Legislators / Jon Hawkins
Jon Hawkins
Republican · House District 55
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Jon Hawkins
- Email: jhawkins@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-368-2534
- Office: PO BOX 353, PLEASANT GROVE, UT, 84062
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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.
Jon Hawkins serves on:
- General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
- House Ethics Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
- Business and Labor Interim Committee
- Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
- Revitalization Zone Committee
What they've said
81 remarks on 24 billsS.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Speaks against the bill, saying it is a tax that businesses will pass on to Utah consumers and makes living in Utah less affordable, while agreeing children need protection.
▶ Watch at 2:02:13Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Speaker Pro Tem. I appreciate the opportunity to speak against this bill. Um, I don't think it does what it's, it's intended to do. Uh, I, I appreciate the sponsor, uh, bringing this before the body. Uh, I, I do agree that, that we do need to protect our children, but this bill doesn't do that. This bill taxes, uh, Utah residents, um, it taxes Utah businesses. Um, and it makes it less affordable, uh, to, to live in Utah. Um, anybody that says that this is not a pass along tax is mistaken. Every tax that that goes to a business gets passed along to the consumer. Every single one except for corporate income tax. That …
S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Opposes the bill, arguing it is a tax that businesses will pass along to Utah consumers and that it makes living in Utah less affordable.
▶ Watch at 2:02:13Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Speaker Pro Tem. I appreciate the opportunity to speak against this bill. Um, I don't think it does what it's, it's intended to do. Uh, I, I appreciate the sponsor, uh, bringing this before the body. Uh, I, I do agree that, that we do need to protect our children, but this bill doesn't do that. This bill taxes, uh, Utah residents, um, it taxes Utah businesses. Um, and it makes it less affordable, uh, to, to live in Utah. Um, anybody that says that this is not a pass along tax is mistaken. Every tax that that goes to a business gets passed along to the consumer. Every single one except for corporate income tax. That …
S.C.R. 10 Concurrent Resolution Emphasizing Utah's Commitment to Advanced Air Mobility · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Presents S.C.R. 10, which emphasizes Utah's leadership in innovation and research, describes the potential of advanced air mobility technologies, and outlines a long-term program toward an operational system and vertiport network leading up to the 2034 Winter Olympics.
▶ Watch at 1:46:05Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. Um, this concurrent resolution emphasizes Utah's history as a global leader in innovation and research. It describes the potential of an advanced air mobility technologies and recognizes Utah's special, uh, or excuse me, ideal political, economic and geographic environments for the testing and implement implementation of these technologies. And it outlines a long-term program to establish an operational advanced air mobility system and Verti Port network prior and leading up to the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. So that is, that's the, uh, resolution.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to adopt amendment one.
▶ Watch at 50:10Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to move, um, amendment one. Um, in my name.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Hawkins moves amendment one, which would let crem continue past March 6, 2027 and let manufacturers stay in Utah but not sell crem products in Utah.
▶ Watch at 50:10Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to move, um, amendment one. Um, in my name. Thank you, representative. I have that amendment. Uh, would you like to speak to it? Yeah. So, um, I appreciate the, the work, uh, to get to this, to, to a position that it's in. Um, the amendment that I'm proposing allows crem to continue past that March 6th, 2027 date, um, and allows, uh, manufacturers to stay in the state of Utah, uh, but cannot sell their crem products in the state of Utah. So that's, uh, that's what my amendment does.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Describes the amendment as extending production past March 6, 2027 and allowing manufacturers to stay in Utah while barring in-state sales.
▶ Watch at 50:22Read what they said
Yeah. So, um, I appreciate the, the work, uh, to get to this, to, to a position that it's in. Um, the amendment that I'm proposing allows crem to continue past that March 6th, 2027 date, um, and allows, uh, manufacturers to stay in the state of Utah, uh, but cannot sell their crem products in the state of Utah. So that's, uh, that's what my amendment does.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says he has no amendment to the fourth substitute and asks whether a motion to circle can be made.
▶ Watch at 51:15Read what they said
I don't have an amendment on the fourth sub. Um, but can I move the circle?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Hawkins says he has no amendment to the fourth substitute and asks whether he can move to circle the bill.
▶ Watch at 51:15Read what they said
I don't have an amendment on the fourth sub. Um, but can I move the circle?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to adopt amendment one to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:21:44Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I think this time I got it ready. Um, I'd like to move First Amendment on the fourth substitute in my name.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Explains that the amendment would allow kratom manufacturing to continue past March 2027 for out-of-state sale while retail sales remain limited, citing jobs and industry investment.
