Michael K. McKell

• S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Moves to reconsider H.B. 513 to add a one-word amendment he says was left out, and asks for the bill number.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Thank you Mr. President. I move to reconsider on house Bill five 13. I inadvertently left off a, an amendment that I had approved online. It's a one word amendment, but I need to, a motion to reconsider, uh, gimme the bill number again, I need the bill number. Uh, Five 13.

  ▶ Watch at 3:40

• S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Says he will place H.B. 513 back on the second reading calendar and calls the bill.

  Read what they said

  I'm gonna place that bill back on the top of the second reading calendar where it came from. I'll call the bill

  ▶ Watch at 4:06

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Says the House improved the bill by adding a public awareness campaign on how the money could be used, and moves to concur.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I actually think the House did a good job with the bill. They added, they added some educational, um, public awareness campaign to how the money could be used. I I, I think they made it the bill actually better and I think what they did, there was a lot of wisdom to it. So I'd move to Concur.

  ▶ Watch at 8:21

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Explains that the House amendments made technical changes to the end of the bill's language, and that the bill codifies what the legislative management committee already does; urges support for concurrence.

  Read what they said

  Senator Macl. Thank You. I move to Concur. Explain the changes. Yeah, There was just some technical changes in the end, end of the language that the House added. Working with our, our staff. The, the bill's, just the legislative management committee bill and it codifies what, what we do there. So that's what it does and I'd urge support.

  ▶ Watch at 30:51

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Said the House changes were agreed to by consensus, resolved an issue about whether a clerk must sign a ballot, delayed the implementation date, and urged the Senate to concur.

  Read what they said

  of the implementation date that was more, more than anything. We kicked it back. Um, there was an issue of whether or not a clerk would need to, to sign a, a ballot or not. And that was, that was cleaned up with consensus. Um, nothing that was done in the house was not agreed to and it was a consensus change with an implementation date that was delayed. With that I'd urge the body to concur.

  ▶ Watch at 37:40

• H.B. 547 Transnational Repression Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Presents H.B. 547, saying it addresses transnational repression, particularly for students in higher education, and cites an Olympic figure skater as an example.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. So this is a bill that we've been working on. Um, we've had issues with transnational repression in the past. It's been a significant issue in the state of Utah. If you look at the language of the bill, this deals with transnational repression. Either our higher ed institutions, we want to tackle it there and we wanna make sure that as a student comes from out of state, that they that out, out of our country, that they see, they see that issue. That's part of the language. And we, we've had this issue in the past. You'll see that one of our Olympic fig figure skaters, um, Eliza Lou, who, um, was, did incredible …

  ▶ Watch at 41:18

• H.B. 59 Identification Verification Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Says the bill sets a minimum credit-hour requirement for school scheduling instead of a day or instructional-hour requirement, is a consensus bill with no known opposition, and moves to consent.

  Read what they said

  This bill creates a minimum credit hour requirement rather than a day or an instructional hour. Um, this is a consensus Bill. I'm not aware of any opposition and I move to consent.

  ▶ Watch at 46:45

• H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Explains that the third substitute builds a tiered license model in response to stakeholder feedback.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. There's been a lot of stakeholder input and the third substitute builds a tiered license model. And that, that's coming from the feedback from the stakeholders.

  ▶ Watch at 47:04

• H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Says the bill was carefully negotiated and creates oversight for specialty product retailers, prohibits certain items on billboards, and allows enforcement to execute a warrant.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. This this bill in its third substitute and really throughout the process has been carefully negotiated. And what we're doing is we're creating some oversight with U daf. We, we've had problems in our specialty product retailers, and that's what this bill does. It also has some prohibitions on certain things that can't show up on, on billboards. It also allows our folks to execute a warrant. Um, as, as we started looking at this issue and create 'em and this and these, these industries just in general, there are a lot, a lot of problems and that's what this bill seeks to solve. Without, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 47:34

• H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Sponsor says the bill conforms the veterinary code to administrative rule by replacing six months with a thousand hours, following a discussion with Mark Steinle.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. This, this bill just conforms with the administrative rule. Um, it goes from six months to a thousand hours and had a chance to talk to Mark Steinle. That's the, it's basically the same, same definition. We're, we're actually putting a thousand hours in the code rather than than months and dates to make sure we, we conform with the administrative rule.

  ▶ Watch at 48:09

• H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Presents the school excused absence bill, which broadens approved absences to include programs such as shooting sports and mountain biking tied to Utah State for high school students.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. Um, a year or two ago I worked on a bill, um, working on what, what qualifies as an approved absence and Representative Albrecht saw, saw the bill and, and added to it just, just a little bit, making sure. Um, for years we've always been really good at excusing kids for football and, and basketball and cheerleading. And what we're doing is just broadening that policy. You'll see that programs that are tied to Utah State for high school kids are listed shooting sports and mountain biking. Um, without, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:20

• H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I'll waive summation and move under suspension of the rules that this bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 1:11:03

• H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Moves to uncircle first substitute H.B. 137, Violent crime clearance rate amendments. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Yeah, sorry I was off the floor. So I would move to Uncer. First substitute house bill 1 37. I have A motion to Uncer first substitute house bill 1 37 Violent crime clearance rate amendments.

  ▶ Watch at 1:56:21

• H.B. 137 Violent Crime Clearance Rate Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Presents H.B. 137 as floor sponsor, saying it creates a violent crime clearance rate fund to help law enforcement solve more violent crimes through hiring, tools, and victim support, with some private funding expected; he waives summation and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you Mr. President. So the, the, the basis of this bill and the main purpose is just increasing the likelihood that violent offenders are identified and apprehended. It creates a violent crime clearance rate fund to help Utah law enforcement agencies to solve more violent crimes and strengthen public policy. Utah's violent crime clearance rate is hovering around 53% since 2019, meaning nearly half of our violent crimes result in no arrest and one in four murders go unresolved. These outcomes are not due to a lack of effort by our law enforcement community, but rather resource constraints that limit investigative capacity. This bill supports hiring, retaining and investigators, criminal analysts, and upgrading forensic tools and strengthening victim …

  ▶ Watch at 1:56:40

• H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026

  Presents H.B. 218, which would require a digital skills course for seventh and eighth grade, set digital skill standards for middle schools, and create an advisory tech council to advise superintendents on tech education, and says the bill is long overdue.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, let me just say I, I love serving this legislature and I love the work that we've done to protect kids online. And I, I think of all the bills that have been run by colleagues in this body and I, and I think we've done a remarkable job. Um, top, top to bottom. Um, this is, this is a bill that's, well, it seems basic. I think it's really important. One of the questions we always get asked is, what are we doing for digital literacy? What are we doing to teach kids about the dangers online? Um, we have a website, social harms dot Utah dot gov that has resources and tools for parents. But …

  ▶ Watch at 2:18:42

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Presents H.B. 408 as a companion to last year's data portability law, describing its user data transfer, consent, open standards, and safe harbor provisions.

  Read what they said

  portability Bill, excuse me. And this is, this is, uh, a lot of work that goes, goes in addition to the work we did last year, um, Representative Fiefia worked on this last year. This, this bill this year provides some strong, safe harbor provi provisions from the past. But lemme just walk through what the bill does. It strengthens user control over social media. The bill allows users to select and transfer portions of their social media data. Pictures, posts, comments, connections to another platform if they choose. It's not a requirement requires interoperability between social media platforms. Social media companies must create systems that allow users to move their data between platforms. This protects user consent and privacy …

  ▶ Watch at 11:45

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Explains that the House amendment narrows student data to exclude records of student behavior incidents and discipline, and urges support for the bill.

  Read what they said

  There was a question about student data and what it, what it meant. And Representative Peterson added, added just a clause in there. Um, just narrowing it and making sure that student data does not include information or records related to student behavior incidents or student discipline. That was just something that stakeholders and some folks in the house requested. It was a good amendment to the bill. And, and with that I'd urge support.

  ▶ Watch at 12:17

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the technical details are for engineers and gives Facebook and Instagram as an example of companies sharing a platform.

  Read what they said

  I will yield Mr. Go ahead, Senator Mikel. Um, I, I think if I understand the question, it's, it's more of a technical question. Um, as far as as how this data is gonna be portable, um, I, I'm certainly as a, as a lawmaker, we, we simply set policy. I, I, I don't understand the technical details of how that that is going to happen, but I know as Representative Fiefia has worked on it, I know there's a lot of a lot of engineers that understand this. Um, that's not, that's not something that I, I understand the full portability, but I will tell you, you have companies that work together. Um, for example, Facebook and Instagram. Those …

  ▶ Watch at 14:08

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the bill gives people a choice over where their data goes and control over their data instead of companies that mine it.

  Read what they said

  Mr. President. I think the point of the bill is to make sure people have a choice of where their data goes and that people are in control of their data. What we worry about is these, these are companies that are mining our data. And what we want, we want to have happen is we want our consumers to be in charge of their data and make sure that they're in control of their data. Not, not the, not the companies, but the actual, the actual individuals using these platforms.

  ▶ Watch at 15:42

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Opposes the substitute, saying it would repeal last year's data portability law and that the bill makes cleanup changes and adds safe harbors.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. So I, I would oppose the substitute. We passed the bill dealing with the data portability last year. A lot of this is cleanup from last year. And this bill also this year has some, some good safe harbors if companies are working in good faith. So the substitute is right. It would be a repi of what we did last year. Um, I, I, I don't think that's the effort right now. The effort is to, is to take the legislation we did last year, make it much more workable, provide some safe harbor provisions for these social, social media companies that we, we, we pass data portability. Um, the key is, is we, we want consumers to …

  ▶ Watch at 18:18

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the bill is a cleanup and implementation bill that industry has worked on, that perfect implementation is not expected, and that the substitute would leave existing law without the cleanup.

  Read what they said

  I, I do wanna address the, this 'cause I, the ship is kind of, I don't wanna say the ship is, is, is sailed, but the ship to a certain extent, we, we have set the policy and, and, and obviously if this substitute were to pass, um, I would circle the bill or the representative wouldn't, wouldn't Concur. And the bill that we have before us right now, it, it is a cleanup bill. I know he has had a chance to work with industry representatives to make sure that this can be implemented. I, I, I don't think it's to, to representative Bremmer's question it, can it be perfectly implemented? I, I, I don't think so. And, and …

  ▶ Watch at 22:34

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Opposes the motion to substitute, saying the bill addresses implementation challenges and the substitute would likely fail, leaving existing law in place without the safe harbors.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, yeah. Just again, I, I would oppose the motion to substitute. I, I think I understand some of the concerns and the concerns or implementation. The bill today is an attempt to make sure that that implementation moves forward, uh, a little more smoothly. I, I recognize, and I, I think the Senator Vickers right, that there are some challenges, but this, this bill is an attempt to do that. And it also provides some strong, safe harbor provisions. But if this substitute were to pass, um, I'm, I'm certain this bill, this, this sub, this new substitute would not make it through the legislature. I'm certain that the, the house sponsor would not support that. Meaning the existing …

  ▶ Watch at 25:02

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the bill builds on last year's work with more safeguards, that consumers should control their own data, and urges passage.

  Read what they said

  Thank you to, uh, back, back to the bill. I'm, I'm happy to answer any, any more questions. I, this has been a good discussion. And, and the point that I, I wanna make is this, this builds upon the work that we did last year. This provides more safeguards than before. This tries to answer some of those logistical problems that, that have, have arisen. That's why the bill is here again. Um, the, the point that we're making with, with a bill like this is the data is our data. It's not the company's data, it's our data. Uh, we need to, we need to continue to work on the logistics of controlling our own data from companies …

  ▶ Watch at 26:14

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says companies making a good faith effort have safe harbor provisions for technical limitations, which were included on purpose.

  Read what they said

  That's a great question. And, and a company that's, that makes a good, good faith effort. We put some, we, we do put some safe harbor provisions in the bill. And that was on, and that was on purpose. Just, just to make sure that there's safeguards for companies facing technical limitations. And, and those, those, some of those concerns were contemplated 'cause we are, we are on a new space.

  ▶ Watch at 28:12

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says five business days is not difficult for companies that target advertising and already know who their users are.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Senator Mikel, I, I don't, I actually don't think five, five days is difficult at all for them. These are companies that do targeted advertising. They have your data, they've mined your data, they understand exactly who you are. Um, when, when you're in your social media account and you look at the advertisements that are directed at you, they know exactly who you are. They, and they, and they've mined who you are. And, and it, if it, if they can upload an ad to target you immediately, I I, I see no reason why they couldn't, couldn't provide, provide that data to you within five days. They, they can do it for advertisers.

  ▶ Watch at 28:58

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the framework was developed with stakeholders and the language was carefully crafted for the technical requirements.

  Read what they said

  And, and again, maybe some of these technical aspects I don't understand, but this is, these, these technical, the framework of this was worked on with, with stakeholders and, and my understanding is working with stakeholders, this language was carefully crafted to do that.

  ▶ Watch at 30:20

• H.B. 311 Elections Study · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the bill creates an election study to be done at the Gary R. Herbert Institute, covering best practices, security, and drop boxes, as a compromise with the House; the fiscal note is addressed and he is open to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. This is just an election, election study. You'll see it'll be done at the Gary r Herbert Institute. We're gonna look at best practices, we're gonna look at security, we're gonna look at drop boxes. And this is a kind of a compromise. We've been working with the house to come up with some type of study. We had some other election bills that were logistically challenging. So we're gonna study, study the issue and consider that fiscal note is caught up. The substitute's caught up with that. I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 32:24

• H.B. 223 Electronic Signature Collection Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says he will vote against the bill, is uncomfortable mandating a process that candidates have avoided, and would prefer keeping paper signatures as an option.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. President. I, I'm gonna just respectfully rise and, and I'm, I'm prob I I am gonna vote against this bill. I'm still concerned with. It's been several years since we've enabled the electronic version and candidates have simply chosen, chosen not to use it because it is, it's more difficult. I I have a hard time mandating, mandating a process that is more difficult for candidates if the process was better, if the process worked, that candidates would use it. And I, I guess my concern with this legislation is, is the mandate that everybody go to elect electronic? And if, if it was better, if it was more secure, I think, I think candidates would be …

  ▶ Watch at 42:55

• H.B. 514 Utah Energy Council Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says HB 89 on polygraph amendments has been worked on for several years and has not yet been debated on the Senate floor, agrees with the policy, and describes a concern about polygraph use with victims of sexual assault, noting the bill places limits on polygraph use.

  Read what they said

  Thank you and thank you colleagues. This is a bill that's been worked on for a few years and it, and we, we haven't had a debate on the Senate floor before. I I agree with this policy. I think it's important. Um, I worry about polygraphs, especially when we're dealing with victims of sexual assault. So what this bill does is it puts limitations on the use

  ▶ Watch at 47:14

• H.B. 89 Use of Polygraph Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Prefers not to adopt the amendment, saying it weakens the bill and could re-traumatize victims, while noting that the bulk of the bill stays intact.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. So my preference would be not to have that language. I think it weakens the bill a little bit. I do appreciate the fact that this is language that that keeps the bulk of the bill intact, but I think it does weaken that. I guess the concern is one of the things we're trying to solve is, is not, not forcing a victim in that situation where they could be re-victimized. I think that could create trauma. So the preference would be, would be not to do that. But I do appreciate that the bulk of the bill would remain intact.

  ▶ Watch at 51:26

• H.B. 89 Use of Polygraph Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Thanks colleagues for the debate, says he has always agreed with this policy and carried the bill for the House, and urges support.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you for the debate and, and I actually appreciate what Senator Weiler said. I'm glad it's not used, used often. That makes me feel good. But I, I mean, I've always, I I've always been willing to carry this bill for the house. I've always agreed with this policy. I've never liked, I've never liked polygraph in this situation and I, I just urge you to support the bill.

  ▶ Watch at 55:37

• H.B. 89 Use of Polygraph Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Moves that the bill pass under suspension of the rules.

  Read what they said

  Okay, I think I need a motion. I move the bill under suspension of the rules pass.

  ▶ Watch at 55:57

• H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Asks whether the information is already available elsewhere and, if so, why it would be duplicated under the bill.

  Read what they said

  Just one, one of the concerns I think that my good colleague from North Yu Utah County expressed that we, we don't do this with other industries. My my understanding is a lot of this information is already available. Um, so I guess my question is, if a lot of this information is already available, is there, is there a reason we would duplicate it and do it again in this situation?

  ▶ Watch at 56:49

• H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the information is already available and that water-use misinformation is common, and worries the bill could make that problem worse.

  Read what they said

  Juab. Just, just a follow up statement. I mean, I guess, I mean, two, two concerns is this information's already available, uh, and the second information, the second thing is sometimes in, in water especially, there's a lot of misinformation. When I, I always cringe when I read articles that a data center uses a million gallons of water. One acre, one acre foot of water is, is about 320,000 gallons. And I, and I think it's one of these issues where sometimes the stories we read are incredibly misleading. And, and, and, and when we hear that from our constituents in, in a really misleading way, I think it's, it's difficult to c combat. And, and, and obviously a …

  ▶ Watch at 57:41

• H.B. 549 Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Moves to lift three House fiscal note bills from rules and third reading and place them at the bottom of the second reading calendar in the order read. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Senator Macl, do you have a motion? Yes. Thank you Mr. President, we're gonna add three. These are three fiscal note bills. I'm, I'm told these are, are kind of the final wave of fiscal note bills from the house. So, Mr. President, I move that the following bills be lifted from rules and the third reading calendar and placed at the bottom of the second reading calendar in the following order. House bill 3 31, substitute two house bill 4 0 1 and house bill 71 substitute four. That is my motion.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:37

• H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Presents H.B. 329, saying it expands paid leave for state employees, adds leave for adoptive and foster placements, and closes a legal gap on pumping breast milk in public.

  Read what they said

  I was getting some thumbs up, so that's good. Um, we've got a great bill that it's been worked on for a long time and, and I appreciate the employee benefit bill that Senator Fillmore worked on as well. Um, I see these as complimentary. This is a bill that's focused on families and what's really important to, not, not just families, but to our values in the state of Utah. So this bill is focused on strengthening families through expanding, uh, maternity leave and clear protections for nursing mothers. This bill is the result of discussions from the Interim Family Working Group where legislators and community advocates collaborated on policies that support parents and children. So this is what …

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:49

• H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Thanks advocates for the bill, praises Rep. Defay's work on it, and moves that the bill pass under suspension of the rules.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you. And Mr. President pro tem. I just wanna thank those that have advocated for this, this bill. I, I love having people on Capitol Hill working on important issues that matter to Utah families. This is one of those classic examples where the public has, has come to Capitol Hill, advocated for an important policy and work with stakeholders in a positive way. And I just, I I think Representative Faye has done a fantastic job working on this bill. With that, I would move that this bill pass under suspension of the rules.

  ▶ Watch at 1:26:26

• H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Moves to delete the body of second substitute H.B. 303 and replace it with third substitute H.B. 303.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I moved to DeLeT and Body entitled, uh, second substitute House bill 3 0 3 and replace it with third substitute.

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:36

• H.B. 303 Family Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says the third substitute adds language asking courts to prioritize health insurance when ordering family care, which he says is more efficient and cost effective for Utah families.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. What we're doing is this deals with family law and in the third substitute, we add some language to prioritize health insurance. We want courts to consider that, uh, when, when they're ordering some care, if we wanna make sure we prioritize health insurance because that is much more efficient and more cost effective for Utah families.

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:59

• H.B. 303 Family Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Describes the bill's provisions on coercive control, custody evaluations, fees and costs, guardrails for court-ordered mental health therapy, and health insurance priority, and says it has broad stakeholder support.

  Read what they said

  Yep. This, this is a bill that does a few things that I think are important. It, it provides a, a better definition of course of control. It also provides some, some more guidance for custody evaluation. It also provides some language for fairness and cost and fees in, in these disputes. It also sets some guardrails for court ordered mental health therapy and with a third substitute. We also, again, prioritize health insurance when it's available. This is, this has been a long effort. Representative Cutler worked on this bill last year. This is a, a, a follow up. Last year, I think there was a lot of, a lot of, a lot of work, a lot of opposition, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:39:39

• H.B. 507 State Coordination of Regional and Local Economic Development Projects Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Makes a motion regarding H.B. 408.

  Read what they said

  President motion to encircle house bill 4 0 8. Motion to circle house bill. Uh, 4 0 8.

  ▶ Watch at 1:53:29

• H.B. 507 State Coordination of Regional and Local Economic Development Projects Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Says he will wait for the substitute to H.B. 408 to be proposed. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  I I'm going to stand here and, and take, take a substitute. I think there's wisdom to the substitute that's gonna be proposed and so I'll I'll wait for the sub.

  ▶ Watch at 1:53:53

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Explains the substitute, which consolidates the bill's various effective dates into a single date of July 1, 2027.

  Read what they said

  What it does is there is a variety of effective dates in the bill. I consolidated those, so the bill takes effect July 1st, 2027. So we have time to look at it and have another session.

