MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair
Rep. Mark A. Strong, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn
Rep. Katy Hall
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Rep. Trevor Lee
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Lisa Shepherd
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte

Staff Present:
Lacey Johnson, 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 Wilcox called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.
Rep. Gwynn assumed the chair.
1.1st Sub. H.B. 72 Criminal Use of Cryptocurrency Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill with the assistance of Sen. Brady Brammer.
Stewart Young, Deputy Criminal Attorney General, Office of the Utah Attorney General (OAG), spoke in support of the bill.
Glen Minson, Chief Investigator, Department of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill.
Stewart Young was invited to answer questions from the committee.
Joe Hirabayashi, AARP, spoke in support of the bill.
Nate Mutter, Chief Investigator, OAG and representing the Law Enforcement Legislative Committee, spoke in support of the bill.
Jackson Last, Deputy Chief, Utah Bankers Association, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to replace HB0072S01 with HB0072S02.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to amend HB0072S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 361 through 372 :  Line 361 through 372
361362363364365366367368369370371372

2 .        Line 562 through 567 :  Line 562 through 567
562563564565566567

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass HB0072S02 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Chair Wilcox resumed the chair.
2.H.B. 345 Victim Amendments(Romero, A.)
Rep. Romero turned the time over to Marlesse Jones, Director, Victim Services Commission, to explain the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to replace HB0345 with HB0345S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to pass HB0345S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
3.H.B. 89 Use of Polygraph Amendments(Romero, A.)
Rep. Romero turned the time over to Patty Johnston, former law enforcement officer, to explain the bill.
Nate Mutter spoke in support of the bill.
Liz Klc, Senior Policy Director, Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, spoke in support of the bill.
Carl Hollan, Statewide Association of Prosecutors, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Gwynn moved to pass HB0089 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
4.H.B. 284 Murder Offense Amendments(Maloy, A. Cory)
Rep. Cory Maloy presented the bill with the assistance of Christopher Ballard, General Counsel, Utah County Attorney's Office.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass HB0284 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to approve the minutes for the February 5, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
5.H.B. 301 Drug Recodification(Gwynn, M.)
Rep. Gwynn presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to replace HB0301 with HB0301S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to pass HB0301S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Stoddard
6.H.B. 153 Law Enforcement Officer Employment Amendments(Gwynn, M.)
Rep. Gwynn presented the bill to the committee.
Brad Bishop, Chief of the Payson Police Department and President of the Utah Chiefs of Police Association, spoke in support of the bill.
Nate Mutter spoke in support of the bill.
Scott Stephenson, Executive Director, Fraternal Order of Police, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to amend HB0153 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 66 through 77 :  Line 66 through 77
6667686970717271727374757677

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to pass HB0153 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Stoddard
7.1st Sub. H.B. 137 Violent Crime Clearance Rate Amendments(Clancy, T.)
Rep. Clancy presented the bill to the committee.
Dan Strong spoke in support of the bill.
Darcie Housley, mother of murder victim Brian Housley, spoke in support of the bill.
Marlesse Jones spoke in support of the bill.
Brad Bishop spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to pass HB0137S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
8.H.B. 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments(Hawkins, J.)
HB 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments
Rep. Hawkins presented the bill and provided a handout.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass HB0354 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-0.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Vice Chair Strong assumed the chair.
9.2nd Sub. H.B. 221 Coercion Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill to the committee.
Nate Mutter spoke in support of the bill.
Marlesse Jones spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to amend HB0221S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 780 :  Line 780
780781782

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass HB0221S02 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. A. Stoddard
Chair Strong adjourned the meeting at 3:42 p.m.
NOTE: 01st Substitute H.B. 0133 was not discussed in the meeting.