The Utah State Senate approved a first substitute to Senate Bill 182 to clarify which counties and facilities would be covered by a "code blue" alert for extreme heat and to set a seasonal window for the policy.

Senator Weiler (sponsor) explained the substitute clarifies applicability to counties of the first through fourth class and adds definitions for "code blue alert" and "code blue event." He said the substitute replaces a prior fixed 105-degree threshold with the National Weather Service's Heat Risk 2 ("moderate or greater") to better account for humidity and wind.

"The reason for that is based on humidity and wind and other conditions, the heat risk, too, is a better calculator if that's going to provide a potential health event for some of our homeless population or unhoused population," Weiler said.

The substitute also narrows the bill's scope to congregate facilities and limits any code-blue declaration to June 1 through Sept. 30, the sponsor said, noting counties find year-round contracting difficult.

Senators voted to replace the bill with the first substitute and then approved reading the substitute for a third time. The clerk reported 24 yea votes, 0 nays, and 5 absences; the bill was ordered to be read for a third time.

Why it matters: The substitute sets a clear, weather-service-based trigger and confines the measure to congregate facilities during the summer months, aiming to balance emergency response for heat risk with counties' administrative capacity.

Votes at a glance: First substitute SB 182 — Read for third time; recorded tally: 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent.

Next steps: SB 182 first substitute was advanced to the third-reading calendar.