| Members Present: Sen. Keven J. Stratton, Chair Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Scott D. Sandall Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Walt Brooks Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Michael L. Kohler Rep. Logan J. Monson Rep. Doug Owens | Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Casey Snider Rep. R. Neil Walter Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Speaker Mike Schultz Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Kaelie Mortensen, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Stratton called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Walter Rep. C. Watkins | Sen. N. Blouin Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. Kohler Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider |
| 2.Sunset Review: Lead Acid Battery Disposal |
| 2 - Sunset Review: Lead Acid Battery Disposal |
| Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel, OLRGC, gave a brief introduction to Title 19, Chapter 6, Part 6, which governs lead acid battery disposal. |
| MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to open a committee bill file to remove the sunset provision of the Lead Acid Battery Disposal Program. |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Peterson's motion to open a committee bill file to remove the sunset provision of the Lead Acid Battery Disposal Programpassed with a vote 14-1-4. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Snider Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Walter Rep. C. Watkins | Sen. D. Hinkins | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. M. Kohler Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz |
| 3.Tropic Reservoir |
| 3 - The Impacts of Restricted Storage at Tropic Reservoir (Garfield County) |
| Charley Hart, policy analyst, OLRGC, gave a brief introduction of the Tropic Reservoir issue as heard in the Legislative Water Development Committee on June 17, 2025. |
| 3 - The Impacts of Restricted Storage at Tropic Reservoir (Garfield County) |
| David Dodds, Director, Garfield Public Works gave a presentation on issues related to the Tropic Reservoir in Garfield County. |
| 3 - Tropic Reservoir and Otter Creek Water Storage Update (Utah Division of Water Rights) |
| Teresa Wilhelmsen, State Engineer, Division of Water Rights, gave a presentation on Tropic Reservoir and Otter Creek water storage. |
| 3 - Tropic Reservoir Agreement |
| Warren Peterson, Commissioner, Legislative Water Development Commission, provided comments on the issue. |
| The committee asked questions of Teresa Wilhelmsen. |
| Rep. Walter provided comments on the history of Tropic Reservoir. |
| The committee discussed the issue further. |
| Chair Stratton directed that Chair Albrecht's comments made in the Legislative Water Development Commission meeting be referenced in the meeting minutes. His comments can be found in the records of the June 17, 2025, Legislative Water Development Commission meeting. |
| 4.Wildlife Management Areas & Licenses |
| Rep. Snider gave a brief introduction to the issue of wildlife management areas and licenses. |
| 6 - Hunting/Fishing License Requirement to Enter WMAs (Division of Wildlife Resources) |
| Riley Peck, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, and Mike Canning, Deputy Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, gave a presentation on new requirements for entering wildlife management areas. |
| The committee asked questions of Riley Peck and Mike Canning. |
| Mark Allen, resident, Utah County, provided comments on the issue. |
| 5.Department of Natural Resources Updates |
| 4 - Department of Natural Resources Updates (Utah Department of Natural Resources) |
| Emy Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development gave a presentation on the tri-state energy compact between Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. |
| Redge Johnson, Director, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, gave a presentation on Class D Roads. |
| 4 - State Parks' Fees Report |
| 4 - State Parks' Fees (Department of Natural Resources) |
| Tyson Plastow, Internal Audit Director, Department of Natural Resources gave a presentation on State Parks' Fees. |
| Scott Strong, Director, Division of State Parks, provided some clarification to the committee. |
| The committee asked questions of Tyson Plastow and Scott Strong. |
| 6.State Park Accessibility |
| 5 - State Park Accessibility Amendments (OLRGC) |
| Representative Douglas Welton and Scott Strong, Director, Division of State Parks, gave a presentation on issues related to accessibility in state parks. |
| The committee asked questions of Rep. Welton and Scott Strong. |
| MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to approve as a committee bill 2026 General Session draft legislation, "State Park Accessibility Amendments." |
| The committee took time to read the draft legislation and discuss. |
| Ryan Williams, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, responded to questions from the committee. |
| Rep. Watkins' motion to approve as a committee bill 2026 General Session draft legislation, "State Park Accessibility Amendmentspassed with a vote 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. Kohler Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Walter Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. Kohler Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Walter Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Sen. S. Sandall Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider |
| Chair Stratton adjourned the meeting. |