MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 30, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Keven J. Stratton

Members Absent:
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Staff Present:
Julie Humberstone, Managing 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 Owens called the meeting to order at 2:03 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the January 27, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 201 Shelter Animal Euthanasia Amendments(Grover, K.)
Sen. Grover presented the bill with the assistance of Kate Hall, Campaign Strategist, Best Friends Animal Society.
MOTION:Sen. Grover moved to replace SB0201 with SB0201S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Jessica Vigos, Whiskers, spoke in favor of the bill.
Debbie Pedersen, Animal Control Officer, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to pass SB0201S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.H.B. 61 Navajo Trust Fund Amendments(Watkins, C.)
Rep. Christine Watkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0061 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.H.B. 69 Drinking Water Restructuring Amendments(Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Carl Albrecht presented the bill with the assistance of Nathan Lunstad, Director, Utah Division of Drinking Water.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to replace HB0069 with HB0069S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass HB0069S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.S.B. 198 Water Project Management Amendments(Sandall, S.)
Sen. Sandall presented the bill with the assistance of Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources.
Warren Peterson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zachary Frankel, Executive Director, Utah Rivers Council, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to hold the bill.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Owens adjourned the meeting 3:07 PM.
NOTE: S.B. 0179, H.B. 0049 were not discussed in the meeting.