Clinton Okerlund

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026

  Sponsor says the Senate amendments, developed with input from a Sandy representative and others, allow municipalities to temporarily expand congregate shelter bed capacity and change how local tax revenues are distributed, and recommends concurrence.

  Read what they said

  Yes. The Senate amendments are actually house amendments that we got the Senate to do for us once it was over there. So, uh, we should like these, uh, Representative Eliason, uh, from the representative from Sandy, the representative from Provo and who will soon be the homeless services coordinator and I, and, uh, various other organizations, were able to take some of the best parts of representative from Sandy's bill and put it into my bill to make it an extra great bill. Um, it permits municipality at their own discretion to allow a temporary expansion of a congregate shelter's bed capacity, and it changes, um, some provisions relating to a local government's tax revenue distributions. And, uh, recommend …

  ▶ Watch at 1:32:45

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

  Presents HB 409, which would let a teacher or state employee who serves in the Legislature choose between their regular employment and retirement plan or legislative leave pay and retirement, but not both, and says a second substitute would allow people already paid for both to keep that arrangement.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank you. Committee. I was traveling with a fellow legislator over the interim and, uh, talked to him about his job as a school teacher and found that while we're in session, not only is he doing a great job legislating, but he's also correcting papers at night, preparing lesson plans, uh, giving instructions to substitute teachers. And, uh, and then I learned that he, his retirement is put on hold while he does this as a teacher. Uh, he'll have to work probably several years longer in his career because of his legislative service. And it occurred to me that there ought to be a way to, uh, not have his, uh, teacher retirement put …

  ▶ Watch at 33:01

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

  Clarifies that the bill does not allow teachers to be paid twice for legislative service except for people who already have arrangements with their employers to do both, and says the bill aims to avoid penalizing state employees for their service.

  Read what they said

  Uh, thank you very much. I I appreciate the public input on this. Um, I, I I do want to clarify that this does not allow for, uh, somebody who is, is a teacher to also be paid for their legislative service or, or there's no double-dipping in that sense allowed other than, than what's specified in the substitute for those people that are already, uh, have an arrangement with their employer to do both. But, um, it is a service and, and I think probably most of us know how much it's, uh, been a sacrifice to our careers and our families and other people. But this is to try to make it a little less of a pain …

  ▶ Watch at 37:23

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Okerlund introduced the bill, saying it addresses outdoor water use for new municipal and institutional development and does not require removing existing turf or affecting existing residential property.

  Read what they said

  for substitute House Bill 3 28 water usage modification. And I'm gonna Okay. Invite a guest here with me. Alright. We'll pass around your handout for committee members if they want. Great, bill. Thank you. How long Mr. Chair? The Great Salt Lake Basin is experiencing rapid population growth with a limited water supply. This means that we need to be smart about how we use the water that we have available to us. And, uh, a part of that is addressed in this bill, which is, um, our municipal institutional type of, uh, use outside. To be clear, this, this bill does not contemplate ripping out anything. It doesn't, uh, with existing developments. It doesn't, uh, it doesn't touch …

  ▶ Watch at 38:34

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Introduced the bill and turned the presentation over to Steve Hiatt.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Chair and Committee. It strikes me how efficient you are here in this committee, and I, uh, don't want to, uh, ruin your record. So, uh, without further ado, I will introduce you to my friend Steve, and he'll introduce himself.

  ▶ Watch at 1:09:43

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 3, 2026

  Commented that the bill creates a law he would have assumed already existed in this form.

  Read what they said

  Uh, I'll make the comment that this, uh, this, this creates the law that I would've assumed that it existed, uh, in this form already had I, I not been told otherwise. So with that, I'll we'll take questions. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 1:11:05

• H.B. 581 Autonomous Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Asked whether the second substitute would remove the roughly $2 million fiscal note tied to the fund.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, looking at the fiscal note, if we move the second substitute, does it get rid of that 2 million or so of That's right. This. Okay. Thank you. Uh, could you, uh, could you ask that question again? I didn't hear that it's, Yeah. So I was looking at the fiscal note, it's just over $2 million and, uh, a lot of that is the fund that I, I thought the representative had said was going to be removed when he adopts a second substitute On the floor. So,

  ▶ Watch at 32:11

• H.B. 581 Autonomous Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Moved to pass H.B. 581 first substitute out favorably.

  Read what they said

  I move that we, uh, do we need to adopt this sub? No, I move that we adopt HB 5 81 first sub. You mean pass out? Pass out. Sorry. Pass out HB 5 81 favorably.

  ▶ Watch at 44:40

• H.B. 581 Autonomous Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026

  Said he would support the bill here and on the floor if the sponsor commits to removing the GOEO language.

