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 -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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. |
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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 -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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 -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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. |
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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 -
3 | Nays-
2 | Abs-
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. |
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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 -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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 -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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. |
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MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass H.B. 508 out favorably. |
|
Sen. Johnson withdrew the motion. |
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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 -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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 -
3 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
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 -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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 -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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 -
1 | Nays-
3 | Abs-
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 -
3 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
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 -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
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. |
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