MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 30, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler, Vice Chair
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Leah Hansen
Rep. Colin W. Jack
Rep. Verona Mauga
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Doug Owens
Rep. David Shallenberger
Rep. Troy Shelley

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Calvin Cruz, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Hawkins called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to approve the minutes of January 27, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
1.HB0243 - Gambling Revisions
Rep. Elison presented the bill with the assistance of Daniel Burton, Chief Deputy Attorney General and General Counsel, Office of the Attorney General.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to amend HB0243 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 157 through 163 :  Line 157 through 163
157158159160161162163

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass HB0243 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
2.HB0250 - Utah Retirement Plan Exchange
Rep. Elison presented the bill with the assistance of Nathan Glassey, Director of Federal and State Legislative Affairs, American Retirement Association, and Marlo Oaks, State Treasurer.
2a. Retirement Savings Handout
Vice Chair Cutler assumed the chair.
Chair Hawkins resumed the chair.
Rep. Thompson spoke in favor of the bill.
Ken Richey, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Eric Thorne, Senior Vice President, National Benefit Services, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to hold HB0250.
MOTION:Rep. Shelley withdrew the motion.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass HB0250 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. D. Shallenberger
3.H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment(Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill with the assistance of Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education.
Sydney O'Shay, Chapter President - Utah State University, American Federation of Teachers, spoke to the bill.
Sean Crossland, Utah Vice President of Higher Education, American Federation of Teachers, spoke to the bill.
Brianne Kramer, Chapter President - Southern Utah University, American Federation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the bill.
Avery Edenfield, American Federation of Teachers, spoke to the bill.
Nicole Allen, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Joe Lasure, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shallenberger moved to pass HB0352 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
4.S.B. 29 Child Care Advisory Committee Amendments(Kwan, K.)
Sen. Kwan presented the bill with assistance from Rebecca Banner, Deputy Director, Department of Workforce Services.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass SB0029 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
5.HB0265 - Non-nicotine Inhalation Product Amendments
Rep. Thompson presented the bill with the assistance of Christal Dent, Program Manager, Department of Health and Human Services.
Vice Chair Cutler assumed the chair.
Chair Hawkins resumed the chair.
Walter Plumb, Drug Safe Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jen Brown, Drug Safe Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mercedes Frandsen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to replace HB0265 with HB0265S01.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to amend HB0265S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 9 through 15 :  Line 9 through 15
9101112131415

2 .        Line 729 through 742 :  Line 729 through 742
729730731732733 734735736737738739740741742

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass HB0265S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
6.HB0309 - Juneteenth Observance Amendments
Rep. Hollins presented the bill.
Cort Ashton, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to replace HB0309 with HB0309S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass HB0309S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. C. Jack
Chair Hawkins adjourned the meeting at 4:04 p.m.