  Read what they said

  it sounds like if you're gonna make a commitment to, uh, taking that language out, I think you're gonna get support and I'll support it here and on the floor. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 49:43

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026

  Presents H.B. 308, which makes the state homeless coordinator a governor appointee, refines the office's duties and boards, and requires an annual budget and statewide strategic plan.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Um, house Bill 3 0 8, uh, updates and clarifies the structure, authority and accountability for the Utah Office of Homeless Services. It makes the state homeless coordinator a direct appointee of the governor, uh, who would serve as the chief administrative o officer of the office and an advisor to the governor on homelessness issues. It also refines the duties of the office, the coordinator, and the homeless service board and related advisory boards to strengthen statewide coordination and oversight. It requires an annual comprehensive homeless service budget and a statewide strategic plan with specific goals and measurable benchmarks. With that, uh, Mr. President pro tem, I will yield any questions?

  ▶ Watch at 57:58

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Moves to adopt the first substitute to H.B. 409 and says the substitute makes clear that double-dipping is not allowed.

  Read what they said

  Mr. Speaker Pro Tim, I move to adopt the first substitute Motion is still first substitute house bill 4 0 9. We'd like to speak to it. Yes. Um, it was always the intention to make it clear that this does not allow for double dipping if you choose to. Uh, and it'll be explained later. The double dipping was never, never meant to be allowed. However, after committee, if I looked at this exactly the right way, I could see that maybe that language was unclear. This makes it very clear that double-dipping is not allowed.

  ▶ Watch at 38:15

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Says the bill makes clear that double-dipping is not allowed, because the earlier language after committee was unclear.

  Read what they said

  4 0 9. We'd like to speak to it. Yes. Um, it was always the intention to make it clear that this does not allow for double dipping if you choose to. Uh, and it'll be explained later. The double dipping was never, never meant to be allowed. However, after committee, if I looked at this exactly the right way, I could see that maybe that language was unclear. This makes it very clear that double-dipping is not allowed.

  ▶ Watch at 38:22

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Says the bill lets teachers and state employees who become legislators keep their existing salary and benefits or move to legislative benefits, but not both.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker. I was traveling one time with a, a member of our body who is also a school teacher. And the conversation eventually led to how do you do it and how do you be a school teacher and how do you, uh, be, be a legislator. And the answer, uh, saddened and concerned me because, uh, the answer was I go home. I grade papers, I prepare lesson plans, I prepare for the substitute teachers to be able to cover my material, and then I get to work on my legislative duties. And, uh, it it, and it sounded like a lot. And then I learned, uh, that in addition to the extra work, uh, by …

  ▶ Watch at 39:08

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Explains that the bill lets teachers and state employees keep their current benefits and salary or move to legislative benefits, but not both, and says this protects their retirement accrual.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker. I was traveling one time with a, a member of our body who is also a school teacher. And the conversation eventually led to how do you do it and how do you be a school teacher and how do you, uh, be, be a legislator. And the answer, uh, saddened and concerned me because, uh, the answer was I go home. I grade papers, I prepare lesson plans, I prepare for the substitute teachers to be able to cover my material, and then I get to work on my legislative duties. And, uh, it it, and it sounded like a lot. And then I learned, uh, that in addition to the extra work, uh, by …

  ▶ Watch at 39:08

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Answers that the bill covers only benefits and that any difference in benefit levels would be reimbursed by the legislature.

  Read what they said

  So it allows the mr speaker, it allows the, uh, employee to stay on their current salary with their current benefits without, um, without having to transition over. And if there is a true up between that level of benefits and, uh, what's provided by the legislature, this, the body, the Senate or the House would reimburse, for example, the LEA for that small differential.

  ▶ Watch at 41:12

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Says the bill lets an employee keep current salary and benefits without transitioning, with the legislature reimbursing any benefit difference.

  Read what they said

  So it allows the mr speaker, it allows the, uh, employee to stay on their current salary with their current benefits without, um, without having to transition over. And if there is a true up between that level of benefits and, uh, what's provided by the legislature, this, the body, the Senate or the House would reimburse, for example, the LEA for that small differential.

  ▶ Watch at 41:12

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Says the legislature can only address benefits for state and school employees, not the private market.

  Read what they said

  If I could legislate that, uh, Mr. Speaker, I would, I would try to, but I don't have any control over the private market. And, uh, I would leave that to you and your expert negotiating skills to deal with your, uh, with your private employer. What is under our purview and my purview as a lawmaker is, uh, what we can do for state and uh, school employees. But I wish you the best of luck.

  ▶ Watch at 41:55

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Says the bill addresses only state and school employees and cannot apply to private-market employers.

  Read what they said

  If I could legislate that, uh, Mr. Speaker, I would, I would try to, but I don't have any control over the private market. And, uh, I would leave that to you and your expert negotiating skills to deal with your, uh, with your private employer. What is under our purview and my purview as a lawmaker is, uh, what we can do for state and uh, school employees. But I wish you the best of luck.

