MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 26, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, Chair
Rep. Tyler Clancy, Vice Chair
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Stephanie Gricius
Rep. Jon Hawkins
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. Verona Mauga
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Jason E. Thompson

Staff Present:
Jonathan Adams, 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.

Acting Chair Gricius called the meeting to order at 4:12 PM.
MOTION:Rep. Hawkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 25, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
1.1st Sub. S.B. 233 Judicial Performance Evaluation Amendments(Brammer, B.)
Sen. Brady Brammer presented the bill.
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lori Cartwright, Director, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Clancy moved to pass SB0233S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Vice Chair Clancy assumed the chair.
2.1st Sub. S.B. 92 Prosecution Amendments(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Chris Wilson with assistance from April Turner, resident, and Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors, presented the bill.
Dan Strong, Director, Utah Sentencing Commission, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalane England, Utah Eagle Forum and United Women's Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marlesse Jones, Director, Victim Services Commission, spoke in favor of the bill.
Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass SB0092S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
3.1st Sub. S.B. 124 Child Welfare Modifications(Escamilla, L.)
SB 124 Child Welfare Modifications Handout
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
Natalie Clark, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maria Evans, Utah PTA, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marlesse Jones, Director, Victim Services Commission, spoke in favor of the bill.
Olivia Dawn, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Aimee Winder Newton, Director, Utah Office of Families, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalane England, Utah Eagle Forum and United Women's Forum, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tonya Myrup, Director, Division of Child and Family Services, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jennifer Stout, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill.
Martin Munoz, Kids Count Director, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Stroup, Legislative Chair, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tiana McCall, National Association of Social Workers Utah Chapter, spoke in favor of the bill.
Teena Horlacher, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Acton moved to amend SB0124S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 718 through 727 :  Line 718 through 727
718719720721722723724725726727

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. K. Lisonbee
MOTION:Rep. Acton moved to pass SB0124S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-4-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 4Abs- 2
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. K. Lisonbee
4.S.B. 12 Alternative Dispute Resolution Sunset Amendments(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass SB0012 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. N. Abbott
5.1st Sub. H.B. 183 Sex Designation Amendments(Lee, T.)
Rep. Auxier with assistance from David Boettger, pediatrician, presented the bill.
Rep. Lisonbee raised a point of order.
David Torrey, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dalane England, Utah Eagle Forum and United Women's Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zee Kilpack, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Anthony Tenney, Attorney, Scholnick Thorne Holland, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mors Smith, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rose Hart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Brynn Mikesell, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Astrid Simiskey, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Hayden Coccaro, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rep. Auxier raised a point of order.
Kylie Hansen, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
April Gardner, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ryan Beesley, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cael Crosby, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
David Bell, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Abbott moved to replace HB0183S01 with HB0183S02.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-0.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Chair Clancy moved to amend HB0183S02 with Amendment #1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 359 through 365 :  Line 359 through 365
359360361362363364365

Chair Lisonbee assumed the chair.
The motion to amend HB0183S02 with Amendment #1passed with a vote 11-0-0.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Vice Chair Clancy resumed the chair.
MOTION:Rep. Gricius moved to pass HB0183S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-3-0.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 0
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-0.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 0
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. J. Hawkins
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Clancy adjourned the meeting at 6:09 PM.