▶ Watch at 1:21:58Read what they said
Yeah. So as I've mentioned before, um, this, this, uh, amendment allows manufacturing to continue past the, the March 6th, 2027 date. Um, but it does not allow for raum to be sold in, in retail stores, uh, outside of what the, the Good sponsor has, has outlined in her four substitute. So, um, all it does is allow manufacturing to continue, um, in the state, um, for an indefinite period of time just by way of information for the body. We do have 49 manufacturers of created 'em in the state. That's tens of millions of dollars invested in, in facilities, uh, with long-term leases that they've, uh, they've garnered because of the Crate and Protection Act. Uh, in …
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Summarizes that other substances with FDA warnings are sold in Utah and argues all such substances should be treated the same way.
▶ Watch at 1:28:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I appreciate the discussion that's been, uh, had here. I would want to point out to my colleagues, uh, Mr. Speaker, that we have substances that we allow to be sold in our state that have FDA warnings, uh, that kill a lot more people than Kratom does. Um, and we still allow them to be sold in, uh, specific places thinking of alcohol, thinking of tobacco. Um, this is just, uh, you know, I understand that the effort of, of trying to protect our, our citizens, but I also think that if we're gonna look at one specific, uh, uh, substance, we probably ought to take a look at, uh, all the substances and …
S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Hawkins said he shares frustration with social media but believes the tax would be passed through to businesses and consumers, would not change platform behavior, and urged a no vote.
▶ Watch at 1:20:40Read what they said
Great. Thanks. Thanks, Mr. Vice Chair. Appreciate the opportunity. So I appreciate and respect what the administration and what the sponsor are trying to do with this bill. Um, I'm frustrated with social media, uh, just like everyone else. I've got kids that are, you know, always on their phone and, and it's, it's frustrating. Um, and I agree that in Utah, we invariably try to put our kids first, but I don't think this bill actually does that. It taxes our businesses, and if we tax our businesses, it restricts their growth and it could actually drive them out of business. And then what do we then, how do we take care of our kids, right? This tax is …
S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Hawkins said businesses offset taxes by raising prices so consumers ultimately pay, and he will vote no.
▶ Watch at 1:27:20Read what they said
I'm on. Yeah, I'm on. Um, so, um, the comment that it was made about this not being a pass through tax businesses will analyze their profit and loss, analyze the, the expenses that they have, um, and find ways to minimize those expenses. Um, doesn't matter what business you're in, you're gonna try to find ways to minimize expenses and raise profits. So for, for example, let's just take taxes as, as an expense that businesses have to pay. They're gonna find ways to offset those expenses, that tax expense by raising their costs. It's just, it, it is economics. It's the way businesses work. And so to say that this is not a pass through tax, um, or …
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presents the bill, which would bar vendors working with the nonprofit Olympic committee from collecting state tax revenue, with cities and the state paid back for public services in another way.
▶ Watch at 43:24Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this bill, um, because of the Olympics committee is a five one C3, uh, charitable committee. Uh, they can't take, uh, tax revenue. Um, what this bill does is basically say any vendor that they, uh, work with to sell tickets and hospitality packages cannot take tax revenue, uh, from the state either. Um, there's a mechanism where, uh, the committee will, uh, create, uh, an opportunity to pay cities and, and, and the state back for public services rendered during the, the Olympics and leading up to the nalytics, but it won't be through tax, uh, sales tax revenue. So that is the extent of the bill.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Confirms the state and subdivisions would be held harmless through contracts with the Olympic committee, which would reimburse them directly.
▶ Watch at 44:31Read what they said
Correct. Yeah. They'll contract with the Olympic committee for their services, and the Olympic committee will, will reimburse them directly.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Says Utah has promised the Olympics would not be paid for by taxpayers and that cities and the state would be held harmless without sales tax dollars.
▶ Watch at 45:15Read what they said
It's different for every Olympic Yeah. Uh, committee. But, uh, in Utah we've promised that it won't be on taxpayers. And so that's what we're trying to do as well. Um, I know that there's a lot of influx with, uh, international and, and, you know, national visitors. And so we're creating a way for, uh, you know, cities to be held harmless, uh, and the state to be held harmless, but it won't be through sales tax dollars.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Says the Olympic committee would pay through a fee tied to ticket sales.
▶ Watch at 45:51Read what they said
No, they'll, they'll get it through a, a, an, uh, commensurate fee on the sales of the ticket, but it just won't, it won't.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Says the bill does not require an equal amount but the sponsor has assurances it will be the same.
▶ Watch at 46:24Read what they said
There's nothing in this bill that would, that would require the same amount, but we have, um, uh, assurances that it will be the same amount.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Says he does not expect opposition, though a future legislature would decide that.
