MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • 3:40 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Keith Grover, Chair
Sen. Emily Buss
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst
Michele Miller, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Grover called the meeting to order at 3:42:49 PM.
1.S.C.R. 5 Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Pain Medication(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill with the assistance of Chad Duncan, Pharmacist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Kelvyn Cullimore, President and CEO, BioUtah.
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to amend SCR005 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 32 through 38 :  Line 32 through 38
32333435363738

Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Michelle McOmber, CEO, Utah Medical Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chet Loftis, Managing Director, PEHP, spoke in favor of the bill.
Billy O'Bryan, Program Director, Young People in Recovery, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melinda Mitchell, Homeopath, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass SCR005 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to approve the minutes January 26, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
2.S.B. 185 Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments(Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass SB0185 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to place SB0185 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.1st Sub. H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments(Thurston, N.)
HB1991 Handout
Rep. Norman Thurston presented the bill with the assistance of Kyle Lunt, Director, Data, Systems & Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0199S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.S.J.R. 11 Joint Resolution Recognizing National Blood Donor Month(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Heidi Ruster, Executive Director, American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region.
MOTION:Sen. Buss moved to pass SJR011 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.S.B. 222 Right to Try Amendments(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Chris Wilson presented the bill with the assistance of John Dahlstrom, Executive Vice President, Wasatch Property Management.
Michelle McOmber spoke in opposition of the bill.
Kelvyn Cullimore spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass SB0222 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
6.H.B. 28 Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments(Eliason, S.)
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to replace HB0028 with HB0028S02.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill.
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to pass HB0028S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
7.2nd Sub. H.B. 182 Genetic Information Amendments(Brooks, W.)
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to replace HB0182S02 with HB0182S04.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
Adam Gardiner, State Armor Network, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christiansen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelvyn Cullimore spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0182S04 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 4:34:49 PM.