MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Winterton called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
1.S.B. 78 Homeless Individuals Protection Amendments (Plumb, J.)
Sen. Plumb presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass S.B. 78 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
2.S.B. 198 Federal Guidance Letter Amendments (Stratton, K.)
Sen. Stratton presented the bill with the assistance of William Duncan, Sutherland Institute.
Obscured guidance from federal agencies creates an accountability gap. What can the state do?
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass S.B. 198 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
3.H.B. 50 Occupational Safety and Health Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. Dunningan presented the bill with the assistance of Jaceson Maugham, Commissioner, Utah Labor Commission.
Scott Lythgoe, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 50 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
4.H.B. 55 County Office Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. Dunnigan presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 55 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
5.H.B. 64 Public Official Bonding Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. Dunnigan presented the bill with the assistance of Johnnie Miller, Chief Executive Office, Utah Counties and Indemnity Pool.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 64 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
6.2nd Sub. H.B. 69 Government Records and Information Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Gricius presented the bill.
Vincent Newmeyer, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Chase Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor, Alliance for a Better Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ricky Hatch, Clerk/Auditor, Weber County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Garner, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Marilyn Momeny, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Aaron Davidson, County Clerk, Utah County, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 69 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 3:19 p.m.
NOTE: H.B. 0073 was not discussed in the meeting.