| Members Present: Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Michael L. Kohler Rep. Steven J. Lund Rep. Doug Owens | Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Casey Snider Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Rep. Bridger Bolinder Speaker Mike Schultz Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Senior Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Victoria Garcia, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1.Committee Business |
| Chair Sandall called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. |
| 2.Rocky Mountain Power Rates |
| Dick Garlish, President, and Thomas Carter, Vice President of Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Power, gave a presentation on power rates and answered committee questions. |
| Chairs requested report to be due in November. |
| MOTION:Rep. Chew moved to approve the minutes of the June,19, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. |
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. S. Lund Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| 3.Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement |
| 3 - Wildlife Law Enforcement Handout (Department of Natural Resources) |
| Todd Royce, Law Enforcement Director, and Wyatt Bubak, Law Enforcement Deputy Director, Department of Natural Resources, gave a presentation on wildlife law enforcement and answered committee questions. |
| 4.Draft Legislation: Raw Milk Amendments |
| 4 - Draft Legislation "Raw Milk Amendments" V04 |
| Rep. Cheryl Acton introduced "Raw Milk Amendments" (2025FL0315/4) and answered committee questions. |
| Shayn and Kristin Bowler, operators, Utah Natural Meat and Milk, gave a presentation on raw milk and answered committee questions. |
| 4 - Raw Milk Presentation (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food) |
| Craig Buttars, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food, gave a presentation on raw milk and answered committee questions. |
| Dr. Hubert J. Karreman, Veterinarian, gave a presentation on raw milk and asked committee questions. |
| 5.Non-Game Species Mitigation |
| 5 - Species Protection Account Presentation (Division of Wildlife Resources) |
| J Shirley, Director, and Sara Seegert, Recovery Programs Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, gave a presentation on non-game species mitigation and answered committee questions. |
| 6.Wildfire Issues |
| 6 - Wildfire Update Presentation (Department of Natural Resources) |
| Jamie Barnes, Director, and Brett Ostler, State Fire Management Officer Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, gave a presentation on wildfire issues and answered committee questions. |
| 7.Review of Watershed Councils Act |
| 7 - Watersheds Councils Act Presentation (Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel)) |
| Charley Hart, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, gave a presentation on the Watershed Councils Act. |
| 7 - Watersheds Councils Presentation (Division of Water Resources) |
| Candice Hasenyager, Director, Division of Water Resources, and Scott Paxman, Chair, Utah Watershed Council, gave a presentation on Utah watershed councils and answered committee questions. |
| 8.Review of Supreme Court Decisions |
| 8 - Supreme Court of the United States Case Review (Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel) |
| Ryan Williams, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, gave a presentation on recent Supreme Court decisions and answered committee questions. |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to request that the committee receive a copy of the report to the Office of the Attorney General regarding the impact of the recent Chevron Doctrine ruling.The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-4. |
| Yeas - 15 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Rep. S. Lund Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. C. Snider Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. M. Schultz Rep. R. Shipp Sen. E. Vickers |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to adjourn |
| Chair Sandall adjourned the meeting at 10:52 a.m. |