  ▶ Watch at 41:55

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Summarizes the bill, saying teachers on unpaid leave extend the time they need to qualify for full teacher benefits.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to commend, uh, our servants here in this body, especially those that do so at great personal sacrifice. I appreciate that, uh, that for some of us it's not only, uh, the time and energy that we put into this, but it's a financial sacrifice as well. Uh, to my colleague from Utah County, I would say my understanding of the, um, of the educator benefit is that by putting themselves on unpaid leave, they actually do extend the amount of time that they have to be a teacher in order to qualify for a full benefit as a teacher. And that's, uh, that is the primary benefit of this bill. And …

  ▶ Watch at 47:38

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026

  Summarizes that the bill lets educators and state employees extend their service to qualify for full benefits and calls it a tribute to them.

  Read what they said

  Thank, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to commend, uh, our servants here in this body, especially those that do so at great personal sacrifice. I appreciate that, uh, that for some of us it's not only, uh, the time and energy that we put into this, but it's a financial sacrifice as well. Uh, to my colleague from Utah County, I would say my understanding of the, um, of the educator benefit is that by putting themselves on unpaid leave, they actually do extend the amount of time that they have to be a teacher in order to qualify for a full benefit as a teacher. And that's, uh, that is the primary benefit of this bill. And …

  ▶ Watch at 47:38

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026

  Presents the bill, saying it prohibits taking part in animal fighting, including dog fighting, and possessing related paraphernalia, and that paraphernalia used for training or torturing animals would create a prima facie case for a crime.

  Read what they said

  Thank you for your patience, Mr. Speaker. This bill prohibits, uh, participating in and, uh, having paraphernalia related to, related to animal fighting that's generally foul fighting and dog fighting. Um, it creates a prima face, um, argument that if you have paraphernalia related to, um, to training or torturing or, uh, creating violence between animals, that that would, uh, that that would become a crime. And I don't know what kind of questions I'm gonna get, so I will open myself up to those questions. Thank you. Uh,

  ▶ Watch at 1:37:10

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026

  Says he would like a colleague to offer the amendments on his behalf.

  Read what they said

  Yes. I would love to have a friend amend that for me. Thank you. Mind moving my,

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:09

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Makes informal remarks to a committee member and asks for committee votes before presenting the bill. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Um, Senator Erlin, I just get upgraded Or Representative Erland? I, yes. Uh, I do need your votes. I'll, I'll say whatever I need to say to to, to flatter you and now you're leaving, so.

  ▶ Watch at 1:28:47

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Introduces Nick Coleman as interim state homeless coordinator and says the bill lays groundwork for the coordinator's office.

  Read what they said

  Well, thank you Madam Chair and Committee. Uh, appreciate the chance to be here. Uh, in the interest of time, I won't do much grandstanding, I think because I have a, a rock star of a, of a guest here with me. Uh, this is Nick Coleman. He is the interim coordinator in the state for homeless services. And, uh, this bill directly impacts the office that he and, uh, future coordinator, Representative Clancy, uh, will be, will be entering into. The purpose of this bill is to lay the groundwork for success for, for when these, uh, um, for when these servants are, are installed and, and hard at work. And with that, I will, uh, turn my time …

  ▶ Watch at 1:29:05

• H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026

  Says the bill returns management of irrigation companies to the companies and that Chew's concern is addressed in the bill. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Ms. Thank you. There we go. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Uh, in listening to Representative Chu's comments, uh, this, I do this all the time, and I don't think the concern is your, your concern is not that big a deal. I think it's addressed in here. One thing that the only, the company that I run, and the ones that we have, the only limitation is by source. So I have some places in Midway, for example, that are high enough that one source will feed 'em, and I can't transfer water from some other source up to it, obviously, for, for reasons of, of it just won't flow there. And that's the only limitation. And if somebody …

  ▶ Watch at 47:08

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Presented HB 409, saying it would let state employees and educators who serve in the Legislature choose to keep their employer retirement and benefits, with the Legislature reimbursing the difference.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Go ahead. You Ready for me to start? We're ready anytime you want. This summer, I found myself on a long journey with one of our fellow legislators who happens to be a school teacher. And we, the topic came up what a sacrifice it can be to be a school teacher and a legislator at the same time. And, uh, one of the reasons that, one, it's hard is because, uh, you end up putting your retirement on hold. That accrual that happens, uh, as you're, when you're a school teacher, so that you can then transfer to legislative leave. And, uh, as a result of that, you end up having to teach …

  ▶ Watch at 1:11:51

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Said the bill does not allow double pay, that a person must choose one or the other, and that the LEA would set up a reimbursement process.

  Read what they said

  If, uh, if I understand your question right, I can tell you that it does not grant any double dipping. For example, you have to pick one or the other. The LEA is responsible for coming up with the process if you have, and, and there aren't a lot of LEAs that are gonna have a legislator in their midst. Right. But they are responsible for coming up with a program to submit a reimbursement request to the state. If, if they choose to do that, and they don't have to choose to do that, they can just take that small differential and eat it themselves if they choose to.

