MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ENERGY STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 25, 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. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Troy Shelley
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Walt Brooks

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 Jack called the meeting to order at 4:19 PM.
1.2nd Sub. S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments(McKell, M.)
Sen. Mike McKell presented the bill.
Wade Garrett, Vice President, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill.
Willis LaFevre, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to replace SB0021S02 with SB0021S03.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. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend SB0021S03 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 66 :  Line 66
6667 697071727374757677

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass SB0021S03 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. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Snider
Vice Chair Peterson assumed the chair.
2.H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments(Jack, C.)
HB0591 Public Nuisance Law Information
Rep. Jack with assistance from Derek Brown, Utah Attorney General, and Roger Gibboni, US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, presented the bill.
Jimmy McKee, resident, spoke to the bill.
Jennie Hoppie, Attorney, Utah Association of Justice, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tammy Pearson, Beaver County Commissioner, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to pass HB0591 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-1-2.
Yeas - 9Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Snider
3.H.B. 549 Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments(Shallenberger, D.)
Rep. David Shallenberger presented the bill.
Chair Jack assumed the chair.
Clay Monroe, Director of Customer Solutions, Rocky Mountain Power, spoke to the bill.
Kevin Emerson, Director, Utah Clean Energy, spoke to the bill.
Glen Anderson, President, Glenanergy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jake DeMann, resident, spoke to the bill.
Michele Beck, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Dominguez moved to replace HB0549 with HB0549S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Dominguez moved to amend HB0549S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 6 through 12 :  Line 6 through 12
6789101112

2 .        Line 34 through 40 :  Line 34 through 40
34353637383940

3 .        Line 75 through 81 :  Line 75 through 81
75767778798081

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to pass HB0549S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-3.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Shelley moved to place HB0549S01 on the Consent Calendar.
After committee discussion, the motion to put HB0549S01 on the consent calendar was withdrawn.
4.1st Sub. H.B. 582 Asbestos Amendments(Peterson, T.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Bryce Bird, Director, Division of Air Quality (DEQ), spoke in favor of the bill.
Taz Biesinger, Lobbyist, Utah Home Builders Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass HB0582S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Snider
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to place HB0582S01 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. C. Snider
5.1st Sub. S.B. 223 Sales and Use Tax Exemptions Modifications(Vickers, E.)
Sen. Evan Vickers with assistance from Steve Young, Attorney, Holland and Hart, presented the bill.
Billy Hesterman, President, Utah Taxpayers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Moss moved to pass SB0223S01 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend SB0223S01 with Amendment #1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 463 through 469 :  Line 463 through 469
463464465466467468469

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Chair Jack moved to hold SB0223S01.
Rep. Peterson withdrew the motion to amend SB0223S01
Chair Jack's motion to hold SB0223S01passed with a vote 10-0-2.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. C. Snider
6.H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications(Burton, J.)
HB0479 Election Code Modifications Information
HB0479 Election Code Modifications Handout
HB0479 and Existing Code Handout
Rep. Jefferson Burton presented the bill.
Aaron Davidson, Utah County Clerk, spoke in favor of the bill.
Elita Thurber, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Teena Horlacher, State Central Committee member, Republicans for Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jimmy McKee, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Kristin Richey, Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lenise Peterman, Mayor, Helper City, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jan Eyring, Precinct Chair, Highland City, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Boyd, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jen Brown, President, Utah Citizens for the Constitution, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lee Perry, Box Elder County Commissioner, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Wendy Hart, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Russ Rampton, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
April Tingey spoke in opposition to the bill.
Helen Moser spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mary Urban spoke in opposition to the bill.
Norma Wills, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Snider moved to replace HB0479 with HB0479S02.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-1.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. W. Brooks
MOTION:Rep. Snider moved to pass HB0479S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-3-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 1
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-1.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. R. Dominguez
Rep. C. Jack
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. T. Peterson
Rep. T. Shelley
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Snider
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. W. Brooks
Chair Jack adjourned the meeting at 7:06 PM.
NOTE: 01st Substitute H.B. 0428 was not discussed in the meeting.