Legislators / Steve Eliason
Steve Eliason
Republican · House District 43 · House Parliamentarian
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Steve Eliason
- Email: seliason@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-673-4748
- Office: 8157 S GRAMBLING WAY, Sandy, UT, 84094
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Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Steve Eliason serves on:
- Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Health and Human Services Committee
- House Revenue and Taxation Committee
- Health and Human Services Interim Committee
- Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee
- Utah Behavioral Health Legislative Policy Committee
What they've said
315 remarks on 81 billsH.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says the final change follows feedback from the restaurant industry and matches current practice for checking identification in restaurants.
▶ Watch at 5:43Read what they said
Uh, y Yes. We made, uh, one last recommendation based upon feedback from the, the restaurant industry to conform with what, uh, practice has been for, uh, identification, checking, uh, in restaurants.
S.B. 261 Pharmacy Practice Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Presents S.B. 261, describing it as a smaller annual update to the Pharmacy Practice Act that expands collaborative pharmacy agreements, lets pharmacists prescribe vaccines and epinephrine, and creates a real-time electronic tracking system for pseudoephedrine sales with identity checks for online sales.
▶ Watch at 1:10:00Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. This is the Annual Pharmacy Practice Act amendments, uh, a little bit smaller than it's been in prior years. It now allows, uh, CPAs may, may now include initiation of therapy that's not certified public accountants. That's collabor collaborative pharmacy agreements. Um, and, uh, it also adds vaccines and epinephrine to what pharmacists may prescribe. They already have a list of items that can be prescribed. This just expands it slightly. It also, the, the Board of Pharmacy may approve and implement a real time electronic tracking system for pseu rine sales. This would allow Pseu Rine to be sold online with all the same protections of providing identity is required for in-person sales. Um, and then …
S.B. 305 Hospital Quality Incentive Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says the discussion has been good and asks for support of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:16:17Read what they said
Uh, I, I think we've had a good discussion on it. And, uh, hope for your support. Thank you. Thank you.
S.B. 226 Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Presents S.B. 226, which updates procedures for chemical testing in fatal motor vehicle accidents involving suspected impairment, clarifies when testing is required, and adds oversight to warrant decisions.
▶ Watch at 1:26:08Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speakers. Sadly, the genesis of this bill, uh, began one Sunday when a gentleman was on his way home from church and was hit head on by a drunk driver and killed. Uh, the, uh, individual wasn't, uh, quickly tested for impairment, which impaired the charges, I believe that could be filed. Uh, this bill simply updates U Utah Procedures for chemical testing in a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a suspected DUI or drug impairment. Clarin clarifying when testing is required and adding oversight to, uh, warrant decisions. Uh, it's basically very straightforward to make sure evidence is collected that can be used to either convict or exonerate an individual involved in an extremely serious …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the sponsor is working with stakeholders, the Insurance Commission and others on minor amendments to the reporting provision and on the fiscal note, and agrees with those changes.
▶ Watch at 6:21Read what they said
Uh, yes. Thank you. We work continue to working with the different stakeholders, the Insurance Commission and others to make, uh, some other, uh, minor amendments regarding the reporting provision. Uh, we're also to able to, uh, address the fiscal note. So, uh, that is the, uh, the changes that, uh, I agree with. Thank you.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the Senate amendment relates to the driver's license reinstatement fee for DUI offenses and eliminates the fiscal note, and that the bill is named for a person killed by a drunk driver.
▶ Watch at 11:05Read what they said
Uh, yes. Thank you. Uh, we put an amendment in relating to the driver's license reinstatement fee for, uh, DUI offenses, which, uh, uh, eliminated the, the fiscal note. And, uh, that's basically, uh, what it does. In the meantime, we've named this bill after Lindsey and F Orman who was killed by a, a drunk driver and was really the inspiration behind this bill. So thank you Mr. Speaker Pro tem.
S.B. 238 Property Tax Adjustments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Presents SB 238, which responds to a performance audit of local property tax processes by addressing truth in taxation hearings, virtual participation, the residential exemption, property ownership changes, and property tax appeal judgment levies.
▶ Watch at 49:26Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. In October of last year, the interim revenue and tax Committee reviewed the performance audit of local authorities property tax and shifting tax burden. And the report contained two recommendations to improve the property tax system. Uh, the recommendations are the, the legislature should consider are clarifying the meaning and intent of virtual participation in truth and taxations hearings. And consider whether the statute concerning the primary residential exemption eligibility would benefit from a statewide requirement. Uh, additionally, uh, a number of you remember during 2025 that a number of taxing entities failed to properly hold their truth and taxation, uh, meetings to certify their rate. Uh, also found a number of taxing entities in …
S.B. 238 Property Tax Adjustments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says he is only presenting the bill and not a motion to concur.
▶ Watch at 52:00Read what they said
Oh, I apologize. No, I'm just presenting the bill. We're just on, I'm, We're Just Aing Senate bills.
S.B. 238 Property Tax Adjustments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Responds that the bill requires taxing entities to post a consolidated county list of truth in taxation hearings on their websites.
▶ Watch at 53:19Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that it is, it requires taxing entities to publish the consolidated list of all the taxing entities within a county that are undergoing truth and taxation hearings on the taxing entity's main page of their website.
S.B. 238 Property Tax Adjustments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Responds that the bill requires instructions for virtual participation on taxing entities' websites and requires counties to assist with virtual participation if requested.
▶ Watch at 53:56Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Uh, Mr. Speaker lines, uh, five through five 30 through 5 32 and 6 0 4 through six 15 clarifies participation in, uh, the truth in taxation Hearing requires the taxing entity to include the instructions for virtual participation on their website. And then line six 16 through six 18 requires a county if requested by the taxing entity to assist in facilitating virtual participation.
S.B. 238 Property Tax Adjustments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the bill does not appear to address the same-day standalone meeting issue, and that the standalone meeting was intended to be discrete.
▶ Watch at 54:52Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I, that question, I, I'm not aware of the bill modifying anything. The intent for that was that it was a discreet standalone meeting so it wasn't, uh, maybe sandwiched between some other meetings or in the middle of some meetings. To my knowledge, we're not addressing that component of the issue that existed.
S.B. 288 Medicaid Provider Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Presented the bill, describing its provider quality program for certain Medicaid providers and the need for provider rate increases.
▶ Watch at 1:12:08Read what they said
Listen, Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, just to give a little background, uh, for, uh, the importance of this bill, uh, driving or driving home last night from the Capitol. I was listening to a story on the radio, uh, that, uh, department of Health and Human Services just yesterday had shut down, uh, a Medicaid, uh, provider that provides services to, uh, adults, uh, with special needs after a, a very difficult situation. Um, not saying this bill could have prevented the tragedy that that was tied to, but, uh, we've gone six years without increasing provider rates, uh, for a number of key Medicaid funded, uh, positions. For instance, uh, DSPD, division of service with people with …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Presents H.B. 71, citing a state audit of behavioral health provider directories and describing the bill's requirements for insurers, a working group, and insurance commissioner enforcement.
▶ Watch at 1:12:18Read what they said
of the legislative auditor general conduct conducted an audit on the state's behavioral health workforce last year finding that 69% of those providers were ghost providers. So they appear on paper to be available to patients needing care, but in fact they're not. So this means that their provider, directories that patients rely on to find care using their insurance is largely inaccurate. So this bill requires covered insurers to help patients get behavioral health services quickly. If an in network provider isn't available within a specified timeframe, the insurer must offer a single case agreement with an out-of-network provider so the patient isn't left waiting. Uh, it further requires that insurers must publish comprehensive provider directories and update them …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Comments on a display problem with the presentation screen and whether the bill's status indicator shows green or red. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:13:22Read what they said
And I was told this is green now. Okay. We're seeing it red. That's what we're talking about. Yeah. Trying to figure out if it's red or green. I was told it was green, but let's, it's Scott. Scott. We good on Seven one? It's showing, I don't know why it's showing red on our red is dead.
S.B. 288 Medicaid Provider Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Said the amendment is a friendly one and that he has worked on it with a Utah County representative.
▶ Watch at 1:15:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a, a very friendly amendment and I've been working with the good representative from Utah County on it.
S.B. 288 Medicaid Provider Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Gave closing remarks thanking the committee and others who worked on the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:18:58Read what they said
Uh, thank you. I'll just, uh, quickly say thank you to the committee and all the other people who've worked on this bill to, uh, get it to the point that it's at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
S.B. 92 Prosecution Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Speaks in support of the bill, saying he knew the victim and that the bill would prevent someone from escaping penalties due to the passage of time.
▶ Watch at 1:36:29Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm. I rise in support of this bill. I knew this wonderful young woman. We did an event on the steps of the Capitol where we released, uh, doves, uh, outta cages, uh, off the steps. Um, she was a, a bright light and we were friends for, uh, the remaining years of her life. When I learned of her passing, I contacted my friend in the Cash County prosecutor's office and asked this very question if homicide charges would be pursued. She told me that was not an option. Every day we stand here and look at the flag and at the end we say injustice for all. Sometimes we not like that if that's …
H.B. 312 School Curriculum and Standards Modifications · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Opposes the concurrence, saying a related Senate bill failed in committee over its fiscal note and that merging it into H.B. 312 circumvents that committee action.
▶ Watch at 1:36:31Read what they said
Colleagues. Um, I strongly oppose this motion to Concur and I wanna tell you why we do our work in the committees. There was a senate bill that came before the education committee be meeting, and it was Senate Bill one 18. This bill did not pass and there was a reason why it did not pass the underlying bill. This bill three 12, it did pass our, our House committee, which we were okay with that policy, but the Senate bill just two days ago or three days ago, did not pass. Um, because it needed to go to interim. It had a $64 million fiscal note to create curriculum for the state of Utah, which we felt was …
S.B. 311 Medical Translation Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Describes the bill as requiring the SafeUT application to be available in multiple languages so that school safety tips and tip reporting reach all students regardless of language preference.
▶ Watch at 1:48:17Read what they said
Representative Eliason, Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. This is a, a very straightforward bill that helps enhance the, uh, availability of the safe UT program. Uh, just yesterday, uh, I was pulled off the floor for a briefing about an incident involving a gun in my school district. I read about another incident that just happened yesterday with a, a gun in a school. Uh, safe UT every year receives hundreds of school safety complaints as well as, uh, many, uh, conversations regard related to crisis intervention. Uh, this bill is just very straightforward, requires the safe UT software application is available in multiple language languages. So, uh, school safety tips as well as the, uh, tip component …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Explains that the Senate amendments align the fiscal note with the appropriation and add provisions related to homelessness, with language that does not conflict with the House version.
▶ Watch at 2:16:56Read what they said
Uh, yes. Thank you. This was a, a fiscal note bill that, uh, was funded. We, uh, in the Senate amended it to make sure that the fiscal note, uh, uh, matched what was appropriated by EAC. Uh, we also included, um, in the extra components that the good representative from Sandy, uh, had talked about due to, uh, related to the key provisions of the, the homelessness bill. Uh, no conflict there. Exact same language. Uh, so tho those are the basics of what the, the Senate amendments are. Mr. Speaker.
S.B. 322 Educational Technology Regulatory Sandbox · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend the first substitute of SB 322.
▶ Watch at 1:23:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I would like to make a motion that we favorably recommend, uh, first substitute Senate bill 3 22.
S.B. 322 Educational Technology Regulatory Sandbox · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Supports guardrails and the opt-in structure, expresses concern about heavy technology use in schools especially in younger grades, and values local control. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:25:38Read what they said
Uh, yeah, I'll just make one comment or a couple comments. Um, I like the idea of, of creating these guardrails. I do think that that is very, very important because I agree the ai, AI is here. We do need to have those guardrails. I am a huge proponent though, of limiting a lot of technology in school, um, simply because I think we're starting to see results that aren't what we thought they were going to be with having too much technology, especially in the younger ages. Um, so that is a huge concern, but I love the fact that it is opt in, right? It's, it's, they don't have to use it. People don't, they don't, they're …
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked who is responsible for monitoring software updates and whether the bill protects against changes made after approval.
▶ Watch at 1:32:42Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just, just to clarify, and I think I, I think you said it, I just wanna make sure it's repeated. So let's say that there is a vendor approved, there's a, there's some kind of technology that is approved. We've heard in years past that updates will oftentimes have stuff that comes in that doesn't necessarily get caught right away. I think you said that there's gonna be auditing and, and remind me who's responsible for that to make sure that that's being monitored. Because let's say something does happen in an update, you know, sometimes that those happen overnight on a computer, a device, and not necessarily anybody's kind of watching that. Is there anything …
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked that the record show that audits will take place.
▶ Watch at 1:33:39Read what they said
Well as long, as, long as you feel for sure that it's in there, I just wanna make sure that, 'cause that's a concern a lot of parents have and I just wanna make sure that on the record they know that that's going to be happening.
S.B. 324 Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked who the independent evaluators would be and whether the bill would create a new marketplace for evaluators.
▶ Watch at 1:58:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just real quick, um, so the independent evaluators, who, who is that again? And is that, is that, are we creating a new marketplace for evaluators or, or where do those folks
S.B. 324 Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework · House Education Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked whether evaluators would be selected randomly to avoid favoritism over time.
▶ Watch at 2:00:08Read what they said
So would there be a randomized way of selecting the people? Because, you know, obviously the concern would be is, you know, we got quality people who have integrity here, right? But let's say 20 years from now, it, does it become a good, good old boy system where, um, my buddy's, uh, you know, and they, and they start getting the business, if that makes sense. That's right. Is is it just like a, there's five qualified and we're just gonna right to rotate through each five? Or how does that work?
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Presents the bill, which lets owners of non-commercial double axle trailers register them for the lifetime the vehicle is titled to them, without changing commercial trailer fees, and says it simplifies registration for the DMV and owners.
▶ Watch at 31:07Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this is the second best, uh, trailer bill that, uh, has ever been before the body. Um, the first best related to single axle. So this is actually the best, uh, double axle trailer bill. It's, it's very straightforward. The bill allows to register a trailer for the lifetime period, which the vehicle is titled by the owner. The registration applies only to non-commercial vehicles and does not impact the current commercial trailer fee schedule. Um, so it's, it's not the biggest bill that we've, uh, had this session, but if you, for citizens that own a double axle trailer, they probably wonder why do I have to keep registering this and paying the …
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says he was not planning to run the substitute and offers to answer any questions on it.
▶ Watch at 32:19Read what they said
I don't, was not planning to run the sub? No, because I told the bills funded. So You want to circle Or do you feel I, if there's any question, I would be happy to have a friend Circle Yes.
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the higher upfront lifetime payment reduces the bill's overall fiscal note cost and gives taxpayers an option, and that any future reduction would be left to a later legislature.
▶ Watch at 42:02Read what they said
Uh, and I'll, I'll do kind of an informal point of order. The prior bill referenced was only for single axle trailers. So the lifetime exemption, I just need to get that on the record. But to the heart of the question, the, uh, this bill has been structured from a fiscal perspective that with those extra upfront dollars, that reduces, not eliminates, but reduces the overall cost of the bill to the fiscal note to make it doable within the budget that has been allocated, the funds that have been allocated for EAC for this bill. So I think we'd all agree that, uh, we'd rather not pay taxes at all in trailers. Like, uh, the good, uh, sponsor …
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Explains the higher upfront fee reduces the bill's overall fiscal note cost, and that the bill gives taxpayers an optional choice that future legislation could change.
▶ Watch at 42:13Read what they said
But to the heart of the question, the, uh, this bill has been structured from a fiscal perspective that with those extra upfront dollars, that reduces, not eliminates, but reduces the overall cost of the bill to the fiscal note to make it doable within the budget that has been allocated, the funds that have been allocated for EAC for this bill. So I think we'd all agree that, uh, we'd rather not pay taxes at all in trailers. Like, uh, the good, uh, sponsor from, uh, RI Riverton has attempted before. Um, but this just gives taxpayers an option that they don't currently have. If they don't want to use it, they don't have to. But future legislation could …
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the Tax Commission will issue a lifetime sticker that does not need annual replacement, though it may be replaced in 10 to 15 years if it wears off.
▶ Watch at 44:19Read what they said
I thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, that very good question. I am told that the tax commission will issue a lifetime sticker. That, uh, as long as it's affixed to that plate and associated with that trailer will never have to be replaced. Um, maybe in 10 or 15 years, they'll give you a new sticker if the old one wears off. But it is a lifetime sticker so you don't have to mess with it every year.
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the Tax Commission will issue a lifetime sticker that does not need replacing unless it wears off, possibly after 10 to 15 years.
▶ Watch at 44:19Read what they said
I thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, that very good question. I am told that the tax commission will issue a lifetime sticker. That, uh, as long as it's affixed to that plate and associated with that trailer will never have to be replaced. Um, maybe in 10 or 15 years, they'll give you a new sticker if the old one wears off. But it is a lifetime sticker so you don't have to mess with it every year.
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Sums up that the bill is endorsed by the Trailer Caucus and others, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 44:59Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill has been endorsed by the Trailer Caucus and, um, a, a a a lot of other folks. So, uh, appreciate your support. Thank you.
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Closes by saying the bill is endorsed by the Trailer Caucus and other groups and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 44:59Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill has been endorsed by the Trailer Caucus and, um, a, a a a lot of other folks. So, uh, appreciate your support. Thank you.
S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Presents SB 60 as a further income tax cut, lowering the state income tax rate from 4.5% to 4.45%, and says state reserves and debt position allow it.
▶ Watch at 46:32Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this bill is yet another tax cut, just like the last one. Only, this one's a little bit larger. Um, this is, uh, a five basis point, uh, rate cut. Uh, Utah has had, the legislature has had a very, uh, strong record of reducing taxes, uh, while at the same time making sure that, uh, our important components of government are funded. And this is a, a, a modest step I'd like to mention for, for individuals that say, well, 45, 50, a hundred bucks, 200 bucks, that's just enough to go out to dinner a few times. I will say the people I work with in my night job that are living …
S.B. 73 Online Age Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
As House sponsor, he described the bill, which adds a 2% excise tax on content harmful to minors, with 90% of the revenue going to youth mental health, prevention, treatment, public education, and research and 10% to enforcing age verification, and which applies to sites where 33% or more of content is adult material.
▶ Watch at 53:01Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, Mr. Speaker. Uh, not long ago, I was invited to meet with a, a group of, uh, former, uh, social media executives that had gotten on the ground floor of, uh, social media companies and had, uh, exited with a lot of money and created their own company to help youth mental health. They described to me that they were trying to redeem their soul because they had seen what social media had done to youth and how youth were deliberately targeted. While this bill doesn't, uh, relate directly to social media, it relates to adult websites that are in the business of, uh, promulgating material harmful to minors. In 2003, we passed SB 2 …
S.B. 162 Online Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Presents S.B. 162, saying it clarifies that streamed and downloaded digital products are subject to sales tax and closes a known area of confusion at the Tax Commission's request.
▶ Watch at 1:06:30Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, Mr. Speaker representatives, uh, you, you may remember the, the day when we used to go to Blockbuster to rent a movie for some of our newer members. You may not remember that, but you'd actually go to a store, rent a VHS tape, take it home, watch it, take it back. Uh, then we evolved to Red Box, where you'd go to a machine and get the CD and take it back. Historically, these, uh, transactions, just like the sale of, uh, books and uh, and movies are were subject to sales tax. This bill addresses, uh, an area of confusion in Utah's sales tax statute regarded, streamed, and downloaded products. Um, the, uh, …
S.B. 162 Online Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Summarizes that the bill does not impose a new tax, but closes a loophole that puts pressure on state and local revenue and protects the sales tax base.