  ▶ Watch at 1:14:45

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Said the reimbursement is only the difference between employment benefits and legislative benefits, and only if requested.

  Read what they said

  It's not in addition to their pay. It would be, uh, it would be the differential between what the, what their employment benefit is and what the legislative benefit is. And because generally speaking, the reason this this bill works is because there's a little higher benefit to staying with your employment be, uh, benefits. Um, it would just be that differential that gets reimbursed if it's requested.

  ▶ Watch at 1:15:33

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Gave his understanding that employees stay on payroll with deductions and the differential is trued up at the end.

  Read what they said

  I may have a friend that's that's come in, I can't tell. Oh, I do. But I'll, I'll give you what I think the answer is. And then, uh, uh, Christine here, um, helped draft this and was in charge of making sure that we complied with all the, the, uh, other laws. What I think the answer is, and, and maybe I'll be wrong and, and learn something, but I think that that scenario is not going to have to happen because I think they stay on their employment payroll with the deductions throughout the, their service and the legislature, and then it's just a truing up of the differential at the end. Does that sound right?

  ▶ Watch at 1:17:01

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Agreed with the description of the choice between pay sources. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Correct. I'm, I'm more confused now than I was when I was explaining it, but

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:32

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Explained that federal law prevents retirement accrual when a person is not being paid by that employer. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Yes. And, and the problem with, with not, uh, what, why we lose retirement in our system and have to teach longer or work longer for the state, is because under federal laws, you can't re accrue retirement in a place that you're not getting paid at. Correct. That,

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:52

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Confirmed the choice and said federal law made the bill complicated, with staff finding a simple solution.

  Read what they said

  That's, that's correct. Okay. That, that federal law portion made this very complicated. And our, our staff did a great job of figuring a simple solution, uh, that made this a short bill and, and an easy fix.

  ▶ Watch at 1:20:10

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Said the bill is fair given the extra work of state employees and teachers, and that private employees' support from employers varies.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Well, here, here's what I would say. I think based on the extra work that a state employer or a teacher does, uh, in my experience from, from having heard the, the war stories, um, I think this makes it fair for a, a state employee or a teacher, um, irrespective of whatever your situation might be or my situation. And, uh, uh, some state or some, some private employed people will have various levels of support from their employers. And, uh, it doesn't really factor into this bill. You just need to negotiate better with your employer.

  ▶ Watch at 1:21:08

• H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Thanked colleagues for their support, said teachers and other state employees add value to the Legislature, and asked for support of the bill.

  Read what they said

  Yes. Thank, thank you so much. I appreciate the support. Um, I echo what Ms. Moser said. Um, I haven't met her and I, I am grateful that she chimed in, but I do think that our citizen legislature is better off for having school teachers. Uh, they under education is such an important, uh, aspect of what we're doing here. I think about two thirds of our budget goes to education. Um, a lot of our time and energy goes to towards making sure that our kids are getting the education that they deserve and that our teachers are taken care of. And, uh, it's, it's one of our most important pieces of infrastructure. And also, uh, I think …

  ▶ Watch at 1:28:37

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Introduces HB 341, thanks the committee, and turns the presentation to Steve Hiatt.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, This committee is way more fun than Reverend Tax, I'll tell you that. We don't have good stories and, uh, it makes me feel sad that I don't have more fun. This is a good committee. This is a great committee. I'm gonna turn, uh, well, first of all, I'm gonna warn you that we're gonna be speaking to the Second Amendment on this, and, uh, we, the time comes, I'd love you to adopt that. And, uh, I'm going to now turn the time over to my friend Steve. He'll introduce himself and I'm going to encourage him to incorporate Representative Koford somehow into, uh, into his explanation of the bill. Wow. That is, …

  ▶ Watch at 47:25

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Says Steve Hiatt will explain the amendment, which specifies that the protected activity is fighting inside the state rather than husbandry.

  Read what they said

  Well, um, I, I think, I think I'll let Steve do it, but my understanding is that most of why we are adopting Amendment two is to make sure that it's protecting, um, it's specifying that it's fighting that happens inside the state and not necessarily the husbandry of the animals inside the state.

  ▶ Watch at 51:37

• H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026

  Gives closing summation and thanks the committee for its questions.

  Read what they said

  Uh, just thank you very much for hearing this out, for your good questions. And if, uh, Representative Koford ever decides to become a, a, a police woman, she would, uh, be an excellent, uh, person to have, uh, on the case.

