MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • 3:40 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. James A. Dunnigan, Chair
Rep. Tracy J. Miller, Vice Chair
Rep. John Arthur
Rep. Jake Fitisemanu
Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn
Rep. Leah Hansen
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher
Rep. R. Neil Walter
Rep. Raymond P. Ward

Members Absent:
Rep. Trevor Lee

Staff Present:
Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Lorna Wells, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 03:45 PM.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. R. Walter
1.H.B. 324 Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments(Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa Ballard presented the bill with the assistance of Brian Higginbotham, Utah State University Extension Associate Vice President; and Bruce Hough, Chairperson, Utah Marriage Commission.
HB 324 Utah Marriage Commission and the Utah Legislature 2025-2026 Highlights
HB 324 Utah Marriage Commission Research at Utah State University
Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk, spoke to the bill.
Russ Rampton, Digital Services Supervisor, Utah County, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to move to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
2.1st Sub. H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Utah Housing Strategic Plan(Whyte, S.)
Rep. Stephen Whyte presented the bill with the assistance of Steve Waldrip, Governor’s Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation.
The following strategic plan was discussed: https://le.utah.gov/interim/2025/pdf/00004008.pdf
Cameron Diel, Director, Utah League for Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristie Henshaw, Utah County Republican Party, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mike Ostermiller, Utah Association of Realtors, spoke in favor of the bill.
Te Anu Tonga spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lauren Cole, Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, American Fork resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Arthur moved to pass HCR006S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-2-5.
Yeas - 5Nays- 2Abs- 5
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
3.H.B. 324 Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments(Ballard, M.G.)
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to amend HB0324 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-4.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 5 through 11 :  Line 5 through 11
567891011

2 .        Line 51 through 61 :  Line 51 through 61
5152535455565758596061
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to pass HB0324 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
4.H.B. 246 Local Government Drug Testing Amendments(Maloy, A. Cory)
Rep. Corry Maloy presented the bill with the assistance of David Kitchen, Director of Human Resources, Lehi City.
MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to pass HB0246 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to place HB0246 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
5.1st Sub. S.B. 130 River Restoration Amendments(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill.
Soren Simonsen, Executive Director, Jordan River Commission, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to amend SB0130S01 with Senate Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 11 through 17 :  Line 11 through 17
11121314151617

2 .        Line 116 through 126 :  Line 116 through 126
116117118119120121122123124125126
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to amend SB0130S01 with House Amendment #2The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 119 through 125 :  Line 119 through 125
119120121122123124125
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to pass SB0130S01 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Arthur moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. J. Fitisemanu
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. R. Ward
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. J. Teuscher
Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 05:24 PM.