| Members Present: Sen. Keven J. Stratton, Chair Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Scott D. Sandall Rep. John Arthur Rep. Walt Brooks Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Logan J. Monson Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Rex P. Shipp | Rep. Casey Snider Rep. R. Neil Walter Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Michael L. Kohler Speaker Mike Schultz Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Alyssa Castor, Administrative Assistant |
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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 Albrecht called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. R. Walter | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. K. Stratton Rep. C. Watkins |
| The committee members introduced themselves. |
| Charley Hart provided information about committee materials. |
| 1 - Open and Public Meetings Act Handout |
| Julie Humberstone provided information about the Open and Public Meetings Act. |
| Charley Hart announced a tentative site visit. |
| 1 - Changes to Committee Bill Files |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to give the chairs permission to open committee bill files.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Walter Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider |
| 1 - 2026 General Session Passed Bills |
| 1 - 2026 Required Reports |
| Sen. Stratton assumed the chair. |
| 2.Adoption of Study Items |
| 2 - 2026 Proposed Study Items |
| Charley Hart introduced the 2026 interim study items approved by the Legislative Management Committee. |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to add a study item, "assessing impacts from data center development in the state."The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Walter |
| Discussion to the motion. |
| Rep. Owens' underlying motionpassed with a vote 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Walter |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to include other forms of energy to the 2026 interim study item list. |
| Sen. Hinkins withdrew his motion. |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to approve the 2026 interim study item list, as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Sen. N. Blouin Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Walter |
| 3.State Water Supply and Drought Response |
| 3 - State Water Supply and Drought Response Presentation |
| Joel Williams, Director, Division of Water Resources and Laura Haskell, Drought Coordinator, Division of Water Resources, presented an update on water conditions, drought response planning, and strategy, and answered questions from the committee. |
| Scott Paxman, General Manager, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, and Jacob Young, General Manager, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, presented an update on water conditions, drought response planning, and strategy, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 4.Long-Term Water Infrastructure Funding |
| 4 - Long-Term Water Infrastructure Funding Presentation |
| Joel Williams and Shalaine DeBernardi, Assistant Director, Division of Water Resources, presented information on long-term water infrastructure funding needs and answered questions from the committee. |
| 4 - Prepare60's Statewide Water Infrastructure Plan |
| Scott Paxman and Jacob Young presented information on long-term water infrastructure funding needs and answered questions from the committee. |
| Tim Davis, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Quality, provided input on water infrastructure. |
| 5.Unified Water Infrastructure Plan |
| 5 - Unified Water Infrastructure Plan |
| 5 - Unified Water Infrastructure Plan Presentation |
| 5 - Unified Water Infrastructure Plan Handout |
| Joel Williams and Shalaine DeBernardi presented the unified water infrastructure plan from the Water Development Coordinating Council. |
| 6.Outdoor Recreation Long-Term Planning |
| 6 - Outdoor Recreation Long-Term Planning Presentation |
| Jason Curry, Director, Division of Outdoor Recreation, presented information on the Outdoor Recreation Initiative and the division's work in planning, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 7.Sunset Review: Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Grant Program |
| 7-10 - Sunset Assignments |
| 7-10 - Sunset Presentation |
| 7-10 - Sunset Review Summary |
| Charley Hart presented information on the sunset review for the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Grant Program. |
| 8.Sunset Review: Utah Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Advisory Committee |
| Ryan Williams presented information on the sunset review for the Utah Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Advisory Committee. |
| 9.Sunset Review: Great Salt Lake Advisory Council |
| Patricia Owen presented information on the sunset review for the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council. |
| 10.Sunset Review: Resource Development Coordinating Committee |
| Julie Humberstone presented information on the sunset review for the Resource Development Coordinating Committee. |
| Redge Johnson, Director, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, provided input on the Resource Development Coordinating Committee. |
| Tim Hawkes, Chair, Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, provided input on the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council. |
| Jason Curry provided input on the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Advisory Committee and the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Grant Program. |
| The committee discussed the proposed sunset reviews. |
| 11.Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Sandall moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Arthur Sen. N. Blouin Rep. W. Brooks Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. L. Monson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Sen. K. Stratton Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. S. Chew Rep. M. Kohler Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Rep. R. Walter |
| Chair Stratton adjourned the meeting at 10:57 a.m. |