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:28

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Presents the substitute H.B. 328, which limits overhead irrigation spray on non-functional turf in new commercial, industrial and institutional developments in the Great Salt Lake basin, leaves residential and existing sites unchanged, lets local governments decide whether to enforce it, and defines non-functional turf.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill limits the use of overhead irrigation spray in certain key, uh, circumstances on non-functional turf. And I'll describe what those circumstances are so that you know also what those circumstances are. Not now. It would be for new commercial, industrial and, uh, institutional, uh, developments in the Great Salt Lake basin. So this does not touch residential, it doesn't touch existing, doesn't require any rip out of existing sprinklers. It just requires on new, um, on new developments that, uh, notification be given by the county or city that the standard is in place. And then I've worked, it was never my intention to have this be, um, mandated by the local government, but …

  ▶ Watch at 49:08

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026

  Gives closing remarks citing support from the Water Task Force, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Division of Water Resources, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and other stakeholders, and asks for the House's support.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, we've got a lot of support from the Water Task Force on this. The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Division of Water Resources, uh, like I said, Utah City leagues and towns, U-A-C-D-N-R, division of Water Resources and, uh, and various other, uh, stakeholders. So I appreciate your support in this.

  ▶ Watch at 50:48

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked whether DLD has taken a position on the bill.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, couple of questions here. You said that DLD is aware, have they indicated their opinion or stance on this?

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:33

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked whether the materials are physical or digital and ready to give to parents.

  Read what they said

  My next question is about those materials. Um, it looked like in the bill that it was a link you could click on or have access to. Are there physical materials? Is it digital, is it both? And are those in their current form ready to give to parents or do, do they need to have new websites established or, or can you enlighten me on that?

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:10

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked whether there is follow-up certification at testing that the declared school or instructor provided the training.

  Read what they said

  Okay. And, uh, final question, and this might have been answered and I just didn't understand it, but if I were to check one of the two boxes now either the school's going to teach my kid or a private instructor is gonna teach my kid, is there not a follow up at the time of the test or when you're receiving it that shows either a certification from, from one of those two bodies that, that um, they did what they said that they were gonna do?

  ▶ Watch at 1:05:18

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked Audra Urie whether the existing parent resources are adequate.

  Read what they said

  Thank Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, I'd address this to Audra, I think, um, do you agree that the parent resources that are available as described by the sponsor are adequate knowing what you know?

  ▶ Watch at 1:14:51

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked the sponsor whether the bill requires new curriculum or relies on existing resources plus the test and required hours.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Audra, Just as a follow up question. Sorry, representative, does your, does your bill require a new set of curriculum to be created? No. Or does it just say, just leverage the existing resources so long as you pass the test? The test is, that's right. That's sufficient to say that you know how to drive and if you can pass it and you hit the hours, you're good. And here's the resources. Use those.

  ▶ Watch at 1:16:13

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said the discussion highlighted problems with the driving test and the idea of free district driver's ed, and asked if the sponsor would add those to the bill.

  Read what they said

  Yeah. Thank you. This conversation to me has me no more excited or or against this bill as it does helping me realize that we should probably be looking as soon as we can at taking action on the insufficiency of the test. And the idea that everybody should be able to take this through the school district, uh, for free, uh, at some point. And I know that's not this bill, but, um, I would be curious to know if you wanted to try to throw this into your bill.

  ▶ Watch at 1:57:09

• H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026

  Said test changes may need separate legislation and that the current test checks mechanics without showing whether drivers are ready for real conditions.

  Read what they said

  It may be, sorry, Go ahead. It, it may be legislation for another bill, but, um, I feel like I've learned a lot today and, and I appreciated the analogy of maybe you need both. I was thinking, you know, you can teach your kid to play, uh, basketball by having him shoot baskets and learn layups and dribbling, but it's not the same as playing in a game. And right now it sounds like we've got a, a test that, that just tests whether they can do the mechanics of it without actually putting them into the game to see if They're game ready. So.

  ▶ Watch at 1:58:07

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026

  Presents H.B. 308, which places the Homeless Services office under the Department of Workforce Services, designates the coordinator as chief administrative officer, defines functional zero homelessness, and says it saves about $45,000 a year, then opens the floor to questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill lays the groundwork for success for when our friend, the incoming Homeless Services coordinator, assumes his office in a few weeks after this session, uh, I've checked with Ledge Research and voting No on this. Bill does not keep the good representative from Provo in our body. So, uh, just wanted to clear that up. This bill makes the office more responsive to Homeless Services providers by, uh, eliminating redundant reporting. It streamlines the office by placing it under the Department of Workforce Services and it designates, uh, the coordinator as the Chief Administrative Officer, which helps with administrative tasks and contracting. It also, uh, is a part of the Governor's Grit Initiative. It …

  ▶ Watch at 33:47

• H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked what the rate of nicotine and tobacco use is among minors.

  Read what they said

  Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, three part question. One is, we saw a chart that had marijuana vapes, alcohol usage on their even suicide. Uh, what's the rate of nicotine slash tobacco use amongst miners? Do we know that?

