MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 • 8:00 a.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 8:00 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
1.4th Sub. H.B. 104 Firearm Safety in Schools Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Rex Shipp presented the bill.
Clark Aposhian, Chairman, Utah Shorting Sports Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Neca Allgood, Board Member, Gun Violence Center of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Catherine Voutaz, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sinia Malie, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 104 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
2.H.B. 128 Dangerous Weapon at a School Amendments (Gwynn, M.)
Rep. Matthew Gwynn presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace H.B. 128 with 1st Substitute H.B. 128.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 128 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
3.1st Sub. H.B. 394 Statutory Intent Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Tuescher presented the bill.
Michael Judd, Utah Media Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 394 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Plumb
4.4th Sub. H.B. 40 School Safety Amendments (Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to replace 4th Substitute H.B. 40 with 5th Substitute H.B. 40.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sheri Mattle, Safety Commissioner, Utah PTA, spoke in favor of the bill.
Beau Mason, Deputy Commissioner, Utah Department of Public Safety, spoke in favor of the bill
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 5th Substitute H.B. 40 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Plumb
5.S.B. 323 Asset and Investment Review Task Force (Stratton, K.)
Sen. Keven Stratton presented the bill with the assistance of Marlo Oaks, Utah State Treasurer.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to amend S.B. 323 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 65 through 69 :  Line 65 through 69
6566 6768 69

2 .        Line 76 through 78 :  Line 76 through 78
767778

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
Howard Headlee, President, Utah Bankers Association spoke to the bill.
Rusty Cannon, Utah Credit Union Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass S.B. 323 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
6.H.B. 133 Dangerous Weapons Amendments (Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace H.B. 133 with 1st Substitute H.B. 133.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch spoke in favor of the bill.
Neca Allgood, Board Member, Utah Gun Violent Center of Utah, spoke in to the bill.
Raelle Cunningham, Regional Director, Women for Gun Rights spoke in favor of the bill.
Catherine Voutaz, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Clark Aposhian, Utah Shooting Sports Council, spoke to the bill.
Neil Shultz, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sinia Maile, Juvenile Justice, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 133 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-4-1.
Yeas - 2Nays- 4Abs- 1
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. S. Sandall
7.S.B. 315 Microenterprise Home Kitchen Amendments (Vickers, E.)
Sen. Vickers presented the bill.
Sara Patterson, Red Acre Farm, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chef Shon Foster, restaurant owner, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass S.B. 315 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. Vickers assumed the chair.
8.S.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution Calling for an Executive Order on Federalism (Winterton, R.)
Sen. Winterton presented the bill.
Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Chair Winterton moved to pass S.J.R. 12 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to adjourn at 9:39 a.m.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Chair Vickers adjourned the meeting at 9:39 a.m..