MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 • 3:40 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Michael S. Kennedy, Chair
Sen. Jacob L. Anderegg
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Members Absent:
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Staff Present:
Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

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

MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2023 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Kennedy called the meeting to order at 3:43 p.m.
1.S.B. 137 Medical Cannabis Amendments (Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Rich Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services.
Tim Pickett, physician assistant and founder of KindlyMD, spoke in favor of the bill.
Walt Plumb, President, Drug Safe Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Drug Safe Utah Education
Desiree Hennessy, Executive Director, Utah Patients Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Alyssa Smailes, Executive Director, Utah Cannabis Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rich Oborn, Director, Center for Medical Cannabis, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, spoke to the bill.
Justin Arriola, license holder and owner, Life Elevated Processing, LLC, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to replace S.B. 137 with 1st Substitute S.B. 137.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 137 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
2.1st Sub. H.B. 78 Behavioral Health Treatment Access Amendments (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill with the assistance of Dr. Myles Greenburg, emergency department physician, and Jackie Jolley, Dr. Scott Jolley's widow.
Michelle McOmber, Chief Executive Officer, Utah Medical Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 78 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. C. Wilson
3.H.B. 25 Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force Sunset Extension (Romero, A.)
Rep. Angela Romero presented the bill with the assistance of Jasmin Blackwater-Nygren, First Lady of the Navajo Nation.
Crystalynne Curley, Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Germaine Simonson, Delegate, 25th Navajo Nation Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Curtis Yanito, Member, 25th Navajo Nation Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass H.B. 25 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Anderegg moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Kennedy adjourned the meeting at 4:44 p.m.