MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Todd Weiler, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Calvin R. Musselman
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher

Members Absent:
Sen. Luz Escamilla

Staff Present:
Taylor Calabrese, Policy Analyst
An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Fillmore called the meeting to order at 2:18 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
1.H.J.R. 26 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence to Address Machine-Generated Evidence(Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa Ballard presented the bill with the assistance of Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors and Public Attorneys (SWAP).
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HJR026 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
2.H.B. 116 Criminal Fines Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
Felix Espinoza, Utah for Rational Sex Offense Laws, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass HB0116 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
3.1st Sub. H.B. 295 Overdose Amendments(Moss, C.)
HB 295 Summary
Rep. Carol Moss presented the bill, and provided a handout.
Carl Hollan spoke in support of the bill.
Mark Moffat, Utah Defense Attorney Association, spoke in support of the bill.
Adam Peterson, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Evan Done, Advocacy and Public Policy Director, USARA, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0295S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Chair Fillmore recognized Rep. Moss for her work in the Legislature, and wished her a happy retirement.
4.H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties(Okerlund, C.)
Rep. Clinton Okerlund turned the time over to Steve Hiatt, Humane World for Animals, to explain the bill.
Terry Camp, Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0341 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
5.1st Sub. H.B. 370 Sex Offender Oversight Amendments(Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee presented the bill with the assistance of Devon Kurtz, Policy Director, Cicero Institute.
Felix Espinoza spoke in opposition to the bill.
Justin Elwood, resident, spoke in support of the bill.
Kyle Arcurio, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sen. Musselman assumed the chair.
Arik Jeppsen, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Adam Peterson spoke in opposition to the bill.
Joffrey Mehr, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Heather Richey, resident, spoke in support of the bill.
Chair Weiler assumed the chair.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to amend HB0370S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 348 through 359 :  Line 348 through 359
348349350351352353354355356357358359

2 .        Line 519 through 526 :  Line 519 through 526
519520521522523524525526

3 .        Line 543 through 564 :  Line 543 through 564
543544545546547548549550551552553554555556557558559560561562563564

4 .        Line 568 through 576 :  Line 568 through 576
568569570571572573574575576

5 .        Line 710 through 716 :  Line 710 through 716
710711712713714715716
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass HB0370S01 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
6.5th Sub. H.B. 372 Child Welfare Changes(Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Lisonbee presented the bill.
Erin Jemison, Director of Public Policy, Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.
Heather Richey spoke in support of the bill.
Lisa Lokken, court-appointed attorney, spoke in support of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass HB0372S05 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
7.1st Sub. H.B. 495 Capital Felony Case Amendments(Pierucci, C.)
HB495 and HJR28 Analysis
Rep. Candice Pierucci presented the bill with the assistance of William Hains, Deputy Division Director, Criminal Appeals, Office of the Attorney General.
Lindsey Layer, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender District of Utah (FPDDU), spoke in opposition to the bill.
Megan Barnes, Assistant Federal Public Defender, FPDDU, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Eric Zuckerman, Assistant Federal Public Defender, FPDDU, spoke in opposition to the bill
Maryann Christensen spoke in support of the bill.
Carl Hollan spoke in support of the bill.
Mark Moffat spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace HB0495S01 with HB0495S02.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0495S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
8.1st Sub. H.J.R. 28 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Related to Capital Felony Cases(Pierucci, C.)
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HJR028S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. S. Pitcher
9.2nd Sub. H.B. 536 Criminal Conduct on Public Lands Amendments(Barlow, S.)
Rep. Stewart Barlow presented the bill. Wyatt Bubak, Deputy Chief, Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement, was available to answer questions.
Steve Burton, Utah Defense Attorney Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to amend HB0536S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 148 through 154 :  Line 148 through 154
148149150151152153154
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass HB0536S02 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. Brammer noted this is Rep. Barlow's last bill presentation, and wished him well as he retires from the Legislature.
10.1st Sub. H.B. 555 Changes to Family Law Actions(Miller, T.)
HB 555 Bill Analysis
Rep. Tracy Miller presented the bill with the assistance of Catherine Dutton, resident. A handout was provided.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to amend HB0555S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 51 through 57 :  Line 51 through 57
51525354555657
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
Maria Sherry, resident, spoke support of the bill.
Candice Smith, resident, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to pass HB0555S01 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Musselman
Sen. S. Pitcher
Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.