MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 25, 2021 • 7:30 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair
Sen. Gene Davis
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Members Absent:
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Kristen Anderson, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Sandall called the meeting to order at 7:28 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-4.
Yeas - 4Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. E. Vickers
1. 1st Sub. H.B. 297 Colorado River Amendments (Wilson, B.)
Speaker Wilson presented the bill.
Gene Shawcroft, Utah Colorado Commission, additionally presented the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Owens moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 297 with Amendment #1. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-4.
Amendment 1
1st Sub. H.B. 297
1.        Page 6, Lines 166 through 167: 
166                 (C) harm the ability of the Colorado River Authority of Utah or river commissioner to negotiate the best
167         terms and conditions regarding the use of water in the Colorado River system; or

2.        Page 19, Lines 577 through 579: 
577                 (82) a record :
(a) concerning an interstate claim to the use of waters in the Colorado River
578         system { in a } ;
(b) relating to a judicial proceeding, administrative proceeding, or negotiation with a representative
579         from another state or the federal government as provided in Section 63M-14-205 { . } ; and
(c) the disclosure of which would:
(i) reveal a legal strategy relating to the state's claim to the use of the water in the Colorado River system;
(ii) harm the ability of the Colorado River Authority of Utah or river commissioner to negotiate the best terms and conditions regarding the use of water in the Colorado River system; or
(iii) give an advantage to another state or to the federal government in negotiations regarding the use of water in the Colorado River system.
 

Yeas - 4Nays-0Abs-4
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. E. Vickers
Renee Cowley, Utah Media Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brian Steed, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zachary Frankel, Executive Director, Utah Rivers Council, spoke against the bill.
Wade Garrett, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Owens moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 297 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
2. S.B. 141 Task Force on Food Security (Escamilla (Robles), L.)
Sen. Escamilla declared a substitute and an amendment needed to be adopted.
MOTION: Sen. Owens moved to replace S.B. 141 with 1st Substitute S.B. 141. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Owens moved to amend 1st Substitute S.B. 141 with Amendment #1. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Amendment 1
1st Sub. S.B. 141
1.        Page 2, Lines 53 through 54: 
53         Towns to represent municipal government; { and   }
(h) the chair of the State Board of Higher Education or the chair's designee; and
54                 { (h) } (i) seven individuals, appointed by the governor, including:

2.        Page 3, Line 64: 
64         Subsection (2)(a), (b), or { (g) } (i) , the member shall be replaced in the same manner in which the

Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill.
Gina Cornia, Executive Director, Utahns Against Hunger, additionally presented the bill.
Maryann Martindale, Utah Academy of Family Physicians, spoke in favor of the bill.
Daila Touli-Tippton, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 141 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
3. S.C.R. 3 Concurrent Resolution Encouraging the Development of a Multi-state Passenger Rail Commission (Escamilla (Robles), L.)
Sen. Owens assumed the chair.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to replace S.C.R. 3 with 1st Substitute S.C.R. 3. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill.
Mike Christiansen Executive Director, Utah Rail Passengers Association, spoke against the bill.
George Chapman, Salt Lake City Advocate, spoke against the bill.
Shule Bishop, Utah Transit Authority, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass 1st Substitute S.C.R. 3 out favorably. The motion failed with a vote of 2-3-3.
Yeas - 2Nays-3Abs-3
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
4. H.C.R. 12 Concurrent Resolution Encouraging Cooperative Action Regarding National Monuments (Albrecht, C.)
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to replace H.C.R. 12 with 1st Substitute H.C.R. 12. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.C.R. 12 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays-0Abs-3
Sen. G. Davis
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Acting Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 9:08 a.m.