MINUTES OF THE
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, March 2, 2026 • 8:10 a.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Derrin R. Owens

Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Staff Present:
Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst
Cassie Sudekum, 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 Kwan called the meeting to order at 08:11 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to approve the minutes from the February 26, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 327 Occupational Licensing Amendments(Johnson, J.)
Sen. Johnson presented the bill.
Jon England, Policy Analyst, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to pass SB0327 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.2nd Sub. H.B. 507 State Coordination of Regional and Local Economic Development Projects Amendments(Roberts, C.)
Rep. Calvin Roberts presented the bill.
Lincoln Shurtz, Utah Association of Counties, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cameron Diehl, Executive Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0507S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 379 Child Care Provider Food Preparation Amendments(Miller, T.)
Rep. Tracy Miller presented the bill.
Audry Wood, Lobbyist, Utah Private Child Care Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jody Zabriskie, Child Care Provider Licensing Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0379S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study(Thompson, J.)
Rep. Jason Thompson presented the bill.
Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation, Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cameron Diehl, Executive Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0520 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.3rd Sub. H.B. 527 Pharmacy Pricing Amendments(Hall, K.)
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill with the assistance of Sheldon Birch, owner, Birch Family Pharmacy.
Eric Cannon, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager, Select Health, spoke to the bill.
Kory Holdaway, Lobbyist, Utah Public Employees Association (UPEA), spoke to the bill.
Dave Davis, President, Utah Retail Merchants Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Adam Jones, Executive Director, Utah Pharmacy Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Marian Furst, Utah Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC), spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Baker, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Express Scripts, PHP, spoke in opposition to the bill.
LuGina Mendez-Harper, Pharmacist, Prime Therapeutics, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to pass HB0527S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Acting Chair Kwan adjourned the meeting at 09:49 AM.