MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 12, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler, Vice Chair
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Leah Hansen
Rep. Verona Mauga
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Doug Owens
Rep. David Shallenberger
Rep. Troy Shelley

Members Absent:
Rep. Colin W. Jack

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 2:40 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to approve the minutes from February 9, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
1.1st Sub. H.B. 373 1st Sub. H.B. 373 Higher Education Innovation(Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Jeff Moss, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelvyn Cullimore, President, BioUtah, spoke to the bill.
Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education.
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to amend HB0373S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 456 through 461 :  Line 456 through 461
456457458 459460461

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to pass HB0373S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
2.H.B. 466 H.B. 466 Utah Rural Jobs Act Modifications(Abbott, N.)
Rep. Abbott presented the bill with the assistance from Alex Stepanek, Senior Associate, Vantage Capital.
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to replace HB0466 with HB0466S01.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass HB0466S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 3
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
3.H.B. 276 H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications(Defay, A.)
Rep. Defay presented the bill with assistance from Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy.
4a - HB0276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications Handout
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to replace HB0276 with HB0276S01.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to amend HB0276S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 178 through 184 :  Line 178 through 184
178179180181182183184

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass HB0276S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to cease to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
4.1st Sub. H.B. 475 1st Sub. H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments(Roberts, C.)
Rep. Roberts presented the bill.
Karson Eilers, Policy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Alissa Dailey, Director of Political Affairs, Utah Association of REALTORS, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hawkins moved to replace HB0475S01 with HB0475S02.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Hawkins moved to pass HB0475S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. T. Shelley
5.H.B. 537 H.B. 537 Host Committee Sales of Olympic Products(Hawkins, J.)
Rep. Hawkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to replace HB0537 with HB0537S01.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass HB0537S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-1-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. D. Shallenberger
6.H.B. 438 H.B. 438 Artificial Intelligence Amendments(Fiefia, D.)
Chair Hawkins assumed the chair.
Rep. Fiefia presented the bill with assistance from Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy.
3a - HB0438 Artificial Intelligence Amendments Handout
Margaret Busse, Executive Director, Utah Department of Commerce, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Strowp, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shallenberger moved to replace HB0438 with HB0438S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Jack
MOTION:Rep. Shallenberger moved to pass HB0438S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. C. Jack
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. L. Hansen
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. C. Jack
Chair Hawkins adjourned the meeting at 4:07 p.m.