MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, March 3, 2025 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Keith Grover, Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, 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 Grover called the meeting to order at 4:04 PM.
1.1st Sub. H.B. 491 Behavioral Health Modifications (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason introduced the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 491 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Thatcher
2.3rd Sub. H.B. 505 Homeless Services Revisions (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Eliason introduced the bill, with the assistance of Wayne Niederhauser, Homelessness Coordinator, Utah Governor's Office.
Molly Wheeler, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Devon Kurtz, Cicero Action, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 505 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to place 3rd Substitute H.B. 505 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.1st Sub. H.B. 365 Mental Health Care Study Amendments (Barlow, S.)
Rep. Stewart Barlow introduced the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 365 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
4.1st Sub. H.B. 413 Child Custody Proceedings Amendments (Kohler, M.)
Rep. Mike Kohler introduced the bill.
Marina Lowe, Equality Utah, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Stratton
5.1st Sub. H.B. 363 Newborn Infant Testing Privacy Amendments (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Candice Pierucci introduced the bill, including a handout.
HB 363 Summary
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 363 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 363.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Albert Park, pediatric physician, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 363 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
6.2nd Sub. H.B. 452 Artificial Intelligence Amendments (Moss, J.)
Rep. Jefferson Moss introduced the bill, with the assistance of Margaret Busse, Executive Director, Utah Department of Commerce, as well as a handout.
HB 452 Handout
Kimberly Applewhite, psychologist, spoke in favor of the bill.
Caden Rosenbaum, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Stroup, Legislative Chair, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 452 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
7.1st Sub. H.B. 482 Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements (Monson, L.)
Rep. Logan Monson introduced the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 482 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
8.H.B. 495 Health Care Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. James Dunnigan introduced the bill, with the assistance of Tracy Thorup, dental practitioner.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass H.B. 495 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to place H.B. 495 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
9.2nd Sub. H.B. 431 Kinship Child Placement Amendments (Acton, C.K.)
Rep. Cheryl Acton introduced the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 431 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
10.1st Sub. H.B. 400 Blood Transfusion Amendments (Chevrier, K.)
Rep. Kristen Chevrier introduced the bill, with the assistance of Katie Gregory and Helen Watts.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 400 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
11.H.B. 298 Volunteer Emergency Medical Service Personnel Insurance Program Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Douglas Welton introduced the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass H.B. 298 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
12.1st Sub. H.B. 233 School Curriculum Amendments (Peck, N.)
Rep. Nicholeen Peck introduced the bill, including a handout.
HB 233 Pro-Life Utah Handout
Deanna Holland, Pro-Life Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brittany Breneman, Planned Parenthood, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Chad Saunders spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Kelly Adams, Utah PTA, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Julie Jackson, Granite School Board, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ashley Anderson spoke in opposition of the bill.
Kadee Powell spoke in favor of the bill.
Yvonne Averett, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Travis Smith spoke in opposition of the bill.
Chloe Chandler spoke in favor of the bill.
Laurie Grover Humbert spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 233 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-3-0.
Yeas - 4Nays- 3Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
13.H.B. 500 Controlled Substance Modifications (Dailey-Provost, J.)
Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost introduced the bill.
Maryann Martindale, Utah Academy of Family Physicians, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass H.B. 500 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Thatcher
14.2nd Sub. H.B. 509 Specialized Product Amendments (Dailey-Provost, J.)
Rep. Dailey-Provost introduced the bill, with the assistance of Brandon Forsyth, Specialized Products Division, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Maryann Martindale, Utah Academy of Family Physicians, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sheldon Bradshaw, Botanicals for Better Health and Wellness, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Spencer Stokes, American Kratom Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
James Banks, Global Kratom Coalition, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 509 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 509.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 509 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Thatcher
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. D. Thatcher
Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 6:07 PM.