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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday,
March 4, 2025
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4:00 p.m.
•
220 Senate Building
Members Present:
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
| Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher
Sen. Evan J. Vickers
Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Lorna Wells, Committee Secretary
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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 Winterton called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2025 meeting.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-0-3.
|
|
| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
| |
| 1.1st Sub. H.B. 250 Public Employee Gender-specific Language Requirements (Peck, N.) |
|
| Rep. Nicholeen Peck presented the bill with the assistance of former Rep. Tim Jimenez and Carlos Jimenez, middle school teacher. |
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| Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Marina Lowe, Policy Director, Equality Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of hte bill. |
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| Zee Kilpack, trans community, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Kayla Aiken, Unite Utah, spoke in opposition of the bill. |
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| Neca Allgood, transgender parent, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Yvonne Averett, former public school teacher, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Elizabeth Fereday, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill. |
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| Jakey Siolo, Vice Chair, Salt Lake Central Ninth Youth Prevention Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Sen. Thatcher assumed the chair. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 250 out favorably.The motion
failed
with a vote of
2-3-2.
|
|
| Yeas -
2 | Nays-
3 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. E. Vickers
| Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
| Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
| |
| 2.3rd Sub. H.B. 270 Voter Registration Records Amendments (Lee, T.) |
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| Rep. Trevor Lee presented the bill with the assistance of Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk and Ryan Axson, Chair, Republican party. |
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| Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Rick Jorgensen, resident, spoke to the bill. |
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| Courtenay Ellison, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace 3rd Substitute H.B. 270 with 4th Substitute H.B. 270.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
| | Sen. R. Winterton
| |
| MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 270 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
| | Sen. R. Winterton
| |
| 3.1st Sub. H.B. 423 Voting Registration Amendments (Lee, T.) |
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| Rep. Trevor Lee presented the bill. |
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| Brian McKenzie, Clerks of Utah, spoke in favor of the bil. |
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| Kayla Aiken, Unite Utah, spoke in favor to the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 423 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
| | Sen. R. Winterton
| |
| Sen. Winterton resumed the chair. |
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| 4.1st Sub. H.B. 435 Building Code Amendments (Kohler, M.) |
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| Rep. Michael Kohler presented the bill. |
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| Terry Camp, Vice President, Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 435 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
7-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
7 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | | |
| 5.2nd Sub. H.B. 445 Revisions to Election Law (Fiefia, D.) |
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| Rep. Doug Fiefiu presented the bill. |
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| HB 445 LRGC Bill Analysis |
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| Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Lannie Chapman, Salt Lake County Clerk, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Leslie Zabristkie, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Helen Moser, Utah League of Women Voters, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Robert Axson, Chair, Utah Republican Party, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Marilyn Momeny, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to hold 2nd Substitute H.B. 445 and suggest it for interim study.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-1-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| Sen. M. McKell
| | |
| 6.3rd Sub. H.B. 364 Governmental Immunity Amendments (Christofferson, K.) |
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| Rep. Kay Christofferson presented the bill. |
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| Heidi Alder, attorney, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Ryan Peterson, City of American Fork, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 364 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-2-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
2 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
| Sen. S. Sandall
| |
| 7.1st Sub. H.B. 504 Financial and Conflict of Interest Disclosures by Candidates Amendments (Shepherd, L.) |
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| Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill. |
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| HB 504 LRGC Bill Analysis |
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| Robert Axson, Chair, Utah Republican Party spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 504 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
7-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
7 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | | |
| 8.1st Sub. H.B. 379 Population Data Amendments (Gricius, S.) |
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| Sen. McKell presented the bill. |
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| Karson Eilers, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 379 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
7-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
7 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | | |
| 9.2nd Sub. H.B. 369 Elections Office (Wilcox, R.) |
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| Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill. |
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| Marilyn Momeny, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 369 out favorably.The motion
failed
with a vote of
2-5-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
2 | Nays-
5 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
| Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | |
| 10.4th Sub. H.B. 351 Election Day Amendments (Wilcox, R.) |
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| Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 351 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-1-1.
|
|
| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| Sen. S. Sandall
| Sen. M. McKell
| |
| MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
7-0-0.
|
|
| Yeas -
7 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. D. Thatcher
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
| | | |
| Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 6:06 p.m. |
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NOTE:
02nd Substitute H.B. 0284, 02nd Substitute H.B. 0356, 03rd Substitute H.B. 0403
were not discussed in the meeting.