MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 • 3:40 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
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

Members Absent:
Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair

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 Cutler called the meeting to order at 3:46 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. T. Shelley
1.H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments(Defay, A.)
Rep. Defay presented the bill with Emily Bell McCormick, President, The Policy Project.
2a - HB0329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments Handout
2b - HB0329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments Presentation
Sandi Snowden, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Audry Wood, Utah Public Employees Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Hannah Randall,Government Relations Director, American Heart Association - Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amy Winder Newton, Director of the Office of Families, Governor's Office spoke in favor of the bill.
Lori Cartwright, Director, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, spoke in favor of the bill.
Te Anu Tonga, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Jennifer Stout, Policy Analyst, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nina Barnes, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cami Player, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melanie Call, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rhiannon McDaniel, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Krysta Hamilton, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to amend HB0329 with Amendment #1.
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to hold HB0329.The motion failed with a vote of 3-5-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 5Abs- 2
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass HB0329 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-2-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 2Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
2.H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill with assistance from Katie Mazzie, Associate Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives,Utah System of Higher Education.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass HB0353 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. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to place HB0353 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
3.H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments(Okerlund, C.)
Rep. Okerlund presented the bill. Nick Coleman, Interim State Homeless Coordinator, Office of Homeless Services.
Janet Hemming, Chair, Yalecrest Neighborhood Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michelle Flynn, Executive Director, The Road Home, spoke in favor of the bill.
Laurie Hopkins, Executive Director, Shelter the Homeless, spoke in favor of the bill.
Heather Hogue, Utah Homeless Network Steering Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Campbell, Executive Director, Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeff Quayle, Chief Real Estate Officer, Switchpoint, spoke in favor of the bill.
Molly Wheeler, Deputy Director, League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Hall, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass HB0308 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
4.1st Sub. H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments(Roberts, C.)
Rep. Roberts presented the bill.
Kate Bradshaw, Executive Board President, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kory Holdaway, Habitat for Humanity, spoke in favor of the bill
Cate Klundt, Government Affairs Director, Utah Association of REALTORS, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Davenport-Smith, Utah Coalition of Cities and Counties, spoke to the bill.
Lauren Cole, Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tara Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Taz Burman, Utah Home Builders Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass HB0068S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
5.H.B. 320 H.B. 320 Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy Amendments(Cutler, P.)
Rep. Jack assumed the chair.
Rep. Cutler presented with assistance from Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence.
5a - HB0320 Artificial Intelligence Policy Act Handout
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to amend HB0320 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 241 :  Line 241
241242243

Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass HB0320 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Acting Chair Jack moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Acting Chair Jack adjourned the meeting 5:37 p.m.