MINUTES OF THE

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Thursday, February 23, 2017 • 8:08 a.m. • 415 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.

Chair Dayton called the meeting to order at 8:08 a.m.

1. S.B. 214 Public Water Supplier Amendments (Iwamoto, J.)

MOTION:     Sen. Vickers moved to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2017 meeting.

The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.

Sen. Jani Iwamoto presented the bill with the assistance of Mr. Steve Clyde, Lawyer, Central Utah Water Conservancy District .

MOTION:     Sen. Iwamoto moved to replace S.B. 214 with 1st Substitute S.B. 214.

The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Mr. Sterling Brown, Utah Farm Bureau Federation spoke to the bill.

Ms. LuAnn Adams, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Tom Ward, Director, Sandy City Public Utilities, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Russell Vetter, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Craig Peterson, Utah Chapter of Nature Conservancy, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Iwamoto moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 214 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

2. 1st Sub. H.B. 180 Water Rights Transfer Amendments (Wilde, L.)

Rep. Logan Wilde presented the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 180 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 180.

The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Mr. Kent Jones, State Engineer and Director, Division of Water Rights, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ms. LuAnn Adams, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 180 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

3. S.B. 151 Property Tax Relief Modifications (Dabakis, J.)

Sen. Jim Dabakis presented the bill with the assistance of Mr. Zachary Frankel, Director, Utah Rivers Council; Mr. Gabriel Lozada, Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Economics, University of Utah; Ms. Gail Blattenberger, Professor Emeritus, Department of Economics, University of Utah; and Sen. Howard A. Stephenson.

Mr. Ronald Thompson, General Manager, Washington County Water Conservancy District, spoke to the bill.

Mr. Richard Bay, General Manager, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Mr. David Schutt, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Mark Anderson, Assistant General Manager, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Robin Ruthfeder, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Craig Peterson, American Council of Engineering Companies, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Nick Scou, Conservation Director, Utah Rivers Council, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Ron Thompson, General Manager, Washington County Water Conservancy District spoke in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Kathleen Dennis, resident, Davis County spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. LeGrand Bitter, Executive Director, Utah Association of Special Districts, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Beth Haynes, Outreach Director, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Todd Adams, Deputy Director, Division of Water Resources, spoke in opposition to the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Christensen moved to table S.B. 151.

The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.

The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.

Chair Dayton adjourned the meeting at 9:46 a.m.

_____________________________________

Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair