MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Derrin R. Owens
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Cassie Sudekum, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Millner called the meeting to order.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 2-0-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 98 Substance Use Rehabilitation Amendments(Plumb, J.)
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace SB0098 with SB0098S02.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Jen Plumb presented the bill.
Evan Done, Public Policy Director, Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness, spoke in favor of the bill.
Adam Cohen, President, Odyssey House of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melissa Cheng, physician, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dylan Soracco, student, Southern Utah University, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0098S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.S.B. 128 Public Alert Amendments(Plumb, J.)
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to replace SB0128 with SB0128S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Plumb presented the bill.
Brandon Christiansen, Deputy Chief, Salt Lake City Police Department, spoke in favor of the bill.
Elizabeth Larson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0128S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.S.B. 165 Economic Mobility Initiative(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill with the assistance of Bill Crim, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Salt Lake.
SB 165 Fact Sheet
Cherie Wood, Mayor, South Salt Lake, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brian Martinez, Commissioner, Grand County, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bill Winfield, Commissioner, Grand County, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0165 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.S.J.R. 9 Joint Resolution Expressing Friendship and Support for Taiwan(Sandall, S.)
Sen. Scott Sandall presented the bill.
Melissa Cheng, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SJR009 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Owens assumed the chair.
5.S.B. 195 Workforce Development(Millner, A.)
Sen. Millner presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stevenson moved to pass SB0195 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Chair Millner resumed the chair.
6.H.B. 35 Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee Amendments(Monson, L.)
Rep. Logan Monson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0035 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Millner adjourned the meeting.