▶ Watch at 1:10:49Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm, I'm glad the comments were made about, uh, lowering the weight, lowering the rate, and widening the base. Uh, again, this does not impose a new tax. This clarifies, uh, a, a, a small loophole in how relating to technology of how the products delivered. It's really important to note that the further a loophole like this gets exploited, it puts additional pressure on our local, uh, governments and the state government when additional funds are needed to keep up with inflation if they're not collecting what is already due. So I think this, uh, helps protect, uh, the sales tax base. And again, most vast majority are collecting this. This just clarifies it …
S.B. 288 Medicaid Provider Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says he is trying to resolve one question and is looking at a possible amendment to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:53:30Read what they said
Uh, just trying to resolve, uh, one question and looking at a possible amendment. Thank you.
S.B. 217 Local Food Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to strike lines 715, 716 and 2699 of the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:20:27Read what they said
Yes. I'd like to strike lines 7 15 7 16 and line 2 6 9 9, Line 7 15, 7 16 and and 26 99.
S.B. 217 Local Food Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Explains that the amendment removes the sales tax exemption for home-prepared food, saying occasional sellers are already exempt and the exemption could create an unlimited loophole that narrows the tax base.
▶ Watch at 2:20:54Read what they said
Yes, Mr. Speaker pro tem, uh, this is a, uh, this amendment, uh, simply removes the sales tax exemption, uh, for, uh, food that is prepared in a home kitchen. The reason behind this would be is that under our current tax code, occasional sellers are already exempted from sales tax. Uh, the concern is this could create a loophole that just because it's prepared in a home kitchen, that they're now exempt from sales tax with no limit on the amount of transactions that they are engaging in as long as it's prepared in a certain location. So kind of to our philosophy of, uh, lowering the weight, the rate, and widening the base, uh, this has the potential …
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Explains that the bill closes a gap in current law so that drivers who flee a hit-and-run while drinking do not get a lesser penalty than those who stay, enhances penalties for repeat offenders, and creates a six-hour self-reporting incentive.
▶ Watch at 3:07:36Read what they said
for fatal hit and runs with automobile homicide, which eliminates the incentive. Get this for impaired drivers to flee, uh, the scene of an accident in hopes of facing a lesser charge. It enhances penalties for repeat offenders while creating a six hour self-reporting incentive that encourages drivers to come forward and accept responsibilities. Uh, believe it or not, the current law in Utah, um, will sometimes allow someone that flees a scene of a hit and run when they're drinking, uh, to, to get a lesser penalty than if they would've remained at the scene. And this bill addresses that gap in the law. So with that, I'll yield to any questions.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Explains that the third substitute included appropriations of close to $100 million, and that the fourth substitute reduces the funding to under $1 million to match the figures handed out by the Executive Appropriations Committee.
▶ Watch at 1:34:06Read what they said
Yes. The, the, the third sub, the, the simple answer is, the difference is the bill has funding from executive appropriations and it whittles it down from close to a hundred million to less than a million. But the good news is, is that the funding in the bill fits what's on the sheets handed out earlier today by EAC. So that's, that's the basics of what the bill does in terms of the difference between the subs.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Says the bill was cut to remove many programs in order to fit the budget.
▶ Watch at 1:34:56Read what they said
Uh, yeah. We had to, to eliminate a lot of important programs, but I would be in violation of cognitive behavior therapy principles if I let Perfect be the enemy of good. So, okay. We're, we're tickled pink to have what we've got, even though there's a lot of other good things we had to take out. Okay.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Presents the fourth substitute, describing its two parts: recommendations from the Behavioral Health Commission, including funding for a receiving center grant, Collaborative Care Medicaid rates, a family outreach specialist, peer support, and suicide prevention, and changes to the Sequential Intercept model and civil commitment processes.
▶ Watch at 1:36:15Read what they said
Uh, great. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, this bill is the work, uh, LA largely, uh, uh, two parts. The first part is of the work of the, the Utah Behavioral Health Commission. The legislatively created commission that has been in operation now for going on two years. Uh, chaired by I Ali Isam and, uh, vice Vice Chair Tamara Tala and Kyle Snow from the UNA Basin. Um, huge thanks to the Behavioral Health Commission that's made up all of volunteers that have vetted a lot of great ideas. Uh, the reason that the original bill had such a large fiscal note is we were hoping for funding for a 60 bed step down unit at the …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asks for the committee's support and says the bill addresses important issues affecting every family.
▶ Watch at 1:46:10Read what they said
Uh, would very much appreciate your support and I think this bill is a really important statement that the legislature cares about these important issues that affect every family, whether they're urban rule, rural, uh, Democrat, Republican, male, female. It's an issue that affects all of us. Thank you very much.
S.B. 170 Vitamin K Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said the unlicensed midwife provision is unenforceable and asked whether the sponsor would accept an amendment removing it.
▶ Watch at 57:33Read what they said
Uh, thank you. I just wanted to address the concern was, was brought by representative gracious regarding unlicensed midwives. Mm-hmm. Um, a lot of times as I look at legislation, I think if there's not an enforcement mechanism, we don't have a policy unlicensed midwives, I have no idea how we would enforce that. And like if we found out they were doing not following this, like, what are we gonna do to take their license away? No, they don't have a license. Strong conversation. YY yeah. So my question is, is if this bill moves outta committee, would you be willing to entertain a floor amendment that would just strike out the midwife section, since it's brilliant unenforceable anyway? …
S.B. 85 Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asked whether arts and vocational teachers could participate in the program.
▶ Watch at 2:10:01Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a quick question, um, because I, I'm not super versed on how this really works or not. I, I get the idea of how it works, but just one of the questions was, how does this apply? Like, for example, arts teachers, vocational training, um, uh, those types of teachers, are they also allowed to participate in this?
S.B. 85 Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications · House Education Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said teachers should be rewarded and expressed hope that more of them could be included.
▶ Watch at 2:10:58Read what they said
Yeah, go ahead. So, yeah, just, and I appreciate that answer and, and I, I, I agree. I think we do need to reward teachers and, and that would be kind of cool if somehow we could somehow incorporate them. I know that's a challenge, but 'cause they are valuable and needed as well. And, but, uh, anyway, I, I think this is awesome. Yeah,
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Moves to adopt amendment number two to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:05:20Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to move amendment, amendment number two in my name.
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Explains that amendment number two makes a language change negotiated with a stakeholder and adjusts the earmark to match Executive Appropriations Committee budget actions.
▶ Watch at 1:05:30Read what they said
Uh, yes. It just makes it a little tweak to some language negotiated with one of our stakeholders, but it also adjusts the, the earmark in the bill to accommodate what the Executive Appropriations Committee has already done in one of our budget bills.
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Presents the bill as an annual omnibus on homelessness, describing changes to homeless resource centers, the shelter city mitigation fund, a work group, code blue and code red provisions, and stakeholder input.
▶ Watch at 1:06:27Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this would be what I consider kind of our annual omnibus bill relating to homelessness. Uh, I've worked very closely with, uh, the shelter, the Homeless Committee, the League of Cities and Towns, the Office of Homeless Services, uh, homeless service providers, law enforcement, the Cicero Institute, unsheltered Utah, and our philanthropic community. And last but not least, uh, my good colleague from Provo who will, uh, soon be inheriting, uh, a lot of these responsibilities. Um, the bill does, uh, uh, a number of things to address some of the current issues. Currently, we are still dealing with capacity issues and there are no plans, uh, on the horizon related to a, a …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Says the bill does not raise taxes and explains that the amendment removes transfers from a restricted account, which the Executive Appropriations Committee funding makes unlikely to be used.
▶ Watch at 1:13:18Read what they said
Uh, yes. Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, that's a, a very good question. So, uh, this bill does nothing to, to raise taxes. Uh, the motions as, as I kind of alluded to earlier, the motions taken by Executive appropriations, uh, are putting significant sums of money into various homeless accounts, uh, very, uh, kind of in line with items in the governor's budget. And this bill, uh, the amendment that was made effectively removes any transfer of funds from the restricted account, uh, as, as a result of the EAC, uh, actions to already fund it. So, um, that earmark should never, I, under current, uh, projections should never be hit, but was kind of there as a …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Summarizes that the bill does not preempt local land control, requires local consent for shelter capacity changes, and gives an additional year to address capacity and the mitigation fund.
▶ Watch at 1:14:33Read what they said
Uh, thank you, uh, Mr. Speaker, uh, in, uh, relation to the, one of the comments that was made from the good representative from Twila. This bill does not preempt local land control. Uh, make that very clear. It, uh, any changes in relating to shelter capacity, uh, require, uh, local consent. Uh, the number of these changes are, uh, a strategic compromise with the League of Cities and towns to give us an additional year to work through some of the issues related to capacity and the Homeless Cities Mitigation Fund. I think these are important steps to keep our system, uh, functioning as it is, which, uh, has helped, helps thousands of people step out of homelessness and …
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Introduces H.C.R. 5, which encourages the state to pursue management or transfer of several federal recreation sites, including Pine View Reservoir, Antelope Flat Campground, and Little Sahara, and notes past state park creation such as Lost Creek.
▶ Watch at 1:33:51Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, Mr. Speaker. A year ago at the opening of our session, uh, you spoke about Antelope Flat's Campground, uh, out at Flaming Gorge and the need to, uh, potentially create a state campground or a state park. Ironically, I was working on a resolution last session to, to do just that. It didn't, uh, it ran out of time last session. But this resolution has a list of properties that we believe the state could work with. The US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, bureau of Reclamation to, uh, either, uh, transfer property or management, uh, to the state of Utah to operate, uh, in various capacities for outdoor recreation, uh, including, uh, …
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Strongly supports the amendment, noting support from local interests at Pine View Reservoir.
▶ Watch at 1:36:49Read what they said
Uh, yes, Mr. Speaker, I very, uh, strongly support this amendment. And so do the tiger muskie and Pine View reservoir.
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Responds that the resolution is non-binding with a zero fiscal note and the amendment only clarifies language already referenced earlier, so it does not change the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:37:12Read what they said
Uh, th thank, thank you Mr. Speaker. Not at all. This is a non-binding resolution that has a zero fiscal note. It's already alluded to in the upper section, but not in the, uh, lower section of the resolution. This just clarifies it so it does nothing to the fiscal note. Perfect.
S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented SB 60, which would lower the flat state income tax rate from 4.5% to 4.45% retroactively, and said it is funded in the current budget.
▶ Watch at 35:43Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Vice Chair. 'cause the rules changed today. I have to present from down here instead of back there. So just here I am. So what's that? Not, oh, okay. It's not a, oh, I'm still here. Okay. Um, so this is a very straightforward bill. It's a five basis, uh, point rate cut. It would take our state income tax rate, which is of course a flat tax down from 4.5% to 4.45%. Um, it is retrospective, which basically the only time that we do retrospective ex post facto type of legislation is with an, when it's a tax cut. The only complaint somebody could say is, oh, well, I've had held too, had too much …
S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the bill only cuts the rate by five basis points and contains no decoupling or other mechanisms.
▶ Watch at 38:37Read what they said
Uh, yeah. Yeah. Thank you Mr. Vice Chair. Um, again, this is one of the shortest bills to read of the session. I hope everybody's read it, the whole thing because, uh, you can do it in less than a minute. And it has nothing about decoupling, it has nothing about any other mechanism, is simply cutting the rate by five basis points. Nothing more, nothing less. It's wizzywig what you see is what you get.
S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the state became debt free while still cutting taxes and that the bill balances tax relief with funding for programs.
▶ Watch at 45:42Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, I appreciate all of the comments that have been made. Um, I think it's an interesting balancing act. Something that has really gotten no press that I think is actually a really big, big deal is this past year, Utah effectively became debt free. Not because we paid off our bonds, some of which are like in the 2% range, but because our rainy day accounts now surpassed the amount of bond indebtedness that we have as a state, so effectively debt free. So we did this all the while still cutting taxes. And while we know that there are, you know, lots of programs that, you know, could use lots of …
S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the committee comments are valid and that the bill is a small step that keeps the budget balanced.
▶ Watch at 51:18Read what they said
I, I think they're all very valid comments. And, uh, I guess this is why we meet every session to continue. I think actually it represents the juxtaposition of someone to cut more, someone to cut less. We're trying to strike a balance. This is just a small, small step, but we're not, uh, risking the health of our overall budget by, by doing this. So thank you. You
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented HB 15, which changes how the Medicaid expansion trigger timing works if Congress acts, lets the DHHS director seek a waiver to restore the targeted adult Medicaid benefit, repeals outdated language, and has a zero fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 57:42Read what they said
Uh, thank you. And I just wanna make sure the committee registered my I vote on that last bill. 'cause I did say yes from the back row, and then I realized, what am I doing? So not like c Creatures of habit. Yes. Okay. Um, this, uh, if you look at the bill number HB 15, it's a very low numbered bill. Uh, it was an inter interim bill that was unanimous. We've actually dialed it back from what it was. Uh, in the interim, it's a very, very simple bill. Let me just explain it. With the passage of HR one in the US Congress, otherwise known as the Big Beautiful Bill, we realized that if that bill, …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented HB 59, explaining that it fixes drafting issues from last year's bill on interdicted persons, fake driver's licenses, and ID-checking requirements for venues.
▶ Watch at 2:17:07Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. So, uh, thank you Mr. Chair. This, this was actually, uh, an interim bill. You can see it was numbered very early in this session. Uh, it was, uh, actually, I believe to this committee during interim it was unanimous. This bill is meant to address, uh, some issues that arose last year from the Interdicted person's bill. Um, that was the bill that created the INTERDICTED status, which is, uh, somebody who's committed an extreme DUI or been ordered by, uh, a judge that during the terms of their probation, that they're not allowed to purchase alcohol in Utah. They are given a new license that says no alcohol sale. Uh, approximately from, uh, the, the …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said it is important for the bill to pass and asked whether the committee would place it on consent. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:24:19Read what they said
I it's really important it makes it over the finish line. And us Poor House people have a lot more bills to pass than the Senate. So that's, that's why I'm asking. Or you can say is no. Um,
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented HB 596, describing its homelessness funding, mitigation formula, working group, West Valley property, Code Red provision, and state homeless trust fund changes.
▶ Watch at 42:53Read what they said
Alright. Th Thank you. Um, so, uh, th thank you committee for your time. Um, this bill has been, well, for many years. I've worked on this issue of homelessness. Um, it's, uh, it's a challenging issue and I, I wish the bill would've come out earlier, but, uh, this is actually kind of typical timing. 'cause I try to negotiate with all of the relevant stakeholders in advance to make sure that we get, uh, most of the things worked out. I am gonna be speaking to the, the second sub, um, and then there is also an amendment that, um, I'll, uh, I think will mitigate the kind of any languishing concern. So, um, let me just run …
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented HCR 5 on state management of federal public lands, saying it encourages state parks to work with federal agencies on possible sites such as Antelope Flats and Mueller Park Canyon.
▶ Watch at 46:40Read what they said
Th Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this is Kind of the merger of three resolutions that I had last session that, uh, had strong support but didn't quite make it over the finish line last year. So really glad we get to hear this. Um, actually been some, some encouraging developments from a year ago in terms of Utah's collaboration with the US Forest Service, which is recognized in the amendment. So, um, I, I don't, I don't need to lecture this committee about some of the, the challenges we've had in terms of, um, since a year ago we've had another, uh, government shut down where the parks were closed. Uh, at least federally we were, were able to …
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Answered that the resolution does not itself create parks, that the legislature would need to study costs and appropriate funds, and that it asks for another effort to add Little Sahara State Park.
▶ Watch at 51:21Read what they said
Yeah, that, that's a great question. Thank you. So, if, if that were to happen, this bill does not designate the cre. Let, let's just say that after the session, this passes the Forest Service and the state say, great, let's do it. This, this resolution does not make it happen. Yeah, it simply sets the stage for the legislature to come back, do an analysis, and look at what the legal agreements would be, as well as what the costs would be. We would then have to appropriate money to do that. So it doesn't, it's just trying to, it is kind of a chicken and egg, because it's hard for 'em to go out and negotiate for something …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Confirmed he was speaking to the first substitute and amendment one.
▶ Watch at 54:27Read what they said
I'm speaking to the first sub and to amendment one? Yes. Both. Yes. Which should be online.
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Turned the question over to Molly Wheeler of the Utah League of Cities and Towns.
▶ Watch at 54:47Read what they said
I'd be happy to. And I'm gonna phone a friend, uh, Molly from the, the league that we've been working with, so I'll turn it over to her to answer your question.
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Responded to Rep. Owens's concern, saying the resolution's specific provisions cover Antelope Flats and Little Sahara land transfers and seek cooperative agreements rather than conflict with federal partners.
▶ Watch at 56:52Read what they said
Um, just briefly, um, I appreciate, uh, Representative Owens concern. It wasn't a question, so I couldn't answer it, but I'm gonna try to answer that. Last year I had three resolutions related to management of lands. I condensed into one. Um, the, there was one controversial component in that last year that has been removed from this resolution, which was looking to manage our national parks. But I, last year gave this list of, I don't know, hundreds of millions of deferred capital maintenance that is in our national parks. And if Utah could control those, currently we're sending money outta the state from our national parks that has been removed. That would just, that would be, that was …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the state contributes about 7 million and cities about 10 million to the mitigation fund, which goes to shelter cities.
▶ Watch at 57:13Read what they said
Um, I briefly mentioned that the state puts about, I think, 7 million in, and then cities throughout the state put the other 10 million in and then get, that gets allocated to the shelter cities. I, I, I can't help it, but I'm just gonna say it. Anytime a non shelter city says, oh, we don't like this. I'll say good news, which is what I said to my own city, if you wanna be part of the solution and host a shelter, it doesn't have to be mega shelter, you too can qualify for mitigation funding. I had a neighboring city said, you know what, Steve, we are just happy paying into it. We're good. Um, but it's …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the fiscal note was driven by DHHS monitoring for Code Red and that he expects that cost to go away because the provision applies to one city.
▶ Watch at 58:18Read what they said
That. Yeah, so the fiscal note was largely being driven by the need for DHHS to, uh, put a process in place to monitor Code Red because they already have a process in place to monitor Code Blue, um, through the substitute. I expect that, well, I've already been in contact with D-H-S-S-D-H-H-S, I expect that note to go away related to Code Red because we're simply saying it applies to one city. Here's the temperature. You don't need to go hire a meteorologist and buy expensive software to determine when you're gonna trigger code red. It's like it's up to one city or any city that meets the criteria listed in the bill. 'cause we can't call out cities …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said he expects the fiscal note to be zero, with any additional funds placed under an earmark that applies only if incremental funds come in.
▶ Watch at 1:14:28Read what they said
Gonna toss the dice out here into the center and hope it'll be zero. That's my expectation with the, the changes, Um, even on the ongoing and, Um, yes, because of actions taken by EAC on Friday night where they, they kind of took this idea and ran with it and I've already put it in the budget, so I'll be mod based on other negotiations, adjusting the earmark accordingly. So, you know, there may not be any of those additional funds, but if so, they're on an ear earmark. So it only kick in if those funds, incremental funds come in more than what's currently in the budget.
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Thanked the committee and stakeholders for their collaboration on difficult issues.
