MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Derrin R. Owens

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Cassie Sudekum, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Millner called the meeting to order at 04:11 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes from the February 13, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 2-0-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 239 State Homeless Campus Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Rep. Sandra Hollins.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace SB0239 with SB0239S01.The motion passed with a vote of 2-0-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to amend SB0239S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 253 through 260 :  Line 253 through 260
253254255256 257258259260

Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Jeff Olson, Fairpark Chair, Westside Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Devon Kurtz, Policy Director, Cicero Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0239S01 as amended out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-2.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.S.B. 246 Utah Homeless Services Board Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill with the assistance of Rep. Sandra Hollins.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to replace SB0246 with SB0246S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Devon Kurtz, Policy Director, Cicero Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jeff Olson, Fairpark Chair, Westside Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0246S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.S.B. 284 Local Land Use Modifications(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill with the assistance of Wade Budge, Attorney, Snell and Wilmer and Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns.
Mike Ostermiller, Property Rights Coalition, Utah Association of Realtors, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass SB0284 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.1st Sub. H.B. 223 Electronic Signature Collection Amendments(Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill.
HB 223 Handout
Kenna Stringam, Elections Coordinator, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, spoke to the bill.
Lori Cartwright, Utah State Director, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass HB0223S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.1st Sub. H.B. 330 Liability Limitations Amendments(Jack, C.)
Rep. Colin Jack presented the bill with the assistance of Daniel Burton, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Utah Office of the Attorney General.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to replace HB0330S01 with HB0330S02.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Stevenson
Robert Axton, US Chamber, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kara North, Attorney, Utah Association for Justice, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, American Fork, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mark Behrens, Chamber of Commerce, United States, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0330S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 05:42 PM.