| Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair Sen. Karen Kwan Sen. Michael K. McKell Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Paul A. Cutler 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. Jerry W Stevenson Rep. James A. Dunnigan Rep. Doug Fiefia 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 Millner called the meeting to order at 08:36 a.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Hawkins moved to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2026, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. L. Hansen Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. C. Jack Sen. K. Kwan Sen. A. Millner Rep. T. Shelley Rep. J. Teuscher |
Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Hayes Rep. J. Larson Sen. M. McKell Rep. C. Moss Rep. D. Shallenberger Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers |
| 2.Office of the Legislative Auditor General |
| 2 - World Trade Center Utah Audit (OLAG) |
| 2 - Governor's Office of Economic Development Audit (OLAG) |
| 2 - GOED and WTC Utah Presentation (Office of the Legislative Auditor General) |
| Jesse Martinson, Audit Manager, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, introduced Kyle Pepp, Audit Staff, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, Jesse presented on the Performance Audit of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and the Performance Audit of the World Trade Center Utah, and answered committee questions. |
| Kyle Pepp provided an overview of the Governor's Office of Economic Development Audit, and how the Governor's Office of Economic Development can improve oversight on passthrough funding, industrial assistance account grants, budget, and answered committee questions. |
| Nick Varney, Senior Audit and Operations Supervisor, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, answered committee questions on Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (EDTIF). |
| Kyle Pepp provided an overview of the World Trade Center Utah Audit, spoke on the contract deliverables, how World Trade Center Utah can improve on performance measurement and complying with reporting, and answered committee questions. |
| 2 - Audit Response Slides (Governor's Office of Economic Development) |
| Jefferson Moss, Commissioner, Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), responded to the Performance Audit on GOED and how he made changes within the office starting with organizational changes, lines of communications, and included a finance team. |
| Aaron Price, Chief Compliance Office, GOED, responded to the GOED Audit and how they had internal audits that also helped them with the Industrial Assistance Account and other grants and answered committee questions. |
| Jefferson Moss briefly introduced Jonathan Freedman, President and Chief Executive Officer, World Trade Center Utah, and answered committee questions. |
| Jonathan Freedman responded to the Performance Audit on the World Trade Center Utah. One finding was a clerical issue that they have rectified, and the other finding was a recommendation to adjust how to calculate new trade opportunities and answered committee questions. |
| 3.Quantum Computing |
| 3 - Quantum Computing Initiative (GOED) |
| 3 - Governor's Executive Order Utah Quantum Initiative (GOED) |
| Jefferson Moss gave a presentation on Utah's quantum computing initiative and the governor's executive order and answered committee questions. |
| Ryan Camacho, Professor of Electrical Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, provided an overview on quantum mechanics, quantum computing programs, priorities from the governor's executive order and answered committee questions. |
| 4.Nucleus Institute |
| 4 - Innovations Presentation (Nucleus Institute) |
| 4 - Utah's Innovation Operating System Handout (Nucleus Institute) |
| Jeff Moss, Chief Executive Officer, Nucleus Institute, provided an overview of the Nucleus Institute staff and board members, the evolution of Utah's innovation strategy, and the PolicyLab, and answered committee questions. |
| Angela Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Nucleus Institute, provided an overview of the programs and institutes currently underway, including updates on key initiatives and areas of focus. |
| Kristin Wihera, Director, FUND Operations, provided an overview on the Nucleus Grow team, grants, companies turning research into impact, Utah Technology Innovation Fund, higher ed research funding pilot and AI Moonshot, evergreen fund, and student analyst program. Kristin Wihera answered committee questions. |
| 5.Governor's Office of Economic Development |
| 5 - GOED Review Presentation (GOED) |
| Jeff Moss provided an overview of the GOED's strategic plan and answered committee questions. |
| Aaron Price provided an overview of the internal audits GOED does and data privacy. |
| Tyler Jennings, Director, Entrepreneurship and Ecosystem Development, GOED, provided an overview on the entrepreneurial business community, technical AI upskilling, and evolving startup state resources. |
| Lance Soffe, Senior Vice President of Economic Growth, GOED, provided an overview of communication and engagement efforts, including the use of a single point of contact model and public access to information on upcoming opportunities. |
| Franz Kolb, Director, Center for International Business and Diplomacy, GOED, provided an overview of the organization’s four diplomacy streams, including inbound foreign delegations, outbound diplomatic delegations, memoranda of understanding and declarations, and trade missions. |
| Bo Wood, Director, Regulatory Relief and Research, GOED, provided an overview of the regulatory sandbox program, and expanding GOED research footprint. |
| Kamron Dalton, Chief Financial Officer, GOED, provided an overview of the finances in GOED. |
| Steve Waldrip, State Housing Coordinator, GOED, provided an overview of housing implementation efforts and updates from the Housing and Community Development Division. |
| Natalie Randall, Deputy Commissioner and Managing Director of Tourism and Film, GOED, provided an overview of the task force established to support Utah’s experience, creative, and innovation economies. |
| 6.Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. P. Cutler Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. S. Hayes Sen. K. Kwan Rep. J. Larson Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Sen. E. Vickers |
Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. L. Hansen Rep. C. Jack Sen. M. McKell Rep. D. Shallenberger Rep. T. Shelley Sen. J. Stevenson Rep. J. Teuscher |
| Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 11:01 p.m. |