| Members Present: Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair Rep. Mark A. Strong, Vice Chair Rep. Melissa G. Ballard Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn Rep. Katy Hall Rep. Sandra Hollins Rep. Trevor Lee Rep. Lisa Shepherd | Rep. Andrew Stoddard Rep. Stephen L. Whyte Members Absent: Rep. Val L. Peterson Staff Present: Lacey Johnson, Policy Analyst An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Strong called the meeting to order at 8:13 a.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to approve the minutes for the February 26, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. V. Peterson |
| 1.H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments(Eliason, S.) |
| HB 596 Handout |
| Rep. Eliason presented the bill, and provided a handout. |
| Molly Wheeler, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, answered questions from the committee. |
| Molly Wheeler spoke to the bill. |
| Pat Fleming, Policy Review Committee Chair, Utah Behavioral Commission, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Shari Wood, Utah Homeless Services Board, spoke to the bill. |
| Laurie Hopkins, Executive Director, Shelter the Homeless, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Sarah Nielson, Director of Communications, The Road Home, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Shawn Guzman, Government Affairs Director, City of St. George, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Nick Coleman, Interim State Homelessness Coordinator, spoke to the bill. |
| Devon Kurtz, Public Safety Policy Director, Cicero Institute, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Damon Talbot, Operations Director, Unsheltered Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Merinda Cutler, Executive Director, Unsheltered Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to replace HB0596 with HB0596S01.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Stoddard |
| MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to amend HB0596S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
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Amendment 1
993994995996997998999 |
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Stoddard |
| MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass HB0596S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Stoddard |
| 2.1st Sub. S.B. 226 Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Amendments(Millner, A.) |
| Sen. Millner presented the bill with the assistance of Dana Zinz, victim advocate. |
| Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors and Public Attorneys, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Beau Mason, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to replace SB0226S01 with SB0226S02.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. V. Peterson Rep. R. Wilcox |
| MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to pass SB0226S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. R. Wilcox |
| 3.1st Sub. S.B. 128 Public Alert Amendments(Plumb, J.) |
| Sen. Plumb presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Hollins moved to pass SB0226S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. K. Hall Rep. V. Peterson Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. R. Wilcox |
| 4.H.B. 588 Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Amendments(Romero, A.) |
| Rep. Romero presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass HB0588 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. K. Hall Rep. V. Peterson Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. R. Wilcox |
| MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. K. Hall Rep. V. Peterson Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. R. Wilcox |
| Chair Strong adjourned the meeting at 9:14 a.m. |