MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 • 3:40 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott, Vice Chair
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton
Rep. Kera Birkeland
Rep. Tyler Clancy
Rep. Brian S. King
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Christine F. Watkins
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley

Members Absent:
Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair

Staff Present:
Jonathan Adams, 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 Abbott called the meeting to order at 3:54 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to approve the January 25, 2024 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. King
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
1.H.B. 289 Property Rights Ombudsman Amendments (Birkeland, K.)
Rep. Birkeland presented the bill.
Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke against the bill.
Todd Sheeran, City Attorney, city of Herriman, and also in behalf of the Utah Municipal Attorneys Association, spoke against the bill.
Johnnie Miller, CEO, Utah Counties Indemnity Pool, spoke against the bill.
Mike Ostermiller, in behalf of the Utah Association of Realtors and the Property Rights Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Taz Biesinger, Utah Homebuilders Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Robert Hartshorn, D.R. Horton, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chris Gamvroulas, President, Property Rights Coalition and in behalf of Ivory Development, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kevin Thurman, City Attorney, city of Saratoga Springs, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Acton moved to amend H.B. 289 by deleting lines 15 and 77.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to go to the next item on the agenda in order to give staff time to prepare an amendment.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
2.H.B. 316 Inmate Assignment Amendments (Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Lisonbee presented the bill.
Nicholeen Peck, President, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalane England, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marina Lowe, Equality Utah, spoke to the bill.
Dani Palmer, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ellie Menlove, Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Birkeland moved to amend H.B. 316 with Amendment #3.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Amendment 3
H.B. 316
1 .        Page 2, Lines 54 through 55 :  Page 2, Lines 54 through 55
54                 (5) A jail facility shall comply with the same requirements as the Department of Corrections described in Subsections 64-13-7(4) { and } , (5) , and (6) when assigning an
55         inmate to a living area, including the reporting requirements in { Subsection } Subsections 64-13-45(2)(d) and (e) .

2 .        Page 3, Line 86 through Page 4, Line 90 :  Page 3, Line 86 through Page 4, Line 90
86                 (5) (a) Upon a request from a transgender inmate to be assigned to a living area with
87         inmates whose biological sex at birth do not correspond with the transgender inmate's
88         biological sex at birth, or if the department seeks to assign a transgender inmate to a living area with
inmates whose biological sex at birth do not correspond with the transgender inmate's biological sex at
birth, the department shall undertake an individualized security analysis
89         considering criminogenic and other factors including:
90                 (i) the transgender inmate's anatomy { as verified by a medical professional } which may be verified through a conversation with the transgender inmate, reviewing the transgender inmate's medical records, routine protocols applicable to all inmates, or as part of a broader medical examination of the transgender inmate conducted in private by a medical professional if necessary ;

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. J. Rohner
MOTION:Rep. Birkeland moved to pass H.B. 316 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 6-2-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. King
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. J. Rohner
3.H.B. 218 Restitution Revisions (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill with the assistance of Will Carlson, Chief Policy Advisor, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
Mark Moffat, criminal defense attorney, spoke against the bill.
Adam Crayk, criminal defense attorney, spoke to the bill.
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, spoke to the bill.
Brandon Merrill, Executive Director, Utah Homicide Survivors, spoke in favor of the bill.
Alicia Miller, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Glendon Mitchell, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to pass H.B. 218 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-3-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 3Abs- 2
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 5-5-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 5Abs- 2
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
4.H.B. 289 Property Rights Ombudsman Amendments (Birkeland, K.)
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend H.B. 289 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-1-2.
Amendment 1
H.B. 289
1 .        Page 1, Lines 11 through 16 :  Page 1, Lines 11 through 16
11                 This bill:
12                 ▸         clarifies that a party who prevails in court on an issue that the Office of Property
13         Rights Ombudsman previously decided in the party's favor is entitled to an award of
14         attorney fees;
15                 ▸         provides that the party described above { is entitled to } may be entitled to a civil penalty and consequential damages; and
16                 ▸         makes technical and conforming changes.

2 .        Page 3, Lines 69 through 79 :  Page 3, Lines 69 through 79
69                 (12) Subject to Subsection (13), if the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman issues
70         an advisory opinion described in this section, and if the same issue that is the subject of the
71         advisory opinion is subsequently litigated in court on a cause of action alleging the same facts
72         and circumstances that are at issue in the advisory opinion, and if the court resolves the issue
73         consistent with the advisory opinion, the court { shall award the substantially prevailing party } :
74                 (a) shall award the substantially prevailing party:
(i) reasonable attorney fees and court costs pertaining to the development of the cause
75         of action from the date the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman delivers the advisory
76         opinion to the date of the court's resolution; and
77                 { (b) consequential damages; and }
78                 { (c) } (ii) if the court finds that the opposing party knowingly and intentionally violated the
79         law governing the cause of action, a civil penalty of $250 per day { .   } ; and
(b) may award the substantially prevailing party consequential damages.

Yeas - 9Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
MOTION:Rep. King moved to pass H.B. 289 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 2
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
5.H.B. 300 Court Amendments (Brammer, B.)
Rep. Brady Brammer presented the bill.
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to replace H.B. 300 with 1st Substitute H.B. 300.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 300 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. Birkeland assumed the chair.
6.H.B. 350 Criminal Intent Amendments (Abbott, N.)
Rep. Abbott presented the bill with the assistance of Will Carlson, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
David Simpson, Assistant Solicitor General, Utah Attorney General's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Loubet moved to replace H.B. 350 with 1st Substitute H.B. 350.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Rohner
MOTION:Rep. King moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 350 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Rohner
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. B. King
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Rohner
Acting Chair Birkeland adjourned the meeting at at 6:25 p.m.