MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 • 3:40 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Todd Weiler, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Calvin R. Musselman
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher

Staff Present:
Taylor Calabrese, Policy Analyst
An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Weiler called the meeting to order at 3:47 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
1.S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments(Vickers, E.)
Sen. Evan Vickers presented the bill.
Dan Strong, Sentencing Commission and the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, spoke in support of the bill.
Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors, spoke in support of the bill.
Daniel Neville-Rehbehn, Advocacy Chair, Utah Library Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass SB0072 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. Musselman assumed the chair.
2.S.B. 12 Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Weiler presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass SB0012 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
3.S.J.R. 7 Joint Resolution Regarding Utah's Protection and Advocacy Agency(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Weiler presented the joint resolution with the assistance of the following family members of individuals with disabilities: Lisa Thornton, Ethan Smith, and Annali Smith.
Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Keven Stratton, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
Amanda Longwell, resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Michelle Holbrook, Just for Kids of Utah County, spoke in support of the resolution.
Adam Guyman, resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Hillary Clark, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
Juliette White, resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Sarah Farmer, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
Jacey Skinner, And Justice for All, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Nan Ellsworth, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
Kristi Lee Mortenson, resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Amber Foster, support coordinator, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Emmie Gardner, licensed clinical social worker, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Amanda Sandy, resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Stewart Ralphs, Director, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, spoke to the resolution.
Evan Done, Advocacy and Public Policy Director, USARA, spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Aileen Casas, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
Joe Escudero, resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Weiler moved to pass SJR007 out favorably.
The motionpassed with a vote 7-2-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 2Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. S. Pitcher
Chair Weiler resumed the chair.
4.S.B. 92 S.B. 92 Prosecution Amendments(Wilson, C.)
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to amend SB0092 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 40 through 47 :  Line 40 through 47
4041424344454647

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. Chris Wilson presented the bill with the assistance of Dane Murray, Chief Criminal Deputy Attorney, Cache County Attorney's Office, and April Turner, mother of murder victim Deserae Turner Buck.
Mark Moffat, Utah Defense Lawyers Association, spoke to the bill.
Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass SB0092 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
5.S.J.R. 5 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Civil Procedure Regarding Business and Chancery Court(Brammer, B.)
Sen. Brammer presented the joint resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to replace SJR005 with SJR005S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass SJR005S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
6.S.J.R. 1 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence Concerning Crimes or Other Acts(Brammer, B.)
SJR001 Letter of Support
Sen. Brammer presented the joint resolution with the assistance of Ryan McBride, General Crimes Division Chief, Utah County Attorney's Office.
Mark Moffat spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Richard Mauro spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Seth Stewart spoke in opposition to the resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to replace SJR001 with SJR001S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass SJR001S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0154, S.J.R. 010, S.B. 0233, S.B. 0235, 02nd Substitute H.B. 0209 were not discussed in the meeting.