MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 • 2:00 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:
Emma Johnson, Committee Secretary
Charley Hart, Policy Analyst
Julie Humberstone, Policy Analyst
Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Ronald M. Winterton called the meeting to order at 2:18 PM.
MOTION:Sen. David G. Buxton moved to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2023 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
1.S.B. 75 Mineral Amendments (Owens, D.R.)
Sen. Derrin R. Owens presented the bill with Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace S.B. 75 with 1st Substitute S.B. 75.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
Abby Hunsaker, Policy Advisor, Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Evan J. Vickers moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 75 out favorably.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
2.S.B. 39 Water Shareholder Amendments (Sandall, S.)
Sen. Scott D. Sandall presented the bill.
Wade Garrett, Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Relations, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass S.B. 39 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
3.S.B. 57 Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act (Sandall, S.)
Sen. Scott D. Sandall presented the bill.
Jen Brown, Board of Directors, Utah Citizens for the Constitution, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rana Williams, Executive Director, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kael Weston, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cristy Henshaw, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Davenport-Smith, Government Relations Expert, Utah Coalition of Cities and Counties, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to replace S.B. 57 with 1st Substitute S.B. 57.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 57 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-2-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. K. Grover
4.S.B. 77 Water Rights Restricted Account Amendments (Sandall, S.)
Sen. Sandall presented the bill with Blake Brigham, Deputy State Engineer, Utah Division of Water Rights.
Wade Garrett, Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Relations, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass S.B. 77 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 3:11 PM.
NOTE: S.B. 0055 was not discussed in the meeting.