MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • 4:10 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, Chair
Rep. Michael J. Petersen, Vice Chair
Rep. Paul A. Cutler
Rep. Doug Fiefia
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Andrew Stoddard
Rep. Doug Welton

Staff Present:
Kirsi Jarvis, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Burton called the meeting to order at 04:23 PM.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
1.3rd Sub. S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions(Stratton, K.)
Sen. Keven Stratton presented the bill with the assistance of Bill Duncan, Sutherland Institute.
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to pass SB0100S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. Cutler moved to place SB0100S03 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Stoddard
2.2nd Sub. S.B. 139 Notary Amendments(Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill with the assistance of Abbie Montgomery, Public Records Specialist, Lt. Governor's Office.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0139S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.S.B. 235 Attorney General Compensation Amendments(McKell, M.)
This bill was not heard.
4.S.B. 220 Veteran Scholarship Amendments(Millner, A.)
Sen. Ann Millner presented the bill.
Brian Garrett, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Petersen moved to pass SB0220 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Chair Burton moved to saunter.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to cease to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 9-1-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
5.H.B. 558 Elections Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
Vice Chair Petersen assumed the chair.
Robert Axson, Chair, Utah Republican Party, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lori Cartwright, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Troy Walker, Mayor of Draper City, representing League of Cities and Towns, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Executive Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Helen Moser, League of Women Voters, spoke in opposition to the vote.
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to replace HB0558 with HB0558S01.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to hold HB0558S01.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass HB0558S01 out favorably.
Rep. MacPherson withdrew the motion.
Rep. Stoddard's motion to hold HB0558S01passed with a vote 7-3-2.
Yeas - 7Nays- 3Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. Maloy assumed the chair.
6.H.B. 361 Elections Office Oversight Amendments(Shepherd, L.)
Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill with the assistance of Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lt. Governor's Office.
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to replace HB0361 with HB0361S03.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. M. Petersen
MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to pass HB0361S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. M. Petersen
MOTION:Rep. Fiefia moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. M. Petersen
Acting Chair Maloy adjourned the meeting at 6:16 PM.