▶ Watch at 46:53Read what they said
I don't think there'd be any opposition to that, but I mean, that's for a future legislature to decide, right?
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Says the Olympic groups know the concern and plan to set the ticket fee commensurate with the sales tax rate.
▶ Watch at 47:48Read what they said
But I think, I think that that concern is very known there. I think that, um, you know, obviously they have to make their plans, but the idea is to, uh, increase the, the price of the ticket, uh, with that fee commensurate to the, the sales tax rate.
H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Confirms nonprofits are already exempt from sales tax and that the bill keeps the vendor from collecting sales tax.
▶ Watch at 48:35Read what they said
That's correct. So the vendor that they, what this bill does is say the vendor that they contract with cannot collect sales tax either.
S.B. 214 Home-based Childcare Solutions · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
The chair asked whether the bill requires licenses for people who currently provide unlicensed home childcare.
▶ Watch at 42:36Read what they said
You. Thank you. I have a a a couple of questions. So today, uh, people can provide childcare on their home in an, on an unlicensed basis. Can you, this appears to require licenses to, to do this. Could you talk about Sure. About
S.B. 214 Home-based Childcare Solutions · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
The chair confirmed current providers would need to register and asked what the penalty would be for those who do not.
▶ Watch at 44:30Read what they said
Thank you, you for that explanation. So if someone is taking care of, uh, providing childcare in their home today, they will need to register. Correct? Just register with the Department of Health and Human Services and do have a criminal background checked on. And, and what's the penalty if they're not paying attention to the legislature? We, we think that
S.B. 214 Home-based Childcare Solutions · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
The chair asked whether the funding request is scalable.
▶ Watch at 46:01Read what they said
Thank you. And, and then, uh, in the, uh, Senator Stevenson has occasionally told me that he doesn't have all this money in the wall in his wallet that I think he does. Um, is this, is This a scalable, uh, request
S.B. 225 Public Corporation Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Said the sponsor has worked hard on the bill and recommended voting in favor of it.
▶ Watch at 1:42:12Read what they said
No, I think the sponsor's done a lot of work on this bill. Obviously, he's, he's been very involved in, in the inland port and, uh, um, I think it's, you know, it's a, it's a bill that we need to, to move on. So, um, I recommend that we vote in favor of it.
H.B. 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Presented H.B. 354, which would make it a Class D misdemeanor to tamper with GPS devices that let victims of trafficking, sexual abuse, or domestic violence alert law enforcement to their location.
▶ Watch at 2:25:33Read what they said
Alright, well make it one. Yeah, I understand. Make it one. So my bill addresses, uh, a device that's being made by a manufacturer here in Utah, that it's a GPS device that allows, uh, for victims of, uh, trafficking, sexual abuse, human or, uh, domestic violence to take it. And it automatically alerts law enforcement to the, their position within like two meters. Um, the bill makes it a Class D misdemeanor to, to, uh, tamper with those devices. That's it.
S.J.R. 1 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence Concerning Crimes or Other Acts · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether evidence laundering is an official term.
▶ Watch at 1:21:18Read what they said
Thank you. I just had one question. I, I'm curious about a term that I'd never heard before, and I'm wondering if you'd ever heard it. And that term was, um, evidence laundering. Is that, is that an official term that
H.B. 547 Transnational Repression Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asked whether Eileen Gu was harassed into becoming a Chinese national or was born in America.
▶ Watch at 46:21Read what they said
Yeah, I was just, I, I was intrigued by, uh, the comment about Eileen Gu, is that what happened to her? She was she harassed to become a Chinese national or was, 'cause she was born in America, right? Ambassador Curry. Do you wanna answer that?
H.B. 547 Transnational Repression Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute for HB 547.
▶ Watch at 48:14Read what they said
Uh, HB 5 47. And we need to adopt first Substitute. Okay. I move that we adopt first substitute HB 5 47.
H.B. 547 Transnational Repression Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Said the bill sets a clear line against harassment and repression of individuals in Utah, ahead of the Winter Olympics.
▶ Watch at 48:54Read what they said
I appreciate the motion and I think particularly as we prepare for the Winter Olympics coming Utah, we're gonna ha continue obviously to have, uh, international students and be a welcoming culture. But also we're gonna be welcoming thousands of athletes from across the world. We wanna make sure that people recognize that, uh, America and more So Utah is a place for free expression is a place for, um, uh, freedom. And I think this, this sets a clear line in the sand that we would not tolerate harassment and repression of individuals, um, wherever you are in the world when you're here in Utah, that we're not gonna tolerate that. So I appreciate the motion.
