MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 23, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair
Rep. Rex P. Shipp, Vice Chair
Rep. John Arthur
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Jill Koford
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Rep. Logan J. Monson
Rep. Doug Owens
Rep. David Shallenberger
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Bridger Bolinder
Rep. Walt Brooks
Speaker Mike Schultz

Staff Present:
Charley Hart, Policy Analyst
Calvin Cruz, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Shipp called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to approve the minutes from February 19, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. C. Snider
1.H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests(Owens, D.)
Rep. Owens presented the bill with assistance from Teresa Wilhelmsen, State Engineer, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Warren Peterson, consultant, Utah Farm Bureau.
MOTION:Rep. Kohler moved to amend HB0494 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 68 through 75 :  Line 68 through 75
6869707172737475

2 .        Line 87 through 93 :  Line 87 through 93
87888990919293
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Kohler moved to pass HB0494 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. C. Snider
2.2nd Sub. H.B. 533 Groundwater Amendments(Kohler, M.)
Rep. Kohler presented the bill.
Teresa Wilhelmsen, State Engineer, Director, Division of Water Rights, spoke to the bill.
Robert Mortenson, resident, spoke to the bill.
Warren Peterson, Farm Bureau, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Koford moved to hold HB0533S02.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
3.H.B. 536 H.B. 536 Criminal Conduct on Public Lands Amendments(Barlow, S.)
Rep. Barlow presented the bill with assistance from Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Law Enforcement Division, Department of Natural Resources.
MOTION:Rep. Arthur moved to replace HB0536 with HB0536S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Arthur moved to pass HB0536S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
4.H.B. 567 H.B. 567 Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Grant Program Amendments(Peterson, T.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass HB0567 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Arthur moved to place HB0567 on the Consent Calendar.The motion failed with a vote of 1-9-4.
Yeas - 1Nays- 9Abs- 4
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Watkins
5.H.C.R. 14 H.C.R. 14 Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Transfer of Federally Managed Lands(Ward, R.)
Rep. Ward presented the bill.
Brett Stewart, President, Utah Off-Highway Vehicles Advocates, spoke to the bill.
Kael Weston, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to amend HCR014 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 32 through 38 :  Line 32 through 38
32333435363738

2 .        Line 50 through 56 :  Line 50 through 56
50515253545556
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Watkins
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to pass HCR014 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. M. Schultz
6.H.B. 546 H.B. 546 Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments(Ivory, K.)
Rep. Ivory presented the bill with assistance from John Howard, attorney.
6a - HB0546 Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments Handout
6b - HB0546 Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments Handout
6c - HB0546 Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments Handout
6d - HB0546 Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments Handout
Maryann Christenson, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill
Nathan Hole, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Doug Tolman, Policy Manager, Save Our Canyons, spoke to the bill.
Tammy Pearson, Commissioner, Beaver County Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Greg Miles, Commissioner, Duchesne County Utah, spoke in favor of the bill
Greg Jensen, Commissioner, Sevier County Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jack Lytle, Commissioner, Daggett County Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kael Weston, resident, spoke to the bill.
Brandon Yardley, Commissioner, Beaver County Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kirk Robinson, Western Wildlife Conservancy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Koford moved to pass HB0546 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. J. Arthur
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. J. Koford
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. L. Monson
Rep. D. Owens
Rep. D. Shallenberger
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Bolinder
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. C. Snider
Chair Shipp adjourned the meeting at 9:56 a.m.