MINUTES OF THE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENERGY, AND TECHNOLOGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 30, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Wayne A. Harper, Chair
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Staff Present:
Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst
Zoe Adams, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Harper called the meeting to order at 02:01 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes from January 27, 2026 meetingThe motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. R. Winterton
1.H.C.R. 1 House Concurrent Resolution Regarding Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing(Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Carl Albrecht presented the bill.
Tim Davis, Executive Director, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to pass HCR001 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-4.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. R. Winterton
2.H.B. 78 Nuclear Regulatory Amendments(Albrecht, C.)
Rep. Carl Albrecht presented the bill with the assistance of Tim Davis, Executive Director, Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to amend HB0078 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 151 through 154 :  Line 151 through 154
151152153154

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Nathan Hollen, Utah Sierra Club, Chapter Legislative Committee, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lexi Tuddenham, Executive Director, Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Abbie Eastwood, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to pass HB0078 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 200 Impounded Vehicle Amendments(Pitcher, S.)
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher presented the bill.
Adam Crayk, Managing Partner, Stowell Crayk, spoke in favor of the bill.
Barbara Christensen, President, Utah Professional Towing Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Brett Reeder, Vice President, Utah Professional Towing Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Steve Burton, Director, Utah Defense Attorney Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass SB0200 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. Winterton assumed the chair.
4.S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments(Harper, W.)
Sen. Harper presented the bill.
Kate Bradshaw, Mayor, Bountiful, spoke to the bill.
Troy Walker, Mayor, Draper City, spoke to the bill.
Fredrick Jenny, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carlos Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke in favor of the bill.
Andrew Gruber, Executive Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to pass SB0197 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Harper resumed the chair.
5.H.B. 17 Public Infrastructure District Meeting Amendments(Welton, D.)
Rep. Doug Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass HB0017 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
6.H.B. 16 Solar Power Plant Amendments(Jack, C.)
Rep. Colin Jack presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to amend HB0016 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 3 through 9 :  Line 3 through 9
3456789

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Conner Peterson, Director, Legislative and Government Affairs, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cindy Butler, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Spence Butler, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Erin Sorenson, Chair, Millard County Planning and Zoning, President, Millard County Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Peter Greathouse, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Deborah Van Noy, Board Treasurer/Secretary, Utah Agricultural and Land Trust, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0016 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-4.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-4.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Harper adjourned the meeting at 3:32 PM.