▶ Watch at 1:16:05Read what they said
I just, uh, like to thank, uh, the committee and everybody who's made time to come today in the collaboration. These are not easy issues, but I think Utah is a unique place that shows we can get things done and, uh, do it together. Thank you. Okay.
H.B. 185 Carbon Credit Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asks the sponsor to confirm that the litigation fund for individuals who sell credits has been removed from the bill.
▶ Watch at 44:32Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. So I just wanna make sure that I have a couple questions for you, Representative Shelley. 'cause I wanna make sure that this is very, very clear for the record because we're gonna look back on this committee meeting, um, years from now. And I think wish we had made a different decision. And I appreciate where you've taken the bill because we need to get this bill passed. But I just wanna make sure a couple things are, are abundantly clear. So, number one, the fund that we were going to tax individuals who sold their carbon credits, um, that was gonna create a, a litigation fund that is no longer part of this …
H.B. 185 Carbon Credit Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asks whether sellers of carbon credits are taxed as income and whether the buyer reports the sale on a 1099.
▶ Watch at 45:15Read what they said
Okay. I think that's important that, that is abundantly clear in this committee right now. Number two, those individuals who do sell a carbon credit, they are going to be taxed as income. Is that correct? Yes. And will the entity that they bought the carbon credit from Purdue a 10 99 so that the state of Utah as well as the federal government, knows that they have that as taxable income?
H.B. 185 Carbon Credit Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Says he wants to make some points before the sponsor's summation.
▶ Watch at 45:44Read what they said
And, um, and, and I'm, I'm gonna come back, uh, before you sum at the end, 'cause I do wanna say a couple things, but I wanted to just make sure those questions were asked and that was abundantly clear on the record.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Moves to adopt substitute number three to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:11:20Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Motion to move. Uh, substitute number three in my name.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Moved to take up substitute number three to the bill, in his name.
▶ Watch at 1:11:20Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Motion to move. Uh, substitute number three in my name.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Thanks the presiding officer and moves to adopt third substitute H.B. 572.
▶ Watch at 1:17:48Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Prote. Motion to move substitute number three in my name.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says the substitute addresses concerns raised by the one committee no vote.
▶ Watch at 1:17:55Read what they said
Uh, yes. Uh, per the committee vote on the board, there was one no vote. And the substitute should resolve the concerns related to the one no vote.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Presents the bill, covering Behavioral Health Commission recommendations for state hospital beds, crisis outreach, and a crisis receiving center, plus a Salt Lake County criminal justice working group and a civil commitment database.
▶ Watch at 1:18:20Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, this bill represents the work of, of many people over many months. Uh, two primary groups. One is the Utah Behavioral Health Commission that was legislatively created. They've had numerous meetings throughout the year and have studied the gaps in our behavioral health system and have come up with a number of recommendations to address those. That includes, uh, one of the, the big issues is that for almost 20 years, we've had 30 empty beds in our state hospital that we closed during the Great Recession. And that would restore funding for to open up those much, those much needed beds. Also would have funding for things like mobile crisis outreach …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Presents H.B. 572, describing recommendations from the Utah Behavioral Health Commission, including restoring state hospital beds, funding crisis outreach and a crisis receiving center, and a Miami-Dade-based criminal justice and treatment initiative, and explains amendments that add guardrails to the civil commitment database.
▶ Watch at 1:18:20Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, this bill represents the work of, of many people over many months. Uh, two primary groups. One is the Utah Behavioral Health Commission that was legislatively created. They've had numerous meetings throughout the year and have studied the gaps in our behavioral health system and have come up with a number of recommendations to address those. That includes, uh, one of the, the big issues is that for almost 20 years, we've had 30 empty beds in our state hospital that we closed during the Great Recession. And that would restore funding for to open up those much, those much needed beds. Also would have funding for things like mobile crisis outreach …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Gives closing remarks that the bill is not partisan and moves in the right direction to help people in need.
▶ Watch at 1:26:06Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. This bill is not a partisan issue. Addiction does not care who you voted for. Doesn't care if you live in an urban or rural area. Depression does not care about care about your party affiliation. Families in crisis are not red or blue. They're American families asking for help and I believe this bill moves us in the right direction to help those people in need. Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Gives closing remarks saying the bill is not partisan and aims to help families in crisis in the right direction.
▶ Watch at 1:26:06Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. This bill is not a partisan issue. Addiction does not care who you voted for. Doesn't care if you live in an urban or rural area. Depression does not care about care about your party affiliation. Families in crisis are not red or blue. They're American families asking for help and I believe this bill moves us in the right direction to help those people in need. Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says he will present the third substitute to the bill and asks the committee to take it up after his remarks.
▶ Watch at 2:10:20Read what they said
You. I'm gonna be speaking to the third Sub. Okay. I Dunno how each committee here does it a little bit Differently. So Yeah, we'll, we'll move it after you speak.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Explains that the bill would align DUI penalties with hit-and-run penalties involving injury or death, and introduces his witnesses.
▶ Watch at 2:10:29Read what they said
Okay. Uh, this bill is, uh, uh, a bill long past due currently in our code, you are incentivized to leave the scene of a crime if you have injured or killed somebody and are impaired. And so this bill simply says we are going to align the penalties for DUI, uh, with, uh, uh, a hit and run involving injury or, or death. Um, the, the number we have approximately 13 hit and runs a day in Utah, 13. Um, and the incentive to leave is very, very real. So, um, I'm just gonna give my witnesses one minute to talk about why this is important to them. Please state your name and briefly, briefly share your story.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Introduces Glendon Mitchell to share his family's story.
▶ Watch at 2:13:44Read what they said
Uh, lastly, I'd like to, uh, give Glendon Mitchell just a, a moment to, to share their story.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Describes the third substitute's change to the timeline for the driver's license hearing and says the main concerns with the bill have been resolved.
▶ Watch at 2:15:37Read what they said
The last thing I'll say is that the third substitute moves the DUI the driver's license hearing from back to 10 days from five days. That was a compromise I worked on with the defense attorneys. And so at this juncture, I think I've pretty much resolved the main concerns that exist with the bill. So that will conclude my presentation. Mr. Chair, happy to answer any questions.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the six-hour self-reporting provision is new and gives a driver an incentive to report within a short window, which can be considered in sentencing.
▶ Watch at 2:16:19Read what they said
The bill. Um, I don't believe it was part of earlier code, but it's basically incentive to say if you did make the decision to flee, you still have an incentive within a short window to, to self-report. And that can be considered in sentencing. It's not a get outta jail free card. You're still in big trouble, but there's still a reason for you to come back.
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Presented HB 70, which uses one-time funds from a Medicaid-related restricted account to pay for a new electronic health record and requires opioid use disorder treatment for inmates in their first 90 days and before release.
▶ Watch at 17:54Read what they said
Go ahead. Great. Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, this is a follow up from a bill. It was actually a committee bill, I believe. Um, it was a follow up also from last session where, just as a little background, several sessions ago the legislature passed, uh, legislation requiring, uh, DHHS to seek a Medicaid waiver, uh, for to implement a justice involved waiver that was approved. Utah was one of five states that received that. Uh, the goal of that is to reduce recidivism and improve, uh, inmate healthcare just subsequent to their release and kind of provide a bridge for them into the community. Um, the bill last year required DHHS to go out and, uh, or …
S.B. 73 Online Age Verification Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Moves to pass SB 73 third substitute with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:19:11Read what they said
Uh, thank you. I'd like to make a motion that we pass out SB 73 third substitute with the Fable recommendation.
S.B. 73 Online Age Verification Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Praises the sponsor for addressing a difficult issue and for considering how the funds can benefit youth.
▶ Watch at 1:19:22Read what they said
I think the sponsor's done a, a great job to address a difficult issue and also appreciate, uh, the considerations of how to use these funds to benefit our youth.
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Presented Senate Bill 190, which changes trailer registration notice requirements and offers a lifetime registration option, paid as four years of registration upfront, for certain non-commercial trailers that do not operate interstate.
▶ Watch at 1:28:11Read what they said
Yes, I'll do it from right here. This is the bill everybody's been waiting for. That's what the big crowd was here for. So, um, okay. This, this bill is, is actually pretty straightforward. It, uh, amends the vehicle registration notification requirements and provides an option for the lifetime registration for certain vehicles, uh, trailers and non-commercial trailers that do not, uh, uh, operate on an interstate basis. Uh, basically they can pay for, I believe it's four years of the registration upfront, and then they'll be issued a tag that is a lifetime registration for the vehicle. Um, I think the part of the motivation behind this is that, uh, trailers are rarely used in kind of daily operation. …
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Said he does not yet know how the DMV will present the option to consumers, and hopes it will be clearly stated.
▶ Watch at 1:30:20Read what they said
that's a really good question. I'll be completely honest. I don't know the logistics of how the, the DMV will, uh, operate it in terms of how it will look to the consumer. Um, I would hope that that was clearly stated so people know it's an option. So, but I wish I had a better answer for you Representative
S.B. 190 Trailer Registration Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Said some trailers are used only a few times a year, that registering double-axle trailers is costly, and that single-axle trailers do not have to be registered, and supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:30:42Read what they said
I, I mean, some of these trailers, uh, you, you might use them five or six times a year, and then they sit and then it's pretty expensive to, to register 'em on a, you know, the single axle. You don't have to, but the double axles you do. And, and, uh, I think this is great.
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Asks how the bill affects Safe UT features that rely on student phones during school emergencies.
▶ Watch at 40:24Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield Representative Welton, will you yield? Yes. Yes. Representative V Listen, Uh, thank you. Um, for the past decade, I've been on the safe UT commission and was also part of the school safety task force. Those two, uh, groups worked very hard over the past, uh, year to, to craft, uh, additional technology that is now built into safe ut that is invisible to the student. But if there is a school, you know, tragedy like a school shooting, that technology immediately goes live. Pushing notifications to every student in the school, gathering realtime information about, uh, where a potential shooter may be. Um, uh, opens up two-way communication, which in …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Moves to adopt second substitute HB 59.
▶ Watch at 1:10:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker, pro tem. Motion to move. Second substitute in my name to HB 59. Motion is to adopt second substitute house bill 59.
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Moves to adopt second substitute HB 59, which makes modifications developed with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services.
▶ Watch at 1:10:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker, pro tem. Motion to move. Second substitute in my name to HB 59. Motion is to adopt second substitute house bill 59. That's in order. We'd like to speak to it. Uh, yes, that, uh, makes a few modifications that we've been working on with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services.
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says the substitute makes modifications worked out with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services.
▶ Watch at 1:10:38Read what they said
Uh, yes, that, uh, makes a few modifications that we've been working on with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services.
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Presents the bill as a follow-up to last session's fake ID and Interdicted license law, changing ID-check requirements for alcohol retailers, clarifying parking lot delivery and off-premise beer rules, and saying it was developed with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services and industry groups.
▶ Watch at 1:11:08Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro Tem. Uh, last session, the legislature passed, uh, a very important bill to address, uh, a couple of issues. Uh, one, uh, is the issue of fake driver's licenses, which is extremely prevalent in the state of Utah and across the country. They're easily obtained. If you wanna see some examples, uh, later, you can ask me, and I've got a lot that I can share with you. Um, the other issue related to a new policy called Interdicted Persons. Uh, this was a policy that an individual convicted of an extreme DUI or automobile homicide during the terms of their probation, uh, would be given, uh, a new Utah driver's license that indicates, uh, …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Presents HB 59, citing fake driver's licenses and the Interdicted Persons policy, and explains changes to ID checks for alcohol retailers and a consensus reached with industry groups.
▶ Watch at 1:11:08Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro Tem. Uh, last session, the legislature passed, uh, a very important bill to address, uh, a couple of issues. Uh, one, uh, is the issue of fake driver's licenses, which is extremely prevalent in the state of Utah and across the country. They're easily obtained. If you wanna see some examples, uh, later, you can ask me, and I've got a lot that I can share with you. Um, the other issue related to a new policy called Interdicted Persons. Uh, this was a policy that an individual convicted of an extreme DUI or automobile homicide during the terms of their probation, uh, would be given, uh, a new Utah driver's license that indicates, uh, …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Closes by saying the bill waives the small fee for an Interdicted license, making it easier for people maintaining sobriety to obtain one.
▶ Watch at 1:16:00Read what they said
Uh, thank you. In, in summary, there's, there's one last change that actually a relative of mine thanked me for in the bill last year. An individual who is trying to maintain their sobriety, uh, could go in and pay a fee to get an INTERDICTED license. Uh, this bill also waives the, the small fee. So if an individual is wanting to take a step in advance to, uh, maintain their sobriety, that this makes it even easier to get that id. So thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Closes by saying the bill waives the small fee for an INTERDICTED license for people maintaining their sobriety.
▶ Watch at 1:16:00Read what they said
Uh, thank you. In, in summary, there's, there's one last change that actually a relative of mine thanked me for in the bill last year. An individual who is trying to maintain their sobriety, uh, could go in and pay a fee to get an INTERDICTED license. Uh, this bill also waives the, the small fee. So if an individual is wanting to take a step in advance to, uh, maintain their sobriety, that this makes it even easier to get that id. So thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Introduces HB 572 as having two parts: the Behavioral Health Commission's recommendations and criminal justice changes for people with mental illness or substance use disorders, and previews the Miami-Dade model.
▶ Watch at 57:22Read what they said
Uh, thank, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I, uh, just wanna clarify that I'm gonna be speaking to the second substitute. Uh, the second substitute also pulls in HB 5 52. Um, so I'll explain the whole whole thing as best I can. The, the bill basically is, has two parts. Uh, the first part is the recommendations from the legislatively created Behavioral health commission. I'm joined by the chair of that commission, ally Isim. I'll give her, um, a little bit of time to talk about the commission's recommendations. The, the second part of the bill relates to significant efforts that have been going on for many months with a lot of stakeholders, looking at how we can make …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Thanks Judge Leifman and introduces Ally Isom to review the Behavioral Health Commission's recommendations in the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:05:22Read what they said
Uh, thank you very much, judge Lyman. Appreciate you taking time outta your busy schedule. Uh, next I'd like, uh, ally Isam, the chair of the Beaver Health Commission to go over the recommendations that are largely in the bill from the Utah Behavioral Health Commission.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Explains that the local mental health authority would track civil commitments, that the bill automates the paper civil commitment process, and that a standardized consent waiver for sharing information is included.
▶ Watch at 1:11:26Read what they said
Trying to, I'll, I'll, I'll, lemme do my best. Um, since the bills have become public, we've received a lot of feedback from stakeholders. One of the concerns was, let's say for a crisis receiving center, they, the vast majority of the individuals they serve are there for less than 24 hours. They may go out back into the community with a list of providers, maybe an appointment. Um, we've worked broader language in tasking the local, if there is a civil commitment, tasking the local mental health authority to be the, the entity that tracks that individual, because that's most appropriate. Because once they leave the crisis receiving center, there's HIPAA questions whether or not they even have access …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Responds that the provision on duties of the commission was an existing duty being moved to different sections, and that Rep. Clancy's concern still applies.
▶ Watch at 1:17:26Read what they said
If I may just answer his question, uh, now that I've had time to look at this and maybe a little help from a friend that actually was a pre-existing duty of you save it's being moved into different sections, so it's underlined, but your comment still stands. Thank you.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Says he will prioritize answering questions and then wrap up his presentation.
▶ Watch at 1:17:47Read what they said
No, I didn't. We had some questions and I think it's more important to answer questions. Okay. But I'm gonna wrap up really quickly. Okay.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Summarizes the bill's goals of diversion with follow-up accountability, coordination across systems, and connecting the commission's recommendations, and thanks the commission members.
▶ Watch at 1:17:54Read what they said
Um, just super high level, in addition to the commission's recommendations, which we're gonna fight for as hard as we can, because they have, I really want to give a huge shout out to all the 11 members of the commission and our staff, me and Nger and others that have worked extremely hard to come up with the recommendations we have. And they, they deserve to be acknowledged. That's why I put 'em in the bill, even though fiscal reality is that we won't be able to get 'em all in here. Um, the, the high level of this bill is if we can, uh, there's a, a great PBS documentary entit entitled The Definition of Insanity. That's about …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Responds that no coercion has been raised in stakeholder meetings and that he is willing to consider additional guardrails on confidentiality.
▶ Watch at 1:20:52Read what they said
Both. Okay. Well then I'll answer the question. Part of it that I heard, I, I completely agree with you. Um, at no point in our numerous stakeholder meetings or site visits, have I heard anything about coercion. A lot of times, I mean, these people want to get better. They want help. And so often when systems can't talk to one another, that coordination is stifled. So of course there will be, um, high expectations for sensitivity or confidentiality, and happy to look at any guardrails we need to put in there that we don't already have in there. But it's well said, well taken and completely agree.
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Says the bill is not all-or-nothing, that funding will depend on EAC appropriations, and that many policy provisions can move forward without funding.
▶ Watch at 1:37:45Read what they said
Uh, thank you Madam Chair. Um, let, let, let me go clinician on the clinician, even though I'm not a clinician. Okay. Um, I, I don't, uh, as part of cognitive behavior therapy, we don't want all or nothing thinking. So no, I am not saying this bill is all or nothing. I I'm under no illusion, um, that we'll be getting everything in this bill. Um, it will come down to ultimately what executive appropriations allocates, you know, to, to this bill through the, the EAC process. I would then work very closely with the leadership of the Behavioral Health Commission to determine what those priorities are. The thought of getting the 88 million for the 60 bed step …
H.B. 572 Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Agrees with the database concerns, says details should be set through rulemaking as with the prescription drug database, and describes civil commitment problems that a database would address.
▶ Watch at 1:39:47Read what they said
I didn't hear a question, but I'm happy to answer that. We've talked offline, but I, I maybe really quickly. I, I completely agree. There's a really good analogy here, which is the prescription dug drug database, which there was, you know, lots of concern about that before. That is very carefully controlled. Uh, lot, a lot of that's done by rulemaking, severe penalties for getting in there. The thought of putting all of the details in this bill versus allowing the public process to work through the rulemaking. I, I don't think it's good policy to try to say thou shalt this or that without, you know, allowing the, the input like we did for the prescription drug database. …
S.B. 164 School Construction Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks whether the bill addresses the audit recommendations for LEAs and the state board; sponsor responds that they are included and that the eighth recommendation concerns who provides oversight.
▶ Watch at 1:44:09Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. So, one of the witnesses mentioned the three, uh, audit findings that the LEAs were to accomplish, and then there were five board items that were to be accomplished. Could, could you address, does this bill address those eight things? Uh, where, where were we at in completing those? And I've got those here if you want me to just read 'em out loud. Um, but I, I, I, I would hope that this would be addressing that as well, because that, that did seem like that would be reasonable, right? That we address that. Mr. Chair, if I can speak to that. Yes, Please. Go Ahead. Are you, I'm sorry. Are you talking about …
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend Senate Bill 77, second substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:58:41Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 77 second substitute.
S.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend S.C.R. 7.
▶ Watch at 40:30Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion that we favor favorably recommend, um, Senate concurrent Resolution seven.
H.B. 115 Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend HB 115 as amended.
▶ Watch at 50:34Read what they said
I will then make a motion that we favorably recommend House Bill one 15 as amended.
H.B. 115 Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Says the bill is excellent policy and a useful conversation starter about owning vehicles versus renting them from the government.
