| Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair Sen. Karen Kwan Sen. Michael K. McKell Sen. Jerry W Stevenson Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Paul A. Cutler Rep. James A. Dunnigan Rep. Doug Fiefia Rep. Jake Fitisemanu Rep. Leah Hansen | Rep. Sahara Hayes Rep. Colin W. Jack Rep. Carol S. Moss Rep. David Shallenberger Rep. Troy Shelley Members Absent: Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher Staff Present: Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst Rhonda Bailey, Associate General Counsel Samantha Merrell, 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 Millner called the meeting to order at 1:27pm. |
| 1.Workforce Services: Talent Ready Utah |
| 2 - Talent Ready Utah Update (Utah System of Higher Education) |
| Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner, Talent Ready Utah, and Jimmy McDonough, Director of Higher Education Initiatives, Talent Ready Utah, presented updates on partnerships and initiatives that address workforce pain points. |
| Vic Hockett responded to questions from the committee. |
| Chair Hawkins assumed the chair. |
| 2.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to approve the minutes of the September 16, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. L. Hansen Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. C. Jack Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. T. Shelley | Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Hayes Sen. K. Kwan Sen. M. McKell Rep. D. Shallenberger Sen. J. Stevenson Rep. J. Teuscher Sen. E. Vickers |
| 3.Rural Film Incentive |
| 3 - Utah Film Commission Overview (Office of Tourism) |
| Virginia Pearce, Director, Utah Film Commission, presented information about the Rural Film Incentive and highlighted case studies that demonstrate film's impact on Utah's economy. |
| Virginia Pearce responded to questions from the committee. |
| 4.Tourism |
| 4 - Tourism Works for Utah: Investing in Our State's Future (Utah Office of Tourism) |
| Natalie Randall, Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism, introduced the Utah Office of Tourism. |
| Celina Sinclair, Executive Director, Utah Tourism Industry Association, presented information related to H.B. 456 Transient Room Tax Amendments. |
| Natalie Randall continued the presentation by discussing the state of travel, visitor spending, and stewardship messaging. |
| Shayne Wittwer, CEO, Wittwer Hospitality, shared hotel occupancy information from Southern Utah and discussed the economic impact of tourism in Utah |
| Natalie Randall, Shayne Wittwer, and Dave Williams, Associate Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism, responded to questions from the committee. |
| 5.Report: Housing Capacity Study |
| 5 - Utah Resource and Infrastructure Housing Capacity Analysis (Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity; Envision Utah) |
| Jason Brown, CEO, Envision Utah, and Kamron Dalton, Managing Director of Operations, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, presented findings on future housing demand, available market types, and policy levers to the committee. |
| Jason Brown and Kamron Dalton responded to questions from the committee. |
| 6.Housing Recommendations |
| 6 - Housing Reorganization Presentation (Rep. Roberts) |
| Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and Rep. Cal Roberts presented housing reorganization recommendations to the committee. |
| Jefferson Moss, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, discussed how a housing reorganization would realign entities and foster transparency. |
| Sen. Fillmore, Rep. Roberts, and Jefferson Moss responded to questions from the committee. |
| 7.Report: Service Programs for At-Risk Youth in Utah |
| 7 - Educational Achievement and Workforce Development: A Review of Community-Based Approaches Report Back on 2025 Legislative Study Request (Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute) |
| 7 - Report: Educational Achievement and Workforce Development: A Review of Community Based Approaches (Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute) |
| Sen. Fillmore introduced results from a 2025 Legislative Study Request. |
| Andrea Brandley, Senior Education Analyst, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, presented efforts to improve economic mobility and community-based approaches to support at-risk youth. |
| Sen. Fillmore and Andrea Brandley responded to questions from the committee. |
| MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. L. Hansen Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. S. Hayes Sen. K. Kwan Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss | Rep. C. Jack Sen. M. McKell Rep. D. Shallenberger Rep. T. Shelley Sen. J. Stevenson Rep. J. Teuscher Sen. E. Vickers |
| Chair Hawkins adjourned the meeting at 4:00pm. |