MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 8:45 a.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Keith Grover, Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Emily Buss
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton

Staff Present:
Seth Anderson, Policy Analyst
Michele Miller, Committee Secretary

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

Acting Chair Stratton called the meeting to order at 8:49:59 AM.
1.1st Sub. H.B. 105 Child Welfare Revisions(Watkins, C.)
Rep. Christine Watkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0105S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.1st Sub. H.B. 171 Physician Assistant Amendments(Whyte, S.)
Rep. Stephen Whyte presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0171S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to place HB0171S01 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.1st Sub. H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments(Owens, D.)
Rep. Doug Owens presented the bill with the assistance of Mark Dickson, Director of Public Education/Public Relations, Donor Connect.
Justin Shannon, Deputy Director and Legislative Liaison, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0117S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. Stevenson assumed the chair.
4.S.B. 281 Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives(Stratton, K.)
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to replace SB0281 with SB0281S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. Stratton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass SB0281S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Grover
5.1st Sub. S.B. 174 Exercise of Religious Beliefs and Conscience Amendments(Stratton, K.)
SB0174S01 Handout
Sen. Stratton presented the bill with the assistance of Robin Wilson, Law Professor/Consultant.
Chair Grover assumed the chair.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to replace SB0174S01 with SB0174S02.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. E. Buss
Sarah Stroup, Legislative Committee Chair, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tiana McCall, Social Worker, Utah Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, spoke to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jessica Black, member, Utah Mental Health Association, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass SB0174S02 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 3-3-1.
Yeas - 3Nays- 3Abs- 1
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 9:57:44 AM.
NOTE: 02nd Substitute H.B. 0097, S.B. 0288 were not discussed in the meeting.