H.B. 547 Transnational Repression Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Moved to place the bill on the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 50:07Read what they said
Can I make one final motion? That is an order. Can we put this on consent To the motions to put it on consent to the sponsor, the bill? Uh, I think that'd be a great motion.
H.B. 487 Legislative Branch Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asks why the bill is needed, reporting that colleagues he polled often said no or did not know whether they could open bill files on certain topics, and says the bill would give new legislators a defined role.
▶ Watch at 53:16Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm just curious. I like, I I really like this bill. I'm, I'm curious as to why it's needed. That's a, uh, it's an interesting question, you know, and, and, uh, I, uh, actually went around to a handful of legislators without naming any names, and I asked a couple of just interesting questions. I asked, for example, do you believe you could open a bill file today to repeal prop four? Or do you believe you could go open a bill file to legalize marijuana recreational marijuana in the state of Utah? Um, and surprisingly, um, in both the Senate and the House, I had a number of, uh, legislators respond …
H.B. 487 Legislative Branch Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Supports placing the bill on the consent calendar, saying legislators should know their role and thanking the sponsor and the mover.
▶ Watch at 1:00:05Read what they said
Yeah, I think, um, getting to this stage in the legislative session, I think that this needs to go on consent. Um, it's concerning to me that as legislators, we don't know what our role is, that we can open any bill file that we, we feel is necessary. And so, um, putting this on consent and getting it passed through the house and through the process in the Senate, I think is a really good thing. So appreciate the sponsor for bringing it forward and for the, the maker of the motion, putting it on consent.
H.B. 540 Judicial Transparency and Information Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Supports the bill, saying he voted against it in committee but that the sponsor made changes addressing concerns, which will allow him to vote for it.
▶ Watch at 1:18:40Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro Tem. Um, I wanna rise in support of this, the, this bill. I, you know, in committee I actually voted a against it. Um, but I think the sponsor's done a really good job of, of listening to concerns and, and, um, making changes in the bill that are, are really good, uh, for the state. So I appreciate the sponsor, um, put getting it in a position, uh, that, uh, I'll be able to vote on it. Thank you.
H.B. 540 Judicial Transparency and Information Access Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says he will support the bill, noting he voted against it in committee but that the sponsor made changes that address concerns.
▶ Watch at 1:18:40Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro Tem. Um, I wanna rise in support of this, the, this bill. I, you know, in committee I actually voted a against it. Um, but I think the sponsor's done a really good job of, of listening to concerns and, and, um, making changes in the bill that are, are really good, uh, for the state. So I appreciate the sponsor, um, put getting it in a position, uh, that, uh, I'll be able to vote on it. Thank you.
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Chair Hawkins said he opposes the substitute motion because the sponsor made the auditor's office consistent with other constitutional offices.
▶ Watch at 1:29:19Read what they said
Um, I'm gonna, I'm gonna take the church prerogative and, and, uh, talk to the substitute motion. I don't like the substitute motion. Um, um, I do believe that the sponsor has done, um, the work necessary over, uh, the time that he's been working on this bill to make, um, the auditor's office as a constitutional office, the same as every other constitutional office that we have budgetary authority over. And so I am gonna vote no on the substitute motion.
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Presents the first substitute to H.B. 360, which sets limits on high school athlete transfers, requires documented bullying for certain transfers, and bars athletes from playing a sport for pay.
▶ Watch at 1:44:02Read what they said
Yeah. So, thank you, uh, vice Mr. Vice Chair, um, committee, uh, I apologize. I wasn't here on Tuesday. I think it was Tuesday, uh, or Wednesday. I don't know. The days blend together. Um, I got caught into a kind of Ophir drill at work. So, um, but I have heard from the public, I've heard from a number of people, and I've made, uh, some changes. So I'll be speaking to the first substitute of HB 360. Um, my concern in this bill is, um, that there's a, there's a transfer portal like atmosphere in high school sports, um, that has come down. And the first, the first bill actually made it much more of the Wild West, …
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Explains the double-negative drafting and that the bill disallows payment to athletes while the bill allows one-time transfers. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:52:04Read what they said
so your bill then stops the transferring between schools to play sports. It allows, It allows for, let me, let me finish your question. Sorry. Oh, well, so the way I, the way I read it is that this bill would allow students to transfer between schools just to play sports. It would allow one time Yes. And it would allow them to get paid to play sports. No, it'll, it would. So it disa allows payment, Disa allows payment Yes.
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Gives an example of how the transfer limits and sit-out rule would apply to a student and describes the bill's intent to narrow transfers.
