MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 • 4:20 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


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

Members Absent:
Rep. Bridger Bolinder
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Speaker Mike Schultz
Rep. Casey Snider

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 4:20 p.m.
1.2nd Sub. S.B. 71 Cannabis Business Tax Credit Amendments (Vickers, E.)
Sen. Evan Vickers presented the bill.
Walter Plumb, President, Drug Safe Utah, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to amend 2nd Substitute S.B. 71 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Amendment 2
2nd Sub. S.B. 71
1 .        Page 7, Lines 210 through 211 :  Page 7, Lines 210 through 211
210                 (2) A qualifying claimant may claim a nonrefundable tax credit equal to 1.8%
211         multiplied by the qualifying claimant's distributive share of pass-through entity income.

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 71 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 6-3-5.
Yeas - 6Nays- 3Abs- 5
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to approve the February 26, 2024 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
2.2nd Sub. S.B. 233 Medical Cannabis Amendments (Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Sen. Vickers.
Cody James, Deputy Director, Industrial Hemp and Medical Cannabis, Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Walter Plumb, Drug Safe Utah, spoke to the bill.
Dani Palmer, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke to the bill.
Rep. Raymond Ward provided some clarification.
Sen. Jennifer Plumb provided additional clarification.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to amend 2nd Substitute S.B. 233 with Amendment #3.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Amendment 3
2nd Sub. S.B. 233
1 .        Page 4, Lines 109 through 111 :  Page 4, Lines 109 through 111
109                 (3) (a) "Anticompetitive business practice" means any practice that reduces the amount
110         of competition in the medical cannabis market that would be considered :
(i) an attempt to
111         monopolize, as defined in Section 76-10-3103 { .   } ; or
(ii) an illegal anticompetitive activity under Section 76-10-3104.

2 .        Page 74, Lines 2270 through 2271h :  Page 74, Lines 2270 through 2271h
2270                 (2) Ŝ → [For a violation of Section 34A-5-114, the Legislature may withhold future state
2271         appropriations from a state agency or political subdivision] Before taking an adverse employment
2271a         action as defined in Section 34A-5-114 against an employee { who is known to be a } solely because the employee is a medical
2271b         cannabis cardholder or holds a prescription for another controlled substance , a state employer or a political subdivision employer shall:
2271c         (a) consult with legal counsel, if one is employed or contracted with to provide services to the
2271d         state employer or political subdivision; and
2271e         (b) obtain approval from:
2271f         (i) for a political subdivision, the mayor { and the city manager or chief administrative officer } or county executive ;
2271g         or
2271h         (ii) for a state employer, the state employer's { executive director } agency head or the agency head's designee ← Ŝ .

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 233 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-6.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 6
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. K. Stratton
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Chair Brooks adjourned the meeting at 5:28 p.m.