MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ENERGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Colin W. Jack, Chair
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson, Vice Chair
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht
Rep. Walt Brooks
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Troy Shelley
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Casey Snider

Staff Present:
Adam J. Sweet, Deputy Director
Samantha Merrell, Policy Analyst
An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary
Jennifer Kunzler, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Jack called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM.
1.H.B. 78 Nuclear Regulatory Amendments(Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Albrecht presented the bill with the assistance of Tim Davis, Executive Director, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to amend HB0078 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 71 through 79 :  Line 71 through 79
717273 747576777879
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
Emy Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development spoke in favor of the bill.
Joan Entwistle, Utah Chapter Legislative Committee member, Utah Sierra Club spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass HB0078 as amended favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2025 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
2.H.C.R. 1 House Concurrent Resolution Regarding Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing(Albrecht, C.)
Rep Albrecht presented the bill.
Emy Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development (OED) spoke in favor of the bill.
Carmen Valdez, Senior Policy Associate, Healthy Environment Allianceof Utah or HEAL Utah spoke in opposition to the bill.
Chris Shapard, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Dominguez moved to pass HCR001 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. C. Snider
Vice Chair Peterson assumed the chair.
Rep. Watkins offered comment on solar development.
3.H.B. 16 Solar Power Plant Amendments(Jack, C.)
Rep. Jack presented the bill.
Emy Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development (OED) spoke in favor of the bill.
Brandon Yardley, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Brooks moved to pass HB0016 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 1
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Brooks moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Snider
Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 2:53 PM.