  ▶ Watch at 1:54:24

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Describes the bill as a cleanup of earlier data portability provisions that clarifies terms and adds safe harbor provisions, and says he appreciates Senator Harper's suggestion to push back the effective date.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you Mr. President, while you, while you were gone, we had some vigorous debate. This is a cleanup bill to our data portability that's happened in the past. I think it's important to, to do some of this cleanup, clarify some of the provisions, some of the terms, and also provide some of those safe har harbor provisions. Um, I appreciate the wisdom from Senator Harper. I think it pushing that effective date back a little bit. I think there's some wisdom in that. And with that, I'd open up for questions. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:54:51

• H.B. 408 Data Sharing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Moves to circle the bill so he can complete a fiscal note he says he had not yet approved.

  Read what they said

  I'm gonna move to circle because my fiscal note, while I know it's zero, I maybe I didn't approve it, so I'm gonna try to get that done as quickly as possible.

  ▶ Watch at 1:55:29

• H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Moves that a list of House bills be lifted from rules and placed at the bottom of the second reading calendar in a stated order.

  Read what they said

  Senator McKell. Okay. Okay. Thank you Mr. President. Um, we, we are likely to read two lists, but the second one is still to come. Mr. President, I move the following bills be lifted from rules and placed at the bottom of the second reading calendar and the following order. House bill 4 45 substitute two house bill 2 47 substitute two house bill 1 45 substitute one house bill 5 36 substitute two house bill 5 82 substitute one house bill 2 65 substitute two house bill 3 28 substitute one house bill 360 1 substitute four house bill 1 79 substitute three house bill four 20, substitute one house bill 94 substitute three house bill two 19 substitute …

  ▶ Watch at 2:08:57

• H.B. 311 Elections Study · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Explains the substitute, which calls for a study of election logistics by UVU's Herbert Institute, and asks that it be adopted.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, so we, we've talked about elections a lot. This is, this is something we've been trying to get some consensus with the house and the substitute does an election study. Uh, we talked about having cities do it or counties and ultimately, um, what, what the house has asked. And I think, I think there's wisdom to having a good, a good party. Like, uh, you'll see it's UVU, it's the Herbert Institute. It's a study looking at logistics of, of elections. I think this is a good, good approach. Um, we, we obviously we dealt with a lot of election bills over here and there's been questions about logistics and, and enhancing our ability to run safer, safer …

  ▶ Watch at 2:12:57

• H.B. 153 Law Enforcement Officer Employment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Presents H.B. 153 as a due process bill that sets a minimum standard before a municipality may suspend a law enforcement officer for more than two days, so that disciplinary decisions are made with full information.

  Read what they said

  You. This is a straightforward bill where we, where we provide some due process for some of our law enforcement officials. It establishes a minimum due process standard before a municipality may suspend a law enforcement officer for more than two days. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that serious disciplinary decisions are made with full information and just basic procedural fairness. Um, to me this is just a bill about due process and I think, I think we owe it to our law enforcement officials. Oftentimes they, they get into some pretty contentious issues and, and I think they deserve that due process. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 2:43:25

• S.B. 313 Recidivism Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 4, 2026

  Presents S.B. 313 as a cleanup bill that moves the AP&P budget under UDC and clarifies the definition of average daily population.

  Read what they said

  I walked into the right time. Uh, just a straightforward cleanup bill from the past. I'm not aware of any opposition. Um, AP and P right now is a division of UDC, and we're gonna take, we're gonna take that budget, put it under UDC. This, this is a cleanup from Bill that was run in the past. And this bill also creates, creates a better definition for average daily population and clarify some of those things in the code. But that's what it, that's what it does. This is a straightforward bill, kind of came out, came out late 'cause I didn't prioritize it. So that's what we've got.

  ▶ Watch at 38:52

• H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Explains that the third substitute removes the five-year restriction on the wetlands study and includes a technical fix requested by LRGC, because a five-year window could be skewed by current drought conditions.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. So we're gonna, we're gonna move the third substitute it, it removes the five year restriction on the study, including a technical fix requested by LRGC. There was just some concern that if we did a study based on the last five, five years, it might be skewed because of, because of our current drought conditions.

  ▶ Watch at 4:57

• H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Describes the bill as requiring a study of wetland changes in light of federal regulation, with attention to hunting resources and support for DNR work on Wasatch Front wetlands, and says he is open to questions.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you Mr. President. So this bill requires a study assessing wetland changes in light of federal reg regulation. In particular with an eye not losing hunting resources. This study will, will support the division of natural resources by requiring a holistic look at wetlands on the Wasatch front. Helps the state proceed on endangered Species Species Act listing. Um, I I've got a whole bunch of talking points from from DNRI know they've been supportive in working on this bill as well. But with that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 5:31

• H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Asks to check with Sen. Sandall about a concern, then moves that the bill pass under suspension of the rules.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Before I, before I do that, can I, can I phone a friend? Senator Sandall? I've got a red on, but the third substitute should resolve that. I just wanna make sure before I make a motion. Okay. I got a thumbs up. So my motion is this bill under suspension of the rules passed. Thank you. And the question is, under suspension of the rule, shall second substitute of house bill five oh nine pass rule call vote.

  ▶ Watch at 6:09

• H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Thanks colleagues after the substitute passes and says the bill will be sent to the House for further consideration.

  Read what they said

  We substitute. Well thank you. We, that bill was substituted. So we'll send it to the house for further consideration.

  ▶ Watch at 8:04

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Explains that stakeholders were consulted, the implementation delay was added, the industry moved to neutral, and the bill defers the plan to a later date; urges support.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. We had a chance to work with stakeholders. One of the concerns was delaying the implementation, which we we've done in the bill. We got, we got that the industry to, to neutral. By doing that, they'd already submitted their plan for 27. So we're deferring this into the future, giving them a little more runway with that. It's a great bill and urge support.

  ▶ Watch at 31:20

• H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Supports the bill, citing dangerous high-speed e-dirt bikes he has seen on a river trail near his farm.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I can wanna rise in support of this bill. Um, I got a little bit of experience with this issue, um, where, where my farm sits, I, I kind of wrap the river trail in Spanish Fork. This is a running trail. And there, I think there's a difference here that I've seen between just standard e-bikes, which I don't think I have the, the strict requirements, but there there is an e dirt bike that I see in pretty dangerous areas and, and they're incredibly quick. I took my neighbors, I tipped it over pretty fast. I know these will do 70, 80 miles an hour. And, and I, I think there's a, I think there, I …

  ▶ Watch at 47:37

• H.B. 110 Offender Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Describes the bill's supervision, accountability, and parole-violation changes and moves to replace the third substitute with the sixth substitute.

  Read what they said

  improves supervision for high risk offenders. These are your Class B misdemeanor offenders. It reinforces accountability and victims consideration on parole violations. And then it adds guardrails to register on Pardon requests. But before I do that, so I don't get a, a bad look, I need to, I need to move the sixth substitute. Sorry that, that's a mistake of my part. So my motion is to delete, embody and title third substitute house bill one 10 and replace it with six substitute. And I can speak to that. Mr. President ProAm.

  ▶ Watch at 1:16:33

• H.B. 110 Offender Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Says the substitute added cooperation with county sheriffs, lowered the fiscal note, makes no penalty increases, and targets high-risk Class B misdemeanor offenders; offers to answer questions and urges support.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. And, and, and thank you. And the substitute, um, worked, worked on the fiscal note as well and it enhanced more cooperation with the county sheriffs, but it did actually bring down that fiscal note. Um, fiscal note's not high and we're actually not adding any increases in penalties. What we're really trying to do is just tackle these, these high risk offenders with Class B misdemeanors without 'em open for questions and would urge support.

  ▶ Watch at 1:17:28

• H.B. 110 Offender Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I'm gonna waive summation and under suspension of the rules. I'll I move that this bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 1:17:56

• H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Moves to place a list of House bills on the Senate second reading calendar.

  Read what they said

  Okay, listen up colleagues. I'm gonna upload another list and just, just to ruin the suspense. Senator Sandall, you're gonna be on standby with Senator Cullimore on the first two. So just pay attention on this new list. So, Mr. President pro tem, I move that the following bills be placed after house Bill 1 46 on the second second reading calendar in the following order. House bill four 10 substitute one house bill 5 0 7 substitute two house bill five 30 house bill 5 72 substitute four house bill 76 substitute three house bill 2 23 substitute one house bill 2 41 substitute three house bill 2 73 substitute two house bill 4 0 2 substitute one house …

  ▶ Watch at 1:29:05

• H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Asks that the last two bills on the list be read again.

  Read what they said

  Okay. And Fallon's given you a pause, let's make sure I didn't do something wrong. Will, will you read the last two bills on that list again?

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:00

• H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Asks whether a motion is needed and calls for a vote on placing the listed bills on the second reading calendar.

  Read what they said

  Do we need to motion on that? Okay. All in favor of placing the uh, red end bills right underneath. First substitute house bill 4 86 and the order,

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:26

• H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Moves to lift two House bills from the tabled third reading calendar and place them on the second reading calendar.

  Read what they said

  Motion. I'm gonna, I'm gonna do another motion but again, Senator Sandall. Senator Comore. You guys are both on standby on the first two bills. So the next motion I move that the following bills be lifted from the Senate tabled on third reading calendar and placed after first substitute house bill 4 71 on the Senate second reading calendar in the following order. House bill 73 and house bill three 18. That is my motion. Okay, I'll infl favor placing those two bills on the Senate. Uh, second reading calendar after house.

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:55

• H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Expresses support for the bill, citing wildlife crossings he has seen while driving.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I actually love this bill, and when I saw this come through, when I, when I drive into Nevada, I, we see him and something going on over here. I'm just going to, this is a great bill. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:34:23

• H.B. 185 Carbon Credit Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Describes a family law bill that makes six changes to the child support system, including allowing the Office of Recovery Services to keep collecting spousal support or alimony after child support ends. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. I feel like that was a strategy to get this built. Bill heard. Um, this bill makes six small changes to try to make our system for getting child support work better. And I, and it just enhances what we can do. So the first thing allows for the, or for OS to continue to collect spousal support or alimony after child support ends. I think that's, that's the important part of the bill. Um, second part is for the Office of Recovery Services, who found it difficult for them to get feedback from people on the front lines to create a system where they have, they have meetings throughout the year. Third thing the bill …

  ▶ Watch at 2:34:40

• H.B. 248 Family Law Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Presents H.B. 248, which sets a rebuttable presumption for drivers who owe at least $35,000 in child support and have not made a full payment in 60 days, to strengthen collection.

  Read what they said

  on onto the family rather than being held by the state. Um, the last, the fourth thing it does right now, the, the office may take action against a driver's license if a person doesn't pay child support. That's the current, that's the current law. This, this deals with an amount. If somebody owes at least 35,000 and hasn't made a full payment in 60 days, there's a re a rebuttable presumption that kicks in just to add a little, a little more teeth to the, to the rule that's already in place. Um, without, I think we've got, we've got a good, good bill that's gonna strengthen our ability to, to collect some of that support that our, that …

  ▶ Watch at 2:35:19

• H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026

  Says the bill is a step in the right direction for improving school attendance, that it includes safeguards against abuse, and urges support.

  Read what they said

  It's, it's apparent to me I didn't do a very good job explaining this bill. And, and I I think we've got a great bill before us. I, I think we've, we've talked about it just as, as we've visited offline, um, years ago we dealt with truancy and we made it a lot easier for kids not to go to school. I think ultimately that that was a mistake. And I think this bill is a step in the right direction to enhance inten attendance. And I think it's important that we do that. And I think we've created, we've, we've hit the right balance. I, this was a bill that went through the committee unanimously nobody spoke against …

  ▶ Watch at 4:22:53

• H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  McKell thanked the sponsor, said the bill raises implementation concerns that clerks may share, and moved to proceed to the next bill on the agenda.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, I'm gonna reserve the right to make, make, make a motion and I wanna just talk through, talk through this bill. Um, there, there are a lot of folks here that, um, want, want to hear this, hear this bill today and speak to it both on both for and against. And I just wanna thank the bill sponsor. He's been working on this all session, and it's been a, it's been a difficult, it's been a difficult bill, um, a as, as I've had a chance to work on this and work with my colleagues in, in the Senate. Um, I, I think, I think there are a lot of things you're trying to accomplish. I …

  ▶ Watch at 13:01

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Moves that the committee favorably recommend the bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Chair. I'm gonna move that we favorably recommend the bill before us.

  ▶ Watch at 37:12

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Presented SB 310, which updates uniform intimate images rules drafted by the Uniform Law Commission, covering the definition, exceptions, damages and attorney fees, and states it does not alter governmental immunity.

  Read what they said

  And this bill sounds as bad as it, as bad as it is, but hey, I really appreciate this committee working on the bill before. Um, I appreciate the, uh, substitute that they're working on. 'cause I think it, I think it, I think there's a lot of wisdom to it. To what, what's gonna come. So that's my precursor. Um, uniform intimate images, amendments. Unfortunately, I I think everybody in this room knows that we have a problem with intimate images and creating, creating some uniform standards across the nation I think is helpful. This bill is, is a bill that does come through a lot of work that the Uniform Lock Commission has done. You'll see the definition …

  ▶ Watch at 1:28:45

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Said the bill is not typically aimed at revenge pornography, though it could meet that definition, and noted existing criminal penalties address that issue.

  Read what they said

  Not, not typically. I mean, it could be, it could meet that definition. Certainly. I think this legislature has done a lot of work to, to deal with that issue. And I, and I think you'll see some really big penalties and enhancements, especially in the criminal code, but that, that's not typically what this is focused on, but certainly could meet that definition and, and probably rightfully so.

  ▶ Watch at 1:31:05

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Said the bill covers civil disclosure of intimate images, which could include revenge porn and sharing among teens, though that is not its direct target.

  Read what they said

  Well, it, it would be in that civil, civil scenario, but it would be the disclosure of any of these intimate images in the civil, in the civil realm. So it could, it could encompass that, like revenge porn. But it, it could be, uh, I, I guess my, I guess my answer to you is I, I don't think in this world, so I don't know all of the scenarios when somebody would drop an intimate image on somebody else, um, revenge porn or, or, or kids kicking photos around at, you know, adult kids in high schools and colleges. And I think there's a lot of scenarios, but it would encompass that situation as well. But I don't, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:31:43

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Said the bill could give such a person a civil remedy.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, it certainly could. If we're gonna continue to take that image as that, that image and pass it down the road. Yeah, it certainly could. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:32:50

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Waived further comment and thanked the committee for its work.

  Read what they said

  I'll, I'll waive and I, I just appreciate this committee. You're doing good work today.

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:54

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Says the substitute is appropriate and clearer, and praises the work on it.

  Read what they said

  I, I think that that is, I mean, I think that's appropriate. I think that's very, I think that's very well done. And, and if Jacqueline's listening, I think she did a great job on that. I think it, it, it's definitely more clear.

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:08

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell presented the bill as part of Utah's efforts to protect children from social media companies, describing a 4.7% gross receipts tax on large targeted advertisers that would fund youth programs, and an amendment allowing offsets for existing program costs.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And I saw that Representative Hansen. I know there's a chance to get you to an I vote on something. No, I'm just kidding. Hey, let me, let me just start by don't yourself. I, I love our legislature and I love what we stand for. And as I, I sat in the, as I sat here in the committee, before I talk about targeted advertising, I, I've just thought about the bills that, that both the House and the Senate have run over the last few years. And, and watching Representative Teuscher, I know he's the, he's my floor sponsor on this bill. But watching up here testifying, thinking about all of the good things that we've …

  ▶ Watch at 52:36

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said targeted advertising exploits minors, acknowledged the tax could be passed on, explained the revenue thresholds, and said the goal is to change companies' behavior.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Great. Great question. So, just to be absolutely crystal clear to this committee, targeted advertising is intentionally designed to addict our minors exploit their vulnerabilities for profit at the expense of our kids. The companies that we are targeting in this legislation are targeting our kids. They're monetizing off our kids and their data mining off of our kids. This, this bill does actually not go to the, the, the tax does not go to the small business directly. It could be passed on, there's no question. I'm not gonna say it couldn't be passed on, but this tax would only only, uh, target those companies where 50% of their, of their revenue is derived through targeted advertising. They'd …

  ▶ Watch at 58:37

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell called the criticism fair but said the tax aims to change a data-mining business model and to return funds to address the societal costs, including youth mental health crises.

  Read what they said

  Um, I, I, I think that's a fair criticism. I mean, ultimately when we look at these, this target advertising, um, what we're suggesting with this tax is we're suggesting they change their model. These are companies that are mining the data of, of you and I and our kids. And, and ultimately, um, this, this is a, this is a tax on a type of model that uses, I mean, similar, similarly, I brought up Representative Teuscher in the algorithm language. They're, they're using targeted advertising in the algorithm to do that. And, and we're all paying a price. And, and here's the bottom, here's the bottom line on, on this issue. When you look at the restricted account, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:00:24

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the full legislature would decide appropriations and the amendment allows offsetting existing program costs to move toward a net-neutral tax effect.

  Read what they said

  Great, great question. I mean, I, I envision it going back to the full legislature where all of us would be able to provide some input. And, and you'll see in the amendment, we, we do wanna offset some of the costs of, as well as a way to look, we're at a, this is a 4.7% gross receipts tax, but if we offset the cost of some of those existing programs, we can actually take that 4.7% and, and turn this into something that's gonna look more net neutral in, in the end. I mean, I, I, I'm not worried about the tax amount. I'm not worried about the, the revenue we, we collect. What what I'm worried about …

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:26

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said senators are receiving the same ads, which appear tied to social media companies, and said the legislature has faced opposition before but children are worth it.

  Read what they said

  That's actually a fun question. Or we're getting them in the Senate. It is just like you're getting in the house. One of the interesting things, and and I'll put this on the record, some of, some of those who are advocating against this bill have said, this Bill is clearly unconstitutional. This bill will never withstand scrutiny. Well, it, it, it feels like they're pretty worried about it. And that is that, that those, those targeted ads that are coming at you right now with, with the, with the very devious looking faces that are AI generated, I mean, it, it's interesting that they're sending them as broadly as they possibly can, but we're getting, we're getting them as …

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:00

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the change broadens the bill beyond social media companies to strengthen its footing against legal challenges.

  Read what they said

  Just to make sure it was broad, a little more broad. We, we wanted to make sure that if we have a legal challenge, that we broadened it a little further so we, we can sim we, it's not just gonna be, you're just targeting social, social media companies. So it, it's just to make sure there's a more broad pool and, and the attorneys as they looked at it, they feel like that puts us on a little solid footing. Great.

  ▶ Watch at 1:05:27

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the QR code language broadens coverage but that untargeted ads like billboards would not be covered, contrasting them with data-driven ads aimed at individual users.

  Read what they said

  To a sign. We're, yeah. So we're just broadening it with that QR code. 'cause there are some larger advertisers that do that. But I, but I will say, even though some of those advertisers do that, um, most of them are still, will, will not be caught up in this, because we're talking about targeted advertising. So let's say a billboard company puts a, puts a big QR code out on I 15, um, that, but they, they put billboards up and down the entire interstate that that's not, that's not targeted advertising necessarily. What targeted advertisement is, is when, is when, when Representative Owens is online and he's really into gardening, and all of his ads are magically …

  ▶ Watch at 1:06:13

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the rate is 4.7%, tied to a state rate, and disputed the claim that it is entirely a pass-through, saying companies could change behavior and avoid it.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. It is the same as we saw in Senator Musselman's. It's 4.7%. We just tie it to one of our state rates. And, and, and your chair. I, I respectfully, it's not a hundred percent pass through. That's not what the tax does. This is taxed directly to, to the entity that meets the definition. So a hundred million dollars in targeted advertising revenue, um, or a hundred million dollars global tech revenue that could be passed on. Certainly it could be, but companies also could change their behavior and not pay it. They could also choose not to target our youth and not pay the tax. So, so the statement that it's a hundred percent pass through that, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:22:44

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell said Senate Amendment 2 is friendly and helps move toward neutrality in the overall tax burden.

  Read what they said

  Yes. I think it's, it's, it's friendly and it is gonna help us try to get more to neutral in the overall tax burden.

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:56

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Sen. McKell showed the opposition ad paid for by Americans for Digital Opportunity, noted past pushback on child-protection bills, and urged support to hold companies accountable for harms.

  Read what they said

  Okay, I am gonna plug in my phone, in my summation. I think there's a lot of folks that are curious if this pulls up. And this is, this is the, this is the ad. And, uh, I think we had a good discussion. But it is interesting that this is paid for by Americans for Digital Opportunity. And you're all seeing that, and the public is to see it now. I think it's a great ad. It's a great ad from a grassroots organization that nobody knows who they are and nobody knows who funds them. It's a great ad targeting all of us on a bill that's unconstitutional, that they're clearly, they're clearly worried about. Um, colleagues, I, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:29:39

• H.B. 301 Drug Recodification · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Says the bill is a recodification of drug law that makes the statutes match their stated purpose, and moves that it pass.

  Read what they said

  President. This, this bill is exactly what it says it is the drug reification. We do that every, every year or two and we, we go through and we do that. And that's what this bill does. And I'd urge support. So I would move that this bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 26:46

• S.B. 247 Road Funding Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Moves that several House bills be moved to the top of the second reading calendar.

  Read what they said

  Okay. I'm gonna make a motion. Colleagues listen up. I'm gonna put some fiscal note, some house fiscal note. Bills up and be watching for your name attached to the, so Mr. President, I move that the following bills be moved to the top of the second reading calendar in the following order. House Bill 5 46 House bill 2 49. First substitute house bill 2 76. First substitute house bill 360 6 House bill one 92nd substitute house bill 3 76 House bill 3 93. Second substitute. That's the first motion. I will have one more motion after that. Thank You. We have a motion to lift those bills to the top of the second reading calendar.

