| Members Present: Sen. Todd Weiler, Chair Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, Chair Sen. Heidi Balderree Sen. Brady Brammer Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore Sen. Luz Escamilla Rep. Nelson T. Abbott Rep. Cheryl K. Acton Rep. Tiara Auxier Rep. Tyler Clancy | Rep. Stephanie Gricius Rep. Anthony E. Loubet Rep. A. Cory Maloy Rep. Verona Mauga Rep. Grant Amjad Miller Rep. Jason E. Thompson Staff Present: Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst Jacqueline Carlton, Senior Associate General Counsel Paige Nelson, Associate General Counsel Naomi Garrow, 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 Weiler called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. |
| 1.Draft Legislation: "Judiciary Amendments" |
| 2 - Draft Legislation "Judiciary Amendments" (V003) |
| Senator Wilson presented the draft legislation and answered questions from the committee. |
| Chair Weiler opened public comment. |
| Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the draft legislation. |
| Steven Rosenberg, consistuent, spoke in opposition of the draft legislation. |
| Kimal James, consituent, spoke in opposition of the legislation. |
| Chair Weiler closed public comment. |
| Senator Wilson provided summation. |
| 2.Domestic Violence (DV) Risk Assessment Tools |
| 4 - Pretrial Tools and Domestic Violence Presentation (Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice, Statewide Information & Analysis Center, Administrative Office of the Courts) |
| Dr. Michele Leslie, Director, Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board, Tanner Jensen, Director, Department of Public Safety's Statewide Information and Analysis Center, and Amy Hernandez, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator, Utah State Courts, presented and answered questions from the committee. |
| 3.Draft Legislation: "Judiciary Amendments" |
| Sen. Brammer spoke. |
| Michael Dreschel, Assistant State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, provided additional information and answered questions from the committee. |
| Sen. Wilson provided summation. |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to favorably recommend 2025 First Special Session draft legislation, "Judiciary Amendments" for a potential special session. |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Lisonbee's motion to favorably recommend 2025 First Special Session draft legislation, "Judiciary Amendments" for a potential special session.passed with a vote 11-5-0. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 5 | Abs- 0 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. S. Gricius Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Maloy Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler | Rep. N. Abbott Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. A. Loubet Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller |
| 4.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 16-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 16 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 0 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Loubet Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to add "Adoption Tourism" to item 5 on the agenda to hear public comment.The motion passed with a vote of 16-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 16 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 0 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Loubet Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler |
| MOTION:Rep. Abbott moved to open a committee bill file regarding 2025 General Session bill H.B. 309, "Wildlife Amendments." |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Abbott's motion to open a committee bill file regarding 2025 GS bill H.B. 309, "Wildlife Amendments,"passed with a vote 14-1-1. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 1 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Rep. T. Clancy Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Loubet Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler | Rep. S. Gricius | Sen. K. Cullimore |
| 5.Tribal Identification in Utah Elections |
| Rep. Clancy introduced the agenda item and speakers. |
| Delegate Shaandiin Parrish, Navajo Nation Council, presented and answered questions from the committee. |
| MOTION:Rep. Clancy moved to open a committee bill file to address issues related to tribal IDs in Utah elections. |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Clancy's motion to open a committee bill file to address issues related to tribal IDs in Utah electionspassed with a vote 15-0-1. | |||
| Yeas - 15 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 1 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Rep. T. Clancy Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Loubet Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. K. Cullimore |
| 6.Draft Legislation: "Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments" |
| 5 - Draft Legislation "Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments" (V003) |
| Paige Nelson, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, presented the draft legislation. |
| Committee discussion. |
| MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to favorably recommend 2026 General Session draft legislation, "Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments" as a committee bill. |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Miller's motion to favorably recommend 2026 General Session draft legislation, "Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments" as a committee bill.passed with a vote 12-1-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. A. Loubet Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. G. Miller Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. B. Brammer | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. K. Lisonbee |
| 7.Other Items/Adjourn |
| Adoption Tourism |
| Chair Weiler opened public comment. |
| Donna Pope, Heart to Heart Adoption, spoke. |
| Jaime Chidester, Act of Love Adotions, spoke. |
| Sandy Benson, Owner and Director, Brighter Adoption, spoke. |
| Donna Pope provided additional information and answered questions from the committee. |
| Marilyn Larson, adoptive parent, spoke. |
| Lynea Krukiewicz, Birth Mother Representative, Life After Placement, spoke. |
| Theresa Marcroft, Director, Unplanned Good, spoke. |
| Isaac Thomas, Director of Social Work Services, Act of Love Adoptions, spoke. |
| Carrie Murray Nellis, adoption attorney in Georgia, spoke. |
| Chair Weiler closed public comment. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. N. Abbott Rep. C. Acton Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Sen. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. A. Maloy Rep. V. Mauga Rep. J. Thompson Sen. T. Weiler | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. A. Loubet Rep. G. Miller |
| Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 3:54 p.m. |