MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, March 3, 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 8:04 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
1.S.B. 338 Governmental Nonprofit Corporations Act Amendments (Winterton, R.)
Chair Winterton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace S.B. 338 with 1st Substitute S.B. 338.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 338 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
2.S.B. 341 Election Modifications (McKell, M.)
Sen. McKell presented the bill.
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, Clerks of the State of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marilyn Momeny, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass S.B. 341 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 158 State Sovereignty Amendments (Shepherd, L.)
Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill.
Melanie Monestere, Vice Chair, Utah Republican Party, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalaine England, Executive Board, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Diane Livingston, Director, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 158 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. M. McKell
4.2nd Sub. H.B. 176 County Classification Amendments (Brooks, W.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 176 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
5.2nd Sub. H.B. 408 School Board Referendum Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Rex Shipp presented the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, Superindent's Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dalaine England, Executive Board, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristin Richey, Secretary, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mari Eddy, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Courtenay Ellison, Provo resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 408 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 3-4-0.
Yeas - 3Nays- 4Abs- 0
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
6.1st Sub. H.B. 430 Security and Land Restriction Amendments (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Candice Pierucci presented the bill.
HB 430 Handout
Leah Hansen, Saratoga Springs resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 430 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
7.H.B. 506 Unclaimed Property Amendments (Shelley, T.)
Rep. Troy Shelley presented the bill with the assistance of Dennis Johnston, Utah Unclaimed Property Administrator.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass H.B. 506 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
8.2nd Sub. H.B. 139 Governmental Accounting Amendments (Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet presented the bill with the assistance of Seth Oveson, Local Government Manager, Utah State Auditor.
Tina Cannon, Utah State Auditor, spoke in favor of the bill.
Susan Speirs, Utah Association of CPAs, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 139 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to recess for a few minutesThe motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Chair Winterton called the meeting back to order at 9:35 a.m.
9.H.B. 488 Federalism Amendments (Ivory, K.)
Rep. Ken Ivory presented the bill with the assistance of Rep. James Thompson.
HB 488 Federalism Amendments Handout
National Federation of Independent Business v Sebelius HB 488
Executive Order 12612 - Federalism HB 488
Stan Rasmussen, VP Government Affairs, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalaine England, United Women's Forum, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kael Weston, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace H.B. 488 with 1st Substitute H.B. 488.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 488 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
10.S.B. 288 Employment Investigation Records Amendments (Pitcher, S.)
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to replace S.B. 288 with 1st Substitute S.B. 288.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
David Reymann, Utah Media Coalition, spoke to the bill.
Shane Fredrickson, former law enforcement officer, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 288 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Thatcher
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 9:56 a.m.