  ▶ Watch at 1:51:25

• S.B. 247 Road Funding Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Moves to saunter the Senate for at least five minutes so members can review the new bills.

  Read what they said

  I se I think the circle needs to, we need to saunter. Yes. Circle needs. Yes. We're we're gonna move to Saunter. Let the circle catch up with the new bill. Let's Saunter for at least five minutes. But, but in the meantime, colleagues look and look at these new bills and look and see if you've got it. Your name's attached.

  ▶ Watch at 1:53:22

• S.B. 281 Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Asks how the bill defines senior.

  Read what they said

  I, I conditional senator. I've been, I've been, I've sitting in my corner over here and, um, I just wanted to ask a question for a friend. Um, how do we define senior in the bill? We won't ask which friend? Uh, Senator Stratton.

  ▶ Watch at 1:57:51

• S.B. 281 Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Says the answer was not very specific and that he will review the bill.

  Read what they said

  Oh, okay. Thank you. Thank you. That wasn't very specific, but thank you. I'll look at the bill. Thank You.

  ▶ Watch at 1:58:13

• S.B. 47 Reauthorization of Administrative Rules · Senate floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026

  Asks where the five rules fit in the code and what they are.

  Read what they said

  Just, just really quick, I'm, I'm looking at, there's five different rules. It curious where, where these fit in the code and what, what they actually are.

  ▶ Watch at 2:19:54

• H.B. 422 Public Infrastructure Districts Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  McKell moved to favorably recommend the third substitute to HB 422.

  Read what they said

  Senator ml. Thank You. I'd move that we favorably recommend the bill as as substitute.

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:57

• H.B. 508 State Facilities Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Sen. McKell said he supports the bill and flagged concern about raising the building limit to $1.5 million, which he would like to see lowered.

  Read what they said

  So I, I'm gonna support this, but it's more of a comment than a question. I, I know I've had some people express concern by going from a hundred thousand to, to 1,000,005, and I just want to just flag that as, as an issue. There's been some, some discussion that I've been part of that, like to see that number come down. But I just wanna flag that issue.

  ▶ Watch at 1:56:57

• H.B. 529 Secretary of State Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Opposes the bill, saying it does not fix the conflict of interest or enhance transparency, and that it grows government by creating a new officer with new staff.

  Read what they said

  Mikel. Yeah, I'm gonna echo some of the words of my Senate colleague. I actually think the Lieutenant governor has done a damn good job and faced a lot of hostility. That was unfair. You use the football analogy of a backup quarterback, and this bill asks, asks the quarterback to be the referee. I think the conflict is exactly the same. I think this grows government. This clearly is a new constitutional officer with a new set of staff. I don't think there's, I don't think this policy is conservative in any way. And, and lemme tell you one of my concerns. I've been getting text messages asking and demanding for transparency. I, I don't see anything in this …

  ▶ Watch at 2:17:24

• H.J.R. 25 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Secretary of State · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Moves to adjourn the meeting.

  Read what they said

  Because I would like to make a motion to adjourn. I'm gonna make a motion to adjourn

  ▶ Watch at 2:32:25

• H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Discusses splitting the session into shorter segments, including a 30-day budget focus, so policy bills are not rushed at the deadline.

  Read what they said

  to, uh, do like the first 30 days and then you would do 15 days later or something like that? Yeah, I think what I think this is, I think what this will give us the opportunity to do is ask ourselves those same questions and try and find ways to minimize the schedule. Um, the other, uh, the other latent benefit I think that it has is if we take the session into more bite size, I did, by the way, in that 73 day period, I did not include special sessions. Um, and so, you know, we're, we had, we had a lot of them last year. I think were four last year, uh, special sessions, we tend …

  ▶ Watch at 12:41

• H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Says the bill only gives the option to meet again and that current constitutional rules do not allow the body to discuss this.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Just, You know, just to your point, all this does is it says we may, right? It doesn't say we have to, we can keep our finality as as we want to, but this gives us the option right now, constitutionally, we don't have the option to even discuss this, this com have this conversation.

  ▶ Watch at 15:06

• S.B. 299 Candidate Name Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026

  Presents Senate Bill 310 on intimate images as a Uniform Law Commission bill creating a standard, notes an amendment made on second reading so internet service providers from rural telecom were not targeted, and says he is not aware of any opposition since then.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this is a Uniform Law Commission bill. A lot of work has been done creating the standard to deal with intimate images. On second reading, we amended the bill to make sure that we, we didn't target our internet service providers that came from the rural telecom folks. Um, since that time period, I'm not aware of any, any opposition. I think this is an important bill in creating uniformity, dealing with this problem that is perverse and continues to be problematic across our nation. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 29:23

• S.B. 299 Candidate Name Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026

  Says this Uniform Law Commission bill sets a standard for intimate images, notes amendments made on second reading to avoid targeting rural telecom internet providers, reports no known opposition since then, and opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this is a Uniform Law Commission bill. A lot of work has been done creating the standard to deal with intimate images. On second reading, we amended the bill to make sure that we, we didn't target our internet service providers that came from the rural telecom folks. Um, since that time period, I'm not aware of any, any opposition. I think this is an important bill in creating uniformity, dealing with this problem that is perverse and continues to be problematic across our nation. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 29:23

• S.B. 307 Garnishment Fee Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026

  Presents S.B. 313, a cleanup bill from a prior measure that adjusts some definitions and moves funds previously associated with a PMP over to corrections, and opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank you Mr. Mr. President. Um, this is a cleanup bill from a bill that was run in the past and we, we, we deal with some definitions in the bill and we also, there was some money that was with A PMP and we move it over to corrections and that's what the bill does. And I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:50

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Presented the bill, saying it reduces physical therapy copays, involves no rulemaking, and can help consumers avoid surgery.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And seated to my right. And just so Dr. Quackenbush knows he needs to introduce himself again. This is Howard Quackenbush. It's Friday, it's late in the afternoon. This is a simple bill. It drops copays. It's consumer friendly. There's no rulemaking in this bill. And what we do is we, we put a physical therapist as a primary care physician. Oftentimes your copay's $40, um, this should drop that copay about $20. When you do physical therapy, it's usually a treatment plan over a period of time, eight to eight to 20 visits, depending on the severity of your injury. And that adds up. And I think we should drop the copay. And when we drop the …

  ▶ Watch at 2:06:01

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Thanked the floor sponsor, called the bill pro-consumer, and urged support, arguing insurance parameters should be reviewed by the legislature.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. I thank you. And thank you Representative Shallenberger for agreeing to be the floor sponsor of this bill. It's a great bill. Um, it drops copays, it's pro-consumer, and, uh, pretty, pretty fantastic. Pretty fantastic. Bill. I, I would, I would take one, one comment. Um, there was a reference to playing with the parameters and, and we should never play with the parameters is the legislature. And if, if we didn't do that, I, I, I think of the years I've been up here, all of the countless things that would not be covered with your insurance and that list is long. That list is vast. And if we're going to have insurance, it needs to take care …

  ▶ Watch at 2:14:42

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Presents the fourth substitute of S.B. 194, covering a conflict-of-interest plan for lieutenant governor elections, weekend deadline changes, campaign funds for security, and a crime for election-related electronic communication abuse.

  Read what they said

  I will be speaking to the sub, but knowing that we have the representative from Lagoon, I wanna start with a bit of political history. We're talking about elections, and I, I think it's important to recognize that in an election, our fourth governor of the state of Utah was, his name was Simon Bamberger. He, he came from Utah County Chair from where, where you and I reside. And he was, he had a silver mine in Eureka, and he used some of his wealth to develop a railroad. And he developed a hotel Monaco, and he was smart. And he dec he decided, how am I gonna get people to ride the railroad from Salt Lake to Ogden? …

  ▶ Watch at 49:56

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Explains the section already exists in code and was brought into election code for clarity, citing concerns about voter data being used to harass people.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, this a clarification. Great question. So it is in code already, and what I asked Tom Vaughn to do is take it from existing code and put it in the election code as well. Uh, a lot of the concerns that Representative Cutler had, we, we heard those concerns in the Senate as we start to release more voter voter data. And, and, and the same concern that Ron Mortenson talked about. I wanted to make sure it, it, it is an existing code, but we brought it, we brought it into the election code as well to make sure it's clear that you can't use this information to show up and harass people. And unfortunately I think people …

  ▶ Watch at 1:00:14

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Says the penalties were carried over from existing code, describes the misdemeanor and felony levels, and says he will get clarification on the comparison.

  Read what they said

  Um, Of this, I, I'd probably need to phone a friend. What I asked, um, Tom Bond to do is just bring those penalties over from the existing code. 20 A does have some, some unique penalties. Um, a violation of 20 a, if it's a significant violation of 20 A. Um, there is a scenario where you couldn't actually hold public office and that's already in section 20 A today. Okay. Yeah. This is a class A misdemeanor and then for subsequent offenses, a uh, third degree felony and uh, or second degree for subsequent, um, uh, violation. I was just curious if that was the same penalty in the previous section or if this has been aggravated in …

  ▶ Watch at 1:01:14

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Responds that asking someone to remove a signature would not qualify, while aggressive harassment such as doxing would.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, good, good question. And you're going to see the elements in the other part of the code. I wouldn't see that as the abuse. I think it's taking that, taking that information show, showing up on somebody's porch and then then aggressively kinda that aggressive harassment. It's simply asking to, to remove a signature or a name. I, I don't, I don't think that would ever qualify. I think it's that aggressive behavior where you're, where you're doxing and that aggressive harassing what,

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:41

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Says the weekend deadline change would save money and was intended to address that problem.

  Read what they said

  Yes. So this would save some money. Yeah. The intent was to solve, solve that issue. Oh, that problem.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:52

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Explains that the fiscal note's printing portion carried over from an earlier bill and will be removed and updated before the House floor.

  Read what they said

  Lemme, can I address it? Yeah, Please. So that part of the fiscal note is gonna be updated as it moves to your floor. Originally I had this same language as Senator Johnson, the bill you saw before. If you look at his fiscal note from before that the bill, you just, um, favorably recommended I had that same language. That's the process. That fiscal note ties directly to the process in Senator Johnson's bill. It just needs to come out of the fiscal note. So I had that same process dealing with that exact same issue. And when that fiscal note got updated, that part of the fiscal note did not get taken out. So I'm working with Yvonne …

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:11

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 27, 2026

  Says two technical changes will be worked on, notes concern about the higher felony penalty, and urges support of the bill.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Thank you. And, and, and I will tell you there are two technical changes that we're gonna work on with Rookie hack. If you wanna look at that, I'm happy to look at that as well. Um, I, I don't love, I don't love the, the higher felony sometime. So we, we, we can look at that. Um, I'm gonna end with a random fact for Lagoon. I appreciate the, appreciate the discussion that we've had. Um, if you'd like to see the Bram Berger monument, uh, while he, while he started in Eureka Built Lagoon Monaco Hotel, we did give him a monument. Okay. The monument is on Emma Park Road and Highway 1 91 down by price. …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:44

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Sen. McKell explained that the amendment keeps the restricted account focused on kids, adds foster care services, and removes management improvement of parks and other public spaces.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, you, you bet. We wanna make sure that this restricted account is focused on kids. You'll see that we, we've added foster care services and removed management improvement of parks and other public spaces. You'll see kind of the order of what we're focused, focused on and we wanna make sure we stay focused on kids.

  ▶ Watch at 32:15

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Sen. McKell said Utah has been a leader on youth targeted advertising, that the bill includes a tax alongside regulation and litigation, that he will keep working with the House, and that he is open to questions.

  Read what they said

  And, and we had a good discussion about this last night. Um, I, I just wanna reiterate that we've been in this space. Utah has been a leader and I appreciate all the work that my colleagues have done on this issue across the board. It's been a, it's been a team effort both with the House and the Senate and there's been a lot of collaboration in the governor's office. We've got some problems with our youth that we're trying to tackle. And targeted advertising is a real problem. Uh, there's basically three things that we do. We, we regulate, we litigate, and we tax. And this is one of those times where we think there needs to be …

  ▶ Watch at 33:08

• H.B. 382 Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Presents H.B. 382, which sets out a Uniform Law Commission process as an alternative to bankruptcy for companies working out their debts.

  Read what they said

  This is the, a Uniform Law Commission bill. Uniform assignment of benefits of Creditor amendments. This is the alternative. If a company wants to work out a process, this is the alternative. If they wanna have an alternative process to bankruptcy, this is the process used through the Uniform Law Commission. Uh, great, great Bill, but it lays out, lays out that process without, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 52:37

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Says he will move amendment number one in his name before proceeding.

  Read what they said

  that I think is important to adopt. Before I do that, I need to move amendment number one in my name Amendment. Amendment number one.

  ▶ Watch at 57:40

• S.B. 270 State Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Asks to have the sponsor yield to a question.

  Read what they said

  You, Mr. President, will the sponsor yield to a question? Senator Kalimore, will you yield?

  ▶ Watch at 57:55

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Explains that the amendment, requested by rural telecom providers, carves out internet service providers from the bill.

  Read what they said

  Yes. So the amendment came from some of the telecom, the rural telecom folks. They wanted to make sure that we, we did not include internet service providers, so we, we made sure that this bill was target targeting, um, the right, the right party. So there, there is a carve out for internet service providers. So that's what the amendment does,

  ▶ Watch at 57:59

• S.B. 270 State Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Asks whether the legislature has the authority to establish certain types of courts, noting public arguments that it is out of bounds, and asks the sponsor to address this as an attorney.

  Read what they said

  Thank Thank you, Mr. President. Um, some, some in the public have recently argued that the legislature is out of its lane to set up and establish certain courts. And, uh, I wondered if you could, could address just, just the legislature and whether or not we, we have the ability to establish certain types of courts in the, in the judicial system. As an attorney, you, you work in that space. I just wonder if you could address that.

  ▶ Watch at 58:03

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Describes the bill as a basic, uniform process letting individuals sue for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, which many states have adopted, and opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. This is a, this is a pretty basic bill, but this is a bill that you're, you're gonna see across the country. It's been adopted in a lot of states. Just a uniform process that allows an individual to bring a civil action for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images. Unfortunately, this is a, this is a problem in our nation and having some uniformity in, in this regard, I think is important without, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 58:41

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Waives discussion and moves that the bill be read for a third time.

  Read what they said

  Ml. I'm gonna waive and move that this bill be read for a third time.

  ▶ Watch at 59:10

• H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Makes a lighthearted remark about the day's proceedings and notes Senator Harper is trying to leave.

  Read what they said

  Hey, we're, we're having a little bit of fun today. Senator Harper's trying to walk off.

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:15

• H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Asks the presiding officer whether he can hear him or should speak louder.

  Read what they said

  You, Mr. President Proti at, at 70, can you hear me or do I need to speak louder?

  ▶ Watch at 1:25:15

• H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Describes the bill as coordinating programs outside the state university system and encouraging strategies to promote transfer from non-system institutions, then opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Well, I've got a good bill before us and it deals with coordination for programs that are not in the uc system. And this bill, simply, if you look at line, uh, 93, it encourages us Yui to identify strategies that promote transfer from a non-I system. And that that's what the bill does and it's a, it's a I'm open for questions. Thank you. Uh, discussion of the bill. Hearing none.

  ▶ Watch at 1:25:32

• H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026

  Moves that the bill be read and that it pass.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you Mr. President. Tim, I move this bill be read, I move that this bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 1:26:06

• H.B. 382 Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Explains that the bill comes from the Uniform Law Commission and creates an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a nonbankruptcy option for businesses that cannot pay their creditors, and waives summation to move the bill for a third reading.

  Read what they said

  Bill comes from the Uniform Law Commission and this Uniform Law Commission assignment for benefit credit creditors went through rigorous drafting process within the Uniform Law Commission. Um, basically the A BC is, as it's known, is a non bankruptcy cleanup option for businesses that can't pay its creditors. The process works as follows. A, a business that can't pay its bills will voluntarily hand over its assets to a third party and assignee. Second part is the assignee will sell all of the business assets. And third part is the assignee uses money from selling the assets to pay for the creditors in fair order. This is an alternative to bankruptcy, but it's an alternative also is done through …

  ▶ Watch at 38:34

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Sponsor says the state has led on youth online protections and that a 4.7% tax on companies with targeted advertising revenue would fund youth literacy, sports, mental health and similar programs.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. President. Um, this legislature has, has been remarkable in leading the nation in protection of our youth. We've, we've led with a lot of members of this body. I think I think of the bills that we've led on in the state of Utah. We've led on ai, we've led on app safety, we've led on pornography, and we've led on social media. Um, there, there's always a strategy in states and there's, there's basically a three-pronged strategy we, we regulate, which we have done. We, we litigate when we need to, and we are litigating. And there does come a times when there does come a time when we need to tax. And right now, over …

  ▶ Watch at 59:26

• H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Says students need help finding pathways like this and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  I don't wanna waive, I I really think that we need to help kids out like cash and make sure that they have an opportunity to find those pathways. So with that, I'd move that this bill be read for a third time.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:40

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Closes the debate, saying the state's strategy must include holding companies to account, and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for the discussion. Colleagues. I know this is a, this is a hard issue, uh, to look at. Um, earlier today, I, I couldn't help but look over and see Senator Hinkins, grandson Cash. Um, everybody in here has either grandkids or kids, um, community communities full of kids that they work with. And, and that's the same for everybody in this room. And our kids are pawns in a game that we're, we're not winning right now. And the strategy that we've had in the state of Utah And we've, we've led out and, and we've had a, we've had ups and downs and a lot of, a lot of downs. Um, our …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:06

• S.B. 85 Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Moved to encircle House Bill 174.

  Read what they said

  Thank you President. I'd like to make a motion to encircle house Bill 1 74.

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:09

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026

  Presented SB 21, which attaches geothermal resources to the surface estate for non-government lands and lets water rights manage geothermal, and offered to answer questions.

  Read what they said

  Okay. And, and just, just what we're doing with Geothermals, we're setting our geothermal policy as a state, and we're, we're attaching geothermal to the mineral estate in general. The exception to that is in situations like TLA with federal, with federal law, federal lands control the mineral estate and, and geothermal. But for purposes of public and non-government ground, we're gonna attach geothermal to the surface estate. That's what the bill does. Um, I did have a substitute that is, that is online Substitute three. And then I know Representative Albrecht will have an amendment to that substitute. The substitute was language that came to me through sita. They just wanted further clarification. So we're letting SITA preserve their, …

  ▶ Watch at 48:37

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026

  Answered that private lands use a surface-estate model and that geothermal permits run through state water rights, which he said allows permits in about 30 days.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. So, Mr. Chair, the answer to that is on PRI Private Lands, we would use a model where we would attach it to the surface estate. Um, as we've researched this, there, there are a lot of, a lot of variance across the country and how we do it. But so, so Representative Chew, we attach it to the surface of state, and we also have our, our state water rights run it. Um, Theresa, this is something that, this is actually pretty cool to point out. Um, with running it through water rights, she can do a permit in 30 days. It's the fastest that, that I've found anywhere in the country. She's incredibly efficient and we …

  ▶ Watch at 50:14

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · House Rules Committee · Feb 25, 2026

  Presents S.B. 192 as a codification of how the Legislative Management Committee operates, creating branch-wide workplace harassment policies and narrowing committee procurement to standard processes.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And I actually asked John Cannon to come up here in C case. There's some technical questions. Um, this is Bill we worked on last year, and this is basically a reification of how the legislative management committee works and operates. And last year we were gonna deal with some office space issues at the Capitol. And this bill, even though we were very upfront about that, we informed folks of some of the changes to office space. This, this bill got caught up in a lot of contention and we, we held onto the bill. Um, there's this bill has nothing to do with office space and none of that language is in this bill this year. …

  ▶ Watch at 1:12:16

• H.B. 366 Judicial Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 25, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend H.B. 366 and says the testimony was good and the issue has existed for a long time.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I wanna make a motion. I wanna make, I wanna move that we favorably recommend this bill. Alright. A discussion to that motion. Uh, can I speak to it? Yes. Um, gosh, I don't know if I, you know, I'm gonna, I'm, I'm gonna wave. I think we've had some really good testimony. I think this is obvious, and I think there's been a problem for a long time, but I changed my mind.

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:51

• S.B. 313 Recidivism Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Presented S.B. 313 as a cleanup amendment to last year's bill, moving funding to the Utah Department of Corrections and defining total annual population.

  Read what they said

  So, Carolina Herron is online if there's questions, but recidivism amendments Senate Bill three 13. This is just an amendment to last year's Bill four 12. Um, we are moving the funding from A PNP to UDC because it's a division of UDC, Utah Department of Corrections, and we're also providing a definition of total annual population. This is truly a cleanup bill, um, in, in response to 2022 House bill four 12. With that, I'm open for questions,

  ▶ Watch at 1:06:49

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell introduced his bill, noting it began as a full kratom ban, and said a third substitute would protect people who possess pure kratom leaf from prosecution and repeal the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, while urging the committee not to add extracts back in.

