MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 24, 2020 • 8:00 a.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Allen M. Christensen
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Members Absent:
Sen. Ralph Okerlund, Chair
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Derek L. Kitchen
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Paula Morgan, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Acting Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to approve the minutes for February 18, 2020. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-6.
Yeas - 3Nays-0Abs-6
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
1. S.B. 148 Oil and Gas Modifications (Okerlund, R.)
Rep. Albrecht explained the bill.
Ruland Gill, Chairman, Utah Oil Gas and Mining, spoke to the bill.
Ricki Hrenko-Browning, President, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to pass S.B. 148 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Christensen assumed the chair.
2. S.B. 144 Water Related Process Amendments (Okerlund, R.)
MOTION: Acting Chair Hinkins moved to amend S.B. 144 with Amendment #1. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Amendment 1
S.B. 144
1.        Page 3, Line 86 through Page 4, Line 90: 
86                 (b) The filing of a proof in accordance with this section { does not:
87                   (i) constitute a new } is a request for agency action under Title 63G, Chapter 4,
88         Administrative Procedures Act, { other than } only between the applicant and the state engineer { ; or
89                   (ii) require the state engineer to provide notice to any person that the proof has been
  90         filed } .

Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Steven Clyde, Attorney, Utah Water Task Force, explained the bill.
John Mabey, Attorney, Utah Water Task Force, spoke to the bill.
Warren Peterson, Utah Water Task Force, spoke to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Iwamoto moved to pass S.B. 144 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
3. S.B. 131 Small Mining Operations Amendments (Hinkins, D.)
Acting Chair Hinkins explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to pass S.B. 131 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Hinkins resumed the chair.
4. H.B. 134 Raw Milk Products Amendments (Coleman, K.)
Rep. Coleman explained the bill.
Mike Kohler, Dairy Producers of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Garrick Hall, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Patterson, Red Acre Farm, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Sandall moved to pass H.B. 134 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
5. H.B. 228 Livestock Predators Removal Amendments (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider explained the bill.
Kirk Robinson, Western Wildlife Conservancy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Garrick Hall, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mike Fowlks, Director, Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelly Pehrson, Acting Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melinda McIlwain, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Sandall moved to pass H.B. 228 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays-0Abs-5
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
6. H.B. 237 Change to Effective Date of Water-related Amendments (Stratton, K.)
Rep Stratton explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to pass H.B. 237 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-6.
Yeas - 3Nays-0Abs-6
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to place H.B. 237 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-6.
Yeas - 3Nays-0Abs-6
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Sandall moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-6.
Yeas - 3Nays-0Abs-6
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
Acting Chair Hinkins adjourned the meeting at 9:04 AM.