MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 13, 2025 • 8:00 a.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair
Rep. Michael J. Petersen, Vice Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Angela Romero

Staff Present:
Megan L. Bolin, Senior Policy Analyst
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.
Chair Burton called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 393 Banning Foreign Funding in Ballot Propositions and Elections (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Candice Pierucci had a handout distributed and presented the bill.
HB 393 Banning Foreign Funding in Ballot Initiatives
Caitlin Sutherland, Founding Executive Director, Americans for Public Trust, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jason Snead, Executive Director, Honest Elections Project Action, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nathan Duell, (in Arizona), State Director, Heritage Action for America, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass H.B. 393 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
2.1st Sub. S.B. 22 State Employee Benefit Amendments (Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper presented the bill with the assistance of Chet Loftis, Managing Director, Public Employees Health Plan (PEHP).
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to amend 1st Substitute S.B. 22 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 307 through 309 :  Line 307 through 309
307308309
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 22 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
3.H.B. 299 Election Code Time Computation Revisions (Petersen, M.)
Rep. Michael Petersen presented the bill with the assistance of Tom Vaughan, Managing Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Council (LRGC).
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk Auditor, and Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass H.B. 299 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to place H.B. 299 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
4.1st Sub. S.B. 54 Appearance of Candidate Name on Ballot (Pitcher, S.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius presented the bill with the assistance of Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk Auditor, and Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee.
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk Auditor, and Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 54 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Petersen moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Chair Burton adjourned the meeting at 9:06 a.m.