| Members Present: Sen. Keven J. Stratton, Senate Chair Rep. Raymond P. Ward, House Chair Rep. Doug Fiefia, Vice Chair Sen. Heidi Balderree Sen. Emily Buss Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Jen Plumb Sen. Todd Weiler Rep. Tyler Clancy Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost Rep. Jake Fitisemanu Rep. Stephanie Gricius | Rep. Colin W. Jack Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck Members Absent: President J. Stuart Adams Rep. Kristen Chevrier Staff Present: Kevin Edminster, Financial Analyst An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary Laurie Haupt, Operations Analyst Sean C. Faherty, Finance Manager Russell T. Frandsen, Finance Officer |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1.8:00 Call to Order |
| Chair Ward called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. |
| 2.8:00 Approval of Minutes |
| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Ward Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. J. Adams Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. T. Clancy Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Gricius Rep. N. Peck Sen. J. Plumb |
| 3.8:00 Requests for Appropriation - Health and Human Services |
| 4.8:05 Requests for Appropriation - Staff Discussion of Alternative Funding Actions |
| Sean Faherty discussed funding requests for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). |
| 5.8:10 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Nguyen) - Friends for Sight |
| 5a. RFA Submission - Friends for Sight (Nguyen) |
| 5b. Friends for Sight - Increasing Access to Eye Care |
| 5c. Friends for Sight 2026 - Day on the Hill |
| Rep. Hoang Nguyen introduced Jamie Justice, Executive Director, Friends for Sight, who explained the request. |
| Rep. Fiefia asked if for more information on the program, and Jamie Justice and Rep. Nguyen responded. |
| 6.8:15 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Weiler) - 211 Utah |
| 6a. RFA Submission - 211 Utah (Weiler) |
| 6b. 211 Coordinated Case Management |
| Sen. Weiler introduced Todd McGee, Managing Director, 211 Utah, who explained the purpose of 211 Utah. |
| Sen. Plumb asked where some of the funding goes, and Todd McGee responded. |
| 7.8:25 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Sawyer) - Senior Recreation Services |
| 8a. RFA Submission - Senior Recreation Services (Sawyer) |
| Rep. Jake Sawyer introduced Miranda Rizzi, Senior Program Specialist, Riverdale Senior Center, and Rich Taylor, Community Services Director, Riverdale City, who made the funding request. |
| Rep. Peck asked what activities the center provides, and Miranda Rizzi responded. |
| 8.8:30 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Ipson) - Doctors' Volunteer Clinic of St. George |
| 9a. RFA Submission - Doctors Volunteer Clinic of St. George (Ipson) |
| Sen. Don Ipson made the funding request for the clinic. |
| Sen. Stratton asked for data on outcomes, and Sen. Ipson responded. |
| 9.8:20 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Escamilla) - Early Childhood Mental Health Services |
| 7a. RFA Submission - Early Childhood Mental Health Services (Escamilla) |
| 7b. Early Childhood Mental Health Services Budget 2.1 2026.01.05 |
| 7c. Early Childhood Mental Health Services Intent Language 5.1 2026.01.05 |
| 7d. Early Childhood Mental Health Services Previous State Funding 5.2 2026.01.05 |
| Sen. Escamilla introduced Rebecca Dutson, President and CEO, The Children's Center Utah (CCU), Stephanie Warner, Government Relations Manager, CCU, and Dawn Wright, parent, who made the request. |
| 10.8:35 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Wilson) - Healthy Utah Communities Program |
| 10a. RFA Submission - Healthy Utah Communities Program (Wilson) |
| 10b. Healthy Utah Community Presentation |
| Sen. Chris Wilson introduced Wayne Niederhauser, board member, Get Healthy Utah, who presented the request for funds. |
| Rep. Peck asked what services the group provides in Tooele, and Wayne Niederhauser responded. |
| Sen. Stratton asked about gardening projects, and Wayne Niederhauser responded. |
| Sen. Plumb commended the program for focusing on prevention. |
| 11.8:50 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Watkins) - OUD Treatment at Community Health Centers |
| 13a. RFA Submission - OUD Treatment at Community Health Centers (Watkins) |
| 13b. 2026 OUD Treatment at CHCs RFA Template |
