MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ENERGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 19, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Colin W. Jack, Chair
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson, Vice Chair
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Troy Shelley
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Walt Brooks
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck

Staff Present:
Samantha Merrell, Policy Analyst
Jennifer Kunzler, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 4:16 PM.
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to approve the minutes from the February 18, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-6.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
1.1st Sub. H.B. 323 Solar Panel Disposal Amendments(Jack, C.)
Rep. Jack with assistance from Tim Jimenez, former state representative, and Tim Davis, Executive Director, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), presented the bill.
Sam Johnston, Policy Director, Interwest Energy Alliance, spoke in favor of the bill.
Shelby Stults, Government Affairs Manager, The AES Corporation, spoke to the bill.
Rep. Albrecht moved to pass out favorably HB0323S01 and then withdrew the motion in order to adopt the 2nd sub.
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to replace HB0323S01 with HB0323S02.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to pass HB0323S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Chew moved to cease to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
2.H.C.R. 12 Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to pass HCR012 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
3.S.B. 86 Firearm Safe Harbor Amendments(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Chris Wilson with assistance from David Spatafore, Legislative Liaison, Utah Chiefs of Police Association, presented the bill.
Willis LaFevre, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass SB0086 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to place SB0086 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Snider
4.H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments(Walter, N.)
Rep. Neil Walter presented the bill.
Emy Lesofski, Director, Office of Energy Development (OED), spoke in favor of the bill.
Thom Carter, Vice President, Rocky Mountain Power, spoke to the bill.
Jeff Hartley, Lobbyist, High Tech Solutions, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carmen Valdez, Senior Policy Associate, Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL), spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to pass HB0514 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
MOTION:Rep. Snider moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. N. Peck
Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:40 PM.