▶ Watch at 1:53:39Read what they said
So let me give you to, from a, like a scenario, right? So let's say that I have a son that's in ninth grade, or a daughter that's in ninth grade, right? They get to choose which high school they attend, right? Open enrollment in, in Utah allows for that. Um, if they want to transfer, let's say my son plays baseball. If he wants to transfer to another school, he can do so one time and say he doesn't, you know, he doesn't like the fit and whatever. You know, the case may be, um, if he wants to transfer another time, he has to sit out varsity level sports for a year. Okay. So he can play jv, …
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Explains that a transfer for bullying requires evidence meeting the defined term in code. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:57:14Read what they said
Yes. So it says they can do it one time Any grade. Yeah. Uh, the, uh, establishes that a, a student has been a victim of bullying. As I read that, if a parent says, my student has been a victim of bullying, and they hold a hearing, and they say that there's really no standard of evidence, uh, just if they present any level of evidence, then they qualify for that exemption. Is that, so There's a standard of evidence, there's a standard of evidence in that it has to meet the defined term in, in code, In that reference 50 3G, correct.
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Says the bill's treatment of transfers between districts is a gray area and that he is willing to tighten it. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:58:48Read what they said
I think that's a gray area in the bill, to be honest with you. Um, so I'm happy to tighten that up, uh, as, as you know, we move forward. So, yeah.
H.B. 360 School Athlete Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Says his intent was not to open the transfer portal and defers to the committee's vote on tabling.
▶ Watch at 2:10:28Read what they said
So, no, I, you know, I, my intention was not to open the portal, you know, the transfer portal. Um, we've heard from the public on, on this bill. Um, I've only ever seen one other motion in my eight years to table a bill. So if that's what the committee would like to do, then you know, I'll, I'll, uh, I'll submit to the committee's vote.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Explains that the amendment adds Paralympics and Paralympic references in three places in the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:00:42Read what they said
Yeah. Um, we just added the words. Um, or Paralympics, um, or Paralympic, uh, in three locations in the bill.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Presents the bill, saying it bars a sales tax on Olympic ticket and hospitality packages sold by vendors, with the Olympic Committee paying the state and communities instead.
▶ Watch at 2:01:26Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, um, this bill, uh, basically says that, uh, the Olympic Committee, when they, uh, um, contract with a vendor to sell tickets or hospitality packages, that vendor cannot charge a sales tax, uh, to, uh, you know, in addition to the package that they sell. So, um, that's all the bill does. Uh, thank you Representative Hawkins.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the Olympic Committee promised not to take state money and will add a fee to ticket sales to cover reimbursement to the state and communities.
▶ Watch at 2:02:19Read what they said
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the question. Um, the, the Olympic Committee is, uh, promised, uh, to not collect any state monies for, uh, the, the execution of the Olympics. Um, they are able to charge whatever they want to, um, with their tickets. And so, uh, they, uh, I have been in conversation with them, um, to talk about, you know, how, how they overcome that deficit. Um, and they've talked to me about, um, an additional fee that would basically cover the sales tax, um, so that the, those that could be reimbursed to the state and to the local communities that participate in the Olympics.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Responds that the organizers will not collect sales tax but will collect an additional fee and pay communities and the state for services.
▶ Watch at 2:03:43Read what they said
Um, thank you Mr. Speaker for the, for the question. Um, technically no, they're not gonna be collecting sales tax. That's what this bill does. They will collect, uh, an additional fee and pay the communities and the state back for participation. Ophir, uh, police, snow removal, uh, all of the services that go into putting on an Olympic games, but technically they're not collecting a sales tax.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the plan includes a perpetual maintenance fund for the venues and paying back communities and the state.
▶ Watch at 2:04:36Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the question. Um, that is actually part of the plan, um, to put the money into Perpetual Maintenance fund, um, that will, you know, upkeep the venues, the, um, the, you know, the facilities, um, and, and be able to pay back those communities and the state for the involvement in the Olympics.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the fund will still be created but does not need to be tied to a sales tax.
▶ Watch at 2:05:47Read what they said
Now I understand Mr. Speaker. So that is actually the purpose of, of, of the fund that they're going to, to create. Um, um, it doesn't have to be tied to a sales tax, um, that, you know, in creation of this, the, the money's generated. So the fund will be there, um, but they just don't want to, uh, be tied to a sales tax.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks for the question to be repeated. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:08:05Read what they said
So I was distracted. Mr. Speaker. Could, could I have the representative repeat his question?
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Agrees the state forgoes sales tax revenue and says the state will benefit from the fee on ticket sales that the Olympic committee gathers.
