MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair
Rep. Rex P. Shipp, Vice Chair
Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion
Rep. Bridger Bolinder
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Jill Koford
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Rep. Logan J. Monson
Speaker Mike Schultz
Rep. David Shallenberger
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Walt Brooks
Rep. Doug Owens

Staff Present:
Charley Hart, Policy Analyst
Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Shipp called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Kohler moved to approve the February 6, 2025 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-8.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
1.H.B. 202 Private Landowner Big Game Revisions (Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Albrecht presented the bill with the assistance of Riley Peck, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources.
Wade Garrett, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Bair, Chair, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus Advisory Council, spoke to the bill.
Michael Christensen, resident, spoke against the bill in it's current form.
Dale Christiansen, President, Utah Limited Entry Hunt Unit LOA Association, spoke against the bill in it's current form.
Perry Hall, Chair, Utah Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, spoke against the bill.
Michael Labrum, representing a private landowner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeremiah Cornia, sportsman, spoke to the bill.
Leland Pollock, Commissioner, Garfield County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Trevor Barnson, rancher and landowner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Justin Wayment, representing multiple ranchers, spoke in favor of the bill.
Blake Sartini, owner of Clear Creek Ranch, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Snider moved to replace H.B. 202 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 202.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. D. Owens
MOTION:Rep. Snider moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 202 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. D. Owens
2.H.B. 243 Agricultural Water Optimization Amendments (Shallenberger, D.)
Rep. Shallenberger presented the bill.
Craig Buttars, Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), spoke in favor of the bill.
Carly McAleer, university student, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Koford moved to pass H.B. 243 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. Bolinder assumed the chair.
3.1st Sub. H.B. 147 Aquatic Invasive Species Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Shipp presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Bennion moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 147 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
4.1st Sub. H.B. 240 Urban Farming Assessment Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Shipp presented the bill.
Terry Camp, Vice President, Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in favor of the bill.
Symbria Patterson, Red Acre Center, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jonathan Zundel, resident, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Bennion moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 240 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 240.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-7.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Koford moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 240 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-7.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
5.H.B. 415 Water Commissioner Modifications (Peterson, T.)
Rep. Shipp resumed the chair.
Rep. Thomas Peterson presented the bill.
Teresa Wilhelmsen, State Engineer, and Director, Division of Water Rights, Division of Natural Resources (DNR), provided more information on the bill.
Wade Garrett, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Bennion moved to pass H.B. 415 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-7.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
6.H.B. 421 Grazing Amendments (Monson, L.)
Rep. Monson presented the bill.
Greg Miles, Commissioner, Duchesne County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelly Pehrson, Deputy Commissioner, UDAF, spoke in favor of the bill.
Wade Garrett, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sierra Nelson, Utah Wool Growers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Stubbs, Chair, Utah Public Lands Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass H.B. 421 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
7.1st Sub. S.B. 36 Water Quality Board Amendments (Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Bennion moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 36 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. C. Snider
8.2nd Sub. S.B. 114 Veteran Access to State Parks (Kwan, K.)
Sen. Karen Kwan presented the bill with the assistance of Scott Strong, Director, Division of State Parks, DNR.
Talin Hansen, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kael Weston, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shallenberger moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 114 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. G. Bennion
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
Chair Shipp adjourned the meeting at 4:03 p.m.