MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Calvin Cruz, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Millner called the meeting to order at 2:08 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 254 State Grant Revisions (Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass S.B. 254 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.S.B. 106 Utah-Ireland Trade Commission (Harper, W.)
Sen. Harper presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to replace S.B. 106 with 2nd Substitute S.B. 106.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stevenson moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 106 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
3.S.J.R. 6 Joint Resolution Supporting State Jurisdiction Under the Principle of Federalism (Harper, W.)
Sen. Harper presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass S.J.R. 6 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
4.S.B. 230 Utah Resident Terminology Amendments (McCay, D.)
Sen. McCay presented the bill with the assistance of Quin Monson, professor, Brigham Young University.
Utahn Crossword Puzzle - SB230
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass S.B. 230 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to place S.B. 230 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Millner called the meeting to order.
5.S.B. 239 Inland Port Authority Amendments (Stevenson, J.)
Sen. Stevenson presented the bill with the assistance of Ben Hart, Executive Director, Utah Inland Port Authority.
MOTION:Sen. Stevenson moved to replace S.B. 239 with 1st Substitute S.B. 239.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Brian Moench, President, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Joan Gregory, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
A Taxpayer Boondoggle Report - SB239
Katie Pappas, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Scott Wipperman, Reverend, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Sarah Johnson, physician, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Lauren Griffeth, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Tussy King, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Harvey Day, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 239 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
6.S.B. 121 Property Loss Amendments (Plumb, J.)
Sen. Plumb presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to replace S.B. 121 with 3rd Substitute S.B. 121.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Testimony from a constituent - SB 121
Lauren Griffeth, spoke in favor of the bill.
Audrey Evans, Howell Group, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amy Hawkins, Ballpark Community Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass 3rd Substitute S.B. 121 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0236 was not discussed in the meeting.