MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 23, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair
Rep. Mark A. Strong, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Katy Hall
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Rep. Trevor Lee
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte

Members Absent:
Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Lisa Shepherd

Staff Present:
Lacey Johnson, Policy Analyst
An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Wilcox called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to approve the minutes for the February 19, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Rep. A. Stoddard
1.H.B. 295 Overdose Amendments(Moss, C.)
HB 295 Bill Summary
Rep. Moss presented the bill with the assistance of Evan Done, Advocacy and Public Policy Director, Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA).
Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors and Public Attorneys, spoke in support of the bill.
Brett Robinson, Chief Policy Advisor, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, spoke in support of the bill.
Mark Moffat, Utah Defense Attorney Association, spoke in support of the bill.
Daniel Strong, Director, Sentencing Commission, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to replace HB0295 with HB0295S01.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to pass HB0295S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Vice Chair Strong assumed the chair.
2.1st Sub. H.B. 338 First Responder Health Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Wilcox presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to pass HB0338S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
3.H.J.R. 26 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence to Address Machine-Generated Evidence(Ballard, M.G.)
Chair Wilcox resumed the chair.
Rep. Ballard presented the resolution with the assistance of Stewart Young, Deputy Criminal Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, and Walter Bockholt, Children's International Rescue Foundation.
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, spoke to the resolution.
MOTION:Rep. Strong moved to pass HJR026 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
4.S.B. 63 Assault Modifications(Brammer, B.)
Sen. Brammer presented the bill.
Daniel Strong, representing the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) and the Sentencing Commission, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass SB0063 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to place SB0063 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
5.H.B. 553 Dog Attack Amendments(Thompson, J.)
Rep. Thompson presented the bill with the assistance of Jake Lee, lawyer.
Dave Kallas, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass HB0553 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
6.1st Sub. S.B. 125 Theft Amendments(Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Musselman presented the bill.
Mark Moffat spoke in support of the bill.
Carl Hollan spoke in support of the bill.
Daniel Strong spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Strong moved to pass SB0125S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Strong moved to place SB0125S01 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
7.S.B. 166 Line-of-Duty Death Benefit Amendments(Owens, D.R.)
Sen. Owens presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass SB0166 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Strong moved to place SB0166 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. S. Hollins
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. S. Whyte
Rep. R. Wilcox
Rep. M. Gwynn
Rep. T. Lee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. L. Shepherd
Chair Wilcox adjourned the meeting at 9:21 a.m.