MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 • 4:00 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
Lorna Wells, 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 4:11 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
1.S.B. 265 Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act Amendments (Sandall, S.)
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to amend S.B. 265 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 62 through 65 :  Line 62 through 65
62636465

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. Sandall presented the amended bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass S.B. 265 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
2.S.B. 277 Government Records Management Amendments (McKell, M.)
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace S.B. 277 with 1st Substitute S.B. 277.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. McKell presented the bill with the assistance of Rachel Terry, Director, Utah Division of Risk Management and Geoff Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education.
Mike Judd, Utah Media Coalition, spoke to the bill.
Mark Allen, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Greg Duerden, State Chair, Utah Independent American Party spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sylvia Andrew, Precinct Chair, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ryan Hogan, CEO Pace Johnson Law, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Justin Arriola, small business owner, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jennifer Garner, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tom Haroldson, journalist, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kathy Adams, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cari Bartholomew, State Director, Utah Moms for America, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Teena Horlacher, State Central Committee, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ashley Lee, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, spoke in opposition to the bill.
John Gadd, attorney, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tom Schumann, resident, spoke in opposition to the bil.
Terry Durfee, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Tracy Taylor, Wasatch Tax Payers Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Aaron Davidson, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Katharine Biele, Utah League of Women Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill
Vincent Newmeyer, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lauren Griffeth, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 277 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
3.H.B. 266 Veteran Housing Amendments (Dailey-Provost, J.)
Without a quorum, Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost presented the bill and the committee heard public comment.
Justin Arriola, small business owner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Garner, former Veteran advocate, spoke to the bill.
4.H.B. 239 Disaster Funds Revisions (Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Carl Albrecht presented the bill with the assistance of Kris Hamlet, Director, Utah Division of Emergency Management.
The Chair determined a quorum was present.
MOTION:Chair Winterton moved to pass H.B. 239 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to pass H.B. 266 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
5.2nd Sub. H.B. 95 Financial Disclosure Revisions (Petersen, M.)
Rep. Michael Petersen presented the bill.
Chase Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor, Alliance for a Better Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 95 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
6.1st Sub. H.B. 177 Glass Recycling Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Douglas Welton presented the bill.
HB 177 Advantages of Glass (Cullet) Recycling.pdf
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 177 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0263 was not discussed in the meeting.