  ▶ Watch at 1:03:23

• H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked what the tax on a can of nicotine pouches would be under the bill.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Uh, thank you. Second question. Uh, you did a good job of it doing the math for us on $2 a pack for, for the cigarettes. What does a 10 of Zs, what, what would the tax on that be?

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:29

• H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund asked how these products are reaching children.

  Read what they said

  Okay, thank you. And Mr. Chair, last question. How are these products ending up in the hands of children? Like, is it, are they able to sneak into a store and it's not being enforced where they can buy it? Or is this another case where adults are buying the products for them?

  ▶ Watch at 1:06:21

• H.B. 337 Nicotine Product Tax Amendments · House Revenue and Taxation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Rep. Okerlund said the rate is too far above neighboring states, but that if stakeholders fail to negotiate in good faith it would influence his future vote.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I also have some concerns about the rate. And when I heard you come in here and first give your presentation, it sounded like the numbers that you'd put forward were a placeholder with some flexibility if somebody came and worked with you on a, on a proposal. And then I heard other people act like they were willing to play ball there too. So I am concerned that the rate where it is now is so high above neighboring states that it might not, it, it's outside the Goldilocks zone where it would actually influence the, the behavior the way that you are hoping to do, which I support. And I think it's the best part of …

  ▶ Watch at 2:06:01

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Asked what the default is if a consumer does not know their policy type and whether they would have a say in whether OEM parts are used.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. And this, I, I don't know who wants to answer this question, but, uh, it might might be the sponsor. I had a case of friendly fire in my driveway a while ago where someone backed into one of our own cars and not wanting to deal with the insurance on it. I Uintah a body shop and they gave me a series of options on this would be the cost if it were OEM parts to replace it, and this would be the quality differential and this would be what it cost to, to, to do it very various different ways and as sometimes happens with insurance in healthcare and other places. Um, the insurance factor kind …

  ▶ Watch at 49:55

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Clarified he was asking whether a consumer could pay more out of pocket to get the parts they want.

  Read what they said

  Sure. And I guess where I'm going with this question is if, if the default would be that they use parts that I don't want them to use, do I have an option as a, as a consumer to offer to pay more out of pocket or, or to get the parts that, that I want, if it's worth the price that they, that the price differential, I guess. Does that make sense? Yes. Okay. Thank you.

  ▶ Watch at 51:35

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Confirmed that the default is that part choice is at the insurer's discretion.

  Read what they said

  If I don't know that I've paid extra for OEM parts, the default is that they, they tell me that they're, it's at their discretion,

  ▶ Watch at 52:34

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Asked whether the bill would supersede existing insurance contracts.

  Read what they said

  Okay. Thank you very much. So, So I guess then the short answer is you wouldn't know. So with this bill, would that, um, supersede those, uh, contracts then with your insurance?

  ▶ Watch at 52:51

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Asked the sponsor what the price difference was between OEM and non-OEM policies for his vehicle.

  Read what they said

  Sorry. Hi, me again. Uh, this is, uh, just an opportunity for me to learn something. While we've got experts in the room. You had the option sponsor to purchase an OEM or non OEM policy. Were you able to price compare those two policies and can you tell me what that differential is on a 2005 Toyota Sequoia?

  ▶ Watch at 1:07:09

• H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026

  Supported the amendment, saying differentiated products and existing remedies exist but the bill still helps consumers understand what they buy.

  Read what they said

  Uh, I'll support that. And if I can just quickly say why I think this is important. I had three questions going into this. The first was, are there differentiated pro products for consumers who want different levels of, of coverage? And the answer seems to be, yes, you could buy a rider or buy a policy that is obviously covering one or the other. Are there existing remedies for consumers who feel like they didn't get the coverage and in service that they, that they paid for? I believe between consumer protection and insurance, uh, protection that exists. So the third and final question that I had was, do consumers understand what they're buying at the time that they …

  ▶ Watch at 1:40:00

• S.B. 191 Tow Yard Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026

  Moves to adopt amendment number one.

  Read what they said

  Sorry about that. I'm not doing this right. I'd like to adopt, uh, I move that we adopt the First amendment.

  ▶ Watch at 2:21:02

• S.B. 191 Tow Yard Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026

  Moves to recommend the substitute favorably as amended.

  Read what they said

  I move that we adopt the first sub. No, First sub's already been first sub. All We had to do is adopt the amended. I I move that we just, uh, go ahead and recommend this favorably then.

  ▶ Watch at 2:21:38

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Joked about requesting an amendment for air conditioning in the meeting room.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. It's been fun. Uh, I'd like to add an amendment that we, uh, get some appropriation for air conditioning in this, uh, room control, Though.

  ▶ Watch at 2:00:26

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Presented HB 328 as a refiling with changes, including a definition of non-functional turf and a limit on overhead spray irrigation in new commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family construction, and said it does not address residential or existing development.