  Read what they said

  You. And I'm gonna invite up, um, Dr. Forsyth and Kelly Pearson from the Department of Ag with me. Go Ahead. Um, And, and lemme just say thank you, thank you to the house we've been working on this, this bill that, that I'm running actually started as a complete ban. And, and while, and while I think that that's probably the best policy, I understand that we work, we work in two bodies at the legislature. We work with the House and the Senate. And I, I appreciate the input I've received from the house. I appreciate the input I've received from some of your colleagues in, in negotiating this bill. I've had a lot opportunity to do that. …

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:24

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell said the bill allows only pure kratom leaf to be sold, and only in tobacco specialty stores, raises the age to 21, sets penalties up to $5,000, and includes Senator Vickers' language on 7-hydroxy.

  Read what they said

  So let me just tell you what the bill does, and then I'll, and then I'll move on to the presentation. We are allowing pure c cred and leaf only to be sold in the state of Utah. Everything else would, would no longer be allowed. They would be sold in tobacco, retail, tobacco specialty stores. Um, we would have provisions that relate to penalties and fees, um, penalties up to $5,000. We bumped the age up to 21. And all of the language that you saw in Senator Vickers dealing with seven Hydroxy, we have included that. Um, I've had a chance to work with Representative Daley Provo, uh, Senator Vickers, and we've been incorporating this language. But, uh, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:40:14

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell asked whether committee members had questions for the commissioner before moving on.

  Read what they said

  Um, before I go to Dr. Forsyth, Mr. Chair, are there, do you have any questions for Mr. Pearson with our Department of Ag? I, I, I'd hate to have him go down 'cause I've got a few other folks that I'm gonna bring up. I've asked everybody to be brief, but I'd hate for him to miss his opportunity. Obviously you can call him back, but

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:57

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell introduced Dr. Forsyth to speak about kratom extracts and said Megan Broekemeier would follow with state death data.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. So let me introduce Dr. Forsyth. Dr. Forsyth works with our Utah State Lab and he's, he's gonna provide his own testimony, but I also asked him, uh, because I anticipate an effort to, to to claim the extracts are pure crate, I've also asked him to address that issue today. And, and following Dr. Forsyth, I'm gonna invite Megan, um, Meyer up from our drug overdose prevention research and look at the state numbers, see what we're actually learning about Krem in the state of Utah.

  ▶ Watch at 1:43:14

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell cited Columbia University research and said removing 7-OH from products does not make high-dose extracts safe because the body produces it on its own.

  Read what they said

  And, and, and he referenced actual research. I have the research here too. This is, this is just Columbia University. It, it's important to point out that the more you know, this safe creto, this safe pure crem that you take your body, I mean, again, I I it's, it's important to emphasize this, your body metabolizes into seven oh h and this, this idea that we're, that the industry is gonna remove the seven oh h on the front end to keep it safe is, is just, it's not accurate. That's not what happens when you take high doses of extracted crate, your body metabolizes seven oh h and that's the exact science. I I just wanna emphasize that …

  ▶ Watch at 1:48:05

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell introduced Megan Broekemeier from DHHS and an online witness, Tim Millard.

  Read what they said

  I, I actually have Megan, um, Megan from DHHS Drug Overdose Prevention Research. Um, Megan has done a lot of research, uh, about deaths in the state of Utah, and I asked her to come and speak to this bill. And after that I've got just one gentleman who's online, Tim Millard, if you can look for him. And he's gonna provide a statement as part of the presentation, and then I'll just wrap up with some comments.

  ▶ Watch at 1:49:04

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell introduced Tim Millard, who sold a Utah-made kratom product called Feel Free.

  Read what they said

  Um, my, my last presenter, he should be online, Tim Millard. I'm gonna let him make a statement. Um, Tim, Tim actually sold some, some products that are manufactured in Utah, a product called Feel Free. Hopefully he's online. If not, I'll, I'll wrap up with a statement and then open up for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 1:53:04

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell thanked those who worked on the bill, said the Department of Agriculture would get resources to inspect tobacco shops, and read a Department of Defense statement banning kratom for Navy and Marine personnel.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Let me, let me just wrap up by thanking this committee for hearing this bill. We've heard a lot about create this session. I appreciate the work that that has happened with Representative Daley Provo, um, Senator Vickers, um, Representative Bolinder. We, we've met regularly. We've met with the Department of Ag. We've tried to craft a bill that was, that, um, respected those folks that wanna use pure Creto leaf. Um, while, while I started with a ban, while my, my hope is that we would do a full ban, um, that that's where the bill is today with a regulatory structure. I think it's important to point out that in this language, the Department of Ag …

  ▶ Watch at 1:57:33

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell said he regrets voting for the 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act, states now have a patchwork of rules with several moving to ban kratom, and Utah's approach would be unique.

  Read what they said

  So, so one of the, one of the votes that I regret was in 2019 when we voted for the Creative Protection Act. We passed it here, 34 plus states went and passed it out in the country. Then a bunch of states started to ban it. And it, there is a patchwork of regulation right now. Iowa's trying to ban it. Ohio's trying to ban it. Um, Louisiana just, just did, did a, did a ban. But I, I think ours will be a little, a little bit unique in between where we're really scaled it back. I know the bill in Virginia said, you can't have more than 1% 7 0 8. I think they're missing, I think …

  ▶ Watch at 2:00:37

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell asked the Department of Agriculture to respond.

  Read what they said

  Let me pull up the Department of Ag 'cause they're gonna be part of, part of that regulatory structure. So maybe I'm gonna, Kelly, can I ask you to kinda respond to that one?

  ▶ Watch at 2:01:50

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell said vape shops are a shared concern and pointed to another representative's legislation addressing that issue.

  Read what they said

  And let me just say one thing. To your point on the vape shops, I think that's a concern. It's a concern we've shared in the legislature. Um, you've got a, a person here in the house that's not a committee member. Otherwise, I'm sure she would say something, but I, I think the, the representative to, to my left has some really good, um, legislation dealing with that, with that issue that, that I, that I hope that, I think there's a lot of wisdom in passing that and seeing it move forward.

  ▶ Watch at 2:03:29

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell said the Department of Agriculture has regulatory authority but only one employee, and other kratom bills carry funding to add resources.

  Read what they said

  So, so we're given that regulatory authority to the Department of Ag right now, they have one employee. And, and I think what Mr. Pearson said is, it's been difficult, is I think he's been frustrated. I think it's been six years of frustration. Um, the language of the Creon bill that I have, as well as Senator Vickers does have as well as, as JDP, has some funding attached to it that would help, help provide some additional resources. They, they need resources to do this, but the Department of Ag has the expertise in the space right now and that, that, that handle the regulatory burden.

  ▶ Watch at 2:05:54

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  McKell said the bill incorporates Senator Vickers' language banning additional alkaloids and is the vehicle the work group chose to move forward.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, so this bill has taken language from Senator Vickers and, and, and his, his language, kind of the catchall 7 0 8 and, and banning all of those, those additional alkaloids. So we've worked, we're, we've worked together and this is the vehicle that our, our work group chose to move forward.

  ▶ Watch at 2:06:38

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Said the remaining online witness is an ER doctor from Logan he had intended to include in his presentation.

  Read what they said

  And I had originally intended to have Dr. Sto as part of my presentation. He's an ER doc up in, up in Logan, but he couldn't get on before. And, and now that I say that, he won't be able to get on.

  ▶ Watch at 2:39:38

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Reminded the committee that there is a third substitute he previously explained.

  Read what they said

  If, if not, and just as we're waiting to get him up, I just remind the committee that we do have a third substitute. I, I explained it before and I can explain it again.

  ▶ Watch at 2:40:41

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Referred the question to the medical examiner and Dr. Forsyth.

  Read what they said

  I I'm actually gonna phone a friend to make sure you get. I have Medical Examiner and Dr. Forsyth e either of them can answer that question.

  ▶ Watch at 2:44:43

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Said the bill bans extracts, adulterants and synthetics but manufacturers could still produce and sell pure kratom leaf.

  Read what they said

  Let, let, lemme respond to that. Um, this, this would ban extracts Adulterations and the synthetics there. There's not a single manufacturer here that couldn't manufacture, produce and sell pure cradle leaf. That's, that's what this does. If, if they wanna continue selling creto in the state of Utah, it would need to be pure, pure crate leaf. They'd have to change their business model.

  ▶ Watch at 2:47:26

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Said he hopes businesses would not close, since they could shift to pure kratom leaf, and that the bill was negotiated to protect pure leaf.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, Mr. Chair. I, I would, I would hope not. But any, any of these companies could, could produce pure CRE leaf, they could change their business model in the state of Utah. Um, I, I work down in an area where there's lots of nutraceutical companies that manufacture a lot of different products and, and companies, companies evolve and they, and they change. And certainly this, this would be a restriction. But, um, as I've negotiated this bill with, with your house members, the goal was to preserve and protect pure, pure raum leaf and they'd be able to do that.

  ▶ Watch at 2:48:28

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Read product labels from vendors listed by the American Kratom Association showing high mitragynine content and health warnings, and urged support of the motion.

  Read what they said

  Um, let me, let me just read, I'll be really quick. Um, I, I know this issue on extract is gonna continue to come forward, and I suspect it'll be an issue as it moves forward if this bill forward moves forward. And I appreciate that. I'm gonna read just two labels from two products that are, that are preferred vendors on the American Creative Association's webpage. One is from Mint 45, 1 is from OPMS, um, one of them you saw Mint 45 Super K extra Strong. You've just found your strongest creative shots, super k extra strong. Every purple bottle features 1,250 milligrams or a broad spectrum extract. This shot contains a total of 1,250 milligrams of Creto …

  ▶ Watch at 2:49:12

• H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · Senate Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026

  Says he supports the bill and asks whether opposition has settled; the sponsor says it has.

  Read what they said

  You. Um, obviously I support this. I think it, I think it's smart to do this. As you've worked with stakeholders. Is there any existing opposition or is the opposition settled down? I believe the opposition has settled down. Okay.

  ▶ Watch at 43:58

• S.B. 235 Governor Compensation Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026

  Presents S.B. 235, which would tie the Attorney General's salary to that of Supreme Court justices, and says the current salary is too low.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank You Mr. President Pro Tem. Um, this is, this is a salary increase for our Attorney General. Um, currently our Attorney General is, is not being compensated at a level that I, I think is appropriate. The current Attorney General, um, makes less than an associate attorney in Salt Lake and that, that that's what this bill does. It, it ties his salary directly to that of the Supreme Court. Without, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 47:31

• S.B. 235 Governor Compensation Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026

  Presents S.J.R. 10, which would make in-person jury selection the default in certain third-degree felony criminal cases, noting that prosecutors and defense attorneys supported it.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill, um, the, the irony is that the, the Cory Richens trial is actually starting, starting this week. I talked about it on second reading that, and this is where this bill came from. I had, I had prosecutors reach out and defense attorneys, they were, they were concerned it was a possible capital case. It was a murder case and they wanted to do in-person jury selection. And the court told them no. Uh, they stipulated, they, they thought that doing in-person jury selection made sense to be able to judge the body language of those going before deciding the fate. The fate in this case. And it, it's a unique, …

  ▶ Watch at 49:45

• S.B. 258 Infant at Work Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026

  Moves a substitute that adds a three-year sunset date so the policy is reviewed after it has run.

  Read what they said

  Yes. Thank you, president. I'd like to make a motion to substitute Motion's in order. You wanna explain the substitute? Yeah. Thanks. We talked about this billing committee. Uh, there was significant, uh, interest in the concept continuing. Uh, it got started with, uh, you know, before COVID and never really got a chance to, I guess, uh, you know, get full implementation and, uh, and, you know, get full light of day. But, uh, one of the things that I felt was important after looking through, uh, listening to the public comment and listening to the process, thought it'd be better to add a Sunset date of three years out so that we would review this policy. Uh, and, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:25

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Presents the bill as a Uniform Law Commission act that lets individuals bring a civil action for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, and says an amendment will carve out internet service providers after rural telecom concerns.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, it, it, let me just start by letting you know that there will be an amendment if this committee will let this bill through. Um, the rural telecom folks have reached out to me and we need to do an exception or carve out for internet service providers. That's not the target of this bill. That's not the purpose of this bill. And, uh, I was under the weather all weekend and did not get that amendment done, but that, that will be part of it. But this is just a bill i I serve as a member of the Uniform Law Commission. This is a bill that comes to the Uniform Law Commission dealing with intimate …

  ▶ Watch at 41:19

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Confirms that the bill addresses that kind of situation and says it has been a problem in some areas of the state.

  Read what they said

  Yep. That's what came to my mind. It's been quite a problem in some areas of the state. Okay.

  ▶ Watch at 42:53

• S.B. 310 Uniform Intimate Images Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend the bill, with the understanding that an amendment will address rural telecom concerns.

  Read what they said

  And I can make a motion, Mr. Chair, you can make a motion. I'd move that we favorably recommend it. Um, Senate Bill three 10 uniform intimate images, amendments, um, with the understanding that there will be, you will see some language coming to make sure we take care of the rural telecom folks that had concern.

  ▶ Watch at 43:22

• H.B. 171 Physician Assistant Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Says the bill is a cleanup that makes the statute consistent with a standard set in 2021 and with existing law under 58-78-307, notes that the physician assistant and UMA groups worked together on it, and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Kel. Thank you. The purpose of this cleanup bill is to clarify in statute, to change in the standard that was passed five years ago and in 2021 when the legislature passed the Utah Physician Assistance Act, this bill will simply make the statute consistent with existing law in 58 dash seven eight dash 3 0 7. Appreciate the physician assistance and the UMA working together on this bill, um, as a, as a cleanup and agreeing to do that. With that, I would move that this bill pass And the question is, shall first sub house bill

  ▶ Watch at 16:54

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Says the bill ties geothermal rights to the surface owner while reserving mineral estate rights, and offers to answer questions.

  Read what they said

  Alright, and just to, just to the bill, I'm, I'm happy to answer questions. Uh, just brief what we're doing is we're tying the geothermal to the surface owner, but we're also reserving set setler rights to the mineral estate that's Similar. I'm sorry, let me, I did not call the, the vote on that motion to amend.

  ▶ Watch at 45:45

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Explains that the bill adopts state policy tying geothermal rights to the surface, with exceptions for groups such as Sila that reserve geothermal rights to the mineral estate consistent with federal rules, and offers to take questions.

  Read what they said

  Um, again, what we're doing is just adopting our policy for geothermal. So in a normal circumstance, it would be tied to the surface. Um, the exception of that are groups like Sila and they're, they're able to reserve geothermal to that mineral estate that's consistent with federal, federal, federal grounds. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 46:12

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Moves that the bill pass as amended.

  Read what they said

  Uh, I move this bill pass And the question is, shall second substitute Senate 21 as amended pass roll co vote.

  ▶ Watch at 46:35

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Sponsor says S.B. 204 would treat physical therapists as primary care providers so patients pay lower copays for physical therapy treatment plans.

  Read what they said

  This is just a common sense Bill that takes a physical therapist and rather than treating them as a specialist, treats them as a primary care provider and you do a physical therapy treatment plan, oftentimes that's 10, 10, 12 as many as 2020 visits and charging somebody a 40, $40, 30 to $40 copay every, every visit is, um, it, it adds up. Um, I think it's important to motivate people to do physical therapy, avoid surgery. I think this is the right kind of care that we should be incentivizing. So this would drop that copay by considering them primary care provider. With that, I'm open for questions. Thank You for the presentation.

  ▶ Watch at 1:31:38

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Says he is not aware of a direct analysis, but a fiscal evaluation found a minimal impact, which he attributes to physical therapy reducing other types of care.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel? Yeah, Great question. There, there has not, um, but there has been for P-H-P-P-H-P as you'll see it, it's, it's in the note and it's pretty minimal. So they did an evaluation and I would assume that the evaluation would be similar, but it was a very minimal impact. And, and I think it's minimal because when, when you do physical therapy, you avoid other types of treatment and other types of care as well.

  ▶ Watch at 1:32:32

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Moves that S.B. 204 pass and asks for a roll call vote.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I'll move that this bill pass And the question is, shall Senate bill two zero four pass roll call vote.

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:04

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Sen. McKell presented the bill, saying he worked on sentencing issues years ago, that stakeholders reached a compromise adding back some defense attorneys, and that the bill was discussed on second reading.

  Read what they said

  dealing with sentencing. I worked on this a few years ago and there's been some good compromise by stakeholders adding back some of those defense attorneys. Uh, we talked about that on on second reading, but with that it's a good bill and I'm open for questions. Thank you for that, uh, presentation.

  ▶ Watch at 1:34:53

• S.J.R. 6 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Says it is fitting to talk about this bill tonight.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank you Mr. President. Um, it's actually fitting that I talk about this bill tonight.

  ▶ Watch at 3:29:09

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · Senate floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026

  Presents Senate Joint Resolution 10, which would require in-person jury selection in felony cases unless the parties stipulate otherwise, and notes prosecutors and defense attorneys both supported it in committee; moves that it be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Um, it's actually fitting that I talk about this bill tonight. The, uh, the Cory Richens trial is about to start. And this, this bill actually came, came because of something that happened in that case. And in that case, both the prosecutor and the defense attorney wanted to have jury selection in person. Um, we came outta COVID and third District Court stopped holding jury selection in person. And I had defense attorneys and prosecutors both reach out. And this is one of those rare circumstances where the defense attorneys and the prosecutors both testified in support of this rule change in committee. This bill is very simple. It's a rule change and it simply says on felony cases …

  ▶ Watch at 3:29:12

• H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Describes H.B. 38 as an ongoing effort with stakeholders, including changes from the Utah Association of Counties, and offers to answer questions.

  Read what they said

  last two interim stakeholders like the Association of Counties raised substantive issues while generally considered consensus items that did not fall purely within technical scope and reification. So they were not included in this, in that those set of five bills, all of those is changes by Utah Association of Counties and stakeholders during the review are included in House Bill 38. Um, this is just an ongoing effort with stake stakeholders. This does deal with the, the effort to do the reification of Title 17. Um, it's a good bill and I'm happy to answer questions.

  ▶ Watch at 36:56

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Presents S.B. 192, which standardizes workplace harassment policies and sets procurement procedures for legislative committees, and says it follows work begun last session, then opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And I, I have to apologize to Senator Harper. He was getting, getting excited. I was off the floor and this came, came up before legislative management activities. It just, just as with our LMC committee, um, first thing we do is we we're trying to standardize, um, workplace harassment policies. The House and the Senate had different policies and this would bring some uniformity. This also dictates how we deal with procurement. There was a time when, um, there was, there were actually some committees that were doing some procurement independent of, of legislative leaderships. We, we, we resolve that. But this is a reification and cleanup of that, that committee that we've worked on, we worked …

  ▶ Watch at 1:13:22

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that S.B. 192 be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, uh, to be kind to Senator Harper, I'm gonna waive summation and move this bill be read for third time.

  ▶ Watch at 1:14:19

• S.B. 216 Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Moves to uncircle second substitute SB 21, a bill on geothermal amendments.

  Read what they said

  Motion UNC encircle Senate bill 21 second substitute. Okay. The motion before us is to encircle second substitute Senate Bill 21.

  ▶ Watch at 2:47:49

• S.B. 216 Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Presents second substitute SB 21 on geothermal policy, which would attach geothermal rights to the surface estate, with an exception for certain mineral-estate arrangements, and opens to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. We're trying to set the policy for geothermal in our state and we've looked at, uh, all the, our Western states and different, different states attach it to different, either to the surface or to the mineral estate in Utah. The policy that we're looking to set is we would attach the geothermal to the surface estate. The exception of that would Besla worked with SLA and, and Sitler would remain, um, they, they could attach it to their mineral estate. And if they've done that, um, there's, there's some good Juab, um, justification for that. Federal lands are actually attached to the mineral estate as well. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 2:48:12

• S.B. 216 Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Responds that the bill is at the second substitute, that some stakeholder concerns are addressed and others are still being worked on, and that the concerns of one entity have been addressed in the second substitute.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, so we're, we're at the second substitute. Some of the concerns have been addressed. Not all of the concerns are addressed. We're gonna continue to work on those that this bill moves forward. But we're trying to address stakeholder concerns as it moves forward. Um, there, there are folks vested with interest on all sides of this issue, and that's where it's difficult. Um, there, there's no perfect solution for every entity dealing in the space. And that's why we actually need to have the policy. We need to have a policy. So moving forward, we know who vest these rights, but right now is is it perfect for every entity in this space? No. Um, the concerns of …

  ▶ Watch at 2:49:12

• S.B. 216 Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. I'm gonna waive summation to move this bill be read for a third time.

  ▶ Watch at 2:50:01

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026

  Presents S.B. 204 to classify physical therapy providers as primary care so the copay is lower, notes a $75,000 ongoing fiscal note, and opens the bill to questions.

  Read what they said

  This this bill deals with physical therapies and, and payment. Um, what we're, what we're doing is classifying them as primary care providers that would drop the, the copay amount. Right. Right now when you go to physical therapy, your copay amount is about $10 higher than when you go to your primary care physician and doing a treatment plan of 10 to 15 visits. Some sometimes upwards of 20 visits, it adds up and this bill would reduce that. And there, there is a fiscal note. This would be one where I guess I'd have to fight for a little bit of funding. You'll see the fiscal notice is $75,000 ongoing and that that's going through PHPs numbers. With …

  ▶ Watch at 3:38:02

• S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Moves to adopt the substitute and asks the sponsor to explain it.