▶ Watch at 50:45Read what they said
I would. Just for a second. I think it's excellent policy. I agree. This is, you know, it may not get funded, therefore, but it is a good conversation starter. 'cause we do need to get to the point where you truly never own it. Right? You're always renting it from the government. And, uh, and that's how I always have felt about, you know, uh, tax on a car. And so, I, I do favor this policy actually. It's great policy.
H.J.R. 18 Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend HJR 18.
▶ Watch at 57:22Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I make a motion that we favorably recommend HJR 18.
H.J.R. 18 Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said he thinks the resolution is a good one and thanked the sponsor for bringing it.
▶ Watch at 57:32Read what they said
Um, I think it's a, I think it's a great resolution. Thank you for bringing it. Yeah. It's always impressive when the entire resolution could be pretty much summed up in the title, so.
H.J.R. 18 Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said steep drops in federal tax and benefit changes make the resolution useful to address.
▶ Watch at 57:50Read what they said
Uh, yeah. Also, I'll just say that when the federal government has such steep cliffs of drop off of, of, uh, tax changes or benefit changes, I think that's why this was, would be really good to help, um, shore that up.
S.B. 155 Unclaimed Property Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks the treasurer whether required minimum distributions must be taken each year on money held for a decedent.
▶ Watch at 1:14:20Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. So I've got a question for our treasurer then. Um, so when it comes to required minimum distributions, do you have to do those each year that that money is held for a decedent? That was post seven? Well, now 73. Do you, do you have to do those to, to satisfy the federal requirement for distribution? I, I,
S.B. 155 Unclaimed Property Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Says he had hoped annual distributions were not required and finds the answer helpful.
▶ Watch at 1:14:42Read what they said
Okay. I was gonna say that would be news to me. I didn't, I was hoping you didn't have to. 'cause that's a lot of, that's a lot of keeping track of. Yeah. Okay. That's, that's helpful.
S.B. 155 Unclaimed Property Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moves to place SB 155 on the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 1:16:45Read what they said
I will make a motion that we place this bill on consent. Would you like to speak to that?
H.B. 471 Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Moves to adopt amendment number two to the bill.
▶ Watch at 44:33Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, motion to move amendment number two in my name.
H.B. 471 Social Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Explains that the amendment clarifies the continuous eligibility provision, which would not apply to enrollees already eligible for continuous enrollment under state and federal law.
▶ Watch at 44:47Read what they said
Uh, yes. Th thank you. This is just a, a simple clarification, uh, clarifying that if an enroll, uh, uh, conducted eligibility determination for the recipient, and really, unless the enroll has already has continuous eligibility in accordance with state and federal law. So it's just, just clarifying if they're already eligible for the continuous enrollment, that that's part won't be applicable.
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Presents the bill, which adjusts the timing and process for unwinding Medicaid expansion if Utah's trigger law is pulled, requires a DHHS analysis if federal changes occur, and provides for a waiver request to restore certain targeted adult Medicaid provisions; he states it has no fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 50:13Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Speaker Pro tem. Uh, this was an interim bill, uh, with, uh, had unanimous support coming out of interim. We've made some additional changes to it. In the meantime, it's actually a very simple bill with a zero fiscal note. Uh, with the passage of the big beautiful Bill R one in Congress. It, uh, brought to light some potential issues with Medicaid, uh, expansion population in Utah. Uh, so this bill makes some, some minor adjustments to the process by which we would unwind Medicaid if Utah's trigger law is, uh, uh, triggered. So, uh, currently our trigger law would say if certain if we drop below the 90% fmap, then it would, uh, they'd …
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
In summation, says the bill repeals more code than it adds, including removing old waiver language.
▶ Watch at 54:47Read what they said
The la the last thing I'll say, it actually repeals more code than it adds. So there's there, there's that too. We take a lot of old waiver language out. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro tem.
S.B. 86 Firearm Safe Harbor Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Presents SB 86, which concerns the voluntary firearm safe harbor for storage, updates data collection, clarifies that the record is private, and requires law enforcement to dispose of it after a set period.
▶ Watch at 23:22Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, this bill concerns the safe harbor, uh, for firearm storage. This is a legislation that we passed a number of years ago that is on a completely voluntary basis where an individual can take a, a, a firearm into, uh, a law enforcement agency. This bill updates the collection of data and, uh, also clarifies that it's a, a private record and that record needs to be, uh, disposed of by law enforcement after a certain period of time. Um, basic Bill that has had strong support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Supports the bill, citing tax incentives, prevention funding, and national Medicaid smoking statistics.
▶ Watch at 2:35:24Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise and supported this bill, and I wanna comment on, uh, the bill from both a kind of economic and fiscal conservative perspective. The famous, uh, economist, Milton Friedman, said, if you want less of something, tax it. If you want more of something, subsidize it, uh, this bill would create, uh, uh, incentives so there would be less purchase of tobacco. And to the extent that, uh, the, some of the funding goes to prevention, that's subsidizing it, we get more of that. Now, let me share some really interesting statistics. Uh, if you look at national rates of individuals enrolled in Medicaid, on average, according to the na, national Cancer Action Network, …
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Supports the bill on fiscal and public health grounds, citing Medicaid smoking rates and potential savings to taxpayers.
▶ Watch at 2:35:24Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise and supported this bill, and I wanna comment on, uh, the bill from both a kind of economic and fiscal conservative perspective. The famous, uh, economist, Milton Friedman, said, if you want less of something, tax it. If you want more of something, subsidize it, uh, this bill would create, uh, uh, incentives so there would be less purchase of tobacco. And to the extent that, uh, the, some of the funding goes to prevention, that's subsidizing it, we get more of that. Now, let me share some really interesting statistics. Uh, if you look at national rates of individuals enrolled in Medicaid, on average, according to the na, national Cancer Action Network, …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Explains the background of the bill, including the prior session's bill on interdicted persons and fake IDs and an unintended ID-check requirement for restaurants, and says the bill returns ID checks for most establishments to bars and taverns while adding a process for holding fake IDs.
▶ Watch at 32:23Read what they said
Um, I, uh, want to give you a little bit of background on the, the genesis of this bill. So, uh, last session, uh, the legislature passed, uh, a bill entitled Interdicted Persons. That Bill, uh, I think was an extremely important bill. Uh, one of our colleagues texted me a link and some of that, I don't know, had posted about it on Instagram. And last I looked at it, had over a third of a million likes. And what that bill did is it said, if somebody has a history, a criminal history, a serious criminal history related to alcohol, uh, offenses, like an extreme DUI or automobile homicide, during the time of their probation, they would be …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Introduces the two witnesses, Art Brown and Michelle Corigliano, and notes that they are united in supporting the bill.
▶ Watch at 38:27Read what they said
Okay. Uh, briefly, as part of my presentation, which will also limit public comment, I'm gonna briefly, uh, allow Art Brown and, uh, Michelle Cor Corigliano. Did I say it right? Michelle? You don't have to say. Okay. Alright. I can't even say it. Okay. Thank you. I've been mispronouncing my last name for centuries. Um, Michelle got that. Normally we got that. I wouldn't be joined probably at, uh, the witness stand by these two individuals on an alcohol issue. 'cause sometimes they're on opposite sides. In this case, you'll see that we are united. But go ahead.
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Describes testing ID scanners on a box of confiscated fake IDs and says the bill clarifies that ID checks must confirm the photo matches and the person is 21 and not an interdicted person.
▶ Watch at 42:34Read what they said
Tha thank you, Juab. Just in conclusion, I, I do wanna thank the industry. Uh, I took that, I obtained that box of fake IDs from the State Bureau of Investigation, of which they have boxes and boxes and boxes of them. And I met with a number of lobbyists. We Uintah a, a local, uh, bar for lunch, and we scanned that box of IDs using two types of software they have before the Bill Uintah effect January 1st. And it caught almost all of them. Uh, I benchmarked that against the states software that they use and found the results to be almost identical. Uh, one last thing the bill does is on starting on line 80, it …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Explains that establishments may record foreign IDs and passports for seven days and decide whether to admit the person, and that the bill does not change this process.
▶ Watch at 44:27Read what they said
Um, there is a process in place before my bill last session. This bill does not alter that. Where, um, an establishment, if they present, uh, a foreign ID including passport, um, they can, uh, write that information down, which they're required to, to retain for seven days. And then it's up to them to make the judgment call. Um, whether or not they gain admittance. I, I cannot speak to whether or not that one, the origin of it, because it,
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Explains that a prior compromise allows parking lot beer delivery by grocery stores and that the bill restores the requirement to scan IDs for such deliveries.
▶ Watch at 45:53Read what they said
Th th thank you that, that was a, again, an issue addressed last year where there was a compromise struck kind of in the omnibus bill, which I wasn't the sponsor of that off-premise beer retailers such as grocery stores that do parking lot delivery, um, could start offering delivery of, of beer to customers in their cars. The, the, the agreement that was agreed to is that they would scan those IDs and that got left out of the menagerie bill's last session. So this is trying to restore that saying, if we're going to allow parking lot delivery to a vehicle, which we just hope that they don't open the product while they're driving, of course, but that …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Says grocery and convenience stores must check IDs for interdicted status but are not yet required to use the enhanced software, and that the confiscation language applies only to bars and taverns, so other establishments must return IDs.
▶ Watch at 46:56Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. So, uh, at, at, uh, grocery stores and convenience stores, they are required to do a hundred percent Id check to check for inter dtic status. Uh, at this point in time, they are not required to use the enhanced software. Uh, we hope to get into the a point in the future where, uh, maybe the state could make available to every retailer software that accomplishes all of these objectives. However, this is a step in the right direction to, uh, check for that. The confiscation language in the bill only applies to bars and taverns. Uh, we have not waited into that category of, uh, convenience stores and restaurants left, but Representative …
H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Supports the motion, thanks the industry and advocates, says the bill has a retroactive effective date to January 1, and says the ID checks are justified for public safety.
▶ Watch at 51:22Read what they said
I, I, I support that Juab. Just in closing, I'll say that I appreciate working with the industry, the prevention advocates on this issue, last session and this session. And I do apologize for some of the challenges that have been created in the, the meantime. The bill does have a retroactive effective date to January 1st. So if any establishment had an issue with this due to the confusion, that would really not be prosecutable because it has a retroactive date. So we've tried to be, this wasn't a unanimous interim bill, we hope to get on an, uh, special session, which didn't happen. But I will say for those that have been inconvenienced, um, because of an ID …
S.B. 131 Charter School Eligibility · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend SB 131.
▶ Watch at 1:39:23Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. I make, I would like to make a motion that we favorably recommend, uh, Senate Bill 1 31.
S.B. 131 Charter School Eligibility · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Said he would make a new motion now that the substitute motion has passed.
▶ Watch at 1:41:32Read what they said
I will Waive to make a new motion. We'll make, make a new motion. Okay. I will,
S.B. 131 Charter School Eligibility · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend SB 131 as amended.
▶ Watch at 1:41:37Read what they said
Right. I will make a motion that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 1 31 as amended.
H.B. 445 County Government Land Purchasing · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Moves to circle the bill so the sponsor has time to address the substantive question raised.
▶ Watch at 27:38Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to circle Representative. That motion is in order. Would you like to speak to her? I just think that would give the sponsor, uh, a a few minutes to address the important substantive question that was been asked.
H.B. 445 County Government Land Purchasing · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says a circle motion would give the sponsor time to address the substantive question that was asked.
▶ Watch at 27:45Read what they said
I just think that would give the sponsor, uh, a a few minutes to address the important substantive question that was been asked.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Moves to adopt the second substitute for H.B. 423.
▶ Watch at 33:30Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to move, move the first substitute to HB 4 23 in my name First substitute or second substitute representative. I'm Sorry. Second substitute. There we go.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Moves to adopt the second substitute for H.B. 423 in his name.
▶ Watch at 33:31Read what they said
Motion to move, move the first substitute to HB 4 23 in my name First substitute or second substitute representative. I'm Sorry. Second substitute. There we go.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the substitute makes a minor change requested by the courts concerning extreme DUI in certain sentencing components.
▶ Watch at 33:44Read what they said
Uh, yes. Thank you. This has a, a minor change requested by the courts to make sure that we pull extreme DUI into certain components of sentencing.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the substitute makes a minor change requested by the courts so that extreme DUI is included in certain components of sentencing.
▶ Watch at 33:44Read what they said
Uh, yes. Thank you. This has a, a minor change requested by the courts to make sure that we pull extreme DUI into certain components of sentencing.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Presents the bill, which aligns penalties for hit-and-run crashes involving injury or death with DUI penalties, adds enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, and offers a six-hour window to return to the scene or report for reduced penalties, citing rising hit-and-run numbers.
▶ Watch at 34:32Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this is a very important bill. On average today alone, there'll be 14 people in the state of Utah that cause an accident and flee the scene. In 2020, we had about 3,900 hit and runs, but every year since then, we have averaged over 5,000 hit and runs a year. Unfortunately, under current code drivers that cause a hit and an accident, and then the scene are incentivized to do so because the penalties, if they are impaired, are less severe for hit and run than they are for causing an accident and being convicted of driving under the influence. Uh, this bill seeks to remedy that issue and aligns the DUI, uh, penalties, …
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says hit-and-run penalties are less severe than DUI penalties for causing an accident, and that the bill aligns penalties for injury and fatal hit-and-runs with DUI penalties, adds enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and provides a six-hour window to return to the scene or report for slightly reduced penalties.
▶ Watch at 34:32Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this is a very important bill. On average today alone, there'll be 14 people in the state of Utah that cause an accident and flee the scene. In 2020, we had about 3,900 hit and runs, but every year since then, we have averaged over 5,000 hit and runs a year. Unfortunately, under current code drivers that cause a hit and an accident, and then the scene are incentivized to do so because the penalties, if they are impaired, are less severe for hit and run than they are for causing an accident and being convicted of driving under the influence. Uh, this bill seeks to remedy that issue and aligns the DUI, uh, penalties, …
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the bill encourages drivers to stop, render aid, and report, and describes a fatal case in which a driver with prior convictions fled the scene before being caught.
▶ Watch at 36:21Read what they said
Uh, why does this, this matter? Um, lining incentives that we want them to stop and help and render aid, which is the current law, and reporting is always the better choice. Instead of fleeing, it promotes public safety awareness, accountability, and does not reward fleeing the scene of an accident, which unfortunately our current code promotes. Uh, some of the families I've visited with during the course of, uh, this bill, their stories have been extremely sobering, uh, sobering. The, uh, accident a few years ago involving, involving Eli Mitchell individual had been convicted five prior times. He hit Eli Mitchell, dragged him under his truck on his bike, uh, then got out, pulled the bike out, and left …
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Gives closing remarks calling the change common sense and long overdue, and asks for support.
▶ Watch at 37:57Read what they said
I think this is a very common sense, uh, change that is many years past due and hope for your support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the change is common sense, is overdue, and asks for support of the bill.
▶ Watch at 37:57Read what they said
I think this is a very common sense, uh, change that is many years past due and hope for your support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Eliason moved to adopt second substitute H.B. 70 and said it lowers the fiscal note by removing one cost item.
▶ Watch at 1:49:14Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker ProAm. Motion to adopt, uh, to move second substitute to HB 70 in my name. The motion is to adopt second substitute house bill 70. We'd like to speak to it. Yes. Uh, this, uh, pulls out, uh, some of the, uh, one of the items that was, uh, uh, driving the, the fiscal note and will lower the potential cost of, we will lower the cost of the, the fiscal note of the bill.
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the substitute removes one item that drove the fiscal note, which lowers the bill's cost.
▶ Watch at 1:49:25Read what they said
Yes. Uh, this, uh, pulls out, uh, some of the, uh, one of the items that was, uh, uh, driving the, the fiscal note and will lower the potential cost of, we will lower the cost of the, the fiscal note of the bill.
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Eliason described H.B. 70, which would let the state bill Medicaid for inmates' healthcare costs 90 days before release, funded from the Medicaid growth reduction account, and said it was a unanimous interim bill.
▶ Watch at 1:49:58Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, uh, several years ago, uh, you passed an important legislation that, uh, related to the justice involved waiver, uh, related to correctional healthcare. Utah was one of five states that had that waiver approved that allows the state to bill Medicaid 90 days, uh, prior to release for inmates for their healthcare costs. More importantly, it's looking at, uh, addressing some of the underlying issues relating to behavioral health, substance use disorder, uh, that, uh, caused our, some of our high rates of recidivism. Uh, that legislation passed. Uh, the state sought the waiver, it was approved, but there's one significant barrier implementing that waiver. And that is, …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Explains that the bill lets the state bill Medicaid for inmates' healthcare in the 90 days before release, funds the change from the Medicaid budget stabilization account, and requires focus on substance use and mental health treatment; says it was a unanimous interim bill.
▶ Watch at 1:49:58Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Uh, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, uh, several years ago, uh, you passed an important legislation that, uh, related to the justice involved waiver, uh, related to correctional healthcare. Utah was one of five states that had that waiver approved that allows the state to bill Medicaid 90 days, uh, prior to release for inmates for their healthcare costs. More importantly, it's looking at, uh, addressing some of the underlying issues relating to behavioral health, substance use disorder, uh, that, uh, caused our, some of our high rates of recidivism. Uh, that legislation passed. Uh, the state sought the waiver, it was approved, but there's one significant barrier implementing that waiver. And that is, …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Eliason named the bill Oscar's bill after a late constituent and said better diagnosis, treatment and coverage after release can improve reentry outcomes and reduce costs and recidivism.
▶ Watch at 1:54:45Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm in informally naming this Oscar's bill after a, uh, late constituent of mine who was discharged from corrections last year and died by suicide shortly after his release. Uh, he struggled with serious mental illness and, uh, well, I can't say this bill would've prevented his death. We know that if inmates are diagnosed appropriately, put on treatment and have coverage for a period subsequent to release their chances for success of reentering the community are greatly enhanced that will inherently reduce cost to taxpayers and reduce recidivism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro. Tim.
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the bill is named Oscar's bill after a late constituent and argues that proper diagnosis, treatment and coverage after release improve reentry and reduce cost and recidivism.
▶ Watch at 1:54:45Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm in informally naming this Oscar's bill after a, uh, late constituent of mine who was discharged from corrections last year and died by suicide shortly after his release. Uh, he struggled with serious mental illness and, uh, well, I can't say this bill would've prevented his death. We know that if inmates are diagnosed appropriately, put on treatment and have coverage for a period subsequent to release their chances for success of reentering the community are greatly enhanced that will inherently reduce cost to taxpayers and reduce recidivism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro. Tim.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks to confirm that the state may forgo about 58 million dollars in sales tax on future Olympic ticket sales, based on the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 2:07:34Read what they said
Um, in, in, in the accounting world, we often talk about opportunity cost that would also be, in some cases be called a dynamic fiscal note, which we generally aren't doing. But in my reading this fiscal note, and I just wanna confirm if my reading is accurate, we are potentially foregoing, uh, approximately 58 million in sales tax related, uh, to future Olympic ticket sales. Is, is that correct, Mr. Speaker?
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Restates the question about opportunity cost and forgone sales tax revenue of about 58 million dollars.
▶ Watch at 2:08:09Read what they said
Yeah, sure. I I can repeat that. Um, I, I just mentioned that, uh, in, in accounting and economics, there's a, a term called opportunity cost in terms of what you're foregoing not at something you have to write a check for, but something that you're giving up it, my reading of the fiscal note says that the, uh, exemption sales tax exemption may be causing the state to forego approximately 58 million in sales tax revenue. Is, is my reading of that? Correct?
