MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 5, 2026 • 3:40 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 4:11 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Lee moved to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Whyte
Vice Chair Strong assumed the chair.
1.2nd Sub. H.B. 42 School Cybersecurity Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to pass HB0042S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. S. Whyte
2.1st Sub. H.B. 43 School Security Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to pass HB0043S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
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
Rep. M. Gwynn
Chair Wilcox resumed the chair.
3.H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments(Peck, N.)
Rep. Nicholeen Peck presented the bill to the committee.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to replace HB0188 with HB0188S01.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
MOTION:Rep. Strong moved to hold HB0188S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
4.1st Sub. H.B. 134 Offender Transfer Amendments(Acton, C.K.)
Rep. Cheryl Acton presented the bill to the committee. Joshua Draper, Deputy Chief, Adult Parole and Probation, Department of Corrections, was invited to answer questions from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to pass HB0134S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
5.H.B. 289 Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments(Defay, A.)
Rep. Ariel Defay presented the bill to the committee.
Daniel Strong, Chair, Sentencing Commission, spoke in support of the bill.
Steven Burton, Utah Association of Defense Attorneys, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to amend HB0289 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 1168 through 1175 :  Line 1168 through 1175
11681169117011711172117311741175

2 .        Line 1206 through 1217 :  Line 1206 through 1217
12061207120812091210121112121211121212131214121512161217

3 .        Line 1850 through 1857 :  Line 1850 through 1857
18501851185218531854185518561857
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass HB0289 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
Vice Chair Strong assumed the chair.
6.H.B. 44 School Security Personnel Standards(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill to the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to replace HB0044 with HB0044S05.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to pass HB0044S05 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. T. Lee
7.S.C.R. 2 Concurrent Resolution Concerning Remembrances of the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks(Fillmore, L.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the resolution to the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass SCR002 out favorably.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. Wilcox moved to adjourn.
Chair Strong adjourned the meeting at 5:34 p.m.