▶ Watch at 2:08:38Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for that clarification. Um, I think that your reading is correct, that the state is foregoing, uh, the revenue on the sales tax. However, um, the Olympic committee can charge whatever they want and has, has promised to pay back to the state for the, uh, you know, for the services rendered by the state and the local communities. And so, um, although the state won't be part of that opportunity, the state will benefit from, from the fee that or the, uh, the ticket sales, uh, that the Olympic, uh, committee is, is going to gather.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Gives closing remarks that the bill lets the Olympic Committee avoid sales tax and not take state money while allowing the state and communities to recover service costs.
▶ Watch at 2:11:07Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I appreciate our good majority leaders, uh, clarifying explanation of, of my inadequate, uh, uh, presentation. But that is, that is essentially what we've promised to our constituents, that the Olympics when it comes here will not take state money. And so what this does is allow the Olympic Committee to not charge sales tax to take state money, but allows them to operate and, and allows the state and local communities to recuperate for the, um, for the services rendered during the Olympics and Paralympic games.
H.B. 36 Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it gives kids chances to be active and that the Utah Olympic Committee wants rural counties included.
▶ Watch at 2:38:10Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in, in strong support of this, this bill. Um, I think this brings, uh, opportunities for our kids to be active, uh, to be participating in, in things that get them moving. Um, I know that, uh, the Utah Olympic Committee is very interested in making sure that the Olympics impact not just, uh, you know, the Wasatch front and back. They're very interested in making sure that it reaches all 29 counties. And I think this program that, that the good sponsor has outlined does a really good job of making sure our rural communities are, are impacted by, by the Olympics coming into town. So I, I think this is a …
H.B. 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments · House floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026
Presents H.B. 354, saying it would let people in danger use dispensed tracking devices that alert law enforcement to their location, and would make tampering with the devices a Class B misdemeanor.
▶ Watch at 1:20:25Read what they said
Hawkins for presentation. Thank, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, um, this bill came to me from a constituent of mine who started a, a company that helps, um, provide emergency tracking devices to those who are in danger, whether they're being have been kidnapped or human trafficked or, or, um, you know, in a domestic violence situation. And they, they, they don't know another way out. What this company does is provide these trackers in, um, convenience store bathrooms or rest stops. Um, and it's a little device that's about the size of a dime. And as soon as it's dispensed from, um, you know, the, the dispensary, I guess, um, it alerts law enforcement as to where they are. …
H.B. 507 State Coordination of Regional and Local Economic Development Projects Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says the bill is not finished but is a worthwhile effort on economic development that could provide a mechanism for regional or statewide benefit.
▶ Watch at 2:18:17Read what they said
I'll just comment that I think hopefully the sponsor would agree this, this is not done, but it's a fabulous effort to try to get our hands around some really tough economic development issues. And appreciate this, appreciate the, the concept of there can be a regional benefit or even a statewide benefit to some of these economic development projects. And this starts to provide a mechanism for that.
H.B. 42 School Cybersecurity Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Moves to adopt the third substitute under Representative Wilcox's name.
▶ Watch at 25:39Read what they said
I'd like to move the sub that under Representative Wilcox name That the third substitute.
H.B. 540 Judicial Transparency and Information Access Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Said he would make a substitute motion to hold the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:03:34Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm gonna make a substitute motion if that's an order.
H.B. 540 Judicial Transparency and Information Access Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Said the bill's purpose is solid but he would vote no as written and prefers to hold it so the committee can keep working on it rather than substituting on the floor.
▶ Watch at 2:03:45Read what they said
Um, I want to, I move that we hold the bill. Um, I'm not there yet. I think that, I think that the purpose behind the bill is, is solid. Um, I think that we can get there, um, with the, with some more, um, discussion. But I, the way that the bill sits right now, I'm gonna vote no, and I don't want to vote no to kill it, but I'd rather like hold it so that we can continue to work on it and, and not have to sub on the floor, but rather do the work here in the committee and then, and then move it out favorably at that point. So, Thank you, Representative Hawkins.
H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to adopt the second substitute of the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:08:03Read what they said
Yeah, I I am moved that we adopt a second substitute HB 4 6 76. Excuse me. That's an order. Any discussion of that to, to sponsor all those in favor of adopting second substitute HB 4 76.
H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend the second substitute of the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:08:29Read what they said
So while my light's still on, um, I move that we favorably recommend second substitute HB 4 76. The motion is to favorably recommend HB 4 76 second substitute. Any discussion of that motion?
H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Withdrew the prior motion and moved to adopt the second substitute of the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:09:00Read what they said
I have moved that we adopt a second substitute H hp Actually, I'll take back my motion. We'll resend the previous motion and Then move to adopt second. Substitute HB 4 75. Okay, we'll try that again.
