MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, March 3, 2025 • 4:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair
Rep. Michael J. Petersen, Vice Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

Staff Present:
Megan L. Bolin, Senior Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Burton called the meeting to order at 4:14 p.m.
1.H.B. 10 Fund and Account Modifications (Peterson, V.)
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Chair Burton moved to amend H.B. 10 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 275 through 279 :  Line 275 through 279
275276277278 279
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Chair Burton moved to pass H.B. 10 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.2nd Sub. S.B. 277 Government Records Management Amendments (McKell, M.)
Sen. Mike McKell had a handout distributed, and presented the bill with the assistance of Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education, Rachel Terry, Director, Utah Department of Risk Management, and Ken Williams, State Archivist and Director, Utah State Archives and Records Service.
SB 277 Government Records Management Amendments
Rep. Petersen assumed the chair.
Marilyn Momeny, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Michael Jarman, resident, Holiday, Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jen Brown, President, Utah Citizens for the Constitution, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Teena Horlacher, Chair, Davis County Conservatives, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kiran Andrews, Washington County, Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace 2nd Substitute S.B. 277 with 3rd Substitute S.B. 277.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 3rd Substitute S.B. 277 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.1st Sub. S.J.R. 7 Joint Resolution Emphasizing State Authority in Election Governance (Cullimore, K. A.)
Sen. Kirk Cullimore presented the bill.
Amaya Muller, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rep. Maloy raised a point of order.
Kalijah Robinson, Chapter Vice President, Young Americans for Freedom, Weber State University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maure Giles, resident, Herriman, Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Gail Hanson, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, American Fork, Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass 1st Substitute S.J.R. 7 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
4.S.J.R. 6 Joint Resolution Supporting State Jurisdiction Under the Principle of Federalism (Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper presented the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, American Fork, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ken Ivory, Utah State Representative, speaking for self, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass S.J.R. 6 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
5.1st Sub. S.B. 164 Modifications to Election Law (Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper presented the bill with the assistance of Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Rep. Burton resumed the chair.
Marilyn Momeny, American Fork citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Teena Horlacher, Chair, Davis County Conservatives, spoke to the bill.
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, representing the Clerks of the State of Utah and Utah Association of Counties, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Clarof, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to replace 1st Substitute S.B. 164 with 2nd Substitute S.B. 164.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 164 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Pierucci
6.1st Sub. S.B. 265 Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act Amendments (Sandall, S.)
Rep. Ken Ivory presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 265 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-1-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 1Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. C. Pierucci
7.1st Sub. S.B. 283 Funds Amendments (Sandall, S.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 283 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Pierucci
8.1st Sub. S.B. 154 Legislative Audit Amendments (Brammer, B.)
Sen. Brady Brammer presented the bill with the assistance of Kade Minchey, Director, Office of the Legislative Auditor General.
SB 154 1st sub Legislative Audit Amendments
Juliana Brine, resident, West Valley City, Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Jacey Skinner, Utah State Bar Association, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, American Fork, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to amend 1st Substitute S.B. 154 with Amendment #5.The motion failed with a vote of 6-7-0.
Amendment 5

1 .        Line 150 through 150b :  Line 150 through 150b
150150a150b

2 .        Line 150d through 151 :  Line 150d through 151
150d150e151
Yeas - 6Nays- 7Abs- 0
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Loubet moved to amend 1st Substitute S.B. 154 with Amendment #4.The motion passed with a vote of 12-1-0.
Amendment 4

1 .        Line 166 through 168 :  Line 166 through 168
166167168
Yeas - 12Nays- 1Abs- 0
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 154 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-3-0.
Yeas - 10Nays- 3Abs- 0
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
9.2nd Sub. S.B. 290 Candidate Licensing Amendments (Pitcher, S.)
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher presented the bill.
Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lieutenant Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 290 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
10.S.B. 256 General Government and Appropriations Amendments (Plumb, J.)
Rep. Norm Thurston presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Loubet moved to replace S.B. 256 with 1st Substitute S.B. 256.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Loubet moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 256 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Romero
11.S.B. 242 Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program Modifications (Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill with the assistance of Kate Turner, Weber State University Employee.
Chuck Beickel, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Layton, Utah, speaking for self and the Conservative Pastor's Coalition of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Gail Hansen, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Jonah Carrion, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Jo Leary, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nolan Ruby, Pastor of Wasatch Front Baptist Church, and member, Conservative Pastor's Coalition, spoke to the bill.
Kriss Martenson, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass S.B. 242 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
12.S.B. 256 General Government and Appropriations Amendments (Plumb, J.)
MOTION:Chair Burton moved to reconsider action.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace S.B. 256 with 2nd Substitute S.B. 256.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 256 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Chair Burton adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.