MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Michael S. Kennedy, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Members Absent:
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, 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.

Chair Kennedy called the meeting to order.
1.H.B. 411 Local Governmental Entity Drug-free Workplace Policies Amendments (Maloy, A. Cory)
Representative A. Cory Maloy presented the bill.
David Kitchen, Human Resources Director, Lehi City, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Chair Kennedy moved to pass H.B. 411 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Chair Kennedy moved to place H.B. 411 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
2.S.B. 233 Medical Cannabis Amendments (Escamilla, L.)
Senator Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
Dani Palmer, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke to the bill.
Walt Plumb, Drug Safe Utah, spoke to the bill.
Des Hennessy, Utah Patients Coalition, spoke to the bill.
David Kyle Herring, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke to the bill.
J.D. Lauritzen, WholesomeCo Cannabis, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tim Pickett, CEO, Kindly MD, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brandon Forsyth, Director, Medical Cannabis Program, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke to the bill.
Bijan Sakaki, Beehive Farmacy and Beehive Gardens, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to replace S.B. 233 with 1st Substitute S.B. 233.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 233 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the February 13, 2024, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
3.S.B. 229 Health and Human Services Licensing Amendments (McKell, M.)
Senator Luz Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Carmen Richins, Director, Division of Licensing and Background Checks, Department of Health and Human Services.
Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to replace S.B. 229 with 1st Substitute S.B. 229.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 229 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Kennedy adjourned the meeting.