MINUTES OF THE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Friday, January 24, 2025 • 8:00 a.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Sen. Evan J. Vickers, Chair
Rep. Norman K Thurston, Chair
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet, Vice Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher
Sen. Todd Weiler
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez
Rep. Jill Koford
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Lisa Shepherd
Rep. Andrew Stoddard

Staff Present:
Ivan D. Djambov, Finance Manager
Alejandra G Rodriguez, Research Economist
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.
1.Call to Order
Chair Vickers called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.
2.Public Comment
Melarie Wheat, Utah Chapter Co-Coordinator, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), spoke on SJR 2, Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives.
3.Utah Insurance Department
Alejandra Rodriguez gave an introduction on the Insurance Department budget.
Jon Pike, Commissioner, Utah Insurance Department (UID), introduced Patrick Lee, Finance Director, UID, Reed Stringham and Tanji Northrup, Deputy Commissioners, UID, had a handout distributed, and then gave a presentation on the Utah Insurance Department.
3a. Utah Insurance Department Presentation
Rep. Thurston asked about fees and Jon Pike responded.
Chair Vickers asked for clarification on fees used to fund UID requests. Jon Pike responded.
Rep. Maloy asked about the Consumer Service Analyst request, with a response from Jon Pike and Tanji Northrup.
Chair Vickers asked for clarification on the Captive Insurance Annual Adjustment, with a response from Jon Pike.
Rep. Thurston asked for further clarification on the Captive Insurance, with a response from Jon Pike.
Chair Vickers and Rep. Thurston asked about State Mandated Insurer Payments. Jon Pike responded.
Chair Vickers asked about the increase in the cost of insurance, with a response from Jon Pike.
Rep. Koford and Rep. Thurston asked about health insurance being combined for small business owners, with a response from Tanji Northrup and Jon Pike.
4.Approval of Minutes
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to approve the minutes of the January 22, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Sen. D. Thatcher
Rep. N. Thurston
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. B. Brammer
Rep. P. Cutler
Sen. M. McKell
5.Utah State Tax Commission
Alejandra Rodriguez gave an overview on the Utah State Tax Commission.
John Valentine, Commission Chair, Utah State Tax Commission (UTC), introduced Deanna Herring, Acting Executive Director, UTC, and they gave a presentation on the Utah State Tax Commission.
6. Utah State Tax Commission Presentation
Chair Vickers commented on the purpose of carry over balances and the shift of insurance.
Rep. Shepherd asked about getting a copy of the presentation
Sen. Thatcher commented on the link for meeting materials on le.utah.gov, and asked about cyber security. John Valentine and Chair Vickers responded.
Chair Vickers commented on how to find subcommittee information.
6.Property Tax Review
Joshua Nielsen, Director of Property Tax, UTC, introduced Jennifer Hansen, Senior Director of Property and Miscellaneous Tax, UTC, and gave a presentation on Property Tax.
7. Property Tax Review
Rep. Koford asked for clarification on assessment. Joshua Nielsen responded.
Chair Vickers commented on the budget and tax rate calculation, with a response from Joshua Nielsen.
Rep. Thurston asked about truth in taxation, with a response from Joshua Nielsen, Chair Vickers, Jennifer Hansen, and Sen. Weiler.
Rep. Loubet asked about new growth with a response from Joshua Nielsen.
Rep. Thurston asked about the State Basic School Levy, with comments from Jennifer Hansen, Joshua Nielsen, and Chair Vickers.
7.RFA: Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives (Sen. Fillmore)
Sen. Fillmore presented a Request for Appropriation (RFA) to amend the Utah Constitution -- Statewide Initiatives.
4. RFA: Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives SJR002
Sen. Weiler asked about advertisements, with a response from Sen. Fillmore.
Chair Vickers asked about the cost with a response from Sen. Fillmore.
Rep. Cutler asked about including electronic noticing, with a response from Sen. Fillmore and Rep. Loubet.
Sen. McKell asked about publishing in an electronic newspaper, with a response from Sen. Filmore and Rep. Loubet.
Sen. Brammer asked about a newspaper in Dagget County, with a reponse from Sen. Fillmore.
Rep. Shepherd commented that some newspapers are a newspaper and website.
8.Utah State Tax Commission
Rep. Thurston commented on registration fees on rental cars, with a response from Mike Lee, Senior Director of Customer Service, UTC and John Valentine.
9.Public Service Commission
Alejandra Rodriguez gave an introduction on the Public Service Commission (PSC).
8a. Public Service Commission Presentation
Jerry Fenn, Commissioner, PSC, introduced Gary Widerburg, Executive Secretary and Budget Director, PSC, and they gave a presentation on the PSC.
8b. Public Service Commission Handout
Chair Vickers asked about employees, and Jerry Fenn responded.
Rep. Cutler asked about small modular nuclear, with a response from Jerry Fenn.
Rep. Dominguez asked about HB 72 relating to staffing, rate increases, and putting funds back into infrastructure, with a response from Jerry Fenn.
Rep. Cutler asked about the requested staff, with a response from Jerry Fenn.
Rep. Dominguez commented on the paid position.
10.Department of Government Operations
Ivan Djambov gave an introduction for the Department of Government Operations (DGO).
Due to lack of time, Marvin Dodge, Executive Director, DGO, will give DGO's presentation at the next meeting.
11.Adjourn
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to adjourn.
Chair Vickers adjourned the meeting at 10:42 a.m.