| Members Present: Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Michael L. Kohler Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Thomas W. Peterson | Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Casey Snider Members Absent: Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Steven J. Lund Rep. Mike Schultz Rep. Christine F. Watkins Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Finn Andrew Rose, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Sandall called the meeting to order. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to approve the October 11, 2023, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp | Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers Rep. C. Watkins |
| Julie Humberstone informed the committee of required reports the committee has received. |
| 2.Draft Legislation: Water Shareholder Amendments |
| Rep. Brooks assumed the chair. |
| 2a. Draft Legislation, Water Shareholder Amendments |
| Sen. Sandall presented on draft legislation, "Water Shareholder Amendments." |
| Chair Brooks opened the meeting to public comment. |
| Wade Garrett, Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Relationships, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Trevor Nielson, General Manager, Bear River Canal Company, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to favorably recommend draft legislation, "Water Shareholder Amendments" to the full Legislature for further consideration during the 2024 General Session.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Snider | Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. M. Schultz Sen. E. Vickers Rep. C. Watkins |
| 3.Draft Legislation: Industrial Hemp Amendments |
| 3a. Draft Legislation, Industrial Hemp Amendments |
| Sen. Sandall assumed the chair. |
| Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost presented on draft legislation, "Industrial Hemp Amendments." |
| Chair Sandall opened the meeting to public comment. |
| MOTION:Rep. Brooks moved to favorably recommend draft legislation, "Industrial Hemp Amendments" to the full Legislature for further consideration during the 2024 General Session. The committee discussed the motion further.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Snider | Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. S. Lund Rep. M. Schultz Sen. E. Vickers Rep. C. Watkins |
| 4.Draft Legislation: Agricultural Tourism Amendments |
| 4a. Draft Legislation, Agricultural Tourism Amendments |
| 4b. UDAF Agricultural Tourism Amendments Presentation |
| Craig Buttars, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food; Amber Brown, Legislative and Government Affairs Director, Department of Agriculture and Food; and Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau, presented on draft legislation, "Agricultural Tourism Amendments." |
| The committee asked questions of Craig Buttars, Amber Brown, and Terry Camp. |
| Chair Sandall opened the meeting to public comment. |
| Tarah Barker, Cold Streams Trout Farm, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Jenna Madsen, Sundercreek Farms, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Chris Riley, Riley's You Pick, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Sara Harward, Harward Farms, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Sherry Tate, Staheli's Family Farm, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| MOTION:Rep. Brooks moved to favorably recommend draft legislation, "Agricultural Tourism Amendments" to the full Legislature for further consideration during the 2024 General Session.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers | Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. S. Lund Rep. M. Schultz Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins |
| 5.Mining Permitting Processes |
| Rep. Bolinder and John Baza, Director, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, presented on mining permitting processes. |
| The committee asked questions of Rep. Bolinder and John Baza. |
| 6.A Performance Audit of Utah's Water Management |
| 6a. A Performance Audit of Utah's Water Management (Report #2023-15) |
| 6b. OLAG Water Audit Presentation |
| Darin Underwood, Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Legislative General Auditor, and Madison Hoover, Performance Audit Supervisor, Office of the Legislative General Auditor, presented on a performance audit of Utah's water management. |
| Craig Buttars commented on the audit. |
| The committee asked questions of Craig Buttars. |
| Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources, commented on the audit. |
| 7.Lithium Development |
| 7a. Anson Resources Utah Lithium Projects Presentation |
| Bruce Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, Anson Resources, presented on the paradox lithium project in Green River and Moab. |
| The committee asked questions of Bruce Richardson. |
| 8.Utah Seismic Safety Commission |
| 8a. Utah Seismic Safety Commission Report |
| Robert Grow, Chair, Utah Seismic Safety Commission, and Ari Bruening, President and Chief Executive Officer, Envision Utah, presented on the Utah Seismic Safety Commission Report and Recommendations. |
| 9.GSL Integrated Water Assessment |
| 9a. GSL Integrated Water Assessment Update Presentation |
| 9b. Division of Water Resources Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan |
| 9c. Stormwater Study Handout |
| Candice Hasenyager, Director, Division of Water Resources, presented on the progress and findings of the Great Salt Lake integrated water assessment and the work plan development. |
| 10.Cannabis Fees |
| 10a. UDAF Cannabis Fees Presentation |
| Melanie Henderson, Finance Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, presented an analysis of Utah's medical cannabis fees. |
| The committee asked questions of Melanie Henderson and Brandon Forsyth, Director, Medical Cannabis and Laboratory Services, Department of Agriculture and Food. |
| 11.Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. E. Vickers | Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Rep. C. Watkins |
| Chair Sandall adjourned the meeting. |