MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024 • 2:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jeffrey D. Stenquist, Chair
Rep. Mark A. Strong, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Ariel Defay
Rep. Brett Garner
Rep. Colin W. Jack
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Linda Service, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Stenquist called the meeting to order at 2:13 p.m.
Committee members introduced themselves.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2023 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. B. Garner
1.H.B. 78 Motion Picture Incentives Amendments (Stenquist, J.)
Rep. Strong assumed the chair.
Rep. Stenquist introduced the bill assisted by Virginia Pearce, Director, Utah Film Commission.
Victor Iverson, Washington County Commissioner, spoke in support of the bill.
Gil Almquist, Washington County Commissioner, spoke in support of the bill.
Adam Kolowich, Director of Legislative Affairs, Utah Association of Counties, spoke in support of the bill.
David Wolf, local producer, spoke in support of the bill.
Shayne Wittwer, Wittwer Hospitality, St. George, Washington, and Moab, spoke in support of the bill.
Mariah Mellus, Executive Director, Utah Film Center, spoke in support of the bill.
Jeffery Jarvis, Dean, College of the Arts, Utah Tech, spoke in support of the bill.
Michael McHenry, McHenry Group, spoke in support of the bill.
Jeff Midgley, Kaysville, Utah, spoke in support of the bill.
Brent Uberty, Managing Director, BW Productions, spoke in support of the bill.
Malah Armstrong, Utah Taxpayers Association, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass H.B. 78 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-2-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. B. Garner
Rep. Stenquist resumed the chair.
2.H.B. 115 Cultural and Community Engagement Amendments (Watkins, C.)
Rep. Watkins introduced the bill assisted by Kat Potter, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass H.B. 115 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. B. Garner
3.H.B. 164 Digital Currency Modifications (Clancy, T.)
Rep. Clancy introduced the bill assisted by Trace Mayes, Utah Blockchain Task Force, and distributed a handout "HB(164: Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Prohibition."
Central Bank Digital Currency
Howard Headlee, President, Utah Bankers Association, spoke to the bill.
Kael Weston spoke to the bill.
Whit Cook, Legislative Director, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in support of the bill.
Stephen Nelson, Utah Credit Union Association, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass H.B. 164 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. B. Garner
4.H.B. 207 Utah Homelessness Council Amendments (Jack, C.)
Rep. Jack introduced the bill.
Molly Wheeler, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in support of the bill.
Shawn Guzman spoke in support of the bill.
Marcus Stevenson, Midvale City Mayor and sits on the Utah Homelessness Council, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass H.B. 207 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-0.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. B. Garner
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. Cutler moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar and then withdrew his motion.
5.H.B. 99 Consumer Credit Protection Amendments (Birkeland, K.)
Rep. Birkeland introduced the bill.
Howard Headlee spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass H.B. 99 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-0.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. B. Garner
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
MOTION:Rep. Chew moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-0.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. B. Garner
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. J. Stenquist
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. M. Wheatley
Chair Stenquist adjourned the meeting at 3:51 p.m.