MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 • 2:00 p.m. • 445 State Capitol

Note: A list of others present, a copy of related materials, and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at le.utah.gov.

Vice Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

1. H.B. 48 Wildlife Species Introduction Amendments (Albrecht, C.)

Rep. Albrecht explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Greg Sheehan, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources.

Mr. Duke Rogers, Director, MLBean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, spoke to the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Owens moved to pass H.B. 48 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.

2. H.B. 84 Water Law - Nonuse Applications (Hawkes, T.)

Rep. Hawkes explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Boyd Clayton, Division of Water Rights.

Mr. David Ure, Director, School and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA), spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to pass H.B. 84 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

3. H.B. 118 Authority of State Engineer (Hawkes, T.)

Rep. Hawkes explained the bill.

Mr. Kent Jones, State Engineer, State Division of Water Rights, spoke to the bill.

Mr. Sterling Brown, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Briscoe moved to pass H.B. 118 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.

4. H.B. 181 State Engineer Fee Application Amendments (Wilde, L.)

Rep. Wilde explained the bill.

Mr. Kent Jones spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Watkins moved to pass H.B. 181 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

5. H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Supporting Ranchers Grazing Livestock on Public Lands (Westwood, J.)

Rep. Westwood explained the bill.

Mr. Sterling Brown, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Matt Anderson, Coalition for Self Government in the West, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Sagers moved to replace H.C.R. 7 with 1st Substitute H.C.R. 7. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

MOTION:     Rep. Chew moved to pass 1st Sub. H.C.R. 7 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

6. H.B. 95 Little Sahara State Park Designation (Eliason, S.)

Rep. Eliason explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Fred Hayes, Director, Division of State Parks.

Mr. Sterling Brown spoke to the bill.

Mr. Kim Christy, Deputy Director, SITLA, spoke to the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to amend H.B. 95 with Amendment #1 as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 50 through 56:   

50   (4) If the division successfully enters into the agreement described in Subsection (2)(a),

51the division shall negotiate in good faith with the School and Institutional Trust Lands

52Administration to attempt to:

53   (a) purchase parcels of school and institutional trust land located within the boundaries

54of the Little Sahara Recreation Area; or

55   (b)

56the Little Sahara Recreation Area for other parcels of state land

The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

MOTION:     Rep. Handy moved to pass H.B. 95 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

MOTION:     Rep. Handy moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.

Vice Chair Barlow adjourned the meeting 3:55 p.m.

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Rep. Stewart E. Barlow, Vice Chair