SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate moved a controversial bill setting the process to rename Dixie State University to the Senate Education Committee late Friday, after letting the legislation sit in limbo for more than a week.
When the committee may debate HB278 has not yet been posted on the Utah Legislature's website. The legislative session ends at midnight on March 5.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Miles, R-South Ogden, passed handily in the House by a vote of 51-20 on Feb. 10. After it was transmitted to the Senate, some sources said it would not be considered further.
However, in recent days Senate leaders said they will debate the bill, although some have expressed concerns about a lack of buy-in from community members. Some area residents say the push for a name change was fueled by external forces and akin to "cancel culture."