MINUTES OF THE
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 • 8:30 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Chair
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Calvin R. Musselman
Sen. Jen Plumb
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Michael J. Petersen
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Lisa Shepherd
Rep. Mark A. Strong

Members Absent:
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Jason E. Thompson

Staff Present:
Megan L. Bolin, Senior Policy Analyst
Kirsi Jarvis, Policy Analyst
Michael Cipriano, Associate General Counsel
Thomas R. Vaughn, Managing Associate General Counsel
Tracey Fredman, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

1.Committee Business
Chair Winterton called the meeting to order at 8:39 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Burton moved to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-8.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. G. Miller
Sen. C. Musselman
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. B. Brammer
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
2.Draft Legislation for Potential Special Session: "Election Records Amendments"
2 - Draft legislation, Election Records Amendments
Rep. Norman K. Thurston reviewed the provisions of draft legislation, "Election Records Amendments," which would establish requirements for certain election records.
Public comments were heard from:
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk;
Marilyn Momeny, citizen;
Maryann Christiansen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch;
Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk;
Ryan Cowley, Elections Director, Lieutenant Governor's Office; and
Seth Stewart, citizen.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to go to the next agenda item.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-3.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. B. Brammer
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. G. Miller
Sen. C. Musselman
Rep. M. Petersen
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
3.Voter Registration List and Maintenance
Megan Bolin presented an overview of the voter registration process.
3 - Presentation, Voter Registration Maintenance, Davis County Clerk
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, discussed voter registration processes at the county level and responded to committee members' questions.
3 - Presentation, Elections Interim Report, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Cambria Cantrell, Elections Coordinator, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, discussed monthly voter list maintenance certification.
Ryan Cowley, Elections Director, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, presented an overview of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Lane Barret, Data Analyst, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, discussed processes by which deceased and duplicate voters are removed from voter rolls.
Daniel Wade, Election System Specialist, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, reviewed the 2024 and 2025 audits of the voter registration database.
4.Signature Gathering and Verification
4 - Presentation, Decentralizing Signature Verification
4 - 2026 General Session draft legislation, Candidate Petition Amendments
4 - 2026 General Session draft legislation, Signature Verification Revisions
4 - 2026 General Session draft legislation, Signature Verification Revisions, v15
Rep. Shepherd discussed decentralizing signature verification and reviewed the provisions of 2026 General Session draft legislation, "Signature Verification Amendments," and "Candidate Petition Amendments."
5.Voter Identification
This item was not discussed.
6.Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to adjourn the meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. M. Petersen
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m.