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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday,
February 27, 2026
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4:00 p.m.
•
215 Senate Building
Members Present:
Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
| Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
Staff Present:
Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst
Cassie Sudekum, 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 Owens called the meeting to order at 04:24 PM. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 26, 2026 meeting.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-0-3.
|
|
| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| 1.1st Sub. H.B. 168 Hunting and Fishing Amendments(Shipp, R.P.) |
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| Rep. Rex Shipp presented the bill with the assistance of Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Utah Department of Natural Resources. |
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| Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Utah Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Matt Anderson, Director, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Justin Shannon, Deputy Director, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Sierra Nelson, Vice Chair, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Tyler Miller, Director, Utah Outfitter and Guide Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to amend HB0168S01 with Senate Amendment #1.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
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Amendment 1
1
.
Line 603 through 609
:
Line 603 through 609
603604605606607608609
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| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. K. Grover
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| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass HB0168S01 as amended out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
7-0-0.
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|
| Yeas -
7 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
0 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
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| 2.1st Sub. H.B. 326 Animal Depredation Amendments(Shipp, R.P.) |
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| Rep. Rex Shipp presented the bill with the assistance of Tory Forrest, Deputy Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. |
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| Justin Shannon, Deputy Director, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Matt Anderson, Director, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Michael Larson, President, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Wade Garrett, Utah Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Utah Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Sierra Nelson, Executive Director, Utah Wool Growers Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Bret Selman, Utah Wool Growers, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0326S01 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
5-0-2.
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|
| Yeas -
5 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
| | Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
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| 3.2nd Sub. H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments(Owens, D.) |
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| Rep. Doug Owens presented the bill. |
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| Matt Anderson, Director, Utah Sportsmen's Caucus, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Jack Ray, Utah Waterfowl Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Soren Simonsen, Executive Director, Jordan River Commission, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Nathan Schwebach, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0509S02 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-1-2.
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| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
2 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
| Sen. S. Sandall
| Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
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| 4.2nd Sub. H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments(MacPherson, M.) |
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| Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost presented the bill with the assistance of Alex Garcia, Deputy Chief, Salt Lake City Police Department and Brandon Forsyth, Director of the Specialized Products and Lab Services Division, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. |
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| Dave Davis, President, Utah Retail Merchants, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Walter Plumb, Drug Safe Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Art Brown, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Gary Thorup, Utah Petroleum Marketers and Retailers Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Justin Ariola, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Heide Baxley, Chair, Utah Prevention Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0385S02 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
6-0-1.
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|
| Yeas -
6 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
1 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. S. Sandall
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| 5.H.B. 437 Environmental Permitting Amendments(Shallenberger, D.) |
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| Rep. David Shallenberger presented the bill with the assistance of Tim Davis, Executive Director, Utah Department of Environmental Quality. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Stratton moved to pass HB0437 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
3-1-3.
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|
| Yeas -
3 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| 6.H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments(Mauga, V.) |
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| Rep. Verona Mauga presented the bill. |
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| Brett Robinson, Chief Policy Advisor, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| Trevor Dyches, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0086 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-0-3.
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|
| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| 7.1st Sub. H.B. 534 Firearm Immunity Amendments(Ivory, K.) |
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| Rep. Ken Ivory presented the bill. |
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| Jenny Hoppie, Utah Association for Justice, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
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| Trevor Dyches, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0534S01 out favorably.The motion
passed
with a vote of
3-1-3.
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| Yeas -
3 | Nays-
1 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
| Sen. N. Blouin
| Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
4-0-3.
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|
| Yeas -
4 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
3 | |
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. D. Owens
Sen. K. Stratton
| | Sen. K. Grover
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Stevenson
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| Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 06:15 PM. |
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