MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 20, 2025 • 4:00 p.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. Angela Romero
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

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 4:18 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-6.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
1.H.B. 165 Process for Submitting Nonbinding Opinion Question (Thurston, N.)
Rep. Norm Thurston presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to amend H.B. 165 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 585 through 590 :  Line 585 through 590
585 586587588589590

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass H.B. 165, as amended, out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-3-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 3Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
2.H.B. 298 Volunteer Emergency Medical Service Personnel Insurance Program Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Douglas Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Chair Burton moved to amend H.B. 298 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 34 through 36 :  Line 34 through 36
343536

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to pass H.B. 298, as amended, 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. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
3.H.J.R. 10 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Publication Amendments (Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass H.J.R. 10 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. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
4.H.B. 481 Ballot Proposition Requirements (Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet presented the bill.
Katharine Biele, citizen, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass H.B. 481 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. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. Petersen assumed the chair.
5.1st Sub. H.B. 412 Boards and Commissions Revisions (Burton, J.)
Rep. Jefferson Burton presented the bill.
Chase Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor, Alliance for a Better Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Josh Craft, Director, Government Relations, Utah Clean Energy, spoke to the bill.
Kael Weston, Salt Lake County resident, spoke to the bill.
Anna Graff-Rice, Weber County resident, spoke to the bill.
Nat Williams, Democracy Policy Associate, Stewardship Utah, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 412 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-3-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. Burton resumed the chair.
6.H.B. 445 Revisions to Election Law (Fiefia, D.)
Rep. Doug Fiefia presented the bill.
Lannie Chapman, Salt Lake County Clerk, representing the Clerks Group and the Utah Association of Counties, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk, spoke in favor of the bill.
Charlene Lui, Utah Asian Pacific Islander Democratic Caucus and Board Member, American Civil Lliberties Union of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Amy Buchanan, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tara Bennally, Utah Navajos, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jakey Siolo, Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Democratic Caucus spoke in opposition to the bill.
Pax Stevenson, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Shelly Jackson, Deputy Director of Elections, Lieutenant Governor's Office, spoke to the bill.
Chase Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor, Alliance for a Better Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ellie Menlove, Policy Council, American Civil Liberties Utah of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Helen Moser, Director, Voter Services, League of Women Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lauren Griffeth, Salt Lake resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to replace H.B. 445 with 1st Substitute H.B. 445.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 445 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-5-0.
Yeas - 8Nays- 5Abs- 0
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-0.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Chair Burton adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.