to keep the cost of health care from eating the state economy in the next few years.

Now is the last, best chance to really make some practical, meaningful and lasting changes, Clark told committee members, noting that the health-care fix-it plans that precede HB133 were well-intentioned and crafted but lacked something this one doesn't: Pain.