MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 22, 2024 • 4:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair
Rep. Rex P. Shipp, Vice Chair
Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion
Rep. Bridger Bolinder
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Tim Jimenez
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Rep. Steven J. Lund
Rep. Doug Owens
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Keven J. Stratton
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Speaker Mike Schultz

Staff Present:
Charley Hart, 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 Brooks called the meeting to order at 4:13 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Bolinder moved to approve the February 21, 2024 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-7.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
1.2nd Sub. S.B. 118 Water Efficiency Amendments (McKell, M.)
Localscaping handout
Sen. Mike McKell presented the bill with the assistance of Chris Gamvroulas, President, Ivory Development, and Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources.
Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Bolinder moved to replace 2nd Substitute S.B. 118 with 4th Substitute S.B. 118.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Bolinder moved to pass 4th Substitute S.B. 118 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-1-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
2.H.B. 243 Riparian Amendments (Bennion, G.)
Rep. Bennion presented the bill with the assistance of Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources.
Jeff Salt, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Soren Simonsen, Executive Director, Jordan River Commission, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dex Winterton, General Manager, Moon Lake Water Users Association, spoke to the bill.
Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jimenez moved to replace H.B. 243 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 243.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Jimenez moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 243 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-3-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 3Abs- 2
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
3.H.B. 519 Department of Natural Resources Modifications (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider presented the bill with the assistance of Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources.
Matt Berry, on behalf of Utah Rivers Council, spoke to the bill.
Frances Benfell, Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, spoke to the bill.
Joel Williams, Utah Division of Water Resources, provided some clarification.
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to replace H.B. 519 with 1st Substitute H.B. 519.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 519 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-2.
Amendment 1
1st Sub. H.B. 519
1 .        Page 50, Lines 1519 through 1524 :  Page 50, Lines 1519 through 1524
1519                 (2) (a) A person that harvests unprocessed brine shrimp eggs shall report to the
1520         { Department of Natural Resources } Division of Wildlife Resources the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs
1521         harvested by that person for that tax year on or before the February 15 immediately following
1522         the last day of that tax year.
1523                 (b) The { Department of Natural Resources } Division of Wildlife Resources shall provide the following information to
1524         the commission on or before the March 1 immediately following the last day of a tax year:

2 .        Page 78, Lines 2396 through 2400 :  Page 78, Lines 2396 through 2400
2396                 (b) The account consists of:
2397                 (i) deposits to the account made under Section 51-9-306;
2398                 (ii) deposits to the account made under Section { 59-23-4 } 59-21-2 ;
2399                 [(ii)] (iii) appropriations of the Legislature; and
2400                 [(iii)] (iv) interest and other earnings described in Subsection (2)(c).

Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 519 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-1-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
4.H.B. 502 Critical Infrastructure and Mining (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider presented the bill.
Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, city of Millcreek, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeff Salt, on behalf of Utah Anglers Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Joe Johnson, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Linda Smith, League of Women Voters, spoke in favor of the 1st substitute of the bill.
Steve Glaser, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Deborah Gardner, citizen, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stratton moved to replace H.B. 502 with 1st Substitute H.B. 502.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
MOTION:Rep. Stratton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 502 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
5.H.B. 535 Water Conservation Modifications (Kohler, M.)
Rep. Kohler presented the bill with Tim Davis, Deputy Great Salt Lake Commissioner.
Mark Stratford, General Counsel, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke to the bill.
David Boettger, citizen and beekeeper, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to replace H.B. 535 with 1st Substitute H.B. 535.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 535 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Chew moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Chair Brooks adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.