| Members Present: Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. Ann Millner Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Joel K. Briscoe Rep. James Cobb Rep. Ariel Defay Rep. Joseph Elison | Rep. Colin W. Jack Rep. Phil Lyman Rep. Matt MacPherson Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner Rep. Rex P. Shipp Staff Present: Samantha Hermany, Managing Policy Analyst Scott Elder, Associate General Counsel Samantha Merrell, 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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| Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order at 1:24 p.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to approve the minutes of the August 21, 2024, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Cobb Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. P. Lyman Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. C. Jack Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. D. Owens Sen. E. Vickers |
| 1.Committee Business |
| 2.Report from Curio on Nuclear Fuel Recycling 1:35 - 2:15PM |
| 3 - Second Nuclear Era Presentation (Curio) |
| Edward McGinnis, Chief Executive Officer, Curio, presented an overview of Curio and its approach to nuclear fuel recycling, including specifications of the technology and how their efforts may benefit the nuclear industry. |
| Edward McGinnis responded to questions from the committee. |
| 3.Nuclear Pathway - Report from OED 2:15 - 2:45PM |
| 4 - Strategic Nuclear Energy Pathway Project (Utah Office of Energy Development) |
| 4 - Utah's Strategic Nuclear Energy Pathway Handout (OED) |
| Dusty Monks, Interim Director, Office of Energy Development (OED), explained the need for and gave an overview of OED's Nuclear Energy Pathway Project. |
| Dusty Monks introduced Tyson Bomsta, Energy Economist, OED, and Dr. Tim Kowalchick, Emerging Technology Strategist, OED, to present on the details of the Nuclear Energy Pathway documents. |
| Tyson Bomsta presented on the first document in the Nuclear Energy Pathway series regarding pre-application activities and early site permits. |
| Tyson Bomsta responded to a question from the committee. |
| Tyson Bomsta presented on the second document in the Nuclear Energy Pathway series, regarding the need to develop a comprehensive legislative framework for nuclear energy in Utah that aligns with federal regulations, and he and Dusty Monks responded to comments from the committee. |
| Tim Kowalchik, Emerging Technologist Strategist, OED, presented on the next document in the Nuclear Energy Pathway Series focused on addressing nuclear waste. |
| Tim Kowalchik responded to comments by Chair Hinkins and continued with the presentation. |
| Dusty Monks concluded OED's presentation by giving a brief overview of the fourth document in the Nuclear Pathway Series, Utah Nuclear Consortium, and spoke to ongoing work in the Pathways Series. |
| The committee provided comments and asked questions. Dusty Monks responded. |
| 4.Sunset Review: Committee of Consumer Services 1:15 - 1:35PM |
| Michele Beck, Director, Utah Office of Consumer Services, provided an overview of the Committee of Consumer Services and requested that the sunset date be extended or repealed. |
| Michele Beck responded to questions from the committee. |
| MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to open a committee bill file to extend the sunset of the Committee of Consumer Services by 10 years. The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. J. Cobb Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Rep. P. Lyman Sen. A. Millner Sen. E. Vickers |
| The committee expressed their thanks to Michele Beck and the Committee of Consumer Services. |
| 5.Required Report: Statewide Digital Connectivity Plan 2:45 - 3:15PM |
| 5 - Statewide Digital Connectivity Plan (Utah Broadband Center) |
| Jim Grover, Managing Director of Economic Growth, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, and Rebecca Dilg, Director, Utah Broadband Center, presented the required report regarding status updates of the broadband strategic plan and gave an overview of broadband efforts in the state. They answered committee questions throughout their presentation. |
| Jim Grover and Rebecca Dilg concluded their presentation and responded to questions from the committee. |
| 6.Report from Division of Technology Services: 3:15 - 3:45PM |
| 6 - Verifiable Digital Credentials Report (Division of Technology Services) |
| Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, Division of Technology Services, presented the required report on the progress of creating a pilot program for the implementation of digital verifiable credentials by governmental entities. |
| Alan Fuller responded to questions from the committee. |
| 7.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to open a committee bill file to investigate the rate increase from Rocky Mountain Power and the committee discussed. The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. P. Lyman Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Cobb Sen. A. Millner Sen. E. Vickers |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. P. Lyman Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Cobb Sen. A. Millner Sen. E. Vickers |
| Chair Hinkins adjourned the meeting at 3:31 p.m. |