| Members Present: Sen. Keven J. Stratton, Senate Chair Rep. Thomas W. Peterson, House Chair Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Don L. Ipson Sen. Michael K. McKell Sen. Jen Plumb Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Hoang Nguyen Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Casey Snider Cody Allred Steven Clyde Nathan Daugs Wade Garrett Jay Mark Humphrey | Michael D. Larson Warren Peterson Members Absent: President J. Stuart Adams Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Michael L. Kohler Scott Paxman Zach Renstrom Gene Shawcroft David Ure 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 Stratton called the meeting to order at 8:08 a.m. |
| 1.Commission Business |
| The commission members introduced themselves. |
| Charley Hart announced site visit plans for the commission. |
| MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2026, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-16. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 16 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. D. Ipson Sen. M. McKell Rep. H. Nguyen Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. J. Plumb | Sen. J. Adams C. Allred Rep. B. Bolinder S. Clyde N. Daugs W. Garrett J. Humphrey Rep. M. Kohler M. Larson S. Paxman W. Peterson Z. Renstrom G. Shawcroft Rep. C. Snider Sen. K. Stratton D. Ure |
| 1 - Open and Public Meetings Act Handout |
| Julie Humberstone provided an overview of the Open and Public Meetings Act. |
| 2.Water Agent Update |
| Joel Ferry, Water Agent and Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources, provided an update and answered questions from the commission. |
| 3.2026 General Session Bills |
| 3 - 2026 General Session Passed Bills |
| Julie Humberstone provided an overview of legislation passed during the 2026 General Session that relate to water. |
| 4.State Water Resources and Anticipated Needs |
| 4a - Division of Water Resources Presentation |
| Laura Haskell, Drought Coordinator, Division of Water Resources, presented information about water supply in Utah. |
| 4c - Great Salt Lake Commission Presentation |
| Brian Steed, Commissioner, Great Salt Lake, presented information about water supply in the Great Salt Lake and answered questions from the commission. |
| 4b - Division of Water Rights Presentation |
| Teresa Wilhelmsen, State Engineer and Director, Division of Water Rights, presented information about water supply and answered questions from the commission. |
| 5.Water Entity Updates |
| 5 - Department of Agriculture and Food Public Water Optimization Dashboard |
| Jim Bowcutt, Director of the Conservation Division, Department of Agriculture and Food, provided an update from the Agricultural Water Optimization Dashboard. |
| Shalaine DeBernardi, Assistant Director, Division of Water Resources, provided an update from the division and answered questions from the commission. |
| Teresa Wilhelmson provided an update from the division and answered questions from the commission. |
| Candice Hasenyager, Director, Division of Water Quality, provided an update from the division and answered questions from the commission. |
| Nathan Lunstad, Director, Division of Drinking Water, provided an update from the division and answered questions from the commission. |
| Jamie Barnes, Director, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands and Ben Stireman, Deputy Director, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, provided an update from the division and answered questions from the commission. |
| Brian Steed and Hannah Freeze, Deputy Commissioner, Great Salt Lake, provided an update from the Great Salt Lake Commission and answered questions from the commission. |
| Bart Forsyth, Policy Advisor, Utah Water Ways, provided an update from the agency and answered questions from the commission. |
| 5 - Colorado River Authority Update |
| Marc Stilson, Principal Engineer, Colorado River Authority of Utah, provided an update from the agency. |
| 6.Adjourn |
| MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-20. | |||
| Yeas - 5 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 20 | |
| Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. K. Stratton | Sen. J. Adams Rep. C. Albrecht C. Allred Rep. B. Bolinder S. Clyde N. Daugs W. Garrett J. Humphrey Sen. D. Ipson Rep. M. Kohler M. Larson Sen. M. McKell Rep. H. Nguyen S. Paxman Rep. T. Peterson W. Peterson Z. Renstrom G. Shawcroft Rep. C. Snider D. Ure |
| Chair Stratton adjourned the meeting at 11:04 a.m. |