MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 19, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 215 Senate Building


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

Members Absent:
Sen. Emily Buss

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.

Chair Grover called the meeting to order at 4:17:49 PM.
1.2nd Sub. S.B. 174 Exercise of Religious Beliefs and Conscience Amendments(Stratton, K.)
Sen. Stratton presented the bill.
Alyssa Tyla, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to pass SB0174S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.S.B. 288 Medicaid Provider Amendments(Stratton, K.)
Sen. Stratton presented the bill with the assistance of Lincoln Shurtz, Lincoln-Hill Partners.
James Whipple, President, Utah Association of Community Services, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kory Holdaway, member, Utah Home Health and Hospice Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Allison Spangler, President, Utah Healthcare Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to replace SB0288 with SB0288S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
MOTION:Chair Grover moved to pass SB0288S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to approve the minutes for February 12 and February 18, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. L. Escamilla
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 269 Ambulance Provider Payment Amendments(Maloy, A. Cory)
Rep. Cory Maloy presented the bill.
Ben Armstrong, President, Rural Emergency Medical Services Association of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Clint Smith, Chief, Draper City Fire Department and Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0269S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. K. Stratton
4.2nd Sub. H.B. 97 Medical Waste Amendments(Bolinder, B.)
Rep. Bridger Bolinder presented the bill.
Maryann Martindale, CEO, Utah Academy of Family Physicians, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass HB0097S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
5.H.B. 343 Nursing Care Facility Program Amendments(Bolinder, B.)
Rep. Bridger Bolinder presented the bill with the assistance of Allison Spangler, President, Utah Healthcare Association.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass HB0343 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
6.3rd Sub. H.B. 51 Adoption Amendments(Hall, K.)
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to replace HB0051S03 with HB0051S04.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill.
Combined powerpoint Adoption Amendments
Stewart Young, Criminal Deputy Attorney, Utah Attorney General's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Martin Munoz, Director, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christiansen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ashley Larsen Gibby, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to pass HB0051S04 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 5:18:28 PM.