MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 27, 2025 • 8:00 a.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Keven J. Stratton

Members Absent:
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

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 8:05 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of Feb. 25th, 2025.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
1.H.B. 243 Agricultural Water Optimization Amendments (Shallenberger, D.)
Rep. David Shallenberger introduced the bill.
Jim Bowcutt, Director, Conservation Division, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brandon Yardley, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass H.B. 243 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
2.3rd Sub. H.B. 274 Water Amendments (Snider, C.)
Rep. Casey Snider introduced the bill.
Mark Stratford, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to amend 3rd Substitute H.B. 274 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 190 through 192 :  Line 190 through 192
190191192

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 pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 274 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
3.1st Sub. H.B. 311 Watershed Amendments (Snider, C.)
Rep. Snider introduced the bill.
Zachary Frankel, Utah Rivers Council, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 311 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.2nd Sub. H.B. 153 Hunting Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Rex Shipp introduced the bill, with the assistance of Justin Shannon, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Department of Natural Resources.
Cole Hartley, hunting guide, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Division of Law Enforcement, Department of Natural Resources, spoke to the bill.
Justin Shannon, Deputy Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
Keele Johnson, hunting guide, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.3rd Sub. H.B. 202 Private Landowner Big Game Revisions (Albrecht, C.)
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to replace 3rd Substitute H.B. 202 with 4th Substitute H.B. 202.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Rep. Carl Albrecht introduced the bill, with the assistance of Justin Shannon, Division of Wildlife Resources and Wyatt Bubak, Division of Law Enforcement.
Redge Johnson, Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dave Freiss, President, Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU), Division of Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelly Pehrson, Deputy Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Wade Garrett, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor.
Michael Labrum, landowner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Greg Jensen, Sevier County Commissioner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brandon Yardley, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke in favor of the bill.
Andy Monroe, Utah Statewide Landowners Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Caitlin Curry, Utah Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Trevor Barnson, landowner spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Christensen spoke in favor of the bill.
Justin Wayment spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 202 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
6.H.B. 346 Department of Agriculture and Food Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Douglas Welton introduced the bill.
Terry Camp, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marc Rowley, cherry farmer, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass H.B. 346 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 9:33 AM.