MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, January 26, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair
Rep. Michael J. Petersen, Vice Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. A. Cory Maloy

Staff Present:
Kirsi Jarvis, Policy 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.

Chair Burton called the meeting to order at 2:02 P.M.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 242 Initiative and Referendum Signature Gathering and Removal Amendments(Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill.
Marie Dougherty, Mayor, Clinton City Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Richard W. Vengels III, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kenna Stringham, Election Coordinator, Lieutenant Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Adam Larsen, City Council Member, Clinton City Utah, spoke to the bill.
Helen Moser, League of Women Voters, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass HB0242 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
2.1st Sub. H.B. 25 Candidate Petition Amendments(Shepherd, L.)
Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill.
Candidate Petition Amendments
Marilyn Momeny, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ricky Hatch, Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lieutenant Governor's Office, spoke to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cambria Cantrell, Elections Coordinator, Lieutenant Governor's Office spoke to the bill.
Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke to the bill.
Kristin Richey, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Loubet moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
3.H.B. 160 Statewide Initiative Modifications(Stoddard, A.)
Rep. Andrew Stoddard presented the bill.
Richard W. Bangel III, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to table HB0160.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to hold HB0160.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 9-1-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
4.1st Sub. H.B. 132 Military Amendments(Burton, J.)
Rep. Pierucci assumed the chair.
Rep. Jefferson Burton presented the bill with the assistance of Dan Schoenfeld, Deputy Director for State Operations, Utah Army National Guard.
Brian Garrett, Utah National Guard, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to amend HB0132S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 37 through 43 :  Line 37 through 43
37383940414243

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass HB0132S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Acting Chair Pierucci adjourned the meeting at 03:31 PM.