H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend the second substitute of the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:09:22Read what they said
Okay. Then I'll, uh, remake my motion to adopt h uh, second substitute HB four 70. Sorry. To favorably recommend, uh, second substitute HP 4 75. Uh, the motion is to favorably to recommend HB 4 75 second substitute to any discussion, to that motion, to the sponsor, to the to maker.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Presents the bill, which exempts Olympic ticket sales from sales tax, and describes a possible fee the host committee may charge to reimburse cities.
▶ Watch at 2:10:49Read what they said
I kinda like that. I I can adopt that. Um, okay. So there is a substitute, which changes the name and a couple of lines in the, uh, in the body of the, of the bill. But essentially, um, all this bill does is, um, so Utah 2034, the organizing committee is a tax exempt organization. Um, they will, uh, partner with a, when they go to market with their ticket sales, they'll partner with a third party vendor who is not a tax exempt organization. And so what this bill does is makes, uh, Olympic ticket sales, uh, tax exempt. So it keeps those tickets, uh, free from sales tax. That's all it does. Is that in our best …
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says the question concerns the earlier version of the bill, which is no longer in the substitute.
▶ Watch at 2:13:06Read what they said
So that's on, um, the old bill. Oh, so that's, yeah, that's a good question. But it's on the old bill, so it's Not in there now.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Points to the substitute's sales tax exemption for Olympic tickets and its definition of an Olympic ticket.
▶ Watch at 2:13:35Read what they said
Yeah. So really if you look at the first sub, you read line 24 that says, here's the exemptions from sales tax, right. In this chapter of code. Then you jump down to line 861. Um, and it is, hold on, I'm, I'm still scrolling. Um, it says a sale of an Olympic ticket as, as defined in sections, um, 60 3G 28 1 0 1. So that's exempt from sales tax. And then it defines what an Olympic ticket is on lines 8 88 through 8 91. That significantly simplifies that.
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Explains that the private organization can set the fee, has committed to remit it to participating cities and counties, and that a maximum fee will be addressed later.
▶ Watch at 2:14:33Read what they said
So, because they're, they're a private organization, they can charge whatever they need to, but there is, um, there is commitment that when they charge that fee, um, they will remit that fee directly back to the cities and counties that participate in, in the Olympics. So say, and, and, and, um, at a later time, we will come back and figure out what that, what the maximum of that fee can be. Um, but they're a private organization and they can, they can charge that. Um, but they are committed to, um, making sure that cities and counties that participate in the Olympics don't take that burden on alone, um, and have to move their budgets around and, um, …
H.B. 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Rep. Hawkins explained that the bill makes it a class B misdemeanor to tamper with or destroy rescue tracking devices, which a constituent's organization developed for use in public restrooms and rest stops and which have been used in Utah County, and he provided a handout.
▶ Watch at 1:52:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee. Um, this, this bill's, uh, pretty simple, but let me kind of explain the, uh, the, the, um, origin of it. I had a, a constituent reach out to me. He runs an organization that creates, um, little GPS tracking devices. And, um, they, they found a, a specific use case for this, um, GPS tracking device, uh, to be put into, um, bathrooms, rest stops, uh, areas, um, so that people could take them if they're in a situation around, you know, kidnapping, human trafficking, domestic violence. Um, the, the device, uh, oh, by the way, uh, I do have a handout. Is it all right if we hand that out, Mr. Chair? Oh, …
H.B. 354 Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Rep. Hawkins said he appreciates a favorable vote, that the bill is needed, and that the device owners are not asking for money, only that their devices not be tampered with.
▶ Watch at 1:55:36Read what they said
I appreciate a favorable vote. I think this is a, a, a needed thing, a good thing. They're not asking for money, they're just trying to make sure their devices Are not tampered with.
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Speaks in support, saying students need a break from long practice and game schedules and that the sponsor's bill helps with that.
▶ Watch at 2:52:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. I think it's a, it's a needed thing, uh, for our kids to take a break, um, and to not have the hours and hours and hours that they are being pressured to have, um, during their athletic career. Um, I work a lot with, with youth sports, uh, in my area and have for a long time. And, you know, baseball, when I was younger was, I played 20 games a year if I was lucky enough to play on an all-star team. And, you know, 20 games is, is a month in, in October in baseball now, right? And, and they're doing this all year round. …
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Speaks in support of the bill, saying students need rest from demanding youth sports schedules.
