MINUTES OF THE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENERGY, AND TECHNOLOGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 5, 2024 • 3:40 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Wayne A. Harper, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams

Staff Present:
Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst
Jackson Lewis, Committee Secretary

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

Acting Chair Ipson called the meeting to order.
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to approve the minutes from the January 31, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
1.S.B. 145 Utility Easements Amendments (McCay, D.)
Senator Dan McCay presented the bill with the assistance of Joey Gilbert, CEO, Associated General Contractors.
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to replace S.B. 145 with 1st Substitute S.B. 145.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Paul Harvey, Chair, Board of Directors, Blue Stakes of Utah, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Jill Jones, Blue Stakes of Utah, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Leland Myers, Wasatch Front Water Quality Council, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Joe McAllister, Hughes General Contractors, spoke in support of the bill.
Brett Neilson, Whitaker Construction Company, spoke in support of the bill.
Tamara Wambeam, Salt Lake Public Utilities, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 145 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
2.S.B. 179 Transportation Amendments (Harper, W.)
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to replace S.B. 179 with 1st Substitute S.B. 179.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. Harper presented the bill.
Carlton Christensen, Chair, Board of Trustees, Utah Transit Authority, spoke in support of the bill.
Jason Curry, Director, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 179 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
3.S.B. 28 Scenic Byway Program Amendments (Harper, W.)
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to replace S.B. 28 with 1st Substitute S.B. 28.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. Harper presented the bill.
Elizabeth Weight, Citizen, spoke in support of the bill.
Ryan Starks, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, spoke in support of the bill.
Sylvia McMillan, Scenic Utah, spoke to the bill.
Nathan Young, Yesco Billboard company, spoke to the bill.
Amy Shumway, Farmington City Council, spoke in support of the bill.
Ralph Becker, Chair, Scenic Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kate Kopishke, Director, Scenic Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Nate Seacrest, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, spoke in support of the bill.
Dale Keller, Chair, Solutions Utah Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.
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Dewey Reagan, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, spoke to the bill with handout.
Nancy Dalton, Byway Coordinator, Utah's Patchwork Parkway, spoke in support of the bill.
Brad Plowman, Fuel Marketing, spoke in support of the bill.
Ed Allen, Utah Debate Commission, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 28 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Acting Chair Ipson adjourned the meeting.