MINUTES OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Thursday, January 22, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Brady Brammer, Senate Chair
Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn, House Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard, Vice Chair
Sen. Wayne A. Harper
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Angela Romero

Members Absent:
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher
Rep. James A. Dunnigan

Staff Present:
Gary R. Syphus, Finance Manager
Nate Osborne, Financial Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
1.Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
Chair Brammer called the meeting to order at 08:07 AM. The minutes will be approved when there is a quorum.
2.Budget Overview (EAC Instructions, Tools, Base Budget Bill)
Gary Syphus presented a budget overview of the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.
2a. CJ 2026 Overview Presentation
3.Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes for the February 4, 6, 10, 12, June 17, and Oct. 14, 2025.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. M. Ballard
Sen. B. Brammer
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. M. Gwynn
Sen. D. Ipson
Rep. G. Miller
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. W. Harper
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Sen. S. Pitcher
Rep. A. Romero
4.Budget Overview (EAC Instructions, Tools, Base Budget Bill)
Gary Syphus continued with the presentation of the base budget.
2b. CJ Base Bill - HB0006
5.Utah Prosecution Council
Bob Church, Director, Utah Prosecution Council, gave a presentation on the Utah Prosecution Council Commission.
Utah Prosecution Council Presentation
Rep. Gwynn asked about domestic violence cases being dismissed, and the number of cases being prosecuted, with responses from Bob Church, who then continued the presentation.
6.Agency Budget Reviews: Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ)
Nate Osborne gave a brief overview on the agencies in the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ).
Agency Slides CCJJ, UOVC, IDC, JPEC
Tom Ross, Director, CCJJ, gave a presentation on the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.
Ken Matthews, Deputy Director, CCJJ, gave an overview of the budget requests for fiscal year 26-27. Tom Ross made a comment on jail reimbursement.
Rep. Burton expressed appreciation for CCJJ and asked about grants, with a response from Tom Ross.
Rep. Ballard expressed appreciation and asked about budget changes in the jail program, with a response from Tom Ross.
Chair Brammer commented that Chyleen Richey, Director, Utah Office for Victims of Crime, CCJJ, was his MPA professor.
Chyleen Richey gave a presentation on the Utah Office for Victims of Crime.
Rep. Ballard complimented the office for being caught up on victim services.
Rep. Romero expressed appreciation and spoke of the importance of the sexual assault funding. Tom Ross responded. After the presentation, Rep. Romero had a handout distributed to the subcommittee.
Utah Office for Victims of Crime
Matt Barraza, Director, Utah Indigent Defense Commission, CCJJ, gave a presentation on the Indigent Defense Commission.
Rep. Gwynn asked about the forensics social work program, with a response from Matt Barraza.
Chair Brammer discussed the concern that the Indigent Defense Commission is funding programs that should be funded through the Social Services Subcommittee. Matt Barraza and Tom Ross responded.
Rep. Miller asked about forensics social workers with a response from Matt Barraza and Chair Brammer.
Mary-Margaret Pingree, Executive Director, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC), CCJJ, gave an explanation of JPEC.
Rep. Burton asked about the JPEC survey expansion, with a response from Mary-Margaret Pingree. Rep, Burton commented on the survey expansion.
Chair Brammer expressed concern about the evaluations, discussed how to improve them, and discussed Supreme Court Judges, with responses from Mary-Margaret Pingree.
Rep. Miller asked about data on retirement before election, and retention of judges, with a response from Mary-Margaret Pingree.
Tom Ross expressed appreciation to the agencies in CCJJ, and commented on a bill coming from the Senate this session.
7.Legislator Requests for Appropriation
Rep. Tyler Clancy explained a request for appropriation (RFA), "Violent Crime Clearance Rate Support".
5a. RFA Violent Crime Clearance Rate Support
Jim Retallick, Director, Weber Public Defender Group, and Pam Vickrey, Director, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys, introduced themselves and presented the RFA on "Youth Violence Prevention". Rep. Clancy commented on the need for the RFA.
5b. RFA Youth Violence Prevention
Vice Chair Ballard assumed the chair.
House Chair Gwynn assumed the chair.
Rep. Ballard expressed appreciation for the presentation.
Rep. Burton commented on the need for this request, and asked what is being done about the support structure, with a response from Pam Vickrey.
Senate Chair Brammer resumed the chair.
Rep. Romero asked how this program will coordinate with other existing after school programs that also need the funding. Pam Vickrey and Rep. Clancy responded.
The RFA "Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of the STEP Supervision Program" was not heard today.
5c. RFA STEP Supervision
8.Other Business/Adjourn
There was no other business.
MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-8.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 8
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. M. Ballard
Sen. B. Brammer
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. G. Miller
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Pitcher
Chair Brammer adjourned the meeting at 10:25 AM.