MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Julie Humberstone, Policy Analyst
Makelle Wininger, Committee Secretary

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

Sen. Grover assumed the chair at 4:01 p.m.
Acting Chair Grover called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.
1.S.B. 236 Legislative Water Development Commission Amendments (Hinkins, D.)
Sen. David Hinkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass S.B. 236 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
2.S.B. 251 Secondary Water Metering Requirements (Hinkins, D.)
Sen. Hinkins presented the bill.
Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rick Smith, General Manager, Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chris Chambers, Vice President, Smithfield Irrigation Company, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Larson, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass S.B. 251 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. Winterton resumed the chair at 4:13 p.m.
3.S.B. 259 Department of Agriculture and Food Amendments (Owens, D.R.)
Sen. Owens presented the bill with the assistance of Craig Buttars, Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF).
Terry Camp spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Larson spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass S.B. 259 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
4.H.B. 121 Wildlife Habitat Account Amendments (Peterson, T.)
Rep. Thomas Peterson presented the bill with the assistance of Justin "J" Shirley, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources.
Jack Ray, President, Utah Waterfowl (UWA) and Utah Airboat Associations (UAA), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 121 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
5.H.B. 274 Adopt-the-outdoors Program Amendments (Owens, D.)
Rep. Doug Owen presented the bill with the assistance of Jason Curry, Director, Department of Outdoor Recreation. They responded to questions from the committee.
HB274 Adopt the Outdoors Handout
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass H.B. 274 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
6.H.B. 327 Pollinator Pilot Program Amendments (Matthews, A.)
Rep. Matthews presented the bill with the assistance of Jim Bowcutt, Conservation Director, UDAF. They responded to questions from the committee.
HB327 Pollinator Amendments Handout
HB327 Pollinator Program Seed Pack
HB327 Pollinator Program Presentation
MOTION:Sen. Grover moved to pass H.B. 327 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
7.H.B. 208 Criminal Trespass Amendments (Chew, S.)
Rep. Chew presented the bill with the assistance of Steve Alt, private citizen. They responded to questions from the committee.
HB208 Wasatch County Sheriff Office Handout
Herbert Ley, Director and Vice President, Utah Stream Access Coalition, spoke against the bill.
HB208 UT Stream Access Coalition Handout
Cullen Battle, member, Utah Stream Access Coalition, spoke against the bill.
Mark Allen, Founder, Protect and Preserve American Fork Canyon, spoke against the bill.
Craig Coburn, Attorney, Utah Stream Access Coalition, commented on the bill.
Terry Camp spoke in favor of the bill.
Randy Parker, private citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Caitlin Curry, Vice Chair, Utah Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, commented on the bill.
Jack Ray, private citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace H.B. 208 with 1st Substitute H.B. 208.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-0.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 208 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-3-0.
Yeas - 5Nays- 3Abs- 0
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
8.H.B. 341 Electronic Stamp Designation (Bolinder, B.)
Rep. Bridger Bolinder presented the bill.
Jack Ray, President, UWA and UAA, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 341 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
9.H.B. 397 Urban Farming Assessment Amendments (Kohler, M.)
Rep. Michael Kohler presented the bill and responded a question from the committee.
Terry Camp commented on the bill.
Symbria Patterson, Executive Director, Red Acre Center, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jake Parkinson, Assessor, Tooele County, spoke in favor of the bill
Michael Larson spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 397 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
10.2nd Sub. H.B. 299 Infrastructure Related to Water (Snider, C.)
Rep. Casey Snider presented the bill with the assistance of Sen. Curtis Bramble.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 299 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 299.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. Bramble further presented the bill with the assistance of Jeremy Thornell, Manager, Marine Products Pro Shop.
Rachel Fischer, National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA) and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), spoke in favor of the bill.
Tracy Glover, Sheriff, Kane County and Vice President, Utah Sheriffs Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 299 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
11.2nd Sub. H.B. 349 Water Reuse Projects Amendments (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider presented the bill and responded to questions from the committee.
Billy Hesterman, Lobbyist, Wasatch Front Water Quality Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Justin Lee, Director of Government Relations, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Soren Simonsen, Executive Director, Jordan River Commission, commented on the bill.
Jack Ray, President, UWA and UAA; spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Larson spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 349 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 349.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 349 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 5:57 p.m.