MINUTES OF THE
JUDICIARY INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • 8:30 a.m. • 20 House Building


Members Present:
Sen. Todd Weiler, Chair
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Stephanie Gricius
Rep. Anthony E. Loubet
Rep. A. Cory Maloy
Rep. Verona Mauga
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller
Rep. Grant Pace
Rep. Jason E. Thompson

Members Absent:
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore

Staff Present:
Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst
Jacqueline Carlton, Senior Associate General Counsel
Paige Nelson, Associate General Counsel
Naomi Garrow, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Weiler called the meeting to order at 8:42 a.m.
1.Committee Business
1 - Open and Public Meetings Act (Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel)
1 - May 2026 Detailed Agenda
1 - 2026 Judiciary Interim Committee Required Reports (OLRGC)
Committee and staff introductions.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Rep. J. Thompson
Sen. T. Weiler
Rep. N. Abbott
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, spoke to the committee about the Open and Public Meetings Act and gave an overview of the required reports due to the Judiciary Interim Committee.
2.Judiciary Interim Committee 2026 Study Items
2 - Judiciary Interim Committee 2026 Study Items (OLRGC)
Jonathan Adams presented the 2026 study item list that was approved during the April 16, 2026, Legislative Management Committee meeting.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to add Judicial Nominating Procedure to the committee's study items list.
Discussion to the motion.
Rep. Lisonbee's motion to add Judicial Nominating Procedure to the committee's study items listpassed with a vote 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Abbott moved to add Speedy Trials to the committee's study items list.
Discussion to the motion.
Rep. Abbott's motion to add Speedy Trials to the committee's study items listpassed with a vote 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to adopt the 2026 Judciary Interim Committee study items list as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. J. Thompson
Jonathan Adams spoke to the committee about a possible motion to authorize the chairs to open committee bill files independently.
Committee discussion.
MOTION:Rep. Abbott moved to limit the authority to open bill files to the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. J. Thompson
3.Pretrial Release
5 - H.B. 593 S1 "Bail Amendments" Bill Analysis (OLRGC)
Rep. MacPherson presented on pretrial release and answered questions from the committee.
Chair Weiler opened public comment.
Mark Moffat, Defense Lawyers Association, provided public comment and answered a question from the committee.
Ryan Robinson, Policy Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors (SWAP), provided public comment.
Former Rep. Tyler Clancy, State Homeless Coordinator, provided public comment.
Seth Stewart, American Fork Constituent, provided public comment.
Chair closed public comment.
Rep. MacPherson continued answering questions from the committee.
4.Appellate Decisions that Call for Legislative Action
3 - Calls for Legislative Action (OLRGC)
Jacqueline Carlton, Senior Associate General Counsel, OLRGC, presented Case #1 and answered questions from the committee.
Jacqueline Carlton continued with Case #2 and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to open a bill file to explore protective orders and stalking injunctions more in depth.
Discussion to the motion.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Abbott made a substitute motion to address the issues raised in Case #2, Ream V. Ream, 2025, UT App 105, and the Kouri Richins case as they relate to protective orders and stalking injunctions.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. J. Thompson
Jacqueline Carlton continued with Case #3 and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to refer Case #3's issue regarding procurement policy to the Government Operations Interim Committee.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Weiler made comments.
5.Sunset Review of the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board
4 - Statutory Guidelines for Sunset Reviews (OLRGC)
4 - Sunset Review of the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board (OLRGC)
Jonathan Adams introduced the sunset of the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board.
Dr. Michele Leslie, Director, and Jana Fulmer, Chair, Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board presented on the sunset review.
6.Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. N. Abbott
Rep. C. Acton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. S. Gricius
Rep. A. Loubet
Rep. V. Mauga
Rep. G. Miller
Rep. G. Pace
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. A. Maloy
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m.