  Read what they said

  Well, I've moved to adopt the substitute and I'm gonna let the, uh, bill sponsor state what the substitute is and what it does. Okay, go ahead.

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:04

• S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend the bill as substituted.

  Read what they said

  Yep. I'll make a motion that we favorably recommend the bill as substituted, and, and I wanna speak to it.

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:59

• H.B. 164 Health Care Patient Reporting to the Division of Professional Licensing · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Introduces H.B. 180, Uniform Estate Planning Amendments, and begins describing a bill that enacts the Uniform Electronic (text cut off).

  Read what they said

  Senator Kel, thank you. Thank you Mr. President. So this bill enacts the Uniform Electronic

  ▶ Watch at 16:03

• H.B. 181 Uniform Estate Planning Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Presents H.B. 181, which enacts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act to add electronic signatures and align Utah with other states, and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. So this bill enacts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act. This comes from the Uniform Law Commission. The, the biggest part of this bill is just adding, adding electronic signature. And that brings you uniformity with the state, state of Utah, with other states that have adopted this act through the Uniform Law Commission. Would that, I would move that this Bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 16:05

• H.B. 291 Security and Land Restriction Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Presents H.B. 291 as lowering the foreign-adversary ownership threshold from 51% to 25% and describing the notice and process steps in the bill.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank You Mr. President. Um, this is, this is another bill that we have run. Um, the concern is, is allowing our foreign adversaries to purchase ground in the state of Utah. Um, representative Perche has been working on this for quite some time, and I've had a chance to carry some of these bills. Um, if, if you remember last week we saw that there was some property that was divested, um, out in Illa County and that that was significant. I think our law has been working very well, but we're changing, we're changing some of those percentages to make sure we capture more folks, um, that that could be adversaries to our country. And when …

  ▶ Watch at 21:40

• H.B. 291 Security and Land Restriction Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Explains that an entity receives a letter from the Department of Public Safety, may be fined if it does not respond, and has 30 days to provide evidence it is not a restricted foreign entity, and that the bill lowers the threshold from 51% to 25%.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, and and you'll see even in the short title line 18, that if the entity doesn't respond to the letter from the department, the department may impose a fine. So they're, they're gonna get an opportunity to do that. They're, they're actually gonna receive a letter and, and that's gonna come through the Department of Public Safety. They're gonna coordinate with the Attorney General's office, and you'll see just in the short title, provide the entity to which the department sends the letter, shall provide evidence demonstrating the entity is not a restricted foreign entity within 30 days. So they have an opportunity to, to challenge that. But with this bill, and, and that was similar to the process …

  ▶ Watch at 23:39

• H.B. 291 Security and Land Restriction Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Gives closing remarks that Utah has led on this issue, notes a recent divestment in Twila County, and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, just, just in some, I I really, this has been an, an issue that's been a problem across our nation, and I think Utah has really led out on this issue. And I'm, I'm really proud, proud that of the work that we've, we've done here. But I think we're taking these additional steps and, and we've done this for several, several years now. And, and we, we just recently saw that divestment out in Twila County, and I think it's important to recognize that some of what we're doing is working, but we're gonna continue to work at it. With that Mr. President, I would move that this bill be read for the third time. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 25:04

• H.B. 314 Firearm Purchase Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Moves to take up First Substitute H.B. 248 (the transcription of the bill's subject is unclear).

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. I'd move to Uncer First substitute house Bill 2 48. We have a motion to encircle first substitute house bill 2 48.

  ▶ Watch at 38:45

• H.B. 248 Family Law Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Presents H.B. 248 on child support, covering spousal support collection, online meetings, TANF-related holds, driver's license leverage, database instructions, and interest on arrears, and supports the bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. This bill deals with child support and, uh, what the representative is doing in this bill, which I support, is trying to make child support more effective and more efficient. So there's basically six changes that we're doing that are, that are going to help ORS and as we resolve issues with child support. So the first one allows for ORS to continue collecting spousal support, alimony after child support ends. The second part is we let ORS schedule four, four online meetings a year to make sure parties are aware of their obligation. Third party of this bill allows for a portion of the child support to be held when receiving a, a TANF grant …

  ▶ Watch at 39:03

• H.B. 248 Family Law Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. I'm gonna waive summation to move that this bill be read for a third time. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 40:40

• H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Describes H.B. 38 as a two-year effort and the last bill in revising Title 17, with some minor policy adjustments, and thanks the drafting attorney.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. This is, this is a long bill. This is actually effort about a two year effort. Um, I was on political subdivisions when we started doing the reification of Title 17. This is kind of the last bill. It does, it does make some minor policy adjustments, but this is the, the last bill in that process of dealing with Title 17 making changes. I think it's important to point out, um, our drafting attorney, uh, Ruth Ann Frost, it was started by a couple other attorneys, but she did a lot of work on this and really appreciative of that. Um, with that, this, this is, this is the conclusion of of that effort and I'm open …

  ▶ Watch at 1:28:18

• H.B. 110 Offender Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Explains H.B. 110, which addresses supervision of offenders, including probation and parole provisions, and says he is not aware of any opposition.

  Read what they said

  Um, this bill addresses the provisions related to the supervision of offenders. It allows the court order division of adult probation and parole services individuals convicted of a Class B misdemeanor. It requires the board, if, if, if considering whether parole offender has been previously paroled the offender ability to revoke due to new criminal criminal offense. Um, I know Representative Clancy's work with stakeholders. I'm not aware of any opposition to this bill. With that, I'm open for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:45

• H.B. 110 Offender Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  I'm gonna go to you for a motion. Yeah, I'll, I'll waive summation to move this bill. Be read for a third time.

  ▶ Watch at 1:31:19

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Says the bill rebalances the sentencing commission again, after concerns from stakeholders about sentencing guideline changes made during JRI.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you Mr. President. I worked on this, I worked on this issue either a year or two ago, just trying to change the makeup. We felt like that balance was still, still not, not enough. Um, during JRI, the sentencing commission was significantly re reduced and, and reduced some of those sentencing guidelines. Uh, as we've, as we've gone out and looked at some of those changes, some of those changes have been concerning to a lot of, a lot of stakeholders. So what, what this bill is just doing is rebalancing that sentencing commission again. We did it a couple years ago. We're doing it again, um, in this bill. But with that, I'd open up for …

  ▶ Watch at 1:43:22

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Says the language appears to be struck, not sure of the answer, and offers to follow up offline.

  Read what they said

  Um, we probably need to visit offline. I, I'm not sure I can see where that's struck out of, of the language. Uh, my understanding is struck out, but if, if I'm wrong, I'll, I'll come circle up with you. But I, I do see what you're referencing.

  ▶ Watch at 1:44:19

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Says he prefers to take action now and table the bill on third reading while the fiscal note is completed.

  Read what they said

  Okay. And my preference would be to take action then let's, let's table on third and let that fiscal note catch up.

  ▶ Watch at 1:44:56

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026

  Moves that the third substitute of the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. President. So I would move that, that house bill 2 74, the third substitute be read for a third time and then with the understanding that Senator Sandall will likely make a motion after that, that I'll support as well. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:45:09

• S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Supports the bill but questions naming the University of Utah and UVU, and asks for a broader discussion of who would run the program and for analysis that includes the land-grant institution.

  Read what they said

  Now, now I don't know if I want to be, let me, let me, I, I, let me, I'm up to the bill. I didn't hear an actual motion to circle. Um, I, I'm gonna support this bill as it moves forward, but, but I share some of those concerns and, and, and I chaired, I chaired higher ed for a long time. And, and my, my, my concern is I I love the location and I, I think I've been pretty clear about this. I love the location. I, I am concerned with picking, picking an institution on this bill. Um, when I, when I look at this, I, we've got a law school that's fully operational with the …

  ▶ Watch at 39:40

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Sponsor explains that the amended bill no longer includes several controversial provisions, including the voter database language, signature thresholds, and the election audit change, and then moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  with language that's not in the bill. So, just, just to be clear, the, the language in Representative Malloy's bill, which I, which I support House Bill 2 0 9, that is, that is not in this bill. Um, the language dealing with the voter database, which I also support is not, is not in this bill. So this bill is narrowed to complex of interest, computation of time, um, Vernal verifying identity when, when folks, when folks vote. And, and the verification of voter identity that that's done by the poll poll workers that's looking at the signature, that's looking at the four digits. We've got some conflict language for county clerks. We, we deal with vacancies. Um, we've …

  ▶ Watch at 52:09

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Explains the second substitute as a compromise with the House that allows narrow sales of pure kratom leaf in specialty shops and gives the Department of Agriculture new tools.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Yes. President, I've been working with, with the house, and this doesn't go as far as I, I would've liked, but it, it's a compromise that I've been working on with the house. So, just, just some of the changes. Um, we've, we've had a bunch of committee hearings. We are gonna allow some pure leaf crem to be sold. Um, it's going to be very, very narrow. This is going to eliminate, um, hopefully, you know, 90 plus percent of our problem in the state of Utah. But we are gonna allow for some pure crem leaf to be sold in the state of Utah. That's going to be done in specialty shops. We'd, we'd explored pharmacies, we'd …

  ▶ Watch at 1:07:05

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Says a full ban is his preference but supports the substitute as a compromise that would remove most of the market, and urges support.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, and, and, and I appreciate those comments and, and I, and I don't, I don't disagree with what Senator Brammer is saying. Um, my preference would be, would be to ban it entirely. Um, I, I've been working, working with the house hard, and, and there, there's some concern to make sure there is, is a framework to sell at least some of this pure Kratom. Um, this will eliminate the, the vast, vast majority of the market, 90 plus percent of the market. Um, I've, I've told a lot of you in my experience, I went and bought Crate. I asked every clerk, sell me, sell me what, what people are buying. Everything I bought was extracted or …

  ▶ Watch at 1:09:35

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Says kratom products are unsafe, cites federal bans and deaths in Utah, regrets his 2019 vote, and says Senator Vickers' bill also moves policy in the right direction.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you. And I, I appreciate that discussion and, and I appreciate the concerns. It, this is clearly a product that's problematic. Um, we, we've talked about this a lot. I don't wanna, I don't wanna beat a dead horse. This has been, this has been banned by the Department of Defense. This has been banned by the Marines. This has been banned by the Navy. This product is not safe. Um, one of the votes that I regret the most, and, and, and I've said this on the record, I'm gonna say it here today, in 2019, I voted for the CRE and Protection Act. And I think, I think that was a mistake since we passed the …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:41

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Sponsor says Kratom products cause deaths, cites the federal and military bans and Utah death counts, praises Senator Vickers' bill, and opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you. And I, I appreciate that discussion and, and I appreciate the concerns. It, this is clearly a product that's problematic. Um, we, we've talked about this a lot. I don't wanna, I don't wanna beat a dead horse. This has been, this has been banned by the Department of Defense. This has been banned by the Marines. This has been banned by the Navy. This product is not safe. Um, one of the votes that I regret the most, and, and, and I've said this on the record, I'm gonna say it here today, in 2019, I voted for the CRE and Protection Act. And I think, I think that was a mistake since we passed the …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:41

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Says the bill is a compromise that addresses most of the problem, moves policy in the right direction, and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and I appreciate the comments of the good Senator from Cedar City. It, it, it's been a lot, a lot of work and, and I, I echo the sentiments of the, the good representative from Alpine. I, I, I kind of see it the same way, but, but I also, sometimes to get a mile, you gotta give up an inch or an inch or two. And, and right now I think this moves the policy in the right direction. This, this fixes the 95% of our problem right now. Um, and, and you know, I hope we don't have to come back and continue to work on it, but I'm suspicious that, that we may need …

  ▶ Watch at 1:16:10

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Thanks Senator Vickers, says the bill moves policy in the right direction and addresses most of the problem, and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and I appreciate the comments of the good Senator from Cedar City. It, it, it's been a lot, a lot of work and, and I, I echo the sentiments of the, the good representative from Alpine. I, I, I kind of see it the same way, but, but I also, sometimes to get a mile, you gotta give up an inch or an inch or two. And, and right now I think this moves the policy in the right direction. This, this fixes the 95% of our problem right now. Um, and, and you know, I hope we don't have to come back and continue to work on it, but I'm suspicious that, that we may need …

  ▶ Watch at 1:16:10

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Sponsor presents SB 287, a 4.7% tax on targeted advertising revenue for large companies, with the revenue directed to children's wellbeing and family programs.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you. And Jason Gardner seated to my left, and I'll let him introduce himself if there's technical questions. Those are questions that I'd prefer to defer to Jason. So lemme just start by saying what the problem is and the problem. Over the last decade, um, something about childhood has changed, disrupted sleep, declining attention, rising anxiety, and earlier exposure to harmful content. These trends do not occur randomly. They emerged alongside an online economy, built on targeted advertising and, and engagement, maximizing designs for too long. Targeted advertising companies have monetized children's vulnerability, mining their data, capturing their attention, and gathering revenue while avoiding accountability. Um, our children in Utah are not commodities. Uh, in today's marketplace, …

  ▶ Watch at 52:49

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Sponsor says Jason Gardner is available for technical questions about the bill.

  Read what they said

  Uh, a again, Jason Gardner's here, if there's something technical about the application, this bill, and he's, you know, he's my phone of friend today. Does your phone a friend want to add any comment in with or nothing? Okay. I've never realized I could just have Jason stand up and do my bill for me. That sounds delightful. I'm doing that in the future, Jason. So that's, just get ready. That's Great. He's much smarter than me. The truth is, chair McKay, you understand these tax issues much better than I do, but for me, having, having a little assistance on the technical stuff is probably useful for me. Well, uh, if it makes you feel better, I lean …

  ▶ Watch at 55:44

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Defers the question to Jason Gardner.

  Read what they said

  Um, I'm gonna defer to Jason on this one. I I can, I can weigh in on this.

  ▶ Watch at 57:42

• S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Asks for a chance to address senators' concerns and commits to keep working on the bill if it advances.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And just summation, I was, I was taking notes. Senator Brammer, Senator Harper, um, I want a chance to try to, try to try to address those. And if we can't address 'em, I, I understand exactly where you're at and I think that's, that's helpful. But I would like a chance to keep working on it. Obviously, we've got a serious, a serious problem that we've, we've been tackling through a number of bills. Uh, we're gonna tackle it through ai. We've attack, tackled it through app stores. We've tackled it through. So social media. Um, I, I like the approach in here, but I understand I under understand the hesitancy and, and you've got my commitment. …

  ▶ Watch at 1:22:41

• H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend the first substitute of H.B. 309.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I move that we favorably recommend House Bill 3 0 9 Juneteenth Observation amendments. First substitute. First sub. Okay. All right.

  ▶ Watch at 2:03:13

• H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Moves to place H.B. 309 first substitute on the consent calendar.

  Read what they said

  I, I move that we put this house bill 3 0 9 first up on the consent calendar.

  ▶ Watch at 2:04:13

• S.B. 82 Securities Investor Education, Training, and Enforcement Fund Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Presents SB 82, which would raise the cap on the fund so unused money can be kept longer for long-term planning instead of being spent before year-end.

  Read what they said

  This is, uh, uh, Senate Bill 82, securities Investor Education, training and Enforcement Fund. Okay. If you're ready. So every, every year this fund, uh, will receive some, some form of money that the Department of Commerce uses. The money that comes to this fund is typically comes through lawsuits. Um, what we're doing is we're simply increasing the cap, the amount of money that they can use, um, and grow, right? Right. Now, if they, which just doesn't typically happen. If a dollar amount goes above 500,000, they're in a race to use it, and they, and they use it as quickly as they can before the end of the year. And I think for planning and for the …

  ▶ Watch at 1:20:46

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Presented SB 152, saying it would let LEAs share a list of college and concurrent enrollment opportunities with students without a memorandum of understanding for each LEA, and that existing privacy protections and opt-out provisions remain.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Thank you for hearing me. So right now we have 60 to 80 LEAs that currently do a memorandum of understanding MOU to get this, this information. Um, we, we want our kids to know what the opportunities are as they, as they go through middle school and high school. They know what concurrent enrollment opportunities are available, what college opportunities are available. So rather, rather than forcing every LEA to do an MOU with yushi, this bill simply allows, allows us to happen. We safeguard all of the privacy protections that exist in code today. We have strong optout provisions, but this is just a common sense approach just to make sure that these, these LEAs have …

  ▶ Watch at 2:20:46

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Deferred the data question to Angie Stallings, deputy commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, and introduced her.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, Madam Chair, I'm gonna defer this question. I, I neglected to introduce my, my guest, Angela Stalin. She's here and she's gonna answer that question.

  ▶ Watch at 2:22:34

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said he would be happy to work on putting the data elements in code and that the bill is intended for efficiency.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I'd be happy to work on that. Um, I, I, those, that's the information we need and this, this is just an efficiency more than anything else, making sure these students know these opportunities. We're happy to work on that. I, I don't see any concern with that. Okay, Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 2:28:07

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Presents the bill, saying the third substitute removes the identification and voter database language and summarizing its remaining provisions on conflicts of interest, deadlines, voter identity verification, clerk partiality, vacancies, electronic communication abuse, campaign account security, and election audits.

  Read what they said

  Okay. There is going to be an amendment to the substituted bill as well, but let me, let me just make sure everybody realizes what the third substitute does as well. Sorry, we, we probably missed that in the discussion. There is a house bill, um, Representative Maloy house bill 2 0 9. We have stripped out that language that's, that's dealing with identification and, and he, he worked with the Lieutenant Governor's office. That language came out of the bill. Um, Senator Johnson has been working on language dealing with the voter voter data database. And that voter file, that language has come out. So those two provisions have come out of the bill. So what remains is still …

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:27

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says he is fine with the amendment because there is not significant support to lower the signature thresholds, and that the bill contains helpful provisions.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I, I'm fine with the motion to amend. Um, I, as I've, as I've talked to, to folks on both here in the house, I, I mean obviously we have two chambers. There's just, there's just not significant support today to, to lower those signature thresholds. So I, I'm willing to concede on, concede on that issue. I think there's a lot in this bill that's really, really helpful. And I, I know that provision was causing some, some consternation for some

  ▶ Watch at 1:27:41

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says the bill makes no change for voters and clarifies when voter identity verification occurs, with the voting process otherwise unchanged.

  Read what they said

  And, and I appreciate the question. So in, in this language for the public, there, there's actually, this won't make any change for the public. The verification of the voter's identification. Uh, there's a little confusion of whether or not after, after you vote, whether or not we needed to verify the signature and the four digits. It cleans up that issue, but the voting process itself will remain intact from a year ago.

  ▶ Watch at 1:32:23

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says the citizenship language was removed from the third substitute and remains in the House bill sponsored by Rep. Maloy.

  Read what they said

  Thank you and I appreciate the question. So in the third substitute, that language has actually been removed and, and, and it's probably just, just, I just wanna make sure we state that again, that citizenship stuff, that citizenship language you're referencing was in one of the original bills. Um, that bill has been worked on with Representative Malloy. That language is still in Representative Malloy's bill. That language in the original bill is no longer in this bill

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:10

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says lines 28 and 29 concern campaign accounts for security, and that the citizenship language was removed from the third substitute.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I just, I just respond that, that, that's one of the previous versions. If you'll look at, if you'll look at the third substitute before us today and, and this third substitute's been, it's been out for quite some time in in lines the, I guess 28 29, that, that's, that's, those are the lines just dealing with allowing us to use campaign accounts for security. But I I, I understand, I understand your concern. That was a concern brought to me. Um, I actually took that, that language out because, because of those concerns and, and the fact that Representative Malloy, I think did a good job working on that language independent of this bill, so that that …

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:52

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says the bill does not address electronically putting signatures on or taking them off.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel? Yeah, I, I appreciate that question. Um, this, this bill doesn't address that I either way. So this, this bill, this third substitute doesn't deal with, with putting signatures on or off.

  ▶ Watch at 1:35:26

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Says the language makes it easier to remove a signature and is a technical cleanup rather than a policy shift.

  Read what they said

  So yeah, Senator McKell A great question. I'm looking at this language now and, and I, and I think that's, I think that's exactly right. It does make it easier. And I know they wanted some clarity on how to do that. This isn't a, this isn't a shift in policy. I think this is just a technical cleanup.

  ▶ Watch at 1:36:26

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Gives summation, saying the bill is a work in progress intended to add stability without making voting harder, and confirms that the House Bill 209 and voter database language is not in the bill, then moves for third reading.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and just in summation, I I, I really appreciate the questions. I think this is a work in progress and if there's still things that we need to look at in this bill, I'm happy, happy to do that. But, uh, I, I do wanna just, just make sure I'm super clear, um, to Senator Bus's question that, that, that language from House Bill 2 0 9 is not, not in the bill, the language that Senator Johnson was working on, on the voter database that's not in the bill. We really wanted to focus on some of these key elements and, and, and I appreciated the question from the good Senator in Cedar City. Um, my …

  ▶ Watch at 1:36:52

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Presented SB 253 and explained the amendment that adds certified language arts teachers as an option alongside teacher librarians.

