MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 27, 2020 • 8:00 a.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ralph Okerlund, Chair
Sen. Allen M. Christensen
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Derek L. Kitchen
Sen. Scott D. Sandall

Members Absent:
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

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.

Chair Okerlund called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes for February 24, 2020. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays-0Abs-5
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
1. S.B. 106 Agricultural Amendments (Sandall, S.)
Sen. Sandall explained the bill.
Mark Whitney, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke to the bill.
Michael Dalton, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke to the bill.
Garrick Hall, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke to the bill.
Mike Kohler, Dairy Producers, spoke to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Sandall moved to return S.B. 106 to the Rules Committee The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
2. H.B. 96 Water Forfeiture Amendments (Ferry, J.)
Rep. Ferry explained the bill.
Boyd Clayton, Interim State Engineer, spoke to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Iwamoto moved to pass H.B. 96 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-2.
Yeas - 7Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
3. 3rd Sub. H.B. 66 Wildland Fire Planning and Cost Recovery Amendments (Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Albrecht distributed a document.
HB66 Wildland Fire Planning and Cost Recovery
Rep. Albrecht explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to amend 3rd Substitute H.B. 66 with Amendment #1. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-2.
Amendment 1
3rd Sub. H.B. 66
1.        Page 5, Line 125: 
125         potential wildland fire.
        (4) No later than June 1, 2021, and each year after 2021, a qualified utility shall submit to the commission a report detailing the qualified utility's compliance with the qualified utility's wildland fire protection plan.

2.        Page 8, Line 236: 
236                 (b) An award { of } for damages to { a } real property resulting from a wildland fire, including the

Yeas - 7Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
Jeff Peterson, Executive Director, Utah Rural Electric Cooperative Association,spoke to the bill.
Brian Cottam, State Forester, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Cox, Vice President, Rocky Mountain Power, spoke in favor of the bill.
Russell Hymas, Utah Association for Justice, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Colin Jack, Chief Operating Officer, Engineer, Dixie Power Coop, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 66 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-2.
Yeas - 7Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
4. 1st Sub. H.B. 92 Fire Amendments (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider explained the bill.
Brian Cottam, Director of Forestry, Fire and State Forester, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bryce Bird, Director of Air Quality, Department of Environmental Quality, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 92 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
5. H.B. 105 Water Facilities Amendments (Wilde, L.)
Rep. Wilde explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Iwamoto moved to pass H.B. 105 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Iwamoto moved to place H.B. 105 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
6. H.B. 130 Water Use Amendments (Hawkes, T.)
Sen. Iwamoto explained the bill.
Rep. Hawkes spoke to the bill.
Steven Clyde, Attorney, Utah Water Task Force, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to pass H.B. 130 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. A. Christensen
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Kitchen
Sen. R. Okerlund
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Okerlund adjourned the meeting at 9:12 AM.