  Read what they said

  If that'll help. So, uh, I, I'm here today with Joel Williams from, uh, he's the acting director of the, uh, uh, division of Water Resources. Did I get that right? And, uh, we'll be co-presenting HB 3 28 first sub. Now this, uh, this is a numerical oddity. It's a, it's essentially a refiling of HB 3 28 from last year with some modifications. I thought that maybe that was just the way it was done, is that if it's a refile, it keeps its number. But Director Joel Ferry told me this is a unicorn, and you're all should be honored to be listening to, uh, a refile that has the matching words. Um, you do have a …

  ▶ Watch at 2:00:40

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  Said the bill requires cities and counties to notify developers of standards, that enforcement is optional for local governments, and invited questions.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. Right. Um, I'll, I'll continue on. One point that I was supposed to make and didn't, which is that the bill mandates certain notification. In other words, it requires cities and counties to notify developers of the standards that we're asking to approve. Uh, although enforcement, um, in this first sub, it's made clear it was originally maybe not as clear in the first sub. It's made clear enforcement re remains optional for local governments. And with that, I, uh, I'll take questions.

  ▶ Watch at 2:05:47

• H.B. 328 Water Usage Modifications · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 6, 2026

  In summation, said he is not attached to the term non-functional turf, that the bill is not anti-turf, and that underground emitters can be more efficient than overhead spray on some grass areas.

  Read what they said

  Okay, great. I wanted to answer your question and others. First of all, I'm not married to the name of non-functional turf. It's consistent with what's been identified in other municipal codes and states that surround us. Um, it's been identified that maybe that hurts, uh, that it's biased against turf. And, uh, I, I, I've asked my grass and it doesn't care what we call it. So whatever, whatever we, whatever we wanna call it, I will address, uh, Mr. Harris, Mr. Marble and Mr. Harris a little bit that maybe I didn't do a great job of explaining that this is not an anti turf bill. It's not encouraging planting of any particular, um, plants besides turf. It's …

  ▶ Watch at 2:20:26

• H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026

  Moves to adopt Amendment #2 to HB 263 and declines to speak further on the motion.

  Read what they said

  Sorry. Thank you. I move that we adopt first sub HB 2 63 or Amendment, first Amendment, the, Uh, second Amendment. Second Amendment. Okay. The motion is to adopt the second amendment of HB 2 63. Uh, would you like to speak to that motion? Uh, I'll waive. Okay.

  ▶ Watch at 1:19:22

• S.B. 146 Industrial Byproduct Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026

  Said he knows enough to support the bill and will vote yes.

  Read what they said

  Yeah, I, I don't have any answers, but I've got enough to know that I support this, so I I'm okay. Voting? Yes.

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:19

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Introduced the bill, which aims to make the Office of Homeless Services more responsive and streamline reporting, and introduced Nick Coleman to explain it.

  Read what they said

  Uh, so, uh, today I have with me Nick Coleman. He is the interim state coordinator for the Utah Office of Homeless Services. And, uh, I'll just give you a brief overview of what we're gonna look at today. It's, uh, uh, it's almost time for our, uh, friend Representative Clancy to take a new position as the coordinator for this organization. And, uh, one of the things that this build helps to do is set up the chess pieces so that he, uh, is set up for success, uh, when he takes that role much in the same way that, uh, Nick has been running the organization successfully. So, um, in the interest of time, I think I'll, I'm, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:21:30

• H.B. 308 Homeless Services Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Waived comment on the motion.

  Read what they said

  Oh, I'm not gonna mess this up. No way. They can't be wrong. Thank you. I wave after that. Maybe I just messed it up. I don't know.

  ▶ Watch at 1:38:16

• H.J.R. 19 Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation · House Rules Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Presents HJR 19, which would limit bill requests to six per representative and ten per senator, with exclusions, and proposes an amendment letting the rules committee grant additional requests.

  Read what they said

  Thank you so much. I was excited to see that Representative Wilcox wasn't sure which of his bills he was presenting on, which I think, uh, maybe makes a little bit of my point here, but Representatives floor time and time here in the House of Representatives and in the Senate in the legislature is a precious finite public good that needs to be respected and used wisely, uh, for the good of our Utah citizens. I, I, I'm not the only one that knows that this is sometimes a problem. If we, if we look at our energy problems in this state, we, we sometimes talk about base load. Um, and in a 45 day session with the staff …

  ▶ Watch at 55:03

• H.J.R. 19 Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation · House Rules Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Says the proposal limits the number of numbered bills, that abandoned requests before numbering would not count, and asks staff to confirm the drafting.

