| Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair Sen. Karen Kwan Sen. Jerry W Stevenson Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Paul A. Cutler Rep. James A. Dunnigan Rep. Doug Fiefia Rep. Jake Fitisemanu Rep. Leah Hansen Rep. Sahara Hayes Rep. Colin W. Jack |
Rep. Jackie Larson Rep. Carol S. Moss Rep. David Shallenberger Rep. Troy Shelley Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher Members Absent: Sen. Michael K. McKell Staff Present: Sivan Nizan, Policy Analyst Rhonda Bailey, Associate General Counsel Zoe Adams, 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. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| Chair Hawkins called the meeting to order at 08:04 a.m. |
| MOTION:Sen. Kwan moved to approve the minutes from the June 17, 2026, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. L. Hansen Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Rep. J. Larson Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. D. Shallenberger Sen. E. Vickers |
Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Hayes Sen. M. McKell Rep. T. Shelley Sen. J. Stevenson Rep. J. Teuscher |
| 2.Data Center Policy |
| 2 - Data Center Presentation (Office of Energy Development) |
| Jake Garfield, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Development provided an overview of data centers, electricity rates, energy consumption, protecting airsheds and water resources, and answered committee questions. |
| Tim Davis, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Quality answered questions from the committee regarding environmental permitting, on-site energy generation, and job creation from data centers. |
| 2 - Data Center Presentation (Department of Environmental Quality) |
| 2 - Data Center Handout (DEQ) |
| Tim Davis provided an overview of data center development process, local government and environmental permitting requirements and oversight, and implications on air and water quality, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 2 - Data Center Initiatives Presentation (Governor's Office of Economic Development) |
| Lance Soffe, Senior Vice President of Economic Growth, Governor's Office of Economic Development provided an overview of the Office of Economic Development's role in the data center development process, including available incentives, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 2 - Data Center Presentation (University of Southern California) |
| 2 - Data Center Entry and US Electricity Prices (University of Southern California) |
| Dr. Shon Hiatt, Associate Professor, University of Southern California, provided an overview of data center growth, policy choices facing Utah and other states, definitions, economic impacts, electricity prices, and incentives, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 2 - Data Center Definition (proposed) |
| Rep. Cutler spoke on the proposed definition of data centers and answered questions from the committee. |
| 3.Economic Opportunity Zones |
| 5 - Opportunity Zones Presentation (GOED) |
| Lance Soffe provided an overview on identifying recommended opportunity zones and answered questions from the committee. |
| 4.Higher Education Innovation |
| 3 - HB 373 Presentation (Utah System of Higher Education) |
| Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Higher Education, presented an update on H.B. 373 "Higher Education Innovation" (2026 General Session), introduced Katie Mazzie, Associate Commissioner of Government and Trustee Relations, and answered questions from the committee. |
| 5.Data Privacy |
| 4 - Data Privacy Presentation (Office of Data Privacy) |
| Christopher Bramwell, Chief Privacy Officer, Director, Office of Data Privacy provided an overview of the duties of the office and relevance in relation to specific geo location and answered questions from the committee. |
| 4 - Utah Consumer Data Privacy Act Presentation (Division of Consumer Protection) |
| Katie Hass, Director, Division of Consumer Protection provided an overview of the Division of Consumer Protection, spoke on the consumer privacy law and answered questions from the committee. |
| MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-10. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 10 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. L. Hansen Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. C. Jack Sen. A. Millner Rep. D. Shallenberger Rep. T. Shelley |
Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Hayes Sen. K. Kwan Rep. J. Larson Sen. M. McKell Rep. C. Moss Sen. J. Stevenson Rep. J. Teuscher Sen. E. Vickers |
| Chair Hawkins adjourned the meeting at 11:06 a.m. |