MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 13, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Michael J. Petersen, Vice Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair

Staff Present:
Kirsi Jarvis, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Petersen called the meeting to order at 02:06 PM.
1.H.B. 511 Procurement Amendments (Shallenberger, D.)
This bill was not heard.
2.H.B. 453 Unspent Funding Amendments (Matthews, A.)
This bill was not heard.
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-6.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
3.H.B. 530 State Permitting Council(Kyle, J.)
Rep. Jason Kyle presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass HB0530 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
4.1st Sub. H.B. 249 Federal Funds Modifications(Roberts, C.)
Rep. Calvin Roberts presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to pass HB0249S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-6.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
5.H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments(Acton, C.K.)
Rep. Cheryl Acton presented the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend HB0446 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 302 through 308 :  Line 302 through 308
302303304305306307308

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass HB0446 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-3-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 3Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
6.H.B. 504 Political Advertising Modifications(Dominguez, R.)
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez presented the bill.
HB 504 Political Advertisement Presentation
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to hold HB0504.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. A. Maloy
7.H.B. 302 Government Speech Neutrality Amendments(MacPherson, M.)
Rep. Matt MacPhearson presented the bill.
Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Marina Lowe, Policy Director, Equality Utah, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to replace HB0302 with HB0302S01.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to amend HB0302S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 91 through 98 :  Line 91 through 98
9192939495969798

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to pass HB0302S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-3-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. J. Burton
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 3:30 PM