MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE BUSINESS, LABOR, AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 445 State Capitol


Members Present:
Rep. A. Cory Maloy, Chair
Rep. Jason B. Kyle, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton
Rep. James A. Dunnigan
Rep. Ken Ivory
Rep. Ashlee Matthews
Rep. Hoang Nguyen
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson
Rep. Jake Sawyer
Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher
Rep. Norman K Thurston
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox

Members Absent:
Rep. Calvin Roberts
Speaker Mike Schultz

Staff Present:
Rohnin Randles, Policy Analyst
Alyssa Castor, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Cochair Kyle called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Sawyer moved to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2026, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. R. Wilcox
1.H.B. 294 Employer Verification Amendments(Auxier, T.)
Rep. Tiara Auxier presented the bill and answered questions from the committee.
Public comment was heard from:
Casey Hill, Utah State Director, National Federation of Independent Business, who also answered questions from the committee;
Robert Babcock, attorney, Babcock Scott and Babcock; and
Craig Madsen, business owner, Lehi.
MOTION:Rep. Thurston moved to set a time to adjourn at 6:00 p.m.The motion failed with a vote of 6-6-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 6Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Wilcox
MOTION:Rep. Nguyen moved to hold H.B. 294.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend H.B. 294 with Amendment #1.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 6 through 12 :  Line 6 through 12
6789101112

2 .        Line 23 through 28 :  Line 23 through 28
232425262728
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Wilcox
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to hold H.B. 294.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 294 out favorably.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 10-3-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 3Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. R. Wilcox
2.H.B. 516 Landlord Communication Amendments(Shallenberger, D.)
Rep. David Shallenberger and David Todd, attorney, Titan Legal, presented the bill and answered questions from the committee.
Public comment was heard from:
Jake Anderegg, lobbyist, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials;
Steve Erickson, lobbyist, Crossroads Urban Center;
Justin Allen, Government Affairs Director, Rental Housing Association;
Tara Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition; and
Angela Kraniski, lobbyist, Utah Safe and Stable Rentals Project.
MOTION:Rep. Dunnigan moved to hold H.B. 516.The motion passed with a vote of 11-1-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. R. Wilcox
3.H.B. 304 Cash Payments Amendments(Chevrier, K.)
Rep. Kristen Chevrier and Marlo Oaks, State Treasurer, Office of State Treasurer, presented the bill and answered questions from the committee.
Public comment was heard from:
Jake Anderegg;
Casey Hill;
Vito Leone, business owner, Bountiful, who also answered questions from the committee;
Catherine Austin Fitts, resident, Florida;
Jennifer Marcum, resident, Davis County;
Adelaide, Girl Scout, Davis County;
Rose, Girl Scout, Davis County;
Brooklyn, Girl Scout, Davis County;
Kristin Richey, Utah Eagle Forum;
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to move to next agenda item.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
4.H.B. 280 Third Party Litigation Funding Amendments(Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. Dunnigan and Ryan Andrus, general counsel, WCF Insurance, presented the bill.
Public comment was heard from:
Frank Pignanelli, lobbyist, American Finance Legal Association;
Rachel Sykes, Vice President, Utah Association for Justice; and
Dai Wai Chin Feman, United States Chapter Chair, International Legal Finance Association.
MOTION:Rep. Matthews moved to replace H.B. 280 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 280.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Matthews moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 280 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
5.H.B. 176 H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications(Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet and Jeff Cardon, attorney, Pleasant Grove, presented the bill and answered questions from the committee.
Public comment was heard from:
Jon Croasmun, Senior Vice President and Corporate Trust Manager, Bank of Utah, who also answered questions from the committee;
Dylan Schmutz, Senior Vice President and Trust Manager, Bank of Utah; and
Howard Headlee, President, Utah Bankers Association, who also answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Chair Maloy moved to move to next agenda item.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Matthews moved to replace H.B. 176 with 1st Substitute H.B. 176.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 10-3-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 3Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Thurston moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 176 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to adjourn.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 3-10-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 10Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
Rep. Thurston's motion to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 176 out favorablypassed with a vote 8-5-3.
Yeas - 8Nays- 5Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. J. Dunnigan
Rep. K. Ivory
Rep. J. Kyle
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Matthews
Rep. H. Nguyen
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. J. Sawyer
Rep. N. Thurston
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. C. Roberts
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. J. Teuscher
Cochair Kyle adjourned the meeting at 6:23 p.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0160, 01st Substitute H.B. 0244, 01st Substitute H.B. 0059 were not discussed in the meeting.