H.B. 445 County Government Land Purchasing · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Eliason asked whether the sponsor would yield to a question.
▶ Watch at 2:26:41Read what they said
Representative Eli, uh, Stevie, listen, Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield Representative Strong?
H.B. 445 County Government Land Purchasing · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Eliason asked the sponsor to consider making the property tax change prospective rather than retroactive, saying it could add costs for counties that bought property under the existing rules.
▶ Watch at 2:26:52Read what they said
Um, my question would be is at some point along the process of this bill, would the sponsor, obviously it'd have to be in the Senate probably, but, uh, be open to m making the property tax change prospective. Uh, the reason why generally, uh, in the legislative world, it's very, very rare to do something ex post facto. In the case of this particular bill, as I understand it, having, uh, communicated with officials in my county, uh, this could, uh, create an additional cost for the county. And of course, one of their major sources of revenue is property taxes. I'm, I'm not saying this would necessarily, uh, result in a property tax increase, but yet it would …
H.B. 484 Property Tax Changes · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Commented that a lack of sales price disclosure led to a $25 million commercial undervaluation in one small city, shifting tax burden onto homeowners.
▶ Watch at 1:12:14Read what they said
Sure. Um, I received some interesting news today related to property taxes. This goes back to a related issue. We know there's been a, a shift between residential and commercial, and we've had numerous discussions about disclosure. I've been assured those issues have been fixed, but I just learned today of a private transaction that I was aware of in my private life. And so I can called up an assessor and said, tell me what was reported to you about the sale price. No disclosure whatsoever for this small city. It was a $25 million undervaluation on the commercial side. So, so I commend you for looking at ways to address some of our property tax issues, because in …
H.B. 484 Property Tax Changes · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asked whether a 5% annual cap would make school boards raise taxes more frequently.
▶ Watch at 1:31:22Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. I I do have a question. Um, as it relates to, uh, in your case, a school board, if they know they're gonna be capped at 5% annually, do you think it's more or less likely that they would raise taxes more frequently than what they currently do for fear of not being able to keep up with inflation, whereas they often kind of kick the can down the road until it kind of gets so painful that they have to, you know, cry tax increase?
H.B. 471 Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether, if federal retroactive eligibility rules change, the state would be bound to that standard and whether providers could be left with uncovered costs.
▶ Watch at 42:57Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, one question I have is, I, I, you know, understand aligning with federal policy due to the supremacy clause. Um, I'm, I'm wondering for, for instance, the, um, retroactive eligibility is something that is often very helpful in a healthcare setting because you'll have somebody say, come into an emergency room, receive services, and then they would find out maybe they don't have coverage at that point for Medicaid, but they find out they're eligible, they enroll them. Um, if retroactive eligibility isn't an option, and again, again, if that's federal law, that's federal law, but my question is, if federal law changes, then with this bill in place, would we then be beholden …
H.B. 471 Social Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says he will support the bill and suggests discussing specific language between committee and floor action.
▶ Watch at 44:34Read what they said
That's the case. Okay. I, I, I'm gonna support the bill, but maybe between moves outta committee, between floor time, we could just talk about maybe some particular language. I had a bill like this similar this morning, trying to align things with federal changes and anticipation of, you know, triggers that could happen. And so, you know, we can talk more offline. Thank you.
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks who pays for the bus retrofit and for the ongoing connectivity cost, and notes the cost range in the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:53:02Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, this is an interesting topic and, and kudos to kids that are actually doing homework. I, that's like some serious flirt time. I mean, that's what I would've been doing instead of doing homework, but, hey, anyway, question I have is on a serious note, uh, it did say in page two, by the way, the cost is between 42 30 and 4,700 at on the bike. Oh, thank You. Okay. 4,500 then. Yeah. Okay. So help me understand, just to make sure I'm clear. So there's the cost of retrofitting the bus, but then there's an ongoing cost to provide service who, who pays for which?
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether any districts said they would not pay the ongoing costs without the grant.
▶ Watch at 1:55:26Read what they said
Thank you. And just one more question if I Yeah, please Go ahead. So, so I think it's, the federal program was like called the Eide program or something like that. Um, so have there have any of the districts that have, that have had this service that have said, you know what, if we have to pay for it, we're probably not going to to pay for that ongoing. Has there been any conversation about those?
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason presented HB 15 second substitute, which changes the timing of the Medicaid expansion trigger law so the Legislature can review federal changes, and which also addresses the targeted adult Medicaid program and undocumented children coverage.
▶ Watch at 56:50Read what they said
substitute Medicaid amendments, is that correct? That is, that is correct. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chair Pro tem, um, oh, what, what do you know? Just in time. Okay. Um, HB 15 was an interim bill, um, actually a unanimous interim bill. We've made some changes to its since then. Uh, let me just give you a little background about the genesis of the bill. Um, I'm, I'm sure you're all familiar with, uh, HR one often referred to in Congress as the big beautiful bill. Uh, that bill made, uh, significant changes to, uh, many parts of the federal budget, including Medicaid. Uh, the original version of the house Bill, uh, had some potential changes in it that, uh, …
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason said income eligibility is not changing and that some sections were moved for clean-up, so the per capita cap language is not new policy.
▶ Watch at 1:04:16Read what they said
No, it, it, it's we're that, that is staying the same. Some, some sections in the bill are moving around, just were, were cleaning up the section. And so some of the underlying sections appear to be new, aren't new, they're underlined because they were moved. So, uh, if you read anything about per capita caps, which caused some people some consternation, that is not new policy that is simply rearranging the section of the code.
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason said the change is not intended to add people to the program and asked that Stephanie Burdick be invited to answer the question.
▶ Watch at 1:05:28Read what they said
Um, that that is not the intent. Okay. All right. Luckily, I'm gonna, uh, with the permission of the chair invite Stephanie please to, uh, to answer that question, Not with DHHS,
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason said the bill does not intend to expand Medicaid enrollment and that the discussion involves two different percentages.
▶ Watch at 1:07:49Read what they said
By, I, I can assure you that is not the intent of the bill and not what it's doing. Okay. And if that was the case, then that will be fixed, but that is, I, I think we're just conflating the 95 versus the 133, which is, are two different metrics. Okay,
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason, as sponsor, said the bill does not expand Medicaid, puts Utah in a better position to respond to federal decisions, and keeps the program financially sound with substantial reserves.
▶ Watch at 1:14:24Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you, Juab. Just in some, because I know, uh, Representative Kyle came in just, uh, late probably for another committee. This does not expand Medicaid. This simply puts Utah in the driver's seat, uh, based on potential decisions that Congress may make, I'm told will likely make. And, uh, important to note, our program is very financially sound with, uh, nearly a third of a billion dollars in reserves, which will grow with the disenrollment. That's going to happen. The only thing this bill will automatically do is make sure we have enough time to analyze changes and automatically Sunset the, uh, the program for undocumented children, if that, uh, potentially trips the waiver based on federal …
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason said an original fiscal note showed zero and that a subsequent fiscal note for the substitute would be released that day.
▶ Watch at 1:15:29Read what they said
There, there is, uh, an original fiscal note for the bill that said zero. Um, the, the intricacy of, uh, having it subbed in rules, the other fiscal note should be out today. I'm told that that will, this will not be a fiscal note bill from those that are generating it, because we're not adding or subtracting to that. So, um, the, the subsequent fiscal note from the sub will be out today. Okay.
H.B. 15 Medicaid Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Eliason said he expects the fiscal note to be zero and will declare any different amount on the floor.
▶ Watch at 1:15:58Read what they said
Uh, that's what I'm expecting it to be. If it's, if it's anything different, I will declare that on the floor if it makes it that far.
H.B. 575 Fuel Tax and Supply Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says the state is effectively debt-free because rainy day funds exceed bonded debt, and that the cut returns money to taxpayers while the state looks for ongoing options.
▶ Watch at 1:41:22Read what they said
Thank you. I am just going to add a prerogative of the chair here. If you look at our budget in totality, we haven't made a big enough deal of this, but, uh, we, Utah just became a debt, effectively a debt free state because our rainy day funds now exceed all of our bond indebtedness. And because our bond indebtedness, a lot of that is at 2%, we're now arbitraging that. So I think from a big picture perspective, if you look at our budget, we're in very sound financial shape. And while this isn't ongoing, I think it is a very nice way to give some money, put some money back into the pockets of taxpayers, uh, and …
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether an updated fiscal note for the second substitute has been submitted.
▶ Watch at 41:14Read what they said
Oh, thank you. I was just looking. Is there an updated fiscal note for the second sub
H.B. 350 Foods Available at Schools Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asks why charter schools have not partnered with districts on collective purchasing of food.
▶ Watch at 56:41Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Thank you for being here today. Um, I've, I've been around here for quite a while and, um, worked a lot on charter school, uh, formation and their related issues and challenges. We, we, the initiation and throughout the process we're told charter schools can do it better, cheaper, faster, et cetera. So, um, I guess one question I have is just like we have municipalities tag onto the state's AAA bond rating. Why haven't charter schools partnered with districts on their, their buying for, uh, you know, collective buying power for not just these particular foods, but food in general? It seems like a huge missed opportunity and the fact that now all of our districts …
H.B. 350 Foods Available at Schools Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asks for a bottom-line answer and suggests the main obstacle is cost.
▶ Watch at 58:48Read what they said
One last question if I may, Mr. Chair? Yes, go ahead. Uh, Madam Chair, sorry. Um, so bottom line, the opposition is, is just too expensive to supply healthier foods to kids. Okay, thank you.
H.C.R. 10 Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Moves that HCR 10 be passed out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:09:39Read what they said
No. Okay. Uh, I'd like to make a motion that we pass out, uh, HCR 10 with a favorable recommendation.
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether an RFA was submitted to the Public Education Appropriations Committee for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:59:17Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Just one question and then a comment. Um, was this, uh, did you submit an RFA to the Public Education Appropriations Committee for this?
H.B. 393 Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Commended the bill, noted dyslexia's impact on schools, and referenced past screening programs.
▶ Watch at 1:59:41Read what they said
Okay. That's always a, a conundrum, but that's why EAC, one of the reasons EAC exists is to help prioritize things that are really important, which I think this is, um, I, I commend you for your work on this. Um, I was visiting with the director of special ed from my district recently, and just unprompted, she told me that dyslexia is one of the biggest issues they deal with and how few resources are available. So I think this is very timely. Also, we have a long history of, of doing screeners for issues that can go wrong above children's necks. Hearing vision. We started doing mental health screenings with parental opt-in, which have been robustly utilized, and …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says he is waiting on a substitute to help reduce the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:22:04Read what they said
Uh, yes. Uh, I am waiting on a sub to help reduce the fiscal note.
H.B. 417 Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Supports the bill, commends the sponsor for working with interested parties, shares personal experience with this situation, and urges passage.
▶ Watch at 1:25:38Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise and supported this bill. I commend the sponsor for working with, uh, uh, numerous interested parties to craft something that is very practical and frankly very needed. Um, I've experienced this situation myself and wish this bill would've been in place, uh, many years ago. So I would, uh, advocate for its passage. Thank you.
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason asked where nicotine pouches fit in state code and how they would be defined.
▶ Watch at 1:07:53Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple questions and I appreciate you taking some time offline for me to ask you some questions, sir, but I feel like we need to ask some of those questions. So that is, yes, sir. In the public, uh, number one, define where these pouches fit in our code. Is it just nicotine product or what, what is going to be the definition of this new type of, of pouch?
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason asked whether the proposed rate would be competitive with other states or push buyers out of Utah.
▶ Watch at 1:10:25Read what they said
Thank you. And, and just to follow up on that, 'cause you alluded to that. So the, the tax rate is, is one that's, uh, of concern to a lot of folks, and that is if we do have the tax rate super high, which then forces people to leave the state of Utah byproduct and come back into the state of Utah, we haven't solved the problem. And that is these products are still making their way to kids, right? So explain where you are with the rate in terms of would it be competitive with other states? Are we gonna be forcing people out of Utah? Is that gonna be an issue?
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason asked whether the 86% tax applies to the $5.75 retail price.
▶ Watch at 1:12:22Read what they said
Okay. So just, just real quick, just to make sure I understand on the tax, so you were saying, 'cause the tax is 86%, correct? Mm-hmm. Yes sir. So at 5 75 per can, that's 86% of that is $4 and 90 cents. So the, my understanding this, it would be
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason said that explained the estimated per-can increase.
▶ Watch at 1:12:55Read what they said
Okay, perfect. So, okay. That's where you came up with that 1 38 thing. I,
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason raised concern about bulk out-of-state purchases for resale and asked why enforcement money is directed to first-class county police.
▶ Watch at 1:13:30Read what they said
Yeah. And so I think the concern with, you know, you're, you're right, a person on their way to work wouldn't most likely go to, you know, Wyoming. However, if the tax were large enough, I could see a person going to Wyoming, right? Buying a pickup load of cases of this stuff, bringing it back, and then just retailing it out the back of his truck to people that that does happen, right? Yes, sir. And so I do think that's a consideration. And then one last question on the dollar amounts that are going to the police, that two, was it 2 million? Yes, sir. Uh, explain to me why the first class, uh, county versus is, are …
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason asked what the manufacturer's price is so the committee can estimate the proposed tax.
▶ Watch at 1:31:18Read what they said
Uh, thank you for being here and again for, uh, having to stay over, but you got to enjoy Utah, right? You bet. That's right. Sure did. So the question was that manufacturing price, can you give us kind of a, what that means? Sure. So that we can get an idea what that tax would look like under the current, current proposed bill.
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason asked Rep. Koford whether her concern is mainly the rate and whether the committee could agree on a rate to pass the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:03:50Read what they said
Yeah. So I have a question to Representative Koford. So would, would you say that most of the concern is around the rate? Um, because what I'm hearing is, and, and I could be wrong, everybody's on board with obviously the end objective, right? Is that we don't allow kids to get hooked onto products that shouldn't be having access to these products. So if it's a rate issue, is that something we all feel like we can have a conversation here and say, Hey, let's come to a rate that we feel comfortable with to pass this out as a committee because, and, and maybe the sponsor can speak to it. I don't know if there's been collaboration with …
H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Rep. Eliason agreed the tax seems too high but said he wants the bill to move forward if a number can be found.
▶ Watch at 2:05:06Read what they said
Yeah, because because I do agree with you. I, I personally, I feel like the tax is too high. I think that's kind of the issue. I would, I I do wanna see this bill move forward. I do wanna see there be some work, but that's where I'm wondering is can we find that number so that we can move forward?
H.B. 447 Tobacco Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend H.B. 447, first substitute as amended.
▶ Watch at 2:19:47Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion that we favorably recommend House Bill 4 47, first substitute as amended.
H.B. 365 Taxation Notification Requirements · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asked whether there is a date that would work for the bill's purposes. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:29:43Read what they said
Well, I'm looking forward to hearing the, the next answer too, but, um, I, I guess I'll put you on the spot. Is there a, speaking of Goldilocks here today, uh, is there a, is there a time that works for you and would work to serve the purposes of this bill?
H.B. 362 Tax Payments with Gold · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asks for clarification on whether the tax credit is 5% or 15% and how long it lasts.
▶ Watch at 3:00:14Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you Mr. Chair, can you re-explain to me? 'cause I thought I heard you say there was a 5% tax credit and then you said something about 15%. Did I miss? Oh, I'm sorry. I don't think, yeah, I didn't mean to say 15%. If I did, if you look at, and I may have said percent instead of years. Um, Okay, I I just need clarification on that.
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks why current Medicaid rates would be at a higher profit margin, and recalls a colleague's comments about Medicaid payer mix.
▶ Watch at 1:17:19Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Th this is a complicated area. You say that they shouldn't be paying, uh, above cost. Um, I remember, uh, Representative Ward, uh, several years ago brought some patients into our caucus that were on Medicaid. It was on a different topic, but, um, he made the point that if all, uh, re if the entire payer mix was Medicaid, that he, in his practice, he wouldn't be able to keep the doors open. Um, so I'm just wondering if you can expand why, um, the current Medicaid rates are, uh, supposedly, um, at a higher profit margin. Just the comment you made earlier.
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether the bill requires Correctional Health Services to contract with the University of Utah.
▶ Watch at 1:19:55Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one more question. Um, does this bill require that, uh, CHS contract with University of Utah?
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether lower statutory rates would remove any incentive for the university to contract.
▶ Watch at 1:20:26Read what they said
Okay. So that, that, to clarify, I, I ask that because one risk would be that they, um, well, there would be no incentive to contract if they're statutorily going to have lower rates. Sorry, I'll re-say that. I assume that if there's no, there's no would be no incentive to contract because if there's no contract, they're going to, uh, CHS will be paying the lower rates, correct?
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether the university would have to keep accepting patients at the lower rates if rates are not renegotiated.
▶ Watch at 1:21:12Read what they said
Okay. So if CHS theoretically, if there's not a meeting, the mines on rates, then would this require that they accept continuing to accept patients from U-D-O-C-C-H-S at the lower rates?
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether this means there would be no incentive to contract.
▶ Watch at 1:21:28Read what they said
So there would be no incentive to contract, I mean, from CHS aside, because you'll be guaranteed the lowest rates, correct?
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moves to hold the bill for further discussion, citing concern that the Department of Corrections could lose its contract if rates are set by statute.
▶ Watch at 1:30:10Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Uh, substitute motion. Okay. Uh, I'd like to make a motion to hold for further discussions. I, I'll tell you my, my fear is that Department of Corrections could lose their contract if these rates go down, because this is the state stepping in, in the middle of a contract discussion saying, this is what you shall pay versus what is negotiated. If there are other providers that are willing to provide it at a lower rate, um, or an equivalent rate, that's something that could certainly be accommodated in the, the, you know, negotiation space. But the last thing I think we'd wanna see happen is the Department of Corrections not have a viable partner, um, …
H.B. 321 Inmate Medical Treatment Rates Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says further discussion is warranted because the state would be setting a rate, and he does not want the contract jeopardized.
▶ Watch at 1:33:20Read what they said
Um, I think that, um, I, I, I've obviously believe further discussions warranted this is a, a shift. It's not a state agency that is receiving direct taxpayer appropriations for, for this. And I would not wanna see the contract jeopardized if they, um, were to then say, okay, these rates, there are other payers that will step in. So those, those are my thoughts.
H.B. 219 Higher Education Civics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asked whether the higher education institutions support the bill, whether they already do this, and how difficult it would be to implement.
▶ Watch at 1:44:51Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair, thank you for bringing this bill forward. Uh, just a couple questions. Number one, um, where is you sheet on this? Have they been, are they supportive of this? Have you been Well talking with them, that would be question number one. And then number two are, are they already doing this? Are, are there, is this hard to being done in universities and to what level? And if you can kind of touch on that, please.
S.B. 87 Naloxone Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says the bill is a good candidate for the consent calendar given no opposition and solid science, and moves to place SB 87 on the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 2:35:58Read what they said
I I think this is a, a, a fine candidate of a bill for consent giving no opposition and solid science behind it. So my motion is to place is be 87 on the consent calendar. So the motion is in order, um, to place Senate bill 87 on the consent calendar, um, to the bill sponsor.
H.B. 383 Department of Health and Human Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to place HB 383 second substitute on the Consent Calendar, calling it a technical cleanup bill.