| Rep. Christine Watkins turned the time over to Rachel Craig, Government Affairs Manager, Association for Utah Community Health, to make the request. |
| Chair Ward requested information on counties matching the Opioid Settlement Funds, and Rachel Craig responded. |
| 12.8:40 Request for Appropriation (Sen. McCay) - Access to Anti-Obesity Medication (AOM) Cost Savings in Medicaid |
| 11a. RFA Submission - Access to AOM Cost Savings in Medicaid (McCay) |
| 11c. Executive Summary 2025 |
| Sen. McCay turned the time over to Jennifer Strohecker, former State Medicaid Director, to make the request. |
| Rep. Clancy asked if Jennifer Strohecker would return to Utah, and Sen. McCay responded. |
| Chair Ward asked how many people would be served by the funds, and Sen. McCay responded. |
| 13.8:45 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Romero) - Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline |
| 12a. RFA Submission - Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline (Romero) |
| 12b. UCASA Handout |
| Rep. Angela Romero introduced Liliana Olvera-Arbon, Executive Director, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA), and Melissa Van Leeuwen, Outreach Development Director, UCASA, who made the funding request. |
| Rep. Clancy asked for information on the impact the growing numbers of assault cases has on the staff, and Liliana Olvera-Arbon responded. |
| Rep. Peck asked what the money is needed for if the advocates are volunteers, and Liliana Olvera-Arbon responded. |
| Sen. Stratton asked for the total budget of UCASA's helpline, and Liliana Olvera-Arbon responded. |
| Sen. Escamilla commended UCASA for the lives they save. |
| Sen. Plumb stated that hospital emergency rooms utilize UCASA. |
| 14.8:55 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Stoddard) - Cognitive Wellness Center |
| 14a. RFA Submission - Cognitive Wellness Center (Stoddard) |
| 14b. CWC one page summary FINAL |
| 14c. CWC Appropriations Budget Request |
| 14d. CWC PPT Slides |
| Rep. Stoddard turned the time over to Maria Norton, Jeanne Maguire, Christine Clark, and Edward Redd, representing the Cognitive Wellness Center, to present the request for funds. |
| Edward Redd was invited to describe the value of the proposed center. |
| 15.9:35 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Stratton) - Sustaining Special Education - Infants and Toddlers |
| 22a. RFA Submission - Sustaining Special Education - Infants and Toddlers (Stratton) |
| 22b. 2026 Legist Flyer |
| Sen. Stratton introduced Joseph Petersen, Vice President of Grant Services, Kids on the Move, who made the request. |
| Sen. Plumb and Chair Ward commended the work of the program. |
| 16.9:00 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Ward) - Expanding Prevention, Treatment |
| 15a. RFA Submission - Expanding Prevention Treatment and Recovery Services for OUD (Ward) |
| 15b. JRSS FY25 Annual Report |
| 15c. JRSS 2026 RFA Presentation |
| Chair Ward turned the time over to Jules Martinez, Co-founder, and Teresa Molina, Co-founder and Board Chair, Jacky's Recovery Support Services, to present the request. |
| 17.9:05 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. McKell) - Utah Health Care Transparency |
| 16a. RFA Submission - Utah Health Care Transparency (McKell) |
| 16b. RFA Utah Healthcare Transparency Presentation |
| 16c. Utah Healthcare Transparency One Pager |
| Sen. Michael McKell introduced Scott Barlow, Executive Director, One Utah Health Collaborative, who made the funding request. |
| Rep. Dailey-Provost requested information showing if healthcare costs are actually reduced by programs, and Scott Barlow responded. |
| Chair Ward discussed the previous promises of the collaborative that have not come to fruition, and Scott Barlow responded. |
| 18.9:15 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Clancy) - Certified Behavioral Health Clinic Support |
| 18a. RFA Submission - Certified Behavioral Health Clinic Support (Clancy) |
| Rep. Clancy introduced Jared Sanford, President, Valley Behavioral Health, who made the funding request. |
| 19.9:20 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Clancy) - Pro-life Utah Support Life Program |
| 19a. RFA Submission - Pro-life Utah Support Program (Clancy) |
| 19b. Pro-Life Utah Appropriations Presentation |
| 19c. Handout - Pro-Life Impact Report |
