MINUTES OF THE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENERGY, AND TECHNOLOGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Wayne A. Harper, Chair
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Staff Present:
Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst
Samantha Merrell, Policy Analyst
Zoe Adams, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Harper called the meeting to order at 04:10 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to approve the minutes from February 12, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
1.1st Sub. H.B. 165 Critical Infrastructure Amendments(Brooks, W.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to replace HB0165S01 with HB0165S03.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. C. Wilson
Tim Davis, Executive Director, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to pass HB0165S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. C. Wilson
2.H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments(Watkins, C.)
Rep. Christine Watkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Winterton moved to pass HB0401 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 282 Electrical Grid Amendments(Blouin, N.)
Sen. Nate Blouin presented the bill.
Jon Cox, Rocky Mountain Power, spoke to the bill.
Katie Balakir, Senior Policy Associate, Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0282 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-3-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 3Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. W. Harper
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Harper Adjourned the meeting at 4:44 p.m.
NOTE: H.B. 0118 was not discussed in the meeting.