MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 13, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
Members Absent:
Sen. Scott D. Sandall

Staff Present:
Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst
Carter Rojecki, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Owens called the meeting to order at 2:15 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on Permitting Reform (Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa Ballard introduced the resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass H.C.R. 5 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.H.B. 94 Exemptions from Dangerous Weapons Provisions (Roberts, C.)
Rep. Calvin Roberts introduced the bill, with the assistance of Leanne Hunting, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass H.B. 94 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.1st Sub. H.B. 89 Water Transfer Amendments (Bennion, G.)
Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion introduced the bill.
Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Trevor Nelson, General Manager, Bear River Canal Company, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 89 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
4.H.B. 345 State Park Road Amendments (Sawyer, J.)
Rep. Jake Sawyer introduced the bill, with the assistance of Kerry Gibson, Morgan County.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass H.B. 345 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place H.B. 345 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
5.1st Sub. H.B. 81 Fluoride Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius introduced the bill, with the assistance of Max Widmaier.
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
Brent Larsen, dentist, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Sen. Owens resumed the chair.
Teena Horlacher spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Paxman, General Manager, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kathie Behunin spoke in opposition of the bill.
Jaydee Watt spoke in favor of the bill.
Boyd Simkins, dentist and Public Policy Advocate, Utah Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Woolsey, MD, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lorna Koci, Chair, Utah Oral Health Association, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Elaine Oaks, Board, South Davis Water District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rodney Thornell, dentist and President, Utah Dental Association, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Darren Hess, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Anthony Mecham, dentist, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Neil Schultz spoke in favor of the bill.
Rey Alonzo, Utah Medical Association, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lorna Rosenstein, WaterWatch of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Emily Lockhart spoke in favor of the bill.
Gary Foster, dentist, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Aimee Winder Newton, Counsel Member, Salt Lake County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jackie Warren spoke in favor of the bill.
Jacob Young, Deputy General Manager, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jenny Widmaier spoke in favor of the bill.
DJ Bott, Mayor, Brigham City, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 81 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
6.S.B. 253 Railroad and Transportation Amendments (Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper introduced the bill.
Leann Hunting, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke to the bill.
Nathan Anderson, Union Pacific Railroad, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lisa Wilson, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke in favor of the bill.
Danny Brewer, Union Director, SMART-TD, spoke in opposition of the bill, including a handout.
SB0253 Handout 1
SB0253 Handout 2
Ken Isaac, Safety and Legislative Representative, SMART-TD, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass S.B. 253 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 1Abs- 4
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 4:06 PM.