MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 23, 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

Members Absent:
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Charley Hart, Policy Analyst
Emma Johnsen, 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 2:20 PM.
1.S.B. 125 Secondary Water Amendments (Hinkins, D.)
Sen. David P. Hinkins presented the bill.
Joel Williams, Deputy Director, Utah Division of Water Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zachary Frankel, Executive Director, Utah Rivers Council, spoke to the bill.
Kael Weston, citizen, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Scott D. Sandall moved to pass S.B. 125 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. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
2.S.B. 18 Water Modifications (Sandall, S.)
Sen. Sandall presented the bill.
Wade Garrett, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amber Brown, Director of Legislative Affairs, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mark Stratford, General Counsel, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bren Edwards, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lynn Carroll, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Warren Peterson, Water Attorney, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Trevor Nielson, General Manager, Bear River Canal Company, spoke in favor of the bill.
Steve Clyde, Attorney, Utah Water Task Force, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass S.B. 18 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. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. E. Vickers
3.S.B. 108 Veteran Access to State Parks (Kwan, K.)
Sen. Karen Kwan presented the bill with the assistance of Brian Garrett, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
Scott Strong, Interim Director, Utah Division of State Parks, spoke in favor of the bill.
Talin Hansen, Representative, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. David G. Buxton moved to pass S.B. 108 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
4.H.B. 54 Coal Miner Certification Panel Amendments (Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass H.B. 54 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Keith Grover moved to approve the minutes.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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
5.H.B. 23 Division of Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council Sunset Extension (Brooks, W.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass H.B. 23 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
6.H.B. 42 Water Rights Publication Amendments (Briscoe, J.)
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe presented the bill.
Wade Garrett, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stephanie Pitcher moved to pass H.B. 42 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
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. K. Grover
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 3:14 PM.
NOTE: S.B. 0118 was not discussed in the meeting.