MINUTES OF THE
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 3, 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 04:00 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Buss moved to approve the minutes from March 2, 2026.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
1.3rd Sub. H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications(Burton, J.)
Rep. Jefferson Burton presented the bill.
HB 479 Handout Final.pdf
HB 479.pdf
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to go to the next item on the agenda.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
2.3rd Sub. H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications(Loubet, A.)
Rep. Anthony Loubet presented the bill.
Jeff Cardon, attorney, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0176S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
3.3rd Sub. H.B. 457 County Growth Planning and Annexation Amendments(Dunnigan, J.)
Rep. James Dunnigan presented the bill with the assistance of Stephanie Russell, Economic Development Director, Weber County.
H.B. 457.pdf
Jared Tingey, Legal Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace HB0457S03 with HB0457S05.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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass HB0457S05 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Vickers
4.1st Sub. H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments(Okerlund, C.)
Rep. Clinton Okerlund presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to replace HB0409S01 with HB0409S02.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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Vickers
Delane England, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass HB0409S02 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. S. Sandall
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. E. Vickers
5.1st Sub. H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications(Okerlund, C.)
Rep. Clinton Okerlund presented the bill with the assistance of Joel Williams, Director, Utah Division of Water Resources.
H.B. 328.pdf
Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns.
Jill Flygare, Chief Operating Officer, Utah Water Waste, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ken Robinson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Paxman, General Manager/CEO, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelly Good, Director, Community Engagement, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kirk Harris, Turf Farmer, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Easton Harris, Producer, Turf and Landscape Materials, spoke to the bill.
Hannah Freeze, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner, spoke in favor to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Buss moved to pass HB0328S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. J. Plumb
6.3rd Sub. H.B. 361 Elections Provisions Amendments(Shepherd, L.)
Rep. Lisa Shepherd presented the bill with the assistance of Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lt. Governor's Office.
H.B. 361 4th Sub.pdf
Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor, County Clerks Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Seth Stewart, resident, spoke to the bill.
Delane England, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace HB0361S03 with HB0361S04.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0361S04 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
7.1st Sub. H.B. 513 Attorney General Funding Amendments(Peterson, V.)
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0513S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
8.2nd Sub. H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications(Peterson, V.)
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to replace HB0545S02 with HB0545S03.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Casey Hill, Lobbyist, Energy Solutions, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to pass HB0545S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. M. McKell
9.2nd Sub. H.B. 439 Water Planning Amendments(Shallenberger, D.)
Rep. David Shallenberger presented the bill with the assistance of Blake Bingham, Deputy State Engineer, Deputy Director, Utah Division of Water Rights.
MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to amend HB0439S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 565 through 585 :  Line 565 through 585
565566567571573575576580582584585

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Pamela Juliano, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to pass HB0439S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Blouin moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. E. Buss
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. S. Sandall
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. M. McKell
Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 5:21 PM.
NOTE: 02nd Substitute H.B. 0501 was not discussed in the meeting.