▶ Watch at 2:42:20Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Since this bill is even less controversial than the last bill that we put on consent and is just a pure technical cleanup bill with no controversy, I make a motion that we put on consent
H.B. 399 Prohibition Against Student Character Tracking and Grading Systems · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Raises a legal question about giving the state auditor a role and asks about referring violations to the Department of Justice.
▶ Watch at 3:07:28Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. Just, uh, I've, I've actually got a lot of questions, but the sake of time, I'm just gonna address it to maybe one or two, um, couple. Thank you. Legal issues. Yeah, you're welcome. A couple legal issues. Number one, we're, we're involving the state auditor. Typically the state auditor by constitution is financial audits, right? I mean, we can relegate other things to the state auditor. Is this 'cause we're gonna be expanding the role of the auditor here. And my question is, is, is that number one, we want to be doing that in this space. And, and then number two is then under six C reporting this to the Department of Justice. Do …
H.B. 399 Prohibition Against Student Character Tracking and Grading Systems · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks to confirm that the auditor would review parent complaints, which is a new role for the office.
▶ Watch at 3:08:58Read what they said
Okay. So I guess, I guess my question is, um, we're we're asking the auditor to audit these LEAs Correct. To audit the complaints that would come if a parent said, Hey, um, my student's data is being collected or tracked. Um, and then they go through the process of evaluating that complaint? Yes. So I, I guess that's my question is because our auditor is not tasked with that at this point. So this, this is an expansion of, of adding more to our auditor that's we have never done before. 'cause like I say, typically auditors are financial audits, not this type of work. So just, just making that point. And then number two, referring, uh, referencing, uh, …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Presented HB 71 as addressing provider directory inaccuracies, citing an audit finding that many listed providers were unavailable, and described the compromise reached with insurers and providers.
▶ Watch at 51:46Read what they said
Yes. Uh, th Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know you have a, a a a very busy agenda, so I'm going to try to be brief. Um, let me just start out by telling you what the problem is. We're trying to correct with this bill. Our legislative auditor has done a fantastic job of doing a number of, uh, Uh, Be audits of beha, the behavioral health system. They did an audit this past year where they found that 69% of providers in commercial directories, uh, were not accepting new patients, had the wrong phone number, were listed at the wrong location, or did not accept insurance. So if you just think about this, if you, uh, purchased an …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Said the bill was changed to address concerns on both sides and that it creates a working group for further study.
▶ Watch at 56:03Read what they said
Uh, the last thing I'll just say is this was a unanimous interim bill, but since then I have made numerous changes to the bill to try to assange the concerns on both sides. Um, suffice it to say there's, uh, still little, well, we'll find out a little bit of agitation on both sides, which I think would indicate I've struck a good compromise. The last thing that Bill does is create a working group with a, an idea that both sides are really enthused about, but it's a little bit more complicated. That'll give us the interim to work through it. That concludes my presentation, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Responded to the question about insurance costs by saying the bill ensures people get the coverage they pay for, citing suicide as a leading cause of death for children in Utah, and noting early intervention may save costs.
▶ Watch at 58:51Read what they said
Yes. Th Thank you, Senator. So, um, I was reading an email from Becker's Behavioral Health that, uh, really made a, made a point that hit home the need for this bill. Ever since COVID, there's been a dramatic increase in people seeking treatment for, for behavioral health issues. And what I read, and I'm not accusing any insurers in the room today or in Utah doing this, this was just an article in the, the, the press that said nationally, uh, there have been some insurers. The belief is that they are purposely limiting access to behavioral health to control the spend. You do that by having a narrow network, by having ghost providers. And so, um, I don't …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Spoke to the motion, saying the bill is emerging from many interests and that the sponsor is walking a fine line. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:07:56Read what they said
Uh, to con There's no comments from my motion to pass out Favor. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. You're moving so fast. I can't even keep up with you. It's the Senate. Um, we go slow and then it's like done. I, I wave. I wave. So I, uh, I'll speak to the, my Motion. And before we place the vote, I, I do agree this is emerging of lots of different interests. It's not easy. Uh, I think you're walking a fine line and doing a pretty darn good job. And so, uh, we'll keep you moving forward with this issue. And so the motion for us
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason presents the substitute bill combining H.B. 421 and 423, explains higher penalties for fleeing crashes involving injury or death and for drivers with prior DUIs, and introduces the witnesses.
▶ Watch at 40:11Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I, I, I do have a sub that I'll be speaking to, and if it's, uh, permissible for the, uh, vice chair to pass out a flyer. Uh, absolutely. Yes. Okay. I'll have my intern do that. Thank you. Yes, thank you. Um, let me just give you a little background on this bill. It is, um, the, the substitute bill is actually the combination of, uh, HB 4 21 and 4 23. So, good news, I'll be abandoning HB 4 21 fewer bills, Representative Okerlund, this is for you. Um, and, um, there, there are some significant changes in both bills. So let me just give, uh, uh, uh, a ba a …
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason thanks Mason and introduces Brett Robinson to explain the hit-and-run provisions.
▶ Watch at 45:48Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you Commissioner. Um, I'm gonna let, uh, Brett Robinson, who's the Chief Policy Advisor from the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, do a better job of explaining the hit and run components than I did. Alright,
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason introduces Glennon Mitchell to share his family's experience.
▶ Watch at 50:58Read what they said
Th th thank you. So, um, uh, in terms of hearts and minds, we've been talking about the mines part of this bill. Now let's talk about the hearts part of this bill. Um, I'd like to introduce Glennon Mitchell and give him just a, a few, few minutes to talk. Before I left the room this morning, I saw somebody looking at me in my, uh, my next to my mirror. It's a picture that I've had up of Eli Mitchell. Eli is Glennon's, uh, grandson, who's no longer with us because of a hit and run driver. So I'd like Glennon to talk about this bill and briefly share his story. Glennon.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason introduces Bradley Van Orman to share his family's experience.
▶ Watch at 54:20Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, I'd like to now, uh, turn a few ti a few minutes over to Bradley Van Orman. Uh, he tragically recently lost his daughter, Lindsey, at the hands of a hit and run driver.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason thanks Van Orman and introduces Art Brown.
▶ Watch at 57:20Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you, Brad. Um, the last part of my presentation, uh, I'd like to give, uh, art Brown, uh, a few, uh, moments to, to comment. Art has been a relentless champion of fighting against drunk driving, also a victim. Um, art, Thank you very much.
H.B. 423 Hit and Run and DUI Offense Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Rep. Eliason says current code gives courts discretion over screening and treatment for DUI, and asks for the committee's support.
▶ Watch at 1:17:39Read what they said
I, I just want to clarify one thing, that under currently under code section 41 dash six a dash 4 0 1 8 2 B, that the court has discretion regarding screening, assessment, treatment, and participation in an educational series or 24 7 presentation to address one of the comments that were made that's not part of this bill that's currently in the code. So of course, I'm always happy to talk to, um, stakeholders moving forward, but this is a loophole that is long past, uh, closing and I would encourage your support. Thank you.
H.B. 179 Milk Amendments · House floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026
Supports the bill, sharing his family's experience with a dairy farm and milk sales, and asks how far regulation should go.
▶ Watch at 17:41Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I actually rise in support of this bill on that. I want to just kind of give a little bit of a per of a perspective, and I'm not, I'm not suggesting that some of the arguments made aren't valid and, and we definitely do need to consider, and I don't know where the bill sponsor's gonna wanna go going forward, whether they work together or not, with the representative from Wasatch, uh, county. But just a little perspective as, as a child. And, and in my youth, up until I was a freshman in high school, I lived on a dairy farm and I can remember as a very young child, um, putting the …
H.B. 234 Education Testing Amendments · House floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026
Asks whether the bill would allow different districts to have different assessment tests.
▶ Watch at 1:00:10Read what they said
Please help me clarify Mr. Speaker. Uh, so this bill then would allow for different LEAs to have different assessment tests. Is that correct?
H.B. 234 Education Testing Amendments · House floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026
Asks whether different testing systems across districts would make it hard for parents to compare schools.
▶ Watch at 1:01:25Read what they said
Okay. So could it be possible then that you could have different testing, um, systems and, and, and not be able to compare apples to oranges? Would that be true from school to school? So if I'm a parent looking to put my child into a school, is there gonna be such a difference between LEAs that it's gonna be hard for me as a parent to be able to tell whether or not this school is meeting what I'm looking for because it's not really comparatively equal with other schools?
H.B. 234 Education Testing Amendments · House floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026
Says that if student performance does not improve, the problem is not necessarily the test, and the causes should be investigated.
▶ Watch at 1:02:30Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Just, just one point that I just wanna make when it comes to testing, if, if in fact we're not seeing improvement in, in student performance, it's not the fault of the test, right? I mean that's, we gotta look and find out why aren't they performing. That's the kind of the point of a test. Just, just to clarify something just from my perspective is, is we do these assessments, perhaps the test is not showing improvements, it's not the fault of the test. I think we need to kind of keep that in mind.
H.B. 195 Precious Metals Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Moves to adopt amendment number one.
▶ Watch at 4:51Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, motion to move amendment number one in my name.
H.B. 195 Precious Metals Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Explains that the amendment makes the participant, not the state, pay transaction costs when payment is made in physical gold or silver.
▶ Watch at 5:07Read what they said
Uh, thank you. This is a very simple amendment that just clarifies like we do for our state tax commission. If somebody wants to use a credit card to pay for their, their state, uh, tax bill that they pay the the transaction fees, this simply clarifies that if a participant's going to receive a, a payment in physical gold or silver, that, that, that participant shall pay the transactional costs associated with the transaction and not the state of Utah.
H.B. 255 Health Care Sharing Ministry Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Moved to place the bill on the consent calendar with the sponsor's permission, citing the lack of opposition and that it is a disclosure bill.
▶ Watch at 1:06:27Read what they said
Uh, Representative Eliason. Uh, given the lack of opposition and simply being a disclosure bill, I'd make a motion we put on consent with the permission of the sponsor.
H.B. 255 Health Care Sharing Ministry Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Withdrew the consent motion after discussion about consent. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:06:54Read what they said
Um, I think after the discussion we had about consent, I'd probably say no because some people I withdraw my motion. Next item of the agenda. There's only two on consent Right now. Don't say I didn't offer.
H.B. 339 Street Medicine Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Eliason asked whether the 340B program helps fund long-acting injectable medications.
▶ Watch at 1:28:46Read what they said
Uh, thank you. I know that long-acting injectables are extremely effective. Uh, some of the best ones are also extremely expensive. Could you just clarify if three 40 B uh, is a, a, a funding source that helps, uh, fund these types of, uh, medications?
H.B. 388 Public Health Hazard Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks how scientifically based the cleanup thresholds are and when cleanup is required.
▶ Watch at 1:55:48Read what they said
Uh, yes, thank you. I'm a former customer of yours. Sorry, several times more than I would've liked. No, no dig on your service. It was great. But, uh, I, I think this is an important bill. One concern I have are the thresholds. I just wonder if you can comment if the thresholds are currently, how scientifically based they are in terms of when a cleanup is gonna be required. I mean, I don't want anybody getting sick that I kind of asked some of these questions and I couldn't really get good answers when I was having to deal with this issue.
H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Moves to pass the bill as substituted with a favorable recommendation and speaks on mortality trends, veteran suicide, and the need for more research on new treatments.
▶ Watch at 2:49:55Read what they said
Uh, yes. I'd like to make a motion that we pass. Uh, the bill is substituted out with a favorable recommendation. The motion is in order. Would you like to speak to It? Yes, I would. So if you look at, uh, healthcare in our nation over the past several decades, you've seen that we've driven down, uh, rates of mortality for heart disease, cancer aids, and so many other conditions, even found a cure for many people with, um, cystic fibrosis, the hu the American Life's average lifespan a few years ago, finally started going down after a hundred years because of deaths of despair, which includes suicide. The amount of research that has been poured into those areas …
H.B. 210 Tax Penalties Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Moved to adopt the second substitute to HB 210.
▶ Watch at 37:30Read what they said
Uh, thank you. I move that we adopt the second sub to HB two 10.
S.B. 101 Specialized Product Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Moves to pass SB 101 out of committee as amended with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:17:48Read what they said
Yes. I'd like to, uh, make a motion that we pass out SB 1 0 1 as amended with a favorable recommendation That is in order.
H.B. 190 Child Care Business Tax Credit · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Supported the bill, saying it could help families enter the workforce and pay taxes on their earnings.
▶ Watch at 2:23:53Read what they said
I'm not sure that anything I just heard from my representative colleagues here is, is necessarily wrong, but I do feel like it was centered around the idea that there are families that always have two parents that can, uh, that can make those decisions. Um, and, and I'm, I'm not entirely opposed to a fiscal note that I feel like probably has a little return on an investment and a multiplier effect. And, uh, when I think about what this enables for other people to do, um, in terms of entering the workforce, paying taxes on their wages that they earn and, uh, and benefiting their family, when these are probably the families that, uh, could most use, uh, …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Presents H.B. 77, a collection of interim tax bills, and explains that its positive fiscal note stems from federal H.R. 1 changes to the SALT deduction, with decoupling from the federal system as the only way to change it.
▶ Watch at 28:10Read what they said
Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this is a, uh, this is the House Revenue and Taxation Collection collection of interim bills. Um, we rolled them all into one bill. It says several impacts across many different areas of tax. You probably haven't been lobbied on any of them. Uh, the one thing that you will want to notice when you look at the fiscal note, it does have a positive fiscal note, but this is because of the Trump administration's changes in HR one. In HR one, they took the salt deduction from 10,000 to 40,000. When we, when we, when we take that and put that into our code, what it does, and it ends up decreasing the amount …
H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Rises in support of the bill, saying a finding of incompetency is a deliberate process unrelated to courtroom anxiety, and that serious mental illness is linked to some mass shootings, so the bill is a targeted way to keep such individuals and the community safe.
▶ Watch at 42:57Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. Um, regarding the previous, uh, questions that were raised. A, uh, a finding of incompetency would be, in my opinion, and I work full-time in the mental health area, uh, completely unrelated to somebody experiencing anxiety in a courtroom. This is a very, uh, uh, deliberate process to declare somebody incompetent because it involves the taking away of a number of rights, including their liberty. So, um, I think that, uh, and if they're incompetent to stand trial, they are typically then ordered a competency restoration. So it's not something taken lightly. The last thing I wanna mention, uh, several years ago I was invited to do …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says the substitute addresses concerns raised by stakeholders and lists groups that support the bill.
▶ Watch at 13:54Read what they said
Uh, yes. Um, this substitute, uh, should address the concerns that, uh, a number of you have asked me about, uh, with this substitute, the Utah Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, the Naso National Association, the Social Workers Utah Chapter, and the Utah Psychological Association support the bill.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Explains that the bill stems from a state audit finding that many behavioral health provider directory listings are inaccurate, and describes the substitute's letter process for nonresponsive providers, single case agreements for out-of-network care, and a working group on a central provider database.
▶ Watch at 14:49Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, Mr. Speaker representatives. This bill has its genesis, uh, with an, uh, audit done by our, the Utah Legislative Auditor General Ola. Uh, they did a, a have done a series of beha behavioral health audits. And, uh, what they did in this particular audit, there's a, a handout, uh, that should be on your desk. It doesn't have any good pictures, like the good representative from you in a basin always has, but, uh, it has some good detail on it. Um, there's a link in the bottom to their audit on behavioral health parody. They found something very troubling. They found that of the commercial insurance directories for behavioral health providers, 68% …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Explains that the bill seeks more accurate behavioral health provider directories through provider response letters, single case agreements, and a working group on a shared database.
▶ Watch at 14:49Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, Mr. Speaker representatives. This bill has its genesis, uh, with an, uh, audit done by our, the Utah Legislative Auditor General Ola. Uh, they did a, a have done a series of beha behavioral health audits. And, uh, what they did in this particular audit, there's a, a handout, uh, that should be on your desk. It doesn't have any good pictures, like the good representative from you in a basin always has, but, uh, it has some good detail on it. Um, there's a link in the bottom to their audit on behavioral health parody. They found something very troubling. They found that of the commercial insurance directories for behavioral health providers, 68% …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Presents H.B. 77 as a cleanup bill that consolidates about 14 or 15 bills, covering a fiscal note being worked out with the tax commission, extending the state SALT deduction to federal limits, expanding the UBIT definition, aligning a taxpayer credit with federal changes, changing the short-term rental definition for sales tax, and distributing local option tax revenue to newly incorporated municipalities.
▶ Watch at 15:43Read what they said
Thank you President. Uh, house bill 77 is a lovely bill. Uh, it's actually about 14 or maybe 15 bills all rolled into one. Uh, but it does a lot. Um, and it is the result of a lot of our cleanup work. Uh, throughout the, uh, throughout the, uh, interim, uh, we took, instead of having a bunch of bills, we consolidated them into one. And I'm just pulling up the bill so I can tell you some of the things that it does. Uh, let's see. We're working, uh, just as we get started, if you start with the fiscal note, there's a $4 million positive fiscal note that we're working with the tax commission to still try …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Answers that the letter is a step toward accountability, that the earlier version included possible sanctions which drew concern, and that the Insurance Commissioner will review the volume of letters to decide whether further action is needed.
▶ Watch at 21:00Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, that's a, a very good question. Um, the, this is a step in the direction for accountability. The original version was that eventually after a repeated series of non responses, they could be sanctioned and their license can be in jeopardy. There was lots of angst over that. We don't wanna scare providers away. Um, I've heard a lot of stories going both ways where they respond. I've heard several stories of a deceased provider being in a directory for multiple years despite requests from that practice to remove them. So it's going both ways. This is a step in the, the right direction for accountability. And like I said, we are going to …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Responds that the letters are a step toward accountability and that the next steps, including possible license sanctions, could be discussed after reviewing letter volume.
▶ Watch at 21:00Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, that's a, a very good question. Um, the, this is a step in the direction for accountability. The original version was that eventually after a repeated series of non responses, they could be sanctioned and their license can be in jeopardy. There was lots of angst over that. We don't wanna scare providers away. Um, I've heard a lot of stories going both ways where they respond. I've heard several stories of a deceased provider being in a directory for multiple years despite requests from that practice to remove them. So it's going both ways. This is a step in the, the right direction for accountability. And like I said, we are going to …
S.B. 16 Tax Credit Review Process Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Presents S.B. 16, a cleanup bill that exempts the periodic review of the tax credit for taxes paid to another state, repeals expired requirements, and aligns the review timing for the motor fuel used in agriculture credit with other income tax credits.
▶ Watch at 22:06Read what they said
Representative Eliason, Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this was an interim, uh, bill, uh, a cleanup bill. Uh, very, very straightforward. What it does is it exempts the periodic review of one particular tax credit. That's the tax credit for taxes paid to another state. Um, we routinely review, uh, all tax credits, but it came to our attention that this is not a tax credit we're granting to try to drive economic development or a certain type of, uh, behavior. It's just if you pay tax in another state, then you shouldn't have to pay twice in Utah and vice versa. So we're simply removing that from the, uh, the routine review. It also re, uh, repeals some …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
In closing, says an insurance company representative described the bill as a compromise, and notes that a provider who does not respond can have their insurance contract canceled, with the tracking mechanism meant to encourage responses.
