MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 27, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 30 House Building


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

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 08:09 AM.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-6.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. D. Welton
1.1st Sub. S.B. 153 Voter Registration Records Amendments(Johnson, J.)
Sen. John Johnson presented the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ronald Mortensen, PhD, spoke to the bill.
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, representing the Clerks of the State of Utah, spoke to the bill.
Jason Jolley, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to replace SB0153S01 with SB0153S03.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to pass SB0153S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-3-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 3Abs- 4
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.H.B. 583 Initiative and Referenda Signature Amendments(Stoddard, A.)
Rep. Andrew Stoddard presented the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brian McKenzie, Davis County Clerk, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to hold HB0583 with the intent of making it an interim study item.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. A. Stoddard
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
3.3rd Sub. S.B. 194 Election Modifications(McKell, M.)
Sen. Michael McKell presented the bill.
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor, Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee, representing the Clerks and the Utah Association of Counties, spoke to the bill.
Amaya Mueller, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace SB0194S03 with SB0194S04.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-7.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0194S04 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-7.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Thomas Vaughn, Managing Associate General Counsel, Legislative Research and General Counsel, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Maloy moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-7.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Burton
Rep. P. Cutler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. D. Fiefia
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. A. Stoddard
Chair Burton adjourned the meeting at 09:12 AM.