| Rep. Clancy turned the time over to Mary Taylor, President, Pro-Life Utah, to request the appropriation. |
| Rep. Peck thanked Mary Taylor for the work of the program. |
| 20.9:40 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Clancy) - OUD Treatment Protocol Pilot Program |
| 23a. RFA Submission - OUD Treatment Protocol Pilot Program (Clancy) |
| Rep. Clancy introduced Matt Greene, CEO, OUD Management Partners, who made the request. |
| Sen. Plumb expressed concern with calling treatment programs "proprietary," and Matt Greene responded. |
| 21.10:00 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Cullimore) - Eliminating Insurance Fraud Pilot Program |
| 26a. RFA Submission - Eliminating Insurance Fraud Pilot Program (Cullimore) |
| Sen. Kirk Cullimore introduced Rick Resnick, President, LifeMed Gateway, who made the appropriations request. |
| Sen. Plumb asked what other big systems the group has worked with, and Rick Resnick responded. |
| 22.9:55 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Cullimore) - Local Food Purchase |
| 25a. RFA Submission - Local Food Purchase Assistance (Cullimore) |
| Sen. Cullimore turned the time over to Jessica Miller, CIO, and Hillary Whitacker, LFPA and Community Gardens Manager, Community Action Services and Food Bank, to explain the funding request. |
| 23.9:10 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Roberts) - Holding out HELP Housing & Stabilization Program |
| 17a. RFA - Holding out HELP Housing and Stabilization Program (Roberts) |
| 17b. Slide for Appropriations 2026 |
| Rep. Calvin Roberts turned the time over to Tonia Thorn, Holding Out HELP, and LuAnn Cooper, resident, to explain the program and request funding. |
| Rep. Clancy asked about the people who seek help, and Tonia Thorp responded. |
| Rep. Fitisemanu asked about the scope of these issues throughout the state, and Tonia Thorp responded. |
| 24.9:25 Request for Appropriation - (Sen. Buss) - Grief & Trauma Farm Support |
| 20a. RFA Submission - Grief & Trauma Farm Support Program (Buss) |
| 20b. Appropriations Committee Presentation |
| Sen. Buss introduced Camille Hawkins, Agency Director, and Dawn Cannon, Board Chair, The Wellness Farm Foundation, who explained the appropriation request. |
| Sen. Plumb expressed her happiness with learning the program exists. |
| 25.9:30 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Hayes) - Fulfilling Utah's Suicide Prevention Plan |
| 21a. RFA Submission - Fulfilling Utah's Suicide Prevention Plan (Hayes) |
| 21b. Leg Handout 2026 |
| 21c. Letter - State Grant Intent.pdf |
| Rep. Sahara Hayes introduced Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen, CEO and Founder, Flourish Therapy, Inc., who made the funding request. |
| 26.10:05 Other Requests for Appropriation |
| 27a. RFA Submission - CHAT Family Connection for Healthy Futures (Welton) |
| 27b. CHAT Campaign Fall 2025 |
| Rep. Doug Welton requested funding for the program. |
| 27.9:50 Request for Appropriation - (Rep. Dominguez) - Alcohol/Drug Addiction Community Center |
| 24a. RFA Submission - Alcohol-Drug Addiction Community Center (Dominguez) |
| 24b. Alano Presentation 2027 |
| Rep. Rosalba Dominguez turned the time over to Carl Ekstrom, Alano Club, to explain what Alano Club has done with previous funds and to request new funds. |
| Rep. Gricius asked how much money Alano Club has raised, and Carl Ekstrom responded. |
| 28.10:10 Empowered Program Opioid Results Report |
| 28a.SSA Committee Presentation IAMSTRONG 2.5.26 |
| 28b. PATH One Pager |
| Sarah Diefendorf, Community Health Director at Intermountain Healthcare, Andria Peterson, Executive Director of Roseman Medical Group Empowered Program, and Krystal Richards, Project Director for the PATH Program, made the request for funding the Empowered Program. |
| 29.10:35 Other Business |
| Chair Ward stated the committee may be meeting on February 11, 2026 to review a legislative audit. |
| Sean Faherty reminded the committee that staff would like feedback about items to be discussed during interim. |
| MOTION:Rep. Gricius moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. E. Buss Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Gricius Sen. J. Plumb Rep. R. Ward Sen. T. Weiler | Sen. J. Adams Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. T. Clancy Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. K. Stratton |
| Chair Ward adjourned the meeting at 10:46 a.m. |