MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 26, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Emily Buss
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Evan J. Vickers

Staff Present:
Devon Schechinger, Policy Analyst
Zoe Adams, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Winterton called the meeting to order at 04:15 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to approve the minutes from February 25, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
1.S.B. 321 Municipal Election Amendments(McCay, D.)
Sen. Daniel McCay presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass SB0321 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
2.S.B. 324 Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Program(Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill.
Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill.
Michael Parker, Executive Director, City Strong Foundation, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace SB0324 with SB0324S01.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass SB0324S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 416 Firefighter Cancer Amendments(Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill with the assistance of Clint Smith, Chief, Draper City, Utah State Fire Chiefs Association.
HB416 S02 Firefighter Cancer Amendments.pdf
Steve Hansen, CEO, Utah Local Governments Trust, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jack Tidrow, President, Professional Fire Fighter of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeremy Craft, Chief, Lehi Fire, Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0416S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
4.3rd Sub. H.B. 147 Government Form Submission Amendments(Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill.
HB147S03 Government Form Submission Amendments.pdf
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0147S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
5.H.B. 396 Public Project Subcontractor Amendments(Burton, J.)
Rep. Jefferson Burton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace HB0396 with HB0396S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Tyler Purcell, Vice President, Pete King Corp., spoke in favor of the bill.
Calvin Fors, Business Representative, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, spoke in favor of the bill.
David Spatafore, lobbyist, spoke in favor of the bill.
H.B. 396 Lobbyist Handout.pdf
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0396S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
6.3rd Sub. H.B. 391 Vacancy Replacement Amendments(Shepherd, L.)
Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass HB0391S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
7.H.J.R. 23 Joint Rules Resolution - Policy Development and Impact(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HJR023 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. J. Plumb
8.1st Sub. H.B. 420 Municipal Office Vacancy Modifications(Stoddard, A.)
Rep. Andrew Stoddard presented the bill with the assistance of Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0420S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
MOTION:Sen. Buss moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Plumb
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 5:31 PM.
NOTE: 04th Substitute H.B. 0197 was not discussed in the meeting.