  Read what they said

  Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um, yeah. Uh, so as far as legislative process goes, like somebody calls you, right? And you, you, um, decide whether or not that's something you should open a file for, whether you need to have all the conversations run through that, and by the time something's filed, oftentimes, I mean, you don't know, right? You don't know if ultimately that's gonna be something you run, is your proposal. Would that limit, uh, the ability to open a file? As I read it, it seems like it would, My intention, and I, I, I guess maybe I don't know the terminology well enough. My intention would, would be that you can number, uh, the specified number of …

  ▶ Watch at 1:02:08

• H.J.R. 19 Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation · House Rules Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  Says he has no statistics on single-subject rules, that the bill does not address bill combining, and that restraint is left to legislators.

  Read what they said

  I don't have any statistics on this, and my bill wouldn't contemplate trying to control the, um, the manipulation of this process by combining multiple, uh, topics. I would leave that to the, uh, self restraint of the, of the, of, of the legislator to do what I think we've done a good job at in the past. And what, um, and what you all have identified in the past as, uh, is this single subject or is this not? And, uh, I, I don't intend to try to hold hands in every step of this process. I, I only intend to, uh, to place a rule where, um, the benefit can be manifest.

  ▶ Watch at 1:04:45

• H.J.R. 19 Joint Rules Resolution - Requests for Legislation · House Rules Committee · Feb 4, 2026

  In closing, says he disagrees that the bill demonizes legislators, that 750 bills is a workable target, that he is running five unrelated bills, and that he would consider ways to raise caps or add carve-outs.

  Read what they said

  Thank you. I appreciate that feedback. I, I value it. I think it's, uh, I, I think your perspectives, especially those of you that have been doing this for a long time and, uh, and run a lot of bills, you know, have obviously have that perspective. I, I fundamentally disagree with some of the assertions that we're demonizing, uh, legislation. Um, it's not that, it's that I think that if, if your intention is to solve problems, then it can be done, uh, with 750 bills or, or so as a target, or if it's important, I think it would reduce, uh, performative legislation. I think it would, uh, require us to ex exert some restraint on. But I'll, …

  ▶ Watch at 1:18:37

• H.B. 118 Driver Training Schools for Commercial Driver License Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026

  Asks whether the English attestation form is written in languages other than English.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I feel like this is a strange question, but Okay. The, the form that they're attesting to that they speak English, is it written in more languages than English or are they reading an English form to

  ▶ Watch at 19:25

• H.B. 118 Driver Training Schools for Commercial Driver License Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026

  Asks whether there have been accidents or mistakes by people who did not pass a test.

  Read what they said

  Uh, follow up question. Has, um, have there been any accidents or has there been a, a number of people that have made mistakes because they haven't passed a a test?

  ▶ Watch at 20:39

• H.B. 118 Driver Training Schools for Commercial Driver License Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026

  Says the bill is intended to help protect people from being scammed after paying for training, and states support for the bill.

  Read what they said

  Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I remember some of the conversation we had on this bill last year, and it, it was framed in some cases as being a bill that was punitive to people who weren't proficient in speaking English. But my recollection of the intention behind the bill and, uh, and, and the end result of what this bill will do is that it will actually, um, potentially help people from being, um, scammed, being taken advantage of. Mm-hmm. Because they don't speak English and, uh, they may not find that out until after they've paid thousands of dollars to get the training that they paid for. Correct. Thank you. So with that, I, I support this and …

  ▶ Watch at 24:52

• H.B. 51 Adoption Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Expressed support for the motion and thanked the sponsor for working through concerns. · speaker not certain

  Read what they said

  Thank you Madam Chair. Um, I would support that motion and I also wanted to, uh, recognize that I have had a lot of concerns along the way and I am grateful for the bill sponsor for working through those and finding a really great path forward. So I appreciate that. And I think this is gonna do a lot of good. So thank you very much.

  ▶ Watch at 35:27

• H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Moved to pass HB 128 out favorably and said the amendment should be adopted first, then moved to adopt the first amendment.

  Read what they said

  I move that we pass out favorably. HB 1 28. Um, I think we need to adopt the amendment first. Oh, I didn't see that. I move that We adopt the first amendment Opposed amendment, I guess. Move. Thank you. That

  ▶ Watch at 1:07:48

• H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Asked what happens to a driver after the vehicle is impounded, such as going to jail or calling for a ride.

  Read what they said

  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd just like to point out that opening a new bill is almost never the right answer, but maybe in this case You'd be supportive too, huh? All right. Uh, thanks. And, and I had this question earlier, and I'm not, and I was listening to the discussion, but if somebody, if, if someone's vehicle is impounded and you, there's several things, either they're, uh, taken to jail because of the infra, because of the situation, or they call somebody to get a ride, I guess they could jump in with the tow truck driver and go that way. I don't know if that's,

  ▶ Watch at 1:46:54

• H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026

  Asked whether officers can choose not to impound if safety would be jeopardized.

  Read what they said

  And they give 'em a ride. Okay. So they can, and if the officer feels like none of those are gonna work, and, and it could jeopardize the safety of the people, then that officer has the discretion to say, I'm not gonna impound the car. But there's other,

  ▶ Watch at 1:47:37

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