▶ Watch at 2:52:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. I think it's a, it's a needed thing, uh, for our kids to take a break, um, and to not have the hours and hours and hours that they are being pressured to have, um, during their athletic career. Um, I work a lot with, with youth sports, uh, in my area and have for a long time. And, you know, baseball, when I was younger was, I played 20 games a year if I was lucky enough to play on an all-star team. And, you know, 20 games is, is a month in, in October in baseball now, right? And, and they're doing this all year round. …
H.B. 250 Utah Retirement Plan Exchange · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Spoke in favor, saying the voluntary program offers savings opportunities and upward mobility and could ease future welfare costs.
▶ Watch at 1:33:07Read what they said
Um, I'm gonna take just a second if I can, as a chair's prerogative to talk about this. I think, um, this is a good opportunity for the state to lead out. Uh, there's too many people in our state, um, that don't have a savings account. There's too many people that don't understand the concept of compound interest and the power that it has to create wealth. Um, and I think what, you know, the opportunity for us to provide that, not to mandate it, but to provide it, to offer it as the, as the treasurer has said, creates a, a, you know, creates upward mobility for ourselves. Our kids, our grandkids, um, representative talked about future welfare. …
H.B. 260 Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Asked whether a substitute needed to be adopted first.
▶ Watch at 2:23:17Read what they said
Um, yeah. Is there a sub that we need to adopt on this First? Uh,
H.B. 260 Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend the first substitute of HB 260.
▶ Watch at 2:23:52Read what they said
Yeah. Now that we've adopted the first sub, I'd like to make a motion that we favorably recommend, um, the, uh, HB two first sub HB two 60.
H.B. 260 Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Said that if non-lawyers cannot practice law, no one else should be able to, and that it is a good bill.
▶ Watch at 2:24:38Read what they said
Maybe I'll say something. S snarky. I think, you know, if, if I can't practice law as a non-lawyer, then no one else should be able to, so it is good Bill.
H.B. 286 Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked the sponsor to respond to stakeholder concerns that the bill goes further than New York and California laws.
▶ Watch at 51:22Read what they said
Um, so I just, I've got a couple questions real quick. Um, there's been concern from other stakeholders, uh, that this bill, um, goes a little bit too far. Um, you know, the comparison is bills or laws in, in New York and laws in in California, which is something that we don't necessarily aspire to be like, uh, here in the state of Utah. Um, I'm wondering if you can address those concerns with the quote unquote heavy regulation that, that your bill supposedly puts into place. Sure.
H.B. 286 Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked how this bill differs from another child-safety AI bill the sponsor is carrying.
▶ Watch at 53:51Read what they said
Thank you. Um, so the, the other question and comment that I've heard is, and maybe it's not germane, so correct me if I'm wrong here, but there's another bill that addresses child safety as well, um, that I believe you're the floor sponsor or the house sponsor and, and there's a floor sponsor in the Senate. How are those different?
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asks whether fleet vehicles are covered by the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:35:51Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, Mr. Vice chair. So I'm, I'm wondering about vehicle inspections for fleet vehicles. So this is just for reg, uh, passenger vehicles. They do require, uh, their own,
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Says the fee should be posted at the shop so customers know it, and that the market can regulate prices while posting reduces disputes.
▶ Watch at 1:39:13Read what they said
So I think, I think the idea that I've come to understand in my head is like, we want the fee to be posted generally, right? I don't care what the fee is. The market will, as, as Representative Shelley and Representative Hansen has said, the market will, will regulate itself. Right? If you're, if you're, yeah. Yeah. And, but I do think it should be posted, um, you know, somewhere in, in the shop or whatever. Because I think if it's just stated, sometimes the attendant will forget to state what the fee is and sure. They might be sued or whatever, and we don't want to create more litigation. So yeah,
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Reads the proposed amendment requiring a safety inspection station charging a fee to conspicuously post the fee amount before performing the inspection.
▶ Watch at 1:40:17Read what they said
Yeah, it's on line 40. This'll be a new line. 40. Yeah, so a new line 40. Um, a safety inspection station charging a fee as described in subsection four, shall conspicuously post and communicate the fee amount before performing a safety inspection.
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moves to amend the bill with the proposed fee-posting language.
▶ Watch at 1:45:02Read what they said
Yeah, it looks like I proposed this. Apparently it does, It does look like that. I I will make that, uh, uh, motion to amend.
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend HB 192 as amended.
▶ Watch at 1:46:09Read what they said
I move that we favorably recommend HB 1 92 as amended vehicle inspection fee amendments.
H.B. 182 Genetic Information Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Hawkins asked how the bill defines foreign adversary and how it relates to the federal definition.
▶ Watch at 1:55:55Read what they said
Um, I have just a couple of questions. Um, maybe just one, talk to me about, um, the definition of foreign adversary and, and what that means in, in Utah's statute and how that complies with the federal statute, federal foreign
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.