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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday,
February 9, 2026
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3:40 p.m.
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215 Senate Building
Members Present:
Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
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Members Absent:
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Staff Present:
Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst
Cassie Sudekum, Committee Secretary
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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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| Chair Owens called the meeting to order. |
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| Sen. Sandall assumed the chair. |
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| 1.1st Sub. S.B. 209 Gooseberry Narrows State Park Designation(Owens, D.R.) |
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| MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace SB0209S01 with SB0209S02.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-2.
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| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
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| Sen. Owens presented the bill with the assistance of Blake Bingham, Deputy State Engineer, Utah Division of Water Rights, and Scott Strong, Director, Utah Division of State Parks. |
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| Justin Jackson, Member, Board of Trustees, Sanpete Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Herbert Ley, Vice President, Utah Stream Access Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Wade Garrett, Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Relationships, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Wade Eliason, Member, Board of Trustees, Sanpete Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Nate Broadhurst, Attorney, Sanpete Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Michael Larson, Chairman, Sanpete Conservation District, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| William Butcher, President, Price River Water Users Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass SB0209S02 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-1-1.
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| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. D. Hinkins
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| Chair Owens resumed the chair. |
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| 2.H.B. 49 Law Enforcement Salary Amendments(Wilcox, R.) |
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| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to replace HB0049 with HB0049S04.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-2.
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| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill with the assistance of Sean Spencer, Utah Conservation Officers Association. |
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| Herbert Ley, Vice President, Utah Stream Access Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| David Spatafore, Legislative Liaison, Utah Chiefs of Police Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Brett Stewart, Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Advocates, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Matt Anderson, Director, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Scott Stephenson, Executive Director, Utah Fraternal Order of Police, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass HB0049S04 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
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| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. D. Hinkins
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| 3.S.B. 250 Great Salt Lake Amendments(Blouin, N.) |
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| Sen. Blouin presented the bill. |
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| Adalayde Scott, resident, Millcreek, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Sophia Smith, student, University of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Danielle Knight, resident, Millcreek, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Alta Fairbourne, Water Advocate, Utah Rivers Council, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Luis Miranda, resident, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Maria Archibald, resident, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Norma Wills, resident, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Nathan Hole, resident, Davis County, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Amy Jessee, resident, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Herbert Ley, resident, Millcreek, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Hannah Freeze, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner, spoke to the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to hold SB0250.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-1-1.
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| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. D. Hinkins
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| 4.S.B. 254 Critical Minerals Amendments(Millner, A.) |
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| Sen. Ann Millner presented the bill. |
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| Steve Erickson, Board Member, Great Basin Water Network, spoke to the bill. |
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| Andrew Sandstrom, Executive Director, Unleash Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Mick Thomas, Director, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Ted Sonnenburg, Director, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Allen Evans, Executive Vice President of Logistics, Utah Inland Port Authority, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Jeff Hartley, Lobbyist, Red Leaf Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Mackenzie Miller, resident, Magna, spoke to the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass SB0254 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-1-2.
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| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
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| 5.S.C.R. 9 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Critical Minerals Development and Funding(Millner, A.) |
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| Sen. Millner presented the bill. |
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| Andrew Sandstrom, Executive Director, Unleash Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Chair Owens moved to pass SCR009 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
3-1-3.
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| Yeas -
3 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Stratton
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| MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-0-3.
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| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
| | Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Stratton
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| Chair Owens adjourned the meeting. |
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