MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 26, 2024 • 8:15 a.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher, Chair
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Vice Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Thatcher called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
1.2nd Sub. H.B. 335 State Grant Process Amendments (Peterson, V.)
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
Molly Wheeler, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 335 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
2.1st Sub. H.B. 80 Candidate and Officeholder Disclosure Modifications (Cutler, P.)
Rep. Paul Cutler had a handout distributed and presented the bill.
Improving Local Elections Presentation
Conflict of Interest Disclosures Handout
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk and Auditor, and Chair, Clerk's Legislative Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
Madilyn Topik, Elections Coordinator, Lieutenant Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Greg Deurden, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 80 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. S. Pitcher
3.1st Sub. H.B. 412 Legislative Auditor General Amendments (Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard presented the bill with the assistance of Kade Minchey, Auditor General, Office of the Utah Legislative Auditor General.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 412 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
4.H.B. 146 Human Trafficking Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius presented the bill.
Sheri Mattle, Safety Commissioner, Utah Parent Teacher's Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 146 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
5.1st Sub. H.B. 330 Unincorporated Areas Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill.
Kory Holdaway, Lobbyist, representing Kearns and Taylorsville, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 330 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Amendment 2
1st Sub. H.B. 330
1 .        Page 14, Line 416 :  Page 14, Line 416
416                 [(b)] (d) (i) "Contiguous" means, except as provided in Subsection { (1)(b)(ii) } (1)(d)(ii) , the same

2 .        Page 14, Line 422 :  Page 14, Line 422
422         [(1)(b)(ii)(A)] { (1)(c)(ii)(A) } (1)(d)(ii)(A) is greater than the average width of the strip of land connecting the

3 .        Page 16, Lines 483 through 485 :  Page 16, Lines 483 through 485
483                 (b) Two or more unincorporated islands, as defined in Section 10-2-429, that are not
484         contiguous with each other may incorporate as a municipality, as provided in this chapter, if :
        (i)
485         those unincorporated islands are part of a community council area { .   } ; and
        (ii) a feasibility request for the proposed incorporation of the community council area is submitted under Section 10-2a-202 no later than May 1, 2025.

4 .        Page 28, Line 841 :  Page 28, Line 841
841         the same service to the community council area; { and   }

5 .        Page 29, Lines 882 through 883 :  Page 29, Lines 882 through 883
882         { and }
883                 (d) the county in which the community council area is located { . } ; and
        (e) each municipality that borders any part of the community council area.

6 .        Page 30, Lines 910 through 911 :  Page 30, Lines 910 through 911
910         { and   }
911                 (C) the county in which the community council area is located { . } ; and
        (D) each municipality that borders any part of the community council area.

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 330 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. S. Pitcher
6.4th Sub. H.B. 421 Homelessness and Vulnerable Populations Amendments (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill.
David Burton, representing those with mental illness, spoke in favor of the bill.
Molly Wheeler, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ameila Powers Gardner, Commissioner, Utah County, and Member, Wasatch Behavioral Health Mental Authority Board, spoke in favor of the bill.
Wayne Niederhauser, Director, Utah Office of Homeless Services, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 421 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
7.1st Sub. H.B. 457 Governmental Accounting Amendments (Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet presented the bill.
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Auditors and Clerk, representing County Auditors Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 457 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
8.1st Sub. H.B. 515 Election Administration Modifications (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill.
Brian Mckenzie, Davis County Clerk Auditor, representing the Clerks of the State of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marilyn Momeny, Citizen, American Fork, spoke in favor of the bill.
Yasmin Alvarado, Election Officer, Lieutenant Governor's Office spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 515 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
9.H.B. 372 Legislative Committee Staff Requirements (Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass H.B. 372 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
10.H.B. 290 Ranked Choice Voting Amendments (Hall, K.)
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill.
David Burton spoke in favor of the bill.
Katharine Biele, President, League of Women Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Wendy Hart, Citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
David Hinckley, Chair, Utah County Forward Party, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kristin Richey, Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Josh Daniels, Rank Choice Voting, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Aaron Davidson, County Clerk, Utah County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mark Roberts, former Utah Representative, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Michelle Stallings, Member, Lehi City Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zach Jacob, City Council Member, West Jordan, representing self, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Logan Wysong spoke in favor of the bill.
Amelia Powers Gardner, County Commissioner, Utah County, representing Utah County Cities, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Delane England, United Women's Forum and Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brian Mckenzie, Davis County Clerk Auditor, representing Clerks of the State of Utah, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass H.B. 290 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-3-0.
Yeas - 5Nays- 3Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to hold H.B. 290.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 3-5-0.
Yeas - 3Nays- 5Abs- 0
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-0.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Chair Thatcher adjourned the meeting at 9:47 a.m.