▶ Watch at 23:52Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Just before walking to the chamber, I was speaking with a representative from, uh, one of the largest health insurance, uh, companies in the state talking about the changes that I'd been made that was also in favor of the health insurance side of the equation. And he said, you know, this bill is maybe like a, a divorce where, uh, as good a divorce could be where both parties don't get everything they want. But it's getting to a point where, uh, both sides have had to compromise to come to a certain outcome, which I think is where we're at with this bill. The bottom line, I do want to just respond briefly …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Gives closing remarks describing the bill as a compromise between insurers and providers, and notes insurers can cancel contracts with providers who do not respond.
▶ Watch at 23:52Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Just before walking to the chamber, I was speaking with a representative from, uh, one of the largest health insurance, uh, companies in the state talking about the changes that I'd been made that was also in favor of the health insurance side of the equation. And he said, you know, this bill is maybe like a, a divorce where, uh, as good a divorce could be where both parties don't get everything they want. But it's getting to a point where, uh, both sides have had to compromise to come to a certain outcome, which I think is where we're at with this bill. The bottom line, I do want to just respond briefly …
H.B. 214 Firearms Liability Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Supports the bill, citing a past case involving a shotgun accident and saying the bill emphasizes individual responsibility and reduces frivolous lawsuits.
▶ Watch at 44:32Read what they said
Uh, th thank you Mr. Speaker. I Verizon in support of this bill, I'll, I'll say that I am a very strong supporter of responsible gun ownership. And Utah has, is lead of the, led the nation in a lot of ways of providing trigger locks and education about the importance of safely firearms. But as I was reviewing this bill, I was reminded, uh, many years ago, one of my clients was a, a very large firearms manufacturer and, uh, was auditing their, their, the company. And I was reading their product liability claims and I read about, uh, a couple who decided to take a shotgun to bed with them. And, uh, somehow in the course of the, …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason presented HB 70 as a substitute, covering the 1115 waiver billing change, one-time EHR funding, a non-lapsing high-cost fund, an opioid use disorder treatment plan, and a $500,000 appropriation for AI communication monitoring.
▶ Watch at 33:35Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, uh, Madam Chair and Committee. This was an interim bill that, uh, we considered. I am gonna be speaking to the first substitute that's online. It, it is always interesting, uh, when you have an interim bill that this one did pass unanimously, how after it passes, a a lot more comments come, which is a great reason why it's good to bring a bill to interim because it gives, uh, stakeholders a lot longer to kind of, uh, digest what's in the bill and analyze it. And then, of course, the reality of the fiscal note always hits home, which is part of the considerations for the, the changes. Um, so let me …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason said the fiscal note applies to the original bill, the substitute has no new note, the EHR is under RFP and can be paid from an existing fund, and ongoing costs would be covered by Medicaid billing savings.
▶ Watch at 42:34Read what they said
Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Um, so the fiscal note is for the non substitute, the original bill, and that is, so the substitute that was just made public today does not have a new fiscal note. Um, I ventured to say that the new fiscal note would only reflect the $500,000 cost, which if that needs to be shed, that will be shed. And the one-time cost for the EMR, there's some inherent challenges with trying to peg the number for the, the EMR. Dr. Wisner used the term EHR, that's electronic health record. Same thing we're talking about here. That's currently under RFP. And, um, so suffice it to say the fund that that would come out of has …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason said that provision was removed from the substitute because a compromise from last year already addressed it and the accelerated language would be costly to implement.
▶ Watch at 51:40Read what they said
Yes, but, sorry, there's somebody here actually, can I call somebody, can I do a lifeline here? Sure. Brit, Brittany, are you in the room? Oh, sorry. There goes my lifeline. That's okay. Um, um, actually, what we discovered is we reached a compromise on that last year in the bill. Oh. And that had already passed. And I think the, I, I'd had to tone that down. I think what it, we ended up putting the accelerated language back in, which I really like, but it dramatically complicates it between the board of Pardons, AP and P corrections and will come at a very high cost. And so it's a policy that while I really like, I'd had to …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason said Medicaid billing savings would cover incremental coding costs and any maintenance costs above existing appropriations.
▶ Watch at 53:02Read what they said
Yeah, that's a really good question. Um, I'll let Dr. Wimy wisner correct me if I say this wrong, but, um, in my discussions with CHS, the savings that they'll achieve from being able to bill Medicaid would cover any incremental costs of coding or incremental maintenance costs over what they already have appropriated for their EMR maintenance costs. Because like, like any software, typically you have an upfront purchase price that's installation, training, customization, and then you have an annual maintenance cost. They already have funding for annual maintenance, but to the extent that under their RFPs they're looking at it's higher, they will have the savings inherent in that to pay for those incremental costs. So, yes, but …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason said he met with corrections leadership, made the requested changes in the substitute, and understood they agreed with the balance struck.
▶ Watch at 58:10Read what they said
Uh, yeah. Thank you. Uh, Madam Chair. Um, so I, I don't know for sure if there's anybody here from Department of Corrections, but I did meet with Director Garcia and Deputy Director Brown. I made all of the requested changes that they had in the sub. And my understanding as of, at least earlier this morning, was, they're good with how we've structured it. And it was actually trying to strike that compromise between safety and some of the issues they're dealing with, with, I mean, they also have the full recognition that we need to have some degree of treatment, especially if we can get 'em as they're coming in, that helps their, their long-term stabilization. And if …
H.B. 70 Correctional Health Services Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Eliason said the bill completes the final step of the earlier waiver by funding an EHR that can bill Medicaid.
▶ Watch at 1:02:21Read what they said
I'll, I'll just be really brief and say that this is, I think, a good example of just because some, I wasn't the original sponsor of the bill that required the 1115 waiver, but it's just a good example of just because you pass a bill, it doesn't mean everything's on autopilot. It's kind of like the analogy would be the first bill launched the plane. It's flow, it's flowing, its destination. We've got the approval, we're on final approach. And if we don't put the Blanding gear down, which is the kind of the E-H-R-E-M-R, it's going to, it's not gonna end pretty, it's not gonna even happen, really. So this is just kind of the final component. I …
H.B. 417 Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it can lower costs such as ambulance fees and allow families more autonomy in transporting stable patients, and describes a family experience with ambulance transport.
▶ Watch at 1:13:37Read what they said
Uh, yes. Uh, I kind of want to wade into this question a little bit. It's, it's very nuanced. I wanna commend the sponsor for her work on this bill. I think she struck a, a good balance, um, to Mr. Uh, Gesell's comments. What frequently happens is somebody comes in and they determine you. They need to be transferred to a higher level of care, typically an inpatient facility. And a lot of times they, they don't want to have to go to the extra effort to then blue sheet them doing an emergency civil commitment, because that's a lot of paperwork, excuse me, extra cost and delay in, in, in care. So they'll recommend, yes, you need inpatient, …
H.B. 270 Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Raised concern that patients are not told where a departing mental health provider went and suggested the state consider a disclosure requirement.
▶ Watch at 1:38:42Read what they said
Uh, thank you. You touched on something that, um, I don't think this bill touches on, but I just wanted to make a a point that maybe we at least put on the radar. I had a family member that was, had a, a, a fabulous mental health therapist, and, uh, one day a letter arrived from the, the corporate entity that said, uh, this therapist is no longer with our system. Um, you can contact our Ogden or Provo offices to see if they have somebody that can help you otherwise contact the UMA. Um, when my son called and said, where do they go? Because I've had a strong relationship with this therapist, they're like, we don't have …
H.B. 312 School Curriculum and Standards Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moves to hold the bill so it can be explained and worked through.
▶ Watch at 1:41:48Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to make a motion that we, we hold this bill and I'd like to explain why.
H.B. 312 School Curriculum and Standards Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Supports the bill but wants to address whether social studies should be included, whether the start timeline is feasible, and how it relates to the state board's current plan.
▶ Watch at 1:42:03Read what they said
Yeah. The reason why is I love this bill and I love exactly what we're trying to accomplish here, but just from a perspective of three things that I think can be worked through. 'cause our job, of course, is to work through things in committee so that it's ready for prime time on the floor. Uh, three things. One is I appreciated, um, representative, uh, Walton's idea of do we wanna incorporate the social studies with it. I, I think that, I think that could be I something that probably ought to be coordinated and and discussed. Uh, number two, the timeframe I, I wondered that myself too as I read this bill, is, would the, would the schools …
H.B. 270 Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moved to adopt substitute HB 270S2.
▶ Watch at 1:58:48Read what they said
Uh, yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion to pass out. We don't have a substitute. We, we do A substitute. Uh, I'd like to make a motion that we adopt sub two to HB two 70.
H.B. 270 Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moved to pass HB 270S2 out with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:59:53Read what they said
Thank you. I'd like to make a motion that we pass out, uh, sub two HB two 70 with a favorable recommendation. And if I may, I'd like
H.B. 270 Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Described being required to sign a non-compete at a former job, said such agreements are unfair to employees, and commended the sponsor for the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:00:04Read what they said
so one of the worst days in my professional career, I was, uh, told by a previous employer that I needed to tell the executive team that they had to sign a non-compete agreement. And when the question was posed, what if I don't, my basic response was, well, we've sure enjoyed working with you, but this will be your last day and or notice whatever. And I had to sign one myself. And, uh, it puts employees in an extremely unfair position. Luckily, that wasn't healthcare. So my lives and patient relationships didn't hang in the balance. I don't think I could do that in a healthcare setting if asked to do so. So commend the sponsor on this …
H.B. 28 Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Thanks the chair and says he will explain a second substitute to the bill once it is adopted.
▶ Watch at 1:12:48Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. This was an Interim Health and Human Services Committee bill, uh, kind of our standard Sunset renewal. I do have a second sub on the system that I'll be speaking to. Okay. So We're gonna go ahead and if you don't mind, do you explain the sub and then we'll, we'll go ahead and adopt that.
H.B. 28 Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Explains that the bill extends repeal dates for several health programs and a rural physician loan repayment advisory committee, and appropriates $19,000 in operating funds for the Rare Disease Advisory Council.
▶ Watch at 1:13:27Read what they said
Okay. Uh, thank you. Uh, very simple. It extends the repeal date for the Rare Disease Advisory Council grant program, the Newborn Hearing Screening Program, the OTT or Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Grant Program, the Behavioral Health Receiving Grant Program, and the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Committee. Um, the substitute did add something that was kind of just an oversight. During interim, we realized that the, uh, rural physician loan repayment program advisory committee was set to sense that the end of 26, so this extends that. And then the last thing it does is it appropriates, uh, 19,000 uh, dollars in operating funds for the RDAC, the Rare Disease Advisory Committee, as that has not had, um, an increase …
H.B. 28 Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Discloses his past and current involvement with some of the programs and describes the bill as a standard sunset renewal.
▶ Watch at 1:14:29Read what they said
I have a personal connection to this bill since I was involved with the creation. A number of, not all, but a number of these programs. And they're doing fantastic work. Um, full disclosure, I used to be a, a member of the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission. We took legislators off that, but, uh, kind of in a non-GI legislative role. I am a volunteer member of the, uh, rare Disease Advisory Council. So anyway, uh, that is the bill. Uh, pretty much just a simple Sunset, uh, renewal bill. That concludes my presentation, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Presents HB 77 as an annual cleanup bill and describes a change to the definition of unrelated business income in the corporate income tax statute to include allocated income.
▶ Watch at 11:03Read what they said
Uh, thank you you, Mr. Chair. Um, this was an interim, uh, revenue taxation committee bill that I would deem our annual cleanup bill. Um, lots of exciting topics in here. Um, I will cover the, the, the kind of highlighted, uh, provisions by area of tax, um, under income tax. It modifies the definition. Actually, can I ask Commissioner Valentine to join me? Yeah, Absolutely. Come on down here. The next contestant Senate rev tax. So, okay. Um, and, and I'll just ask him to chime in on anything that I say to add additional context. First component related income tax modifies the definition of unrelated business income in the corporate income tax statute to include allocated income. Do …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Describes repeal of an obsolete corporate credit for cleaner burning fuel, new review requirements for the low income housing tax credit, and making the pass-through entity SALT workaround permanent.
▶ Watch at 12:51Read what they said
Uh, thank you. The next section is super straightforward. It repeals the corporate income tax credit for the use of cleaner burning fuel. This credit has been unavailable since almost last century 2003. So just cleaning up the code there. The next section, uh, incorporates, uh, specific review requirements for low income housing tax credit into the regular five year, five year review cycle and applies to income tax credits, uh, makes provisions, uh, allowing for pass through entities to pay taxes for individuals otherwise known as the salt cap workaround permanent, the workaround of scheduled to expire, uh, December of 25. Do you wanna comment on that?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Describes changing the sales tax definition of short-term rental to cover renting the entire property, and asks the commissioner whether he wishes to add anything.
▶ Watch at 13:53Read what they said
Moving into the sales and use tax area, modifies the definition of short-term rental in the sales tax statute to include short-term property rentals. This does not do anything to change the definition of short term rentals from a regulatory perspective, rather just in the sales tax area, um, to make it clear that you're renting the entire property and people can't get crafty of just saying, well, you're just renting the, the beds and stuff like that. You want to add anything there?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Describes sales tax distribution to newly incorporated cities, updates to motor vehicle rental tax exemptions, and notice requirements for reauthorizing local option sales taxes.
▶ Watch at 14:42Read what they said
Closing a loophole, uh, requires the tax commission to distribute revenue from the 1% sales tax imposed by a county to any newly incorporated cities within the county during the 180 day holdover period. Um, updates and lines of motor vehicle exemptions applicable to motor vehicle rental tax, the tourism recreation, cultural convention airport facilities taxes. And lastly in the section requires tax entities to provide notice to the tax commission for the reauthorization of local options sales tax taxes, and prohibits the tax commission from enforcing a reauthorized sales tax if timely notice is not provided. This kind of goes back to some of the issues we've recently had. Um, feel free to chime in if you want.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Introduces the section on county assessment of HOA common areas and asks the commissioner to comment.
▶ Watch at 15:55Read what they said
Thank you. Um, moving into the property tax section, restates the requirements for county assessment of HOA common areas and the property tax statute. Um, one, uh, would you wanna comment on that?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Describes a House amendment on the qualifying increase report threshold, the higher county reporting trigger, the indigent definition change, and allowing taxpayers to appeal a late-filing denial of property tax relief.
▶ Watch at 16:26Read what they said
Thank you. Um, th there was a, an amendment made in the house, um, from the bill that passed committee regarding the, uh, adjusting the qualifying increase report. Uh, the interim committee had set it, uh, changing the trigger for the automatic review of, of all property from 150% to 350%. There was an amendment in the house that, uh, took it back to the 150% just for residential property. Um, so that's one the only difference between this bill and what was in the interim bill that might consider taxpayer friendly. Um, it does increase the county reporting trigger threshold from 50,000 to 250,000 and requires counties to report the reasons for the property value increase to the tax …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Acknowledges the clarification and describes repeal of the inheritance tax, consolidation of tax commission federal law reports, mineral production withholding penalty changes, and consolidation of privileged tax exemptions.
▶ Watch at 18:40Read what they said
I need to clarify that. Okay. Appreciate that. Thank you. And then, um, just the last few issues, kind of miscellaneous re repeals the inheritance tax, uh, title 59, chapter 11, that is an obsolete tax provision based on a non-existent federal inheritance tax. Uh, consolidates two, uh, tax commission reports on federal tax law changes and single reports. So kind of mini paperwork reduction Act there incorporates the changes related to the reporting penalties from mineral production tax withholding from HB 61, um, the revenue taxations Interim Committees tax Withholding committee bill from last year. And then the last thing it really does is consolidates a list of all existing privilege, privileged tax exemptions and the privileged tax statute …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Agrees that the state and local tax provision could be removed from the bill if needed to keep the other provisions moving.
▶ Watch at 28:04Read what they said
Uh, yes. Have you read the book by Aaron Ralston entitled Between a Rock and a Hard Place? No, Aaron's the one who had to cut off his arm when he got stuck between a Boulder in southern Utah. Yeah. And decided to cut part of it off to save his life. Fair. Uh, Complete same philosophy here that, uh, that we'll, we'll pull that, we'll cut that out of the bill. Don't want to, but We'll, if we need to, to keep everything else moving, it's not worth it.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Thanks the committee and notes that the bill covers many issues.
▶ Watch at 29:40Read what they said
It's always fun to deal with a lot of bills. You know, it's a big, big issue, so appreciate that. Okay.
H.B. 97 Medical Waste Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked the sponsor to confirm that the bill would not apply to Propofol.
▶ Watch at 4:48Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, question for the sponsor. Um, can you just confirm that this won't apply to Propofol?
H.B. 97 Medical Waste Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Said Propofol is commonly left over and diverted and should not be sent home with patients, and said he would still vote for the bill.
▶ Watch at 5:03Read what they said
Because there's almost always some leftover, and it's a huge diversion problem as is. We don't wanna send the patient home with the extra prop. That's what Michael Jackson took. I Think, uh, Michael's milk is what it's also been nicknamed, I wasn't gonna bring that up, but, okay. Um, we know it's dangerous would not administered in a medical setting, so, um, just wanna make sure. I'll still vote for the bill, but I just wanna make sure that's, This doesn't apply to that. Okay, perfect. I'll take you for on your word for that.
H.B. 356 Drug Distribution Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks how duplicate discounts could be a risk in Utah, given that Utah carved out of Medicaid for 340B.
▶ Watch at 27:01Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Just a, a question follow up question, Caitlyn, to your, uh, last response. Um, I, I know you're not from Utah, but, or based here, but, uh, since Utah carved out of Medicaid years ago for three 40 B, how would duplicate discounts in Utah even be a risk? Yeah, so just because, um, Medicaid carves out duplicate discounts doesn't mean that they're not happening in other areas And Doesn't mean that No, I'm sorry, I, I I, I mean that they carved outta the three 40 program. So they're completely separate in states that haven't, the duplicate discount is a risk, but Utah, that they're, they're not even allowed to submit claims from a …
H.B. 356 Drug Distribution Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Moves to pass HB 356 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 30:14Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. I make a motion that we pass out HB 3 56 with a Fable recommendation.
H.B. 356 Drug Distribution Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Says the sponsor explained that the bill is a cleanup to recent legislation and helps resolve definitional questions, and notes the importance of the program for rural hospitals.
▶ Watch at 30:27Read what they said
I think the sponsor's done a good job of explaining that it's a cleanup bill to legislation that was, had strong support yesterday. I, I did hear from the Senate sponsor that, um, since the passage of HR one, the passage of the bill last year was especially critical for our rural hospitals who'll be taking a large hit financially due to some of the changes in HR one. So I think this is a common sense step to resolve some of the definitional questions.
H.B. 152 Educational Vaccine Exemption Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Described his past informed-consent bill on abortion waiting periods and said he is concerned about removing an informed-consent step in principle.
▶ Watch at 35:50Read what they said
Uh, th thank you. Um, years ago, I ran a bill that extended the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours, which included watching, uh, a video and informed consent that bill, I, um, I actually was contacted by a major newspaper outlet years later, and they attributed our declining abortion rate to that policy, in part, which I, I couldn't argue against informed consent. And the argument was made, well, people know what they're doing. Well, there was a big study pub, uh, funded by people opposed to my bill subsequent, and they went out and interviewed people who had initially gone into a clinic for the procedure. And then after the, the period and the …
H.B. 229 Restricted Account Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 29, 2026
Moved to adopt the second substitute to HB 229. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:18:39Read what they said
I need to move second sub, just as a reminder. Okay. Representative Eliason, I make a motion that we adopt, uh, first, or excuse me, second sub to HB 2 29.