  Read what they said

  I think it's a Back from stakeholders. And one of the concerns on the amendment was a certified librarian is, it's tough to get, it's an important credential, but we we're gonna amend it and, and include certified language art teachers. Uh, I know in high schools they typically have that. I know in middle schools they typically have that, but in some of the elementary schools, that's, that's hard. And, and some of the feedback I received suggested that we, we use certified language arts teachers. So that's, that's what that amendment does, and it's a simple amendment line with 1 53. So what about, what about all the teachers that are currently doing it being librarians? Um, If …

  ▶ Watch at 25:13

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the bill does not change state sensitive materials law, describes its collection policy, reconsideration and relocation provisions, and says it aims to support local control and parental rights.

  Read what they said

  Let's just run, let's just run through this. This is, this has been an issue before the legislature in the past, and I wanna be really clear about this Bill and I, and I, and I wanna point your attention. This is where we're gonna start. We're gonna start on line 1 98 and 1 99. 'cause I think this is important, and I'm gonna read it word for word. Just so we're very clear. Nothing in this section overrides or negates any provision of state law, including prohibition of sensitive materials under section 50 3G dash 10 dash 1 0 3. So this bill is not a sensitive materials bill. Everything that pertains to sensitive materials that we've seen …

  ▶ Watch at 27:16

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Responded that the bill prohibits retaliation against employees for refusing to remove materials and that the focus is on the materials rather than employees.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, yeah. So you'll see in line two 50 through 2 58, we, we don't want retaliation in schools. And that, and that's why that language is there. If we, if we have a problem, let's, let's address the problem. But let's not retaliate. That's, that's the retaliation language against employees. And, and, and I think the language speaks for itself. The LEA may not retaliate against an individual, the LEA employees, for refusing to remove materials in school collections that are subject to the request. What we wanna do is address the, the materials, uh, rather, rather than have retaliation against employees one way or the other. And I think I, I think this is an important, uh, an …

  ▶ Watch at 31:17

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the amendment removed the certified librarian requirement, which addresses the cost and degree concern.

  Read what they said

  And that's a great question. That's why we did the amendment. We actually took out the, the certified librarian language in the bill, so that, that's why that language actually came out in the amendment. So, um, that, that's a good question. And I think the amendment addresses that concern.

  ▶ Watch at 32:30

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Moved to favorably recommend SB 253 as amended and said the discipline language appears later in the bill.

  Read what they said

  Mr. Chair. I'll make a motion. Okay. Um, I would move that we favorably recommend this bill. Um, I, and I, and I do wanna clarify, I think Senator Balder had a great question and is certainly there, there can be discipline for somebody, but you'll read in line 2 53. That's not until before you do the reconsideration. So I, I think that that language is there, but I, I would, I would move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 2 53 as amended.

  ▶ Watch at 46:12

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said he is willing to work with stakeholders and noted a concern about certified language arts teachers that he had been taking notes on.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. And I'm happy to do that. And I was taking notes during the hearing and, and listing some of those concerns. Um, and I know one of the concerns was certified language arts teachers, and maybe it's better just to have a certified teacher in addition to the teacher librarian. But those other concerns, I was, I was taking notes and I'm ha happy to do that if this moves forward.

  ▶ Watch at 47:45

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the bill does not undo the parent review process, that the reconsideration policy is in the bill, and that he will review it with the senator.

  Read what they said

  No, I don't, I don't see that. And you've got a, you've got a straight, uh, reconsideration policy that is in this bill, but I'm happy to review it with you. We don't change the definitions of sensitive materials at all. And I, I started with that, that, um, place. But you'll also see the parent portal is in place, the same statute we referenced that. Um, but if there's anything in, so it'd be the section, the consideration policy, if there's anything in that policy as you look at it. And that's gonna be on line 2, 2 0 1. If there's anything in that is, if this moves forward, I'm happy to work with you to make sure …

  ▶ Watch at 48:33

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Pointed to the section of the bill with the criteria for selecting materials.

  Read what they said

  Yes. Um, so, so It's, it's on starting on 1 75, and then it goes through 1 93.

  ▶ Watch at 49:54

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the concern about the criteria is mainly about online databases.

  Read what they said

  I, I think I, I think some of those, I, I think the concerns are about whether just having these criteria right, might lead to putting back on the shelf or shelving books that, that qualify. And my understanding is that what your main concern is, honestly, is is the online databases.

  ▶ Watch at 50:17

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the bill keeps sensitive materials provisions intact in two places and that removed books were removed under those provisions.

  Read what they said

  We we're dealing with the database, but one of the places I start, and I wanna be really clear about this, um, line 1 99 is, is important that the language that we dealt with in the past deals specifically with sensitive materials. And, and we call that out twice in this bill on purpose. And the bills that have been removed have been based on sensitive materials. And we specifically, we specifically stated in the bill that nothing in this section overrides, negates any provision of state law, including the prohibition on sensitive materials under section 50 3G ten one oh three, and we're on record today, legislative history, but we put it in the bill on purpose. If …

  ▶ Watch at 50:50

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said he had not received the concern about going backwards before today and reiterated that sensitive materials provisions remain in the code.

  Read what they said

  to be fair, and, and I'm gonna put this on the record, just just so you know, um, I, I haven't received those concerns. Those concerns have not been brought to my attention. The concerns that have been brought to my attention, we've, we've addressed, um, other, other concerns have not been, um, I will work with stakeholders. I'm happy to do that. But the, those, those concerns of going, going backwards, I hadn't heard that until today, but we are really clear to make sure that we put those provisions dealing with sensitive materials, we left that intact in the code. I, I, if, if that is a concern, this is the first time I'm hearing that concern. And, …

  ▶ Watch at 52:04

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Opposed holding the bill, saying both of Senator Balderree's questions are addressed in the bill and that holding it would be unfair.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. So that that starts with me, right? Yeah. And, and I oppose that. And, and to be, and, and just to be clear, we, we've had a good discussion and, and Senator Baldry, your two concerns that you, that you brought up are both, are both addressed in the language, both in the substitute and in the language. Um, I think it would be unfair to, to hold the bill at this point. I'm willing to work with folks, but this very specific two questions you asked me are, are addressed in the bill. And in a situation like this, I think it'd be unfair to hold the bill. I think it should move forward To the substitute. Now, …

  ▶ Watch at 54:05

• S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Said the concerns raised have been addressed in the bill.

  Read what they said

  Um, I, I think I, I think I've said enough and I think those concerns that were addressed, uh, I think they're addressed in the bill.

  ▶ Watch at 56:30

• H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Moved to favorably recommend the third substitute of H.B. 38.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I'm assuming I'm gonna make a motion to favorably recommend this bill. So just so my motion's clear, we're we're on. It's just third substitute and we don't need anything beyond that. So my motion would be to favorably recommend House Bill third substitute House Bill 38. And, and I don't wanna speak to it. I guess I'll speak to it in some,

  ▶ Watch at 40:36

• H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Thanked the drafting attorneys and the committee members who worked on the multi-year project and expressed support for the bill.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, and I just, sometimes I think it's important to call out our drafting attorneys. They've done a good job. I, I was the co-chair when this project started, and, and thankfully I moved and, and Representative Dunnigan had to do this. It, it was a lot of work. And, and you act did a lot of work on this. This, I think Jim mentioned it was a, hadn't been done in 50 years, but we had a couple drafting attorneys. Ruth Ann came in and it did a lot of work. And I, I think it's just important to recognize this, this was a multi-year project with a lot of work and a lot of great people. So, Ruth …

  ▶ Watch at 41:27

• H.B. 274 Sentencing Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 12, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend the second substitute of HB 274.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. I'm gonna move that we favorably recommend second substitute house bill 2 74. We, we did, we did. Yeah. Yeah. It's been adopted, right? You've, we've adopted second seven. Yep. So my, my motion is that we Favorably recommend the second Substitute. Alright.

  ▶ Watch at 2:31:07

• H.B. 392 District Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026

  Thanks colleagues, summarizes that the bill is an important policy with good discussion, and moves that the bill pass.

  Read what they said

  No, thank, thank you Mr. President. And, and thank you to my colleagues for coming back, back on the floor. This is a, this is an important policy. I think we've had a lot of good discussion. And, and, and I will say in summation, we're gonna, we're gonna take the Senator Brammer, um, resolution after this. So stay, stay, stay nearby, but without I'd urge support and move that this bill pass.

  ▶ Watch at 38:43

• S.B. 266 County Governance Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 11, 2026

  Sen. McKell asked whether the bill would limit counties' ability to hire professional staff such as city managers, and raised concern about how a professional manager can be pushed out in a dispute with elected officials.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you. Um, the question I have, and this is, I, I've got this question from my, my city managers reached out, several other people have reached out and, and it's, it's concerned that I would have is you're basically in this bill, you're, you're limiting, you're limiting professionals that you could hire. And, and, and what I, and what I mean by that, you have a prohibition of unelected county employees from exercising power functions, duties of an elected executive or county officer. Is, is there a reason? We don't want, want, I mean, to, to me, I, I love elected officials. I'm an elected official, but there are certain roles in counties and, and I look at …

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:53

• S.B. 266 County Governance Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 11, 2026

  Supports the motion to hold the bill, but voices concern about limiting access to professional county managers and notes that opponents are giving up power to professionals.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Mr. Sub chair. Um, I, I support the motion. I think that's, I think that's the right thing to do here, but I just want to comment on, on the policy. It was interesting that members that came in and testified against it are giving away power. And I think that's interesting that we have members that have been elected, but see the value in having expertise. I, I was down in Ute County, we had a fight years ago and we wanted to expand our commission and, and, and, and then I thought Mayor council was the right answer, mayor commission. And I actually don't think that anymore. I, I look at the cities as, as …

  ▶ Watch at 1:24:48

• H.B. 392 District Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026

  Moves to substitute the bill to let the attorney general's office intervene in constitutional cases, consistent with civil procedure rules.

  Read what they said

  Senator Mikel. Thank you Mr. President. I, I need to do one motion really quick. I need to delete and title embody second substitute 3 92 and replace it with third substitute. And, and I can speak to that. Go ahead and speak to that. Um, one of the only thing we're doing and we got some feedback from the attorney general's office and we just let them intervene in these cases that's consistent with our, our Rules of civil procedure Rule 2024. And be because they're involved in these constitutional cases, having them having an ability to intervene makes sense. And, and that's what the substitute does. And you can see that on the line by line comparison. Thank …

  ▶ Watch at 29:19

• H.B. 392 District Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026

  Explains the bill has changed from a constitutional court with new judges to a three-judge panel chosen by rotation from different district courts, to address forum shopping concerns.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you. And Mr. President, this, this bill's had a lot, a lot of work and there's been a lot of input from stakeholders and I think we've got it in a really good place. This bill's a little bit different than where it started. We, we initially started by creating a constitutional court with new judges. Um, had a pretty big, pretty big fiscal note that has now changed to a panel of judges. And, and, and I think that avoids all of the concern of any type of forum shopping. Um, just just so the body knows when, when I file a case in the fourth district court, that's usually where most minor filed. Um, they're automatically …

  ▶ Watch at 30:23

• H.B. 392 District Court Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026

  Describes H.B. 392 as revised from a constitutional court with new judges to a three-judge panel selected by rotation from district courts across the state, and says the change addresses forum-shopping concerns.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you. And Mr. President, this, this bill's had a lot, a lot of work and there's been a lot of input from stakeholders and I think we've got it in a really good place. This bill's a little bit different than where it started. We, we initially started by creating a constitutional court with new judges. Um, had a pretty big, pretty big fiscal note that has now changed to a panel of judges. And, and, and I think that avoids all of the concern of any type of forum shopping. Um, just just so the body knows when, when I file a case in the fourth district court, that's usually where most minor filed. Um, they're automatically …

  ▶ Watch at 30:23

• S.B. 60 Income Tax Rate Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026

  Opposes the substitute, citing California's experience and saying Utah's flat tax is fair to everyone.

  Read what they said

  I just wanna rise in, in opposition to this amendment as well. I, I think Senator McKay nailed it. I've been watching what's been happening with California and, and frankly, it, I think it's alarming. I I think it's remarkable. We live in a state where we, we, we have good tax policy that makes sense. We have a, a solid flat tax that's fair to everybody. This takes us in the absolute wrong direction, creating different tiers of citizens in this state. It it, it's, it's a bad idea. The states that adopt it, it doesn't work. And we, I I, I've, I mean, for me, adopting a bad policy from a, from other states in this model just …

  ▶ Watch at 12:34

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026

  Says the bill allows public and higher education to share data under a memorandum of understanding, with privacy safeguards and opt-out provisions, so students can learn about opportunities more easily and in a more timely way.

  Read what they said

  You Mr. President. That, that's exactly what the bill does is it's, it's better collaboration between public and higher ed right now to do some data sharing, there has to be a memorandum of understanding among the higher ed and every LEA This simplifies the process. And then what we also do is we add all of the safeguards with privacy that are in place with opt-out provisions. Um, right now we've got really good opportunities for our high school kids, our middle school kids. And oftentimes those opportunities are not conveyed as, as easily as they should be. And what this bill simply does is an attempt to make it, make it easier and more timely access for those …

  ▶ Watch at 20:38

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026

  Says a House minority member asked him to add coordinating language between his bill and a related bill, and he will move to circle this bill to work on that amendment.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Thank you Mr. President. I'm gonna make a motion to circle. Uh, member of the minority party over in the house asked me if I would, uh, work on adding some language, uh, to, uh, at least a coordinating clause between our bills to make sure that they work well together. So, uh, I'm gonna work on making that, uh, amendment on this bill. So with that, I'll make a motion to circle.

  ▶ Watch at 23:23

• S.B. 235 Governor Compensation Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Presents the bill to raise the Attorney General's salary to the level of the Supreme Court, saying the current salary is too low, and notes there is a fiscal note.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, pretty straightforward. Bill. I think the Attorney General of the state of Utah should be paid more. Um, the reason for that is his salary. It's, while it's 95% of the, the governor right now, um, it's, it's less than an associate attorney here in in Utah. There's been a, a huge escalation in, in, in that arena. And I, I just think the Attorney General gets paid too little. So that's what the bill does. We actually, you'll see, you'll see in the fiscal note, it, it, there is a fiscal note. It bump, it, bump, bump up the salary, and it would be commensurate with the, um, Supreme Court. I think the Supreme …

  ▶ Watch at 40:17

• S.B. 235 Governor Compensation Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Says the only opposition he has received came from the Attorney General himself, suggests reviewing the Attorney General's budget to help his other attorneys, and notes that most senior attorneys on his staff earn more than he does. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  I, I, I have Senator Brammer. I was asked that in media availability. The only person that's lobbied against this bill is actually the Attorney General himself, and he's focused on his team and his attorneys. So, uh, if, if we let this bill move forward and it does need to do be done through statute, um, um, I would suggest that we take a hard look at his budget and see what we can do to help his other attorneys. But, uh, the only opposition that, that I have gotten is actually from the Attorney General himself. And it says a lot about him. Yeah. And, and my understanding is most of the senior attorneys on his staff make …

  ▶ Watch at 41:16

• S.B. 235 Governor Compensation Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Moves that the committee favorably recommend Senate Bill 235, Attorney General Compensation Amendments.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I move that this committee favorably recommends Senate Bill 2 35 Attorney General Compensation Amendments. Alright,

  ▶ Watch at 42:19

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Sponsor presents SJR 10, which would let parties hold in-person jury selection for felony cases, citing a capital case in which the court denied that request.

  Read what they said

  And, and this is a pretty straightforward, um, rule change. Uh, when we did jury selection, I think it should be done in person. This says, jury selection for felony cases should be done in person. Uh, this, this matter actually came to me by prosecutors, but I, I know that defense attorneys, uh, have been supportive as well. Uh, the only opposition I've got is a little bit from the courts, but I, the, the case, the case that stood out to me was Cory Richens. That was a, that was a capital case and both, both the prosecutors and the defense attorneys stipulated to do in-person jury selection. And the court said no. And the court, uh, looked, …

  ▶ Watch at 42:51

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Moves to recommend SJR 10 favorably.

  Read what they said

  Do you wanna make a motion? Yeah, I would Move to this committee favor favorably. Wow. Recommend SJR 10 favorably. Wow.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:09

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Says he did not consult the bar because the prosecutors and defense attorneys involved agreed and were present.

  Read what they said

  Um, I, I haven't asked for the bar. This is a bill. When I, when I knew that the prosecutors and the defense attorneys were all in agreeance, I, I didn't reach out to the bar 'cause the parties impacted were are here today.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:23

• S.J.R. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 9, 2026

  Says jury service is a civic duty, that the denied capital case shows the need for the bill, and urges support.

  Read what they said

  Can I, can I sum up, oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. I just want to address a few things and, and, and I don't know. That's fair. Change the vote, but that's fair. One of the things the courts said, Mr. Dressel, when he came up here, he, he quote what quote, what hangs in the balance. And, and what hangs in the balance is somebody who's charged with a felony. And the case I cited was a capital case. What hangs in the balance are real people. And we've done a lot for civic education. I think there's, there is incredible importance to showing up at the courthouse and doing your civic duty. We talk about flexibility right now …

  ▶ Watch at 1:05:46

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026

  Presents S.B. 152, saying it would create a statewide policy for sharing student data between public education and higher education, with data privacy protections and an opt-out provision.

  Read what they said

  Uh, the purpose of this bill is for students to more easily and more time efficiently move, move some of their data back and forth for higher education opportunities. There's a lot of opportunities that students sometimes, sometimes miss. Um, right now what we've been, what we've had to do as a state is we've had to, to collaborate, do a memorandum of understanding with all of the LEAs. And this creates a statewide policy. Um, the good thing about the bill is we looked at all of the data privacy protections. We've, we've implemented all of, all of those standards that are in the code today, as well as an opt-out provision. But with this, it's gonna make it …

  ▶ Watch at 32:52

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026

  Says the bill was developed with a supporting group and that he is not familiar with the specifics of the program Kwan referenced.

  Read what they said

  Senator Kel, Thank you. This, this bill is actually supported by yushi. This is, this is a, a, a bill that I've been working on directly with, with Yushi, so I'm not, I'm not, I don't know the specifics to, to the program you're referencing with yushi, but this is Bill is supported by yeshi.

  ▶ Watch at 33:58

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026

  Says he is not aware of opposition from local education agencies, which had asked for a simpler process than individual agreements with each institution, and says the bill is designed to simplify workflow.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you. As far as I know, at least my own local LEAs, they, they've been very supportive of this bill. I'm not aware of any opposition and, and, and their concerns, the LEAs concerns have always been, instead of doing an individual letter of a memorandum with each, with each LEA in higher ed, this simplifies the process in higher ed. This, this is designed to simplify workflow and designed to be more efficient. And, and I I could, I could be wrong, but I, I, I know the LEAs in my area are very supportive this of this legislation.

  ▶ Watch at 35:12

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026

  Waives summation and moves that the bill be read a third time.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I am just gonna waive summation and move that this bill be read for a third time. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 36:50

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Presents SB 204 and explains that higher specialist copays for physical therapy add costs for patients and can discourage them from completing care.

  Read what they said

  So you'll need to Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, to seated to my left is a gentleman by the name of Rick Libert. He's gonna present with me and a, and answer some of the questions. Um, Rick is, is the operator and kind of founder of Mountain Land Physical Therapy. Um, right now, mountain Land Physical Therapy has 74 clinics, but he, he's here on behalf of Physical Therapy Association. And I've had a chance to review some of their concerns and work with them today. And what, what we've got is, is a bill that deals with, with copays. And, and the concern is when you go to your physical therapist, they are a specialty provider. And because …

  ▶ Watch at 1:11:50

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Says he has not reviewed those other bills, offers to discuss the concern offline, and calls it a fair concern.

  Read what they said

  And Senator? Well, I just respond and say, I, I haven't looked at those bills, but I would love to visit with you offline that I think that's a legitimate concern. I think we need to be careful. I think the, the argument for physical therapy, especially where they were recognized in this setting last session, um, it makes it more appropriate here. But, but I think that's a fair concern.

  ▶ Watch at 1:16:37

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Says language on an opt-out was just submitted to him and he needs to review it.

  Read what they said

  We've, we've got some language that has been submitted to me that, that I just, I need, I need to look at. I got it today, and I want to, I do wanna look at that language and see if it, if it makes sense.

  ▶ Watch at 1:17:07

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Refers to the fiscal note for PEHP costs, estimates the cost impact of the copay change, and says the fiscal analyst can confirm the figures. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Um, you'll, you'll see the PHP in, in the fiscal note, and I know I, I, I know that Che Loft is, is, is here, it's probably a better question for him, but it mm-hmm. Isn't fiscal fiscal note shows, uh, net all funds 55,001 time, 110,000 ongoing. Oh, wait a minute. Am I reading that right? Ongoing, 75,001 time. 3 7 5. Yeah. Oh, 75,000 And I, and I know I, if I read That right, Che, if I messed that up, Che, can it come up correct? I, I think it was 9,000, 9,000 folks multiplied by about about 10 bucks. But I, I know, I know Chet's here, so if we need to get it right, he's …

  ▶ Watch at 1:17:21

• S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Urges support for the motion, agrees with the need for principles and with concern about many expansion bills, and says physical therapy copays add up over time.

