MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 23, 2026 • 8:30 a.m. • 215 Senate Building


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

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams

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 08:34 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes from the February 17, 2026 meeting.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
1.3rd Sub. H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments(Roberts, C.)
Rep. Calvin Roberts presented the bill.
HB 68 Slides
Steve Waldrip, Governor's Senior Advisor, Housing Strategy and Innovation, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cameron Diehl, Executive Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Parker, Lobbyist, Utah Non-Profit Housing, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0068S03 out favorably.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
2.S.B. 255 Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Amendments(Blouin, N.)
Sen. Nate Blouin presented the bill with the assistance of Bill Tibbitts, Deputy Executive Director, CrossRoads Urban Center.
Tara Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition (UHC), spoke in favor of the bill.
Zoe Newmann, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Linda Smith, Faith and Advocacy Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to pass SB0255 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 1-3-2.
Yeas - 1Nays- 3Abs- 2
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.S.B. 296 Student Consent Amendments(Cullimore, K. A.)
Sen. Kirk Cullimore presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass SB0296 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Adams
4.H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments(Okerlund, C.)
Rep. Clinton Okerlund presented the bill with the assistance of Nick Coleman, Interim State Homeless Coordinator, Utah Office of Homeless Services.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0308 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. Owens 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 09:37 AM.