MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Calvin Cruz, 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 4:04 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Stevenson moved to approve the minutes for March 3, 2025.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. A. Millner
1.4th Sub. H.B. 198 Highway Expansion Impacts on Signage Amendments (Peterson, V.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Karson Eilers, Policy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Lief Elder, Legislative Director, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke in favor of the bill.
Gary Uresk, chair, Great Salt Lake Scenic Byway, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Kate Kopischke, policy director, Scenic Utah, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Dewey Reagan, general manager, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 198 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. Millner assumed the chair.
2.H.B. 397 School Fee Waiver Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass H.B. 397 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
3.1st Sub. H.B. 453 State School Board Transparency Amendments (Brooks, W.)
Rep. Brooks presented the bill.
Delane England, vice president, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Corinne Johnson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Melanie Mortensen, Utah Parents United, spoke to the bill.
Kiran Andrews, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Haylee Caplin, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Joann Brinton, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 453 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-1.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Adams
4.1st Sub. H.B. 503 Medical Malpractice Modifications (Hall, K.)
Rep. Hall presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 503 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 503.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Bill Hamilton, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Steven Meek, Tanner Clinic, spoke in favor of the bill.
David Alvord, CEO, Professional Insurance Exchange, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 503 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-0.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.H.B. 508 School Data Amendments (MacPherson, M.)
Rep. MacPherson presented the bill.
Molly Hart, board member, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Corinne Johnson, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass H.B. 508 out favorably.
Sen. Johnson withdrew the motion.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to replace H.B. 508 with 1st Substitute H.B. 508.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 508 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
6.H.B. 541 Olympic Legacy Liability Amendments (Hawkins, J.)
Rep. Hawkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass H.B. 541 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
7.1st Sub. H.B. 542 Economic Development Amendments (Hawkins, J.)
Rep. Hawkins presented the bill with the assistance of Ryan Starks, executive director, Governor's Office of Economic Opprotunity.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 542 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 542.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 542 with 4th Substitute H.B. 542.The motion failed with a vote of 1-3-2.
Yeas - 1Nays- 3Abs- 2
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 542 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 5:54 p.m.