  Read what they said

  You. And I appreciate the motion. I'd urge support, but I, I agree with what Senator Comore said, and I, and I think that's the concern that, um, Senator Weiler shared with, with eight to 12 bills doing some form of expansion. I think we, I think we should look at it, but, you know, I really struggle, I really struggle charging, you know, 15, 10 to $20 more typically 10 with PHP, maybe more with others for physical therapies that does compound o over time. And, and I agree with Senator Musselman that to me, my physical therapist is, is like a primary care physician and without Other support.

  ▶ Watch at 1:28:32

• S.B. 189 School District Funding Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Sen. McKell moved to favorably recommend the bill with a caveat that it needs more work, and said a loan structure should be considered.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I'm gonna make a motion that we favorably recommend this bill, but, uh, with a caveat, I think bill's got a lot of work that still needs to be done. And I mean, it sounds like, it sounds like everybody recognizes it's got a lot of work that still needs to be done. So I, I think we, I think, I think, uh, we have a lot of bills this session and slowing, slowing it down here is gonna make it hard in the end. Um, I'm in a high growth area, so, um, I, I can see the need. I look at South Utah County where it's gonna explode similar to what Senator Bus …

  ▶ Watch at 1:59:50

• H.B. 55 Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors · Senate Education Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Asked whether there is any opposition to the bill and noted that it was unanimous in the House committee and on the House floor.

  Read what they said

  mcCal. Thank you representative. Er, this is my attempt to be efficient tonight. I noticed that the bill was unanimous in the house committee and on the house floor. Um, is there any opposition to this bill tonight?

  ▶ Watch at 2:47:12

• H.B. 55 Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors · Senate Education Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Said he hoped there would be little opposition and public comment, and that a school board member had been asked about the audit but further discussion was likely unnecessary.

  Read what they said

  Okay. So I'm just good. Good. So I, I'm hoping there's not lots of opposition and not lots of public comment. I would be shocked if there's any, I did ask this, uh, school board member if she wanted to talk about the audit, but since we, you guys already know, I don't think that's necessary. Okay. That's all through quick.

  ▶ Watch at 2:47:30

• H.B. 55 Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors · Senate Education Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Moved that the committee favorably recommend House Bill 55 and waived his summation.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I move this committee favorably recommend House Bill 55. And when you come back to me, I'm gonna waive my summation as well.

  ▶ Watch at 2:48:10

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Presents Senate Bill 45 and says kratom has been linked to deaths in Utah, citing the 2019 law and an industry label; says the bill returns the law to its prior state and that testimony from medical, agriculture and prosecutor groups supported it.

  Read what they said

  the Credit Protection Act. This is something that we voted on in 2019, and, and unfortunately that was something that, that I voted for, and it came through the house. It actually, it actually passed with a 39 vote. And I think that was a mistake. Um, since we passed the CRE Protection Act, we have had deaths in the state of Utah skyrocket. And I think what we've learned is that Kratom is a significant problem in the state of Utah. Um, I'm gonna read a, a label this, this is from a company called OPMS. This is a preferred vendor on the American CRE Association's webpage. And I think it's important to point this out. This is what …

  ▶ Watch at 57:25

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Says the bill would ban synthetic products as well, and that the Department of Agriculture has struggled to regulate synthetics.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, a great question. This does, this would ban the synthetics as well. And those are some of the problems the Department of Agriculture has had. They've, they've struggled to regulate synthetics, but it would ban the synthetics as well.

  ▶ Watch at 59:41

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Says a model regulatory framework should be developed, that the product should be kept away from kids, gas stations and smoke shops for now, and that he is considering what a model could look like.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, a a great question. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President Pro. Um, I, I think we need to look at a model and find a way to control it in a, in a, in a way that's appropriate right now is sold in smoke shops and gas stations, if this product is going to remain available to folks. Um, similar, similar to the warning on this website called OPMS, again, one of the vendors on the American Creative Association. It's very clear that even the industry itself recognizes the need to involve doctors and pharmacists. Um, we've built some type of regulatory framework with, with marijuana. We need, we need to find a way to do it in …

  ▶ Watch at 1:00:16

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Says about 160 deaths have been reported, that the state has not separated kratom-only deaths, and that Florida research found about 10 percent of its deaths were kratom only.

  Read what they said

  You. Great question. So we've had about 160 deaths. So a death that is mixed with another drug is called polysubstance. Similar to opioid deaths, there are a number of deaths that are polysubstance. And that that's somebody who dies from some form of opioid, but also has a drug similar to Gabapentin in the system. The state hasn't broken those out. They've confirmed to me that we've had multiple CCRA only deaths. The state of Florida, there was extensive research done, and in their research they found 46 out of the 500. So, so just under 10% of the deaths they had in their state were create 'em only. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 1:01:51

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Opposes the substitute, saying it would delay action and allow more deaths, and disputes the Rhode Island example, saying lobbying and agency opposition shaped that law.

  Read what they said

  Thank you to the Substitute. Thank you, Mr. President Foram? Yeah, this is unfriendly. This, this is an attempt. Um, I, I, I know this is, is a a, an attempt to slow down this bill to keep Kratom. If we wait a year, we're gonna have another a hundred deaths. I think it'd be inappropriate to do that. But the good sponsor mentioned Rhode Island. And I wanna be clear what happened in Rhode Rhode Island. I've had a chance to reach out to lawmakers in Rhode Island and Rhode Island. Uh, their law has not gone into effect the Creative Protection Act, but it was lobbied heavily. Um, it was heavy, heavily lobbied. And the bill was run …

  ▶ Watch at 1:05:33

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026

  Corrects his earlier figure to about 15 kratom-only deaths, roughly 10 percent, cites industry-funded research and university research on how kratom metabolizes into 7-OH, and urges support for the bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I, now back to the underline. Thank you president. Um, I, let me just wrap up with just a few comments. I, I actually kind of phoned a friend. I looked in my emails. One of the questions was asked, I said, about 10% of the deaths are crate only. Um, I've got the data. And I looked in my email. Megan Brohi, she is DHHS, drug Overdose Prevention Research Coordinator. She actually testified in the committee, and I've been asking for that data. And we, I went back and looked in the email. I said it was about 10% and the number, it was 15, which is about 10%. And that's what we're seeing across the nation. …

  ▶ Watch at 1:15:02

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Introduces SB 21 on geothermal resources, explains that the bill reserves rights for SITLA and sets the policy direction, and says a substitute will be discussed.

  Read what they said

  I don't know if I'd dare go to the in-laws this weekend down in Sanpete after that. Um, geothermal, you, You were Raised on the wrong side of the belt. Geothermal, let me pull up this bill. I had it up a minute ago. Uh, we've been work, we've been working on this and, uh, Theresa's gonna be here if there's questions of, you know, technical questions of what this bill does. But we're trying to, trying to resolve what, what's the state policy gonna be with geothermal? Um, I've worked with SIT l we're gonna reserve rights for sit l Um, I I've been persuaded. I pushed back on sit l for a year now and, and I really …

  ▶ Watch at 1:09:20

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Describes industry protections in the bill, including privacy periods for sites after testing and protection periods after abandonment, and praises the Division of Water Rights permitting process.

  Read what they said

  Um, I'm just gonna speak to it and, and then when you do get quorum, I'm next door. We've got a riveting discussion about the disability law center and it's a packed, packed house. And that's gonna go for another hour probably. So I'll be here. Um, the, the other part of the bill, we, we do have some protections for industry. I, I want geothermal to thrive in Utah. And one of the questions that I've been asking is how do we make geothermal thrive? Um, I'm just gonna give a shout out to Theresa at water rights. Our permitting process is the fastest in the, that I've been able to see. We can permit and do this within …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:42

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Says the substitute is before the committee and opens the floor for questions.

  Read what they said

  We have a substituted bill before us. Yeah. And I'll just conclude and open up for questions.

  ▶ Watch at 1:12:27

• S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Explains that the bill aims to grandfather existing holders and that they will have a period to reserve their rights to stay grandfathered.

  Read what they said

  Stricken? Yeah. Yeah. And we, we've been trying to grandfather people in and there's a period of time where folks will have to reserve their rights if, if they wanna stay grandfathered in. And some, some, some of that, you'll, you'll see down in line 1 31, 1 32 where they, where they're gonna have to go reserve, reserve those rights. But we are trying to grandfather people in.

  ▶ Watch at 1:13:05

• S.J.R. 7 Joint Resolution Regarding Utah's Protection and Advocacy Agency · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Said he will support the resolution with reservations, credited the Disability Law Center's work, and plans to meet with both sides.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. So I've gotta run to another meeting and I do wanna go on the record really quick. I'm gonna support this resolution, but I, I wanna visit with both sides of this issue. I, I'm not comfortable with the testimony I've heard on both sides. There's been some things I've really been impressed with, with the Disability Law Center, but these concerns are real and we, we need to do better. And I think this needs to move forward with a resolution. Um, I, I'm gonna be online if, if you need me for quorum, I'm gonna support this resolution today, but I'm gonna do it with some reservation. 'cause I think the Uniform Law, I think the Disability …

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:07

• S.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Permitting of Oil, Gas, and Mining · Senate floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026

  Says S.B. 82 came from the Department of Commerce and is a common-sense bill, and describes work done when he chaired a committee on the bill's subject.

  Read what they said

  Kel. Thank you Mr. Mr. President. Um, this, this bill came from the Department of Commerce and it's a good common sense Bill. Um, when I chaired Beetle, what we tried to do is make sure

  ▶ Watch at 42:10

• S.B. 82 Securities Investor Education, Training, and Enforcement Fund Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026

  Presents Senate Bill 82, which would let leftover funds of $500,000 to $1 million in a litigation-funded education fund carry over so the agency is not rushed to spend them by year end.

  Read what they said

  and it's a good common sense Bill. Um, when I chaired Beetle, what we tried to do is make sure that the fees that they were collecting were, were reflective of the services they were providing. Um, this is one of the, this is a different kind of fund that they continue to use, um, at the end, at the end of the year. This this, this fund is specific to lawsuits where they receive funding and they use money from that fund, um, to fund programs in education. And what this does is it simply takes that 500,000 to a million dollars, um, if they have that leftover amount in their budget so that there's not a race to …

  ▶ Watch at 42:15

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 3, 2026

  Presented SB 192, saying it clarifies Legislative Management Committee oversight of workplace harassment policy, quorum and meeting requirements, budget approval, and procurement, and that it is similar to last year's bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and we saw most of this bill last session. This is the legislative management committee, and it's kind of a reification, it's kind of clean up all at the same time. Um, last year we, we, we held this bill at the end. We, we dealt with some office space issues, and that's why we held it at the end. But this clarifies that LMC oversees workplace harassment discrimination policy. The reason we do that is because the House and the Senate could have different policies. We want consistency, modifies quorum requirements to be consistent with legis other legislative committees. It modifies LMC meeting requirements to eliminate unnecessary meetings. It clarifies that the oversight of branch wide …

  ▶ Watch at 1:10:54

• S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 3, 2026

  Explained the amendment, which would require the committee to meet no later than 60 days after the session instead of quarterly.

  Read what they said

  I mean, right, right now, this committee's supposed to meet quarterly, and this just simply says it needs to meet, um, no later than 60 days af after the session. Um, in the past, I've been told, I I, it wasn't until this last year I was on legislative management, but there are times we are meeting when we, we don't necessarily need to meet. And there was a, a requirement to meet quarterly and, and that's kinda what the amendment deals with.

  ▶ Watch at 1:12:29

• S.B. 82 Securities Investor Education, Training, and Enforcement Fund Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026

  Presents S.B. 82, which raises the cap on the fund's use from $500,000 to $1 million, noting the funds come mainly from litigation and describing past Department of Commerce fee reviews.

  Read what they said

  You, uh, Mr. President ProAm. This Ms. Bill takes the cap that they're able to to use in their budget from 500,000 to a million dollars. Um, I served as the Beatle chair for a couple years and one of the things we did is a, is a comprehensive fee review and made sure that in the Department of Commerce, all of their fees were were in line with the actual, actual cost. There are times when some funds come through, when, when they can prioritize some of the projects that they need. Um, the funds that come into this actually come in through litigation and when they're, when they're able to use upwards of, of $500,000, they, they have, …

  ▶ Watch at 52:19

• S.B. 124 Child Welfare Modifications · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Said he shares the chair's concerns but supports moving the bill forward as a tool that must be very limited, citing the Gavin Peterson and Ruby Franke cases.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and Senator Esee. I'm in the same boat as Senator Weiler. I'm gonna support it. I think I have the same concerns, but, um, a as I sat here, Senator Chair Weiler, I was thinking about that case. Gavin, I looked it up. Gavin Peterson. I think you're right. I think, you know, it feels like DCFS probably did the right things, but I also think about the Ruby Frankie case and a number of these cases. These cases are tough and I think this is a tool that needs to be in place, but it needs to be very, very limited and careful. But I I, I think there's some merit to moving this forward and …

  ▶ Watch at 1:22:21

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Said he was frustrated that the witness called juries the ignorant people in the room while wanting them kept unaware of insurance coverage.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you. And, and to Senator Weiler's point, chair Weiler, you end quote, you referred to the Juab jury as the ignorant people in the room. And what you just said is you want them to be ignorant. You don't want them to know the coverage. I I I'm frustrated by that testimony that that's your quote. That's what you said. You want, you wanna know about insurance and about payments when it benefits you, but when it doesn't benefit you, you're okay that the jury is quote the ignorant people in the room. That's what you said, right?

  ▶ Watch at 2:13:05

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Repeated that the witness wants juries unaware of insurance coverage.

  Read what they said

  We're, but that's what, but that's what you said. You want, you want them to be ignorant to the coverage.

  ▶ Watch at 2:13:41

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Raised a point of order objecting to a prior witness's remarks about trial attorneys, citing a past deposition experience with that witness.

  Read what they said

  You. Well, no, it's just a point of order. I I you called it out. Senator Weiler, having Mr. Glosser defame and, and say things about trial attorneys in that way. I think he's offensive. I did a, I did a deposition with you as a new attorney. I had a client that was probably 60 years old, had a miscarriage when she was probably 18. And in that deposition you spent 40 minutes grilling her and for you to come here and talk about fraud and, and accuse good trial attorneys of that. I'm offended by that. I don't think that's cool. I don't think it's appropriate. And that's my point of order. Mr. Chair. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 2:39:48

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Asked the doctor to describe the risks providers take when providing care on a lien.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Chair. And, and Dr. Millard. Um, Senator Mikel here. I'm just curious if you can address some of the risks you take. You, you do, sometimes you do set a, set a price on a, on a lien, but talk about the kind of risk you take when you provide that care and you do that with a lien.

  ▶ Watch at 2:54:46

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Asked whether the clinic charges more for lien patients.

  Read what they said

  I have one more question. Do you inflate the cost if it's on a lien or do you have kind of charge the same cost, uh, charge, same price for surgery, regardless.

  ▶ Watch at 2:55:29

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Asked whether the clinic has had to accept less than billed when verdicts or settlements came in low.

  Read what they said

  So since you're working on some liens, you have the risk that they lose that trial, right? Correct. But you also have the risk that the settlement or the verdict comes in low. Um, have you had to take less than what you charged because the settlement or the verdict came in lower than expected?

  ▶ Watch at 2:55:58

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Said the intent is to restore pre-Gardner law and asked the witness to identify specifically where the bill goes beyond that.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. And, and Brian, you, you've always been fair to me. You're, you're a good attorney. This is just a straight up question. Um, Senator Cullimore is trying to thread the needle to, to make sure nobody's taking ground from Gardner. Not the insurance guys. Not, not you a j um, that, that's my commitment as well. One thing you said as this goes beyond Gardner and the bill, I, I want you to be specific, but if it goes beyond Gardner, I know Senator Cullimore has committed to keep it, to keep it at Gardner and, and to go back. So I, I just, and and maybe that's something you need to, to shoot us in an email, but …

  ▶ Watch at 3:11:49

• S.B. 211 Tort Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 30, 2026

  Said he would review that language and invited the witness to send concerns about provisions exceeding pre-Gardner law.

  Read what they said

  What what I'll do is I'll, I'll go back and look at that. 'cause I, I wanna, I wanna be clear where I'm at, uh, what, what I like this bill to be different. Yes, for sure. But the commitment that Senator Comore started with is, is we're gonna take this back, um, prior, prior to the Supreme Court setting the policy. So that, that's what, that's what I care about. And, and I'm happy if, if you wanna send me something to look at where you think that the language goes beyond, uh, goes beyond pre Gardner. That, that, that's what I'm asking for. So that, that's my question. And the

  ▶ Watch at 3:13:01

• S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · Senate Education Committee · Jan 29, 2026

  Says he supports studying the proposal and asks why Utah Valley University was chosen over other institutions.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Okay. I'm gonna ask maybe a, maybe, maybe more serious question. Um, I'm gonna support this. I wanna study it. Um, but when I, when I look at our institutions, my, my question is why, why UVU and I and I hope we study it. Um, and, and what I mean by that, I'm not gonna pick on UVU, but we weaver's a, a dual dual mission. UVU is a dual mission. Utah Tech is a dual mission. Utah State is a four year university. Um, it's an R one, it's an R one research institutions, Southern Utah University. It's also a four year institution as well as a University of Utah. Um, why, why, why UVU? Why don't …

  ▶ Watch at 1:37:56

• S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · Senate Education Committee · Jan 29, 2026

  Says he plans to support the resolution, praises the proposed location, and wants to see the feasibility study. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Okay. I, I don't know if I have any response. I think your location's absolutely perfect, and I, and I do look forward to seeing the study, and I think that was a good, good, good response. I obviously, I'm gonna support this and I'm interested in the feasibility to see what it looks like, but I And Utah State doesn't own a commercial office building. Look, I am not advocating for Utah State. I'm just, I'm just, I'm just curious. I I, I do love the Loa. I do love the location. Yeah. It's probably not as good as Spanish Fork, but pretty close. Actually, I might, uh, I might say that and go going back to Utah State, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:26

• S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · Senate Education Committee · Jan 29, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend SJR 8.

  Read what they said

  So I move that we favorably recommend Senate bill to, oh, I'm gonna say this wrong. SJR eight.

  ▶ Watch at 1:48:53

• S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · Senate Education Committee · Jan 29, 2026

  Says more lawyers is a good thing and makes comments on the bill. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Anytime we can get more lawyers, that's a good thing. So let's do it Like full employment act. There is, Don't try to kill my bill, Mike, I was just like, So the, uh,

  ▶ Watch at 1:49:20

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell presented the bill and substitute, explaining that voter verification language would be decoupled in favor of H.B. 209, and described conflict of interest avoidance plans, party replacement for vacancies when officials switch parties, release of voter records, lower county signature thresholds capped at 2,000, more frequent audits, and use of campaign funds for home security.

  Read what they said

  Okay. So Mr. Chair, um, I, I'm gonna talk a little bit about the substitute and I'm gonna talk about the main bill. Um, but I, I do wanna start with, with one item on, on the, the main bill itself. There is a house bill that, that Mr. Chair, you're the sponsor of House Bill 2 0 9. It's made it through the house. It's Representative Malloy's and it deals with verification. Um, I, I've talked to the election office about his language. I've talked to stakeholders and Representative Maloy does a really good job in that bill, and we had a lot of similar language. So, um, what I'm gonna ask this committee, we'll, we'll go through the …

  ▶ Watch at 1:24:42

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the bill does not address that cutoff and it should be looked at, noting NCSL is offering grants to offset security costs.

  Read what they said

  Um, I, I don't think it's addressed, but that's something where I, I think we should look at it. I think that, I think that's a fair question. I think we, we ought to look at that. And, and I will note for the public, um, the National Conference of State Legislatures, NCSL, they are concerned about this issue that is a bipartisan group. They are working with a grant program to offset some of the cost as well. And, and again, I think this is the, this is the provision that I dislike in my bill the very most. I wish, I wish we weren't there, but as Senator Sandall, I think that's, I think that's a good, a …

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:11

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the provision creates a bifurcated ballot to stay compliant with federal law while making state law stricter, and noted the lieutenant governor's audit found one undocumented registrant.

  Read what they said

  to Tom is here, and I'm gonna have him correct me if I'm wrong, um, it, it's called a bifurcated ballot. And what we would be doing is making sure that we don't get out of compliance with federal, federal law. Federal law is actually more lax on this issue than state law. So our law is going to be, is going to, to, is going to elevate elevate security. It already, it already does. And, and, and just so everybody knows, there, there, there's been an audit and I applaud the Lieutenant governor for the audit. I mean, so far we've found that one un undocumented, uh, individual registered. And, but that, that's, that's why, and if Tom, if …

  ▶ Watch at 1:34:35

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the citizenship language belongs to Rep. Maloy's H.B. 209, which he supports, and will be removed from this bill.

  Read what they said

  Um, one of the things I started with Senator Vickers is I, this is a policy that Representative Maloy has, has fleshed out and worked on. And, and that language is in house Bill 2 0 9, and it's gonna be decoupled from this bill. I, I support the bill, the policy of 2 0 9. Um, I think they've done a good job. I've, I've, I've talked to the Lieutenant governor about the language, and she's comfortable. She feels like, um, representative Malloy has done a good job. Um, what, what I, what I was conveyed back to me is they learned through this, this audit of citizenship that they learned a lot. They learned that they do a …

  ▶ Watch at 1:35:23

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell asked legislative attorney Tom Vaughn to explain the definition.