H.B. 142 School Fee Waiver Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Initially moved to pass HB 142 favorably, then changed the motion to adopt Amendment #1 after noting an amendment was posted online.
▶ Watch at 1:11:27Read what they said
Just one second. Apparently my fingers aren't warm enough. We good? Okay. You're good Now. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'd like to make a motion that we move, um, that we move, uh, hp uh, 1 42 with a favorable recommendation from this committee. So, I'm just gonna note there is a substitute online. Oh, is it amendment? Or it's an amendment? There's an amendment online. I apologize. Then, like, I will change my motion. And I would like to make a motion that we adopt amendment number one to house bill 1 42.
H.B. 142 School Fee Waiver Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moved to pass HB 142 out favorably as amended.
▶ Watch at 1:12:40Read what they said
So we're now at HB 1 42, uh, as amended, uh, Representative Eliason, Uh, I make a motion that we pass out with the favorable re recommendation HB 1 42 school fee waiver amendments as amended.
H.B. 106 School Attendance Changes · House Education Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked the sponsor to consider holding the bill so he can coordinate with the other representatives and senator working on absenteeism before returning to committee.
▶ Watch at 1:33:09Read what they said
to ask the sponsor a question if I may. Go ahead. Um, would you consider holding this for a moment? Let you coordinate with the senator, with the other two representatives that are working on absenteeism and let you guys kinda get together and then we can make a motion to bring it right back to committee. Once you guys have kind of had a chance to talk and get together, would you consider that? And would that be a good idea Right now?
H.B. 106 School Attendance Changes · House Education Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moved to hold the bill in committee.
▶ Watch at 1:33:38Read what they said
I would, I'd like to make a motion that we hold this bill in this committee right now.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Commented that suicide rates are difficult to attribute to any single policy and emphasized state suicide-prevention resources.
▶ Watch at 3:02:59Read what they said
Uh, thank you. It's, uh, I, I'll allow Billy to respond. It's, it's more of a comment. There's been a lot of discussion about, uh, suicide, uh, during the, this committee meeting. It's a very important topic that a legislature's been very focused on. It's extremely difficult to, uh, look at the, our rates of suicide and say definitively they've gone up or down because of one certain policy. For instance, I'm not going to say even though it's actual policy, that for the fact that for the past three years, our rate of youth suicide has gone down. That is per data from the Utah Medical Examiner. But we can't definitively say it's because of one reason or another …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute to HB 193.
▶ Watch at 3:08:41Read what they said
I'd like to move, uh, for substitute. And my name Motion is to move first substitute in Representative Lyon's name.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Explained the substitute: an optional covered benefit for detransition procedures and grandfathering of current hormone therapy based on physician recommendation.
▶ Watch at 3:08:51Read what they said
Um, briefly, the sponsor has, uh, uh, spoken has been speaking largely to the substitute, which, um, would provide an option for those that have gone through a procedure that, um, like, you know, one of our witnesses we heard from earlier has, uh, wishes to Detransition provides that as an optional covered benefit. Um, the second component is that for those who are currently, um, receiving, uh, HRT, that would be, uh, a grandfathered in based on the physician's, um, recommendations. So that's what the substitute does.
H.B. 156 Blood Transfusion Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moves to pass HB 156 out of committee with a favorable recommendation as amended.
▶ Watch at 3:55:13Read what they said
I'd like to make a motion that we pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation as amended. Substituted, Substituted. Excuse me.
H.B. 156 Blood Transfusion Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Shares his mother's experience with directed donation during surgery, citing her anxiety about the blood supply, and supports giving patients this option.
▶ Watch at 3:55:29Read what they said
Very briefly. I may be the only person in the room or the committee that has done this, and I wanna share perspective. Um, I, I did it for my mother and at the time she was very fearful of the blood supply and she had a high degree of anxiety. I don't know if she would've gone through with the surgery had she not had an option to don't to receive blood from a family member. I know that sometimes we always like to break out the brain and the rest of the body, but there are, they're one organism that function together. And so I don't wanna discount the anxiety that somebody may have perceived or real about …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House floor debate (day 8) · Jan 27, 2026
Presented HB 77, the annual tax cleanup bill, and summarized its changes to income, sales, property, and inheritance tax provisions.
▶ Watch at 20:04Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. This is, uh, an interim bill that's our annual cleanup bill, where we work very closely with the Utah State Tax Commission on statutory provisions that, uh, need to be updated or modified. Uh, I'm just gonna high level talk about some of the highlights of the bill. The first category touches is the income tax that modifies the definition of unrelated business income in the corporate statute to include allocated income. It, uh, the next component is actually really encouraging that if somebody's looking to do a repeal, there's all sorts of areas of the code that you can do a repeal. So this repeals the corporate income tax, uh, use of cleaner burning …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House floor debate (day 8) · Jan 27, 2026
Summarized the bill as a consolidation of several tax policies and asked for the House's support.
▶ Watch at 26:17Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this, this is the conglomeration of a lot of different policies that in times past could have ended up in different bills, but we think that that's been vetted very well and is completely appropriate to, uh, consolidate them into this, uh, this larger bill. So, uh, uh, common sense changes. Appreciate your support. Thank you.
H.B. 46 Taxpayer Information Sharing Amendments · House floor debate (day 8) · Jan 27, 2026
Spoke on the bill.
▶ Watch at 41:46Read what they said
Uh, th Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, motion to circle A motion is an order.
H.B. 46 Taxpayer Information Sharing Amendments · House floor debate (day 8) · Jan 27, 2026
Moves to circle the bill so it can be amended to give counties the option of using the database approach, citing concern about larger counties and landlords missing the mailed paperwork.
▶ Watch at 41:54Read what they said
Yes, yes. Um, the bill came up a little bit faster than, uh, I expected based on discussions yesterday. Uh, I think that's a good bill and he's this, the good sponsor, uh, from Central Utah is trying to get at a very important issue, uh, based on concerns that have been raised about the differences between county counties. I think an amendment that would give counties the option to do it this way would be very, very helpful. I'm con especially concerned about the impact on our larger counties. And based on the volume of paperwork that already get sent through the mail, I can see this being missed by many landlords and as a result, their property tax …
H.B. 56 Vehicle Registration Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Asked whether the refund could instead be transferred to another registration. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 43:17Read what they said
So would, would the, would the amount, um, refunded, let's say a person takes the registration, they cancel the registration, could they transfer it to another registration? Or is it strictly just a refund? Or could it be transferred?
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Presents HB 71 and its first substitute, explaining the audit of ghost provider listings, the proposed citation and single case agreement provisions, and a proposed working group on a statewide provider directory.
▶ Watch at 1:01:17Read what they said
Alright, uh, thank you Madam Chair. Uh, Madam Chair and Committee. Uh, this was an interim bill that, uh, we, we discussed, uh, fortunate at the time to have, uh, unanimous support. I am gonna be speaking to the first substitute that's available online. Um, I've been working with, uh, stakeholders, uh, from the provider community and the insurance community to make some additional adjustments to, uh, try to address some of the concerns that, uh, uh, they, they expressed. Um, just as a refresher course since, uh, we heard a number of issues during interim, uh, this bill has, its, which was a committee. Bill has its genesis with an audit done by, uh, Ola, our legislative auditor general. …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Responds that the bill does not set that level of detail, says all parties agree there is a problem, and invites suggestions to refine the single case agreement provisions.
▶ Watch at 1:12:43Read what they said
Thank you. Um, unfortunately, we don't go that granular in the bill. I, I, I will say that in talking to both clinicians and the insurers related to this bill, everybody agrees we, we have a problem and we need to take a step in the right direction. I realize this bill doesn't solve answer every question, and those will be things that have to deal with. I, I experienced that my own self and trying to find, um, provider for a family member. And after I finally found somebody who had an opening at some point in the future, then I started reading the reviews and I'm like, I don't think we wanna go to that clinician. Sadly, the …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Asks whether he may speak to the concerns as a committee member.
▶ Watch at 1:38:58Read what they said
Uh, yes. I, I app I was wondering if as a member of the committee I could do that.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Says the No Surprises Act already requires provider responses, describes changes in the substitute including a 15-day timeline and a repeated-violation requirement, and says the home address notice issue can be discussed with Doppel.
▶ Watch at 1:39:04Read what they said
Um, I, I appreciate everybody's comments and appreciate working with all the groups on this. I, the good news is the common denominators, we have a problem and everybody wants to solve it. Um, one really important point that I think cuts through some of the concerns is that the Federal No Surprises Act requires providers to, uh, respond, um, every 90 days to these, uh, requests for insurers. So that's, that's federal law. I'm not changing that. They still have to respond. I wish the No Surprises Act would've fixed our Ghost network, uh, ghost provider issue. Clearly it hasn't. So taking, I think some of these measures steps in the bill, um, will help us address, um, the, …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Says the substitute requires a pattern of repeated violations and that the penalty was reduced from license action to a citation.
▶ Watch at 1:41:31Read what they said
Um, that's an excellent point, and that's why in the substitute I put a pattern of repeated violations. So, and again, then we downscaled it from the more of the citation, which I know still has consequences. I, I would hope Doppel in the spirit of not wanting to reduce network adequacy wouldn't take this lightly. I mean, again, a pattern, it's kind of hard to make an excuse for a pattern of repeated violations.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Answers that he is not aware of the federal law being part of state unprofessional conduct rules.
▶ Watch at 1:42:14Read what they said
Law? No. No. Okay. No, no. Alright, thanks. Thank You. Not that I'm aware of.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Responds that a working group should not replace legislative action and that a central database would reduce burden, and says he is open to committee direction on holding the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:43:05Read what they said
Thank you. Those are excellent questions. Uh, let me answer them in reverse order. Okay. Um, it's interesting how a Bill Spurs action and in the past, even though this was an interim bill from months ago, in the past 24 hours, there's been a flurry of interest in the bill that has been public for many, many months. I get that. And we have, uh, had a meeting in the minds or a, a closer reconciliation on some of the issues in very short order, including like within the past hour. Um, I don't believe kicking this can down the road is a good answer for patients or to address the issue that Ola has brought up to us. …
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Says he expects the fiscal note impact to almost disappear.
▶ Watch at 1:48:10Read what they said
I expect it to almost evaporate. Okay, thanks. But I'll wait for that to happen. Yeah.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Explains that longer timelines were added to address agency fiscal concerns and that the working group should not require a fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:48:19Read what they said
Good to Know. I I, can I just say that part of it was with a quick time around turnaround some agencies that would input the fiscal note, like, well, we're gonna have to hire extra people if we have to do it this fast. Hence I created longer windows and several compartment parts of the bill. And that is, is that mainly for the working group and No, No working group shouldn't have a fiscal, well, I dunno, we'll see if the working group has a, it shouldn't have a fiscal note 'cause it's state agencies already exist to just convene stakeholders and talk through it. Great.
H.B. 71 Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Commits to continue refining the bill, suggests adding notice at the provider's home address and an appeal step before administrative action, and says the bill should move forward.
▶ Watch at 1:49:56Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you. Um, thank you Madam Chair. I will commit that. I'll continue to have, if it does, uh, pass out of the committee favorably, I'll continue working on fine tuning. Albeit that I don't think anybody's gonna be a hundred percent happy. In an ideal world, there's no, there's no penalties for not doing something. We have a problem here. The fact that both sides are a little bit, I mean, overall supportive, but a little bit agitated makes me think that maybe we've struck a balance, but I don't think we're a hundred percent there. At a bare minimum, I think we should make sure that providers would receive a notice at their home address wherever …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Introduces HB 77, an interim bill, says the committee made no substantive changes to it, and asks the commissioner to present the income tax items.
▶ Watch at 42:37Read what they said
Alright. Uh, thank you. Um, HP 77 tax modifications was an interim bill that we spent, uh, a fair amount of time on. I'm joined by, uh, commissioner, uh, John Valentine from the tax commission. We, the interim committee worked very closely with the tax commission on this bill with a lot of, uh, technical, uh, items that, uh, just make a lot of common sense. Um, we're, we're going to, if it's okay, kind of present this together. Um, I've lived up to the commitment to the committee. We didn't make any change changes to the bill. No. Didn't sneak anything in, uh, despite sometimes, you know, wanting to do that with an omnibus bill or at least, uh, …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes making the pass-through entity SALT workaround permanent and updating the taxpayer credit to match federal changes.
▶ Watch at 45:54Read what they said
Okay. Thank, thank you. Uh, Mr. Chairman. Um, the next component makes provisions, uh, allowing for pass through entities to pay taxes for an individual otherwise known as the state and local tax. The salt cap workaround permanent, the workaround was scheduled to expire 12 31 25. Uh, the last component of the in income tax changes updates the taxpayer credit to align with recent federal changes to the the salt cap. Um, I'll keep going and we can kind of tag team.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes sales and use tax changes on short-term rental definitions and revenue distribution to newly incorporated cities during the holdover period.
▶ Watch at 46:26Read what they said
This, uh, in the sales and use tax category modifies the definition of a short-term rental in the sales tax statute to include short-term property rentals, um, requires the tax commission to distribute revenue from the 1% local sales tax imposed by a county to any newly incorporated cities within the county during 180 day holdover period. Any comment on those?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes aligning motor vehicle exemptions across the rental, tourism, and airport facilities taxes.
▶ Watch at 46:50Read what they said
Okay. Updates and aligns the motor vehicle exemptions applicable to the Motor Motor Vehicle Rental tax, the Tourism Recreation Cultural Convention, and the airport facilities tax.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes requiring taxing entities to give notice to the tax commission before reauthorizing local option sales taxes, and asks whether this ties to last session's notice problems.
▶ Watch at 47:14Read what they said
And the, the last in item that sales use category requires taxing entities to provide notice to the tax commission for the re reauthorization of local option sales tax and prohibits the tax commission from enforcing a reauthorized sales tax if timely notice is not provided. I believe this ties back to some of the issues that we had, uh, last session with cer certain entities not, uh, providing correct notice. Is that
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes restating county assessment requirements for HOA common areas in the property tax statute.
▶ Watch at 54:38Read what they said
All right. Okay. So moving on to the property tax, uh, section of the bill restates the requirements for, uh, county assessment of HOA common areas in the property tax statute. Any comment on that?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes raising the automatic county review threshold from 150% to 350% and the county reporting threshold from 50,000 to 250,000, and says this makes the list more manageable.
▶ Watch at 54:52Read what they said
Yep. Okay. Adjust the qualifying increase report increases the trigger threshold for automatic county review of property with a qualifying increase from 150% to 350% increase. The county, uh, reporting trigger threshold from 50,000 to 250,000 requires counties to report the reasons for the property tax value increase to the tax commission. So, um, chairman, correct me if I'm wrong here, but with previous legislation we did that tried to clamp down on these enormous, uh, unexpected increases to property tax payers with the initial threshold, it generated a long, long list and this was meant to make that list a bit more manageable. Any, any comment on that?
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes changing the indigent individual definition to remove the county-only limit on extreme hardship and allowing appeals of all property tax relief denials.
▶ Watch at 55:42Read what they said
Uh, modifies the definition of indigent individual and the property tax release statute by removing language that limits the finding of extreme hardship to counties. The last component, extreme hardship remains one of the determining factors of the indigent individual definition allows a taxpayer to appeal a county's denial of the taxpayer's property tax relief application based on late filing. This change extends appeal rights to all grounds for denial of property tax relief.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes repealing an obsolete inheritance tax provision tied to a federal credit that no longer exists.
▶ Watch at 57:29Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Um, remaining revenue related issues, uh, he, he, here's the best part of bill it repeals the inheritance tax. You're like, wait, I didn't know we had an inheritance tax. Well, we really don't, but it's, uh, an obsolete tax provision based on non-existent federal inheritance tax. So if you're losing any sleep over that, you don't have to anymore. Uh,
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Describes consolidating two tax commission federal reports into one and adding mineral production withholding and privilege tax changes.
▶ Watch at 58:23Read what they said
Tha thank you. Um, consolidates two separate tax commission reports on federal tax law changes into single report. A many paperwork reduction Act incorporates the changes related to reporting and penalties for mineral production tax withholding from HB 61, uh, the revenue taxation interim committee's tax withholding committee bill from last year and consolidates a list of, uh, existing tax, uh, uh, existing privileged tax exemptions in the privileged tax statute within Title 59, chapter four. Um, Kanosh, lemme stop on both of those.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Says the major provisions are covered and asks whether Rep. Kyle's question was answered.
▶ Watch at 1:01:01Read what they said
Uh, thank you. That sums up the major provisions, but I think Representative Kyle, I don't know if we covered your question.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Explains that the short-term rental definition change makes the whole rental, including furnishings and amenities, subject to sales tax.
▶ Watch at 1:02:18Read what they said
Oh, I remembered that one. So we Have, uh, we have a change in the definition on 34 88. Yes, I see it now. Thank you. We had some people trying to play games so they'd have a short term rental and they'd say, we're going to charge you a rental tax for the walls and a separate rental tax for all of the furniture, furnishings, hot tub, everything else that's used in there. And we would not collect the taxes on those other items. So we wanted to make it very clear to say, you know what, when you have a short term rental, you're renting the whole thing. You're renting all the stuff inside, you're renting the hot …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Comments on the clarity of tax statutes and his past work representing taxpayers. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:03:14Read what they said
If we wonder why the tax code is so voluminous, both the federal and state, it's because of people like that. I, I have to say I am somewhat guilty, uh, because in my prior life when I wore the other colored hat and I, I would like to say that was the white hat 'cause I was representing taxpayers, uh, I would oftentimes look at things and say, Hey, you know what, it's not clear. So we're going to push the envelope. I did, I pushed the envelope. Now that I'm wearing the other hat, and some would call this the black hat. Um, I actually look at the statute and say, what is the plain meaning of the …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Concludes the bill presentation.
▶ Watch at 1:05:22Read what they said
Uh, that, that's, that's it. That's everything in the bill. So that concludes my presentation, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Thanks the commissioner and committee and says the committee harmonized many interim items, and that the transit room tax changes clarify rather than change policy.
▶ Watch at 1:06:57Read what they said
Thank you Commissioner Valentine. Appreciate you being here And thank you Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Um, I recognize that what we did just now was a harmonizing of a lot of things that we've done for all the months of the interim. And so I really appreciate you kind of bearing with us and letting us nail down on that. Um, I wanna say one more thing just to re in response to Representative Kyle, um, that those changes dealing with the transit room tax are no difference in the policy that we're actually doing now. It was attempt to clarify even though I made light of it a little bit, uh, it was attempt to clarify. I …
H.B. 28 Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Presents H.B. 28, which extends the repeal dates for several health and human services councils, grant programs, and a crisis response commission, as recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services.
▶ Watch at 56:53Read what they said
Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this, uh, interim bill is, uh, very straightforward. It simply extends the repeal date for the rare Device, rare Disease Advisory Council grant program, otherwise known as RDAC, the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Grant Program, the Behavioral Health Crisis Receiving Grant Program, and the Behavioral Health Crisis Response, uh, committee. It also extends the repeal date for provisions regarding the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission. Uh, these are all active, very active, uh, commissions that have done a lot of great work and are dealing with some of, uh, society's most vaccine issues. I've had the opportunity to, uh, previously serve on one of these committees. And, uh, currently …
From the official recordings' automatic captions, with speakers and summaries identified by AI. Use the ▶ links to check the recording before you rely on a quote.