  Read what they said

  I, I'm gonna, I am gonna phone a friend on this one. Tom, I, I come, come give the ex explanation so I don't say it wrong. Okay. There's a definition. Okay. That's a good question. You

  ▶ Watch at 1:36:22

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said he shares the privacy concern, that parties need voter data to do their work, and that he plans to move existing penalties for harassing voters into the election code.

  Read what they said

  Can can, can I respond Mr. Chair? Sure. I, I, Senator Vickers knows I've had the same, same concern. I've had the exact same concern. And, and that's why if this bill moves forward, I do wanna look at, make sure those penalties that do exist in the code, we move them over. I, I know that, that at risk voter is, is, I mean, it's a concern. There will be people from the public that'll talk about it from both, both sides. I think the consensus is the parties can't do their job without knowing who their voter voters are. But I, but I, but I, I did hear when, when Ron Mortenson, who's here, talked about it during …

  ▶ Watch at 1:39:37

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said he would review the policy, noted election administrators were comfortable with the language, and said he does not want voter turnout to drop.

  Read what they said

  And, and I'll go back and look at the policy. I hope that doesn't happen. And, and if it looks like that's where the policy's going to go, I mean, would, would need to correct this. I I will, I will say this. Um, I had a chance to just review this, this policy with, with, I mean, Brian McKenzie, whose last session we worked on house bill 300, was a really, really good voice, really helpful, just understanding election policy. And I, and I know they've worked closely on this, on this language and, and got it to a place that that was, you know, a good place. So I do appreciate the fact that the, the stakeholders that …

  ▶ Watch at 1:41:15

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said his main concern is the cap for large counties and that keeping 3% for small counties would be a simple fix if needed.

  Read what they said

  I, look, let me, I'll, I'll just, I'll just say this. If, if that becomes a sticking point as this bill moves forward, um, the current law is 3% of registered voters. And in a county like Daggett County, I, I, I'm not concerned about the 3%. I'm, I'm far more concerned about the cap. I'm concerned about the 19,000 voters in Salt Lake County, almost 19,000 to 7,000 signatures in, in Utah County. Um, when we, when we talked about it, we, we looked at other states, we looked across the country, 3% is, is certainly higher than average. And, but if, if this, if that's a sticking point where we want to go back to the leave it …

  ▶ Watch at 1:42:29

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell clarified that in small counties the 1.5% rate would apply rather than the 2,000 cap, compared with 3% today.

  Read what they said

  But, but in like, Daggett County, you're, it, it's, it's whatever, it's, you know, the 2000 wouldn't apply. It would be the th the one point a half percent. One point a half percent, yeah. Okay. And, and today it's 3%.

  ▶ Watch at 1:43:17

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the H.B. 209 language starting around line 16 would be removed, which is a large portion of the bill.

  Read what they said

  I, if you look at the, just the short title of this bill, Senate Bill 1 94 on the substitute, um, it, it, there's gonna be a lot of, lot of lines. And this is where I would phone a friend with, with Tom. But when you, when you look at like, line 16, that, that's where we start that language from Senate, from House Bill 2 0 9. And if you pull up House Bill 2 0 9, that's, that's the language that's gonna be removed. It's, it's a lot of the bill that would be removed. Um, specific lines, I would, I would phone a friend, but it'd take him a minute to figure it out.

  ▶ Watch at 1:43:43

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell said the voter verification portion of the bill would be removed.

  Read what they said

  Um, it, it, it's definitely, it's removing the voter verification stuff. If there's something in the voter verification language that concerns you, is removing the voter verification portion of the bill. Okay. Thank

  ▶ Watch at 1:44:20

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell moved to replace S.B. 194 with the first substitute.

  Read what they said

  Yep. As a member of the committee, I would move that we delete, embody and title, um, Senate Bill 1 94 and replace it with first substitute Senate bill 1 94.

  ▶ Watch at 1:45:01

• S.B. 194 Election Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 28, 2026

  Sen. McKell thanked legislative staff, said he will keep working on the bill including pulling the H.B. 209 language and reviewing voter privacy, and urged a favorable recommendation.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I'm just gonna sum and and I really appreciate Tom Vaughn. I know our attorneys are, are nonpartisan, but it, it's nice having him here. When, when you look at all of the, the, the bill and the concepts in here, he's drafting all of these bills and not, not just the bill in front of you. I think our staff do a good job. Um, I appreciate those comments. We're, we're gonna keep working on it. Um, before, before today, we, I, I met with our drafting attorney about House Bill 2 0 9 and, and, and pulling that, that language out, um, I, I do wanna go back and review the voter privacy issue. I, I, …

  ▶ Watch at 2:20:38

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell begins presenting the bill and asks to pass out a handout.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Lemme grab this iPad to, and, and I recognize this is a contentious bill today. I don't, I don't think it should be. Do you care if I pass something out? Each

  ▶ Watch at 1:01:19

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell introduces his witnesses, describes buying and testing kratom from gas stations, explains that the body converts mitragynine into 7-OH, notes a military ban, and says he regrets supporting the 2019 Kratom Protection Act.

  Read what they said

  And just so I signal, so you know who I have here present, there are a fair number of folks that do wanna present with me. Um, Ryan Sto worthy is an ER doc. He's trying to zoom in, so if we can find him, that will be good. Um, Dr. Michael Moss from Utah, poison Control Medical Director. Um, Dr. Brandon Forsyth, our Utah State Lab Director. He's here. I know the statewide of prosecutors. They're here. They wanted to weigh in the Utah Medical Association. Also wanted to weigh in. And then with me, I didn't have a chance to look. We were voting on bills in the other, the other, the other room. Um, Dr. Deidre Amro, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:01:43

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell asks that Dr. Stolworthy start if he is available online.

  Read what they said

  Um, if, if he is, if he's available online, I'd like him to start. If not, I know we've got some folks in the room.

  ▶ Watch at 1:06:01

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell cites the ACS Central Science study and says more extracted products are more potent.

  Read what they said

  I'm gonna, just, just so you know, I have the study here, a CS, central Science. I've got it with me. This comes from Columbia and New York University and it, it's, it's here. And, and that's one of the concerns we have. The, the more the products are sold in Utah, the more they're extracted, the more potent they are. Whether they have high levels of 7 0 8 at the beginning, your body converts it into 7 0 8. And that's what the science says.

  ▶ Watch at 1:15:58

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell calls up the medical examiner witnesses.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Okay. Let's, let's keep moving. Let's, let's take, uh, Deidra Morro, Dr. Deidra Morro and Megan, um, Meyer, and I'm gonna move out the way for them.

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:12

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell thanks the examiners and asks Dr. Forsyth to answer the dosing question. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Let's see. Is that the right one? You may need bring, let's see. I get, there we go. Thank you for present presenting. I really appreciate you coming and, and there may be some questions for you in a second. Okay. Dr. Forsyth, did you catch that question? I did.

  ▶ Watch at 1:23:43

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell invites the Utah Medical Association and prosecutors to testify.

  Read what they said

  Let me, let me invite two more, two more folks up. And then when we, when we go to the public again, and there's a gentleman by the name of Dean Francis, I'd like him to talk. Um, I, I'd like for, let's go to the Utah Medical Association, Michelle Comb and then the Statewide Association of Prosecutors.

  ▶ Watch at 1:27:36

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell calls Carl Hollan and mentions public members wishing to testify.

  Read what they said

  Carl, Carl Holland. And then I know there's members of the public, um, Walt Plum wanted to talk as well about his experience, but we'll, we'll get,

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:28

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell reiterates that pure kratom raises 7-hydroxy levels, says both must be banned, and argues replacing one opioid addiction with another is not recovery.

  Read what they said

  Alright, Senator Vickers, just, just before you go to the public, um, there, there was a youth group from St. George, they were here and wanted to talk about it. I just wanna emphasize one, one more, one more, one more point, and I've, and I've said it before, um, high amounts of pure raum increase seven hydroxy in your body, it metabolizes it. Dr. Forsyth testified to that today. And, and that is the concern. We, and, and, and the other problem, um, using pure raum, you can make seven hydroxy a simple YouTube search will, will teach you how to do that. Um, if, if we want to resolve this issue, solve this issue, we we do need …

  ▶ Watch at 1:33:40

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell says some will go to the black market but law enforcement prefers a narrow black market to wide gas-station availability.

  Read what they said

  That's a great question. And, and actually chair, chair Vickers and I and Representative Hall, we're on a, we're on a, we were on a Zoom call with some law enforcement folks, and the question was, it was a very similar question. And the concern was, is it, is it bad if it goes to the black market? And, and the answer is it will, but it it'll be a small amount. And the law enforcement folks that we worked with, they felt like pushing it to the black market where it's a narrow, narrow market where you can't target kids the same way is much better than making it readily available in gas stations. It it's gonna happen. It's …

  ▶ Watch at 1:34:53

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  McKell concludes his presentation and notes members of the public who want to testify.

  Read what they said

  Yes. I'm gonna stay outta the way, but again, just a couple people that I referenced. I know Walt Plum, Dean Francis here, they want to testify from the public. And I know there's mothers and others, but we can't be here all day and I recognize that.

  ▶ Watch at 1:40:10

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Said he could not speak to Rhode Island but noted seven states, including Louisiana, had allowed and then banned kratom.

  Read what they said

  I, I can't speak to Rhode Island, but there are seven other states that'll authorize it then banned it like Louisiana, just, just in the last year.

  ▶ Watch at 2:27:30

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Said he did not know what Rhode Island did.

  Read what they said

  I I have no idea honestly, what they did in Rhode Island. That's not curious

  ▶ Watch at 2:27:42

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Said he had not researched Rhode Island but had reviewed states that later banned kratom.

  Read what they said

  I honestly have not looked, I've, I've seen the states that had it legal and seven of 'em have now banned it, including Louisiana. I think Rhode Island was one of the first to band it, and they, they, they, they saw it fit to unban it. So, yeah. I don't know. Good question.

  ▶ Watch at 2:27:49

• S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Responded to the testimony about mitragynine converting to 7-OH by reading the high-potency extract contents of a product from an American Kratom Association preferred vendor.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And, and I'm gonna be brief. There was one comment that stood out to me. Um, a lot of the opposition described a drug when they described why they were taking it, and they described a drug. But one of the comments actually stood out to me. It was the chat GPT comment about how the ma that ragy converts to 7 0 8 and 0.01%. Um, I'm gonna read an ingredient from a, this is a preferred vendor on the American Creative Association's webpage. And it says, you've just found our strongest cred shot. Super k extra strong. Every bottle features 1,250 milligrams of a broad spectrum extract. This shot contains a total of 1,250 milligrams of …

  ▶ Watch at 2:30:24

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate Education Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Said the bill would replace separate data-sharing agreements with each school district with a statewide policy, addressed privacy concerns, and introduced Angie Stallings to explain the bill.

  Read what they said

  Okay. I might be late for another meeting. So is Senator Wilson and Senator Fillmore. But seated in my left is Angie Stallings. Uh, we, we share data back and forth, um, through higher ed with public ed, and it's, it's a memorandum of understanding with every single LEA. That's a really bad way to do it. What we wanna do is have a policy where we do it across the state. We have everybody knows and agrees to the policy. Um, when I first looked at the bill, I asked all sorts of questions. What about data privacy, federal privacy laws, state privacy laws? We've included all of them. Um, I'm gonna let Angie talk about the bill, talk …

  ▶ Watch at 2:53:51

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate Education Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Said yes to moving the amendment and that Stallings would explain it.

  Read what they said

  Um, yes, that'd be great. And Angie would love to explain the amendment You'd like to, uh, And, and I can, and I can make the motion.

  ▶ Watch at 2:54:36

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate Education Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Moved to adopt Amendment 1.

  Read what they said

  Okay. I, I, I move that we adopt amendment number one in my name as a member of this committee. Okay.

  ▶ Watch at 2:54:44

• S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · Senate Education Committee · Jan 26, 2026

  Deferred to Stallings to explain the amendment and said a lot of work went into addressing concerns.

  Read what they said

  Okay. With that, I'm gonna defer to Angie Stalins to, to explain this. And thank you a lot. A lot of work has been done, but we, we really wanted to make sure we addressed any and all concerns that we could think of.

  ▶ Watch at 2:55:24

• S.B. 82 Securities Investor Education, Training, and Enforcement Fund Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Introduced SB 82 to raise the cap on the Securities Investor Education, Training, and Enforcement Fund, noting the fund receives money from lawsuits, and turned the presentation over to Robert Cummings.

  Read what they said

  Thank, we have a very riveting bill. I dunno if that's turned on or not. I might just turned it off. You can hear me Well, I can't turn it on. I have no technology here for turning on. Well, I'm just gonna go through it, seat it to my, the top really well, seated to my left is Robert, um, Cummings. He's from the Department of Commerce. He's gonna explain the bill, but it is just like it says, we're increasing the cap on the security investor education, training, and enforcement fund. We get some of these funds through lawsuits, and when we have class action lawsuits, money comes in. The concern that we have right now, um, at …

  ▶ Watch at 35:36

• S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves to replace the bill with the first substitute.

  Read what they said

  Have. So right now we need to move, uh, delete tile and body and move, uh, first substitute Senate bill 100.

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:54

• S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Confirms the motion is limited to the first substitute and asks staff to put a further amendment online if possible.

  Read what they said

  You just stated my motion. You you did a great job on that. Um, and, and, and just to speak to that motion, your, your subsequent ask is, is kind of an amendment, but what, what I'm hoping is our staff can get the second one probably in a substitute and get it online. I don't see it online. I just see the first substitute. So my, my motion's limited to the first substitute, and then hopefully through the course of the presentation, let's, let's get it on the system if it's possible to do that quickly. And, I don't know.

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:12

• S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  States that he will move the verbal amendment and asks that it be stated clearly.

  Read what they said

  It's public notice website. Is it portal? Maybe I could Our, Let's vote a friend, and this is gonna be my motion, Mr. Chair, but, but Adam is going to state it really clearly for me.

  ▶ Watch at 1:06:08

• S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves the verbal amendment, noting that legislative counsel has it ready.

  Read what they said

  I would move, I would move that motion. And I, and a draft attorney has got it dialed in, so it was good.

  ▶ Watch at 1:07:07

• S.B. 100 Federalism Revisions · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves to favorably recommend Senate Bill 100 as substituted and amended.

  Read what they said

  Senator ml. Thank you. Um, good discussion. I'd move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 100 as substituted and amended federal guidance letter amendments.

  ▶ Watch at 1:12:50

• S.B. 155 Unclaimed Property Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves to pass first substitute SB 155 out favorably, says he came in partway through, and describes checking the state unclaimed property website, where his mother has unclaimed funds.

  Read what they said

  This is a motion to approve Senate bill. I just came in halfway through. I read 1 55 first Substitute Senate Bill 1 55. And, uh, if anybody has not looked at this site, you should all look at, it's amazing. Tell, tell 'em the URL if I could. Mr. Chair, can you tell 'em the URL? The URL my cash Do Utah dot gov. There you go. I'm looking right now and I can see that my mother has unclaimed funds and it's actually an exact amount. So I know some don't give the exact amount, but this one actually shows the exact amount, $168 for a home buyer warranty. So there you go.

  ▶ Watch at 1:30:14

• S.B. 153 Election Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Says he shares concern about doxing, supports the bill and its language, and has asked attorneys to look at making misuse of voter data a violation in election code.

  Read what they said

  Necessarily Light it up, I, not necessarily a a question, but I I actually share your concern. I think the doxing is real. That really concerns me. I I've asked some of our attorneys to look at other parts of the code. When that happens, um, I recommend reporting that to law enforcement. That shouldn't happen. Um, it's against the law today, but I, I do think that is a legitimate concern, and I wanna make sure that I put it on the record. I, I support this bill, I support the language. But if anybody is using this voter database to do that, it's against the law today. And we need to be really, really clear about that. Um, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:45:17

• S.B. 153 Election Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation, subject to the sponsor continuing to work on minor changes with the clerks.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I'm ready to make a motion if that's okay. And, and just to clarify the motion, I'm just gonna make a motion to pass this bill out with a favorable recommendation with the understanding, as Senator Johnson has said that he's gonna continue to work on it as it moves forward to, to the Senate, and that there are some minor changes that it sounds like he's working with some of the clerks on. So I'm gonna make the motion subject to that.

  ▶ Watch at 1:57:32

• S.J.R. 4 Joint Resolution Concerning Federal Term Limits · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Asks the presenter to address the constitutional authority for the resolution under Article V.

  Read what they said

  Senator ml. Thank you. And this is probably a Constantine. I, I don't think I've had a chance to, to meet you, but I oftentimes there's opposition to this and, uh, sometimes it goes back to the Constitution itself. And this, this is in the constitution, and I, and I, I'd like you to address the Constitutional authority for, for this action today.

  ▶ Watch at 2:15:28

• S.J.R. 4 Joint Resolution Concerning Federal Term Limits · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Makes a follow-up comment agreeing that Congress is the problem and says he will explain his vote later.

  Read what they said

  Just, just one follow up comment. I I'll say this, when we, we vote on it, and I'll explain my vote, but you hit something that I entirely agree with. Congress is the problem. And, uh, you know, I look forward to talking about it.

  ▶ Watch at 2:17:27

• S.J.R. 4 Joint Resolution Concerning Federal Term Limits · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moves to favorably approve the resolution, saying he supports term limits for Congress and would support reasonable limits for the legislature.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll, I'll make the motion to favorably approve this, this resolution and, and I wanna speak to it. Alright. Um, and, and I'm gonna go on the record today and make it clear that I support term limits for Congress and I would support term limits for the legislature. I don't think the bill in the house right now is reasonable. I think the term is, is way too short. But I would support a reasonable, uh, term, term limit resolution on, on the legislature as well. Um, and that's not because I don't respect my colleagues. We are, we are the number one state. I think we do a great job. But my concern …

  ▶ Watch at 2:42:24

• S.B. 109 Alienation of Affection Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 22, 2026

  Moved to favorably recommend SB 109 as substituted.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you. Um, I move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 1 0 9 as substitute. Um, that's appropriate so that I'm recognizing the motion to approve first substitute SE, Senate Bill 1 0 9 as presented.

  ▶ Watch at 56:30

• S.B. 134 Court Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 22, 2026

  McKell moved to replace the bill with the first substitute and noted Sen. Brammer would offer a further amendment.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, so the motion is going to be to delete body and title Senate bill 1 34 appellate court amendments and replace place Senate bill 1 34 pate court amendments with, with the first substitute, that is the motion. And, and for the committee's reference, Senator Brammer is going to have an amendment to this substitute as well. I see that he is online, but I just wanna signal that So you, you are aware that this will also include an additional amendment, should this committee adopt this substitute? That is my motion.

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:22

• S.B. 134 Court Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 22, 2026

  McKell moved to favorably recommend the first substitute as amended.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, you ready for committee action? Yes. I move that this committee favorably recommend first substitute Senate bill 1 34, which includes the amendment made by Senator Brammer.

  ▶ Watch at 2:26:13

• S.B. 136 Enforcement Activities Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 22, 2026

  Asks what the substitute actually does.

  Read what they said

  I, I just want an explanation of what it, what it actually does. I know you referenced to Bill, but what, what are we actually doing in the substitute?

  ▶ Watch at 2:46:34

• S.B. 136 Enforcement Activities Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Jan 22, 2026

  Says he will not support the bill because it signals non-cooperation with federal law enforcement, contrary to legislation passed two years ago requiring collaboration after the federal government dropped off immigrants in Utah County.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you, chair. W I'm just gonna comment. Um, I, I'm struggling with this bill. Ultimately, I'm not gonna support it, but I, and I know we're not to the voting phase, but I wanna state why I'm not gonna support it and what, what, what's concerned me the most in the back? We have a lot of law enforcement officials, and we actually have my mike, my Utah County sheriff is here, Mike Smith. And two years ago, um, and, and this issue, I, I wish it wasn't political, but it is political. Two years ago, we had a problem in Utah County, and I had a, I had a phone call with, with Sheriff Smith, and he …

  ▶ Watch at 3:02:19

• S.B. 51 School Safety Modifications · Senate Education Committee · Jan 21, 2026

  Moves that the committee favorably recommend SB 51.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, chair Johnson. I move that this committee favorably recommend Senate Bill 51 School safety modifications.

  ▶ Watch at 59:32

• S.B. 51 School Safety Modifications · Senate Education Committee · Jan 21, 2026

  Speaks in support of the bill as a step toward keeping students and school staff safe and as a message that violent threats and weapons at school carry accountability.

  Read what they said

  No, good. You're good. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Committee. I appreciate the motion. We love our, we love our young people, and we're, we wanna do all we can, this is just a, another minor step in the direction, trying to make sure that our schools, our teachers, everyone that is involved with them, um, are safe. And, and that we do send a message too, that it's not okay to make violent threats or bring weapons to school. And, and, uh, there will be some accountability for that. So don't do it. And, uh, this, this is the step in that direction to make sure they stay safe. So, thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:00:08

• S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · Senate Education Committee · Jan 21, 2026

  Moved to favorably recommend first substitute SB 69.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, thank you. So I first substitute Senate Bill 69. I move that we favorably recommend this bill and, and I'll speak to it when we, when we sum, but that's the motion.

  ▶ Watch at 1:26:20

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.