Legislators / Doug Owens
Doug Owens
Democrat · House District 33 · Minority Caucus Manager
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Doug Owens
- Email: dougowens@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 385-499-3761
- Office: PO Box 91072, Millcreek, UT, 84109
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Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Doug Owens serves on:
- Executive Appropriations Committee
- Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
- House Ethics Committee
- House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee
- Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee
- Legislative Management Committee
- Native American Legislative Liaison Committee
- Legislative Water Development Commission
What they've said
155 remarks on 51 billsH.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Owens moves to concur with the Senate amendments and says the substitute adds a coordinating clause and a clause so the bill does not cover small farmers' irrigation system electrification.
▶ Watch at 25:15Read what they said
To Concur and Senate Amendments. That motion is in other, would like to speak to it briefly. It's, uh, added a coordinating clause and another clause to make sure we weren't accidentally covering small farmers, uh, electrifying their irrigation systems. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 565 City Library Property Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Asks to make an announcement and to request a personal privilege; the captions are too garbled to tell the details.
▶ Watch at 14:20Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, I wanted to announce, uh, would you like The personal Privilege? Wife, cousin? Would you like
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Moves to concur with the Senate amendments to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:23:03Read what they said
Representative Owens. Thank you Mr. Mr. Speaker motion to concur and sent with the Senate amendments.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the amendment clarifies that a business that owns a vehicle can still track that vehicle when an employee is driving it.
▶ Watch at 1:23:10Read what they said
Briefly. The this amendment, uh, clarifies that a business that owns a vehicle can still track that vehicle even though it's being driven by an employee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
S.B. 292 Autonomous Systems Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked about the rebuttable presumption for systems meeting federal standards, appreciated the sunset, and asked why non-economic damages are capped for autonomous vehicles when other motor vehicle cases are not.
▶ Watch at 40:16Read what they said
Next. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I appreciate the Sunset. 'cause I think this is to some extent, uncharted territory. It's interesting, I was in a couple cities over the summer that had these vehicles in 'em, and it's quite odd to see a whole line of 'em at a traffic light with no drivers when you're not used to that. Anyway, I, I think it's coming. It's generally a good idea. I wonder at a couple things, there's the rebuttable presumption that if it meets federal, applicable federal standards, that it's a safe vehicle. I worry a little bit about that presumption shifting. I mean, I don't know any, I I, yeah, I guess I, and then maybe just …
S.B. 292 Autonomous Systems Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Said that negligence is hard to show without a human driver, so the caps act as a compromise for product liability claims.
▶ Watch at 42:35Read what they said
I see. Okay. Yeah, that's helpful to get that perspective. And then the, the caps, I would, I would say this in, in that really, when we're looking at liability here, it, it's hard to say that there's negligence. 'cause you're talking about a product liability, you're talking about a computer driving around. And so you don't have a person where you can say they were negligently in this lane, or they, they ran a red light or something like that. And so you would have to go to product liability. And so it, it's, in my mind, it's a little bit of a compromise saying, we'll allow you to still pursue a traditional tort negligence claim, but because it's …
S.B. 292 Autonomous Systems Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asked whether the non-economic damages cap is essential, said a different amount for injuries from autonomous vehicles than from human-driven ones concerns him, and said he would not support the motion.
▶ Watch at 50:58Read what they said
Mr. Chair. And I appreciate the motion. 'cause I, I like most of this bill, I are you, is the million dollar cap on, uh, non-economic, do you, do you feel like that's an integral part of the bill and you, you wouldn't like a motion to amend that at this point? I guess, yeah. I, I would resist that motion. It, it is been debated. Some, we have a cap on non-economic damages in the state of Utah for medical malpractice, and that's at four 50. And the bill started out aligned with that at four 50. And so we negotiated some and moved it up to a million. And so I appreciate that. And I'll hold my piece …
S.B. 252 Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to pass the first substitute favorably and says he supports it.
▶ Watch at 1:01:32Read what they said
A motion to pass with favorable recommendation. Um, I don't have the number at my fingertips, I'm sorry. Uh, for substitute 2 52. That one. Uh, Mike? That one? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Um, that motion is in order. Would you like to speak to that motion? It seems eminently sensible and I support it. Great. Um, further discussion to the motion, which is de favorably. Recommend first substitute SB 2 52. Seeing none will go to the sponsor. I'll waive. Thank you.
S.B. 193 State Legal Holiday Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Supports the bill and discusses religious liberty, saying the bill respects religion without the government establishing it.
▶ Watch at 1:29:43Read what they said
you, Mr. Chair. I preface this by saying I support the bill and thank the sponsor, especially for the bill Last year, I thought was a, also a wonderful, uh, um, stroke in the direction of according civility. As Representative Shallenberger mentioned a minute ago that we recognizing other faiths have holidays that they cherish as well. I think that's important for our state to do that. I think I, I just want to even, I do support the bill. I wanted to just, uh, explain maybe a slightly different take on it than maybe has been expressed thus far. The idea of religious liberty. Of course, I think everybody in the legislature, whom I'm acquainted with, uh, takes as …
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Introduces H.B. 494 as a way to distinguish water rights from water shares in litigation and invites Rep. Chew to explain the amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:20:43Read what they said
Thank you, Ms. Chair and Senator Slate. Um, this, uh, bill is about distinguishing an issue that's arisen in litigation that courts sometimes are not good at distinguishing the meaning of a water right from a water share. I want my good friend, the representative from the UN Basin to explain a little bit more. He helped work on an amendment to get some issues clarified and improved, so I'll let him speak Representative.
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Gives deference to the state engineer and Farm Bureau, calls the approach an elegant way to clarify whether shares are tied to land or to an irrigation company, and recommends the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:32:07Read what they said
Um, number one, uh, anytime, uh, Theresa and Warren are here, I give a lot of deference to how they are wanting to handle something. Um, they've, they've got a lifetime of history improving our, uh, water system and, and I appreciate their service to the state. Uh, number two, I think this is a really elegant way to handle it. I think it's an, it's been a matter of confusion in my mind and in spite of the fact that I'm oftentimes involved in litigation or things that touch on water rights, and I'll bring in a water expert re related to it. Um, but the idea of separating out and clarifying whether it's tied to the land or …
S.B. 287 Targeted Advertising Tax · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Owens asked Ms. Peters who the member organizations or funders of her organization are.
▶ Watch at 1:17:59Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chair, Ms. Peters, who are the member organizations or funders of your organization that you represent?
S.B. 248 Child Care Expansion Act · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Says the bill would benefit state employees who commute or relocate to the Wasatch Front, and supports it as a sensible solution for the building.
▶ Watch at 1:42:54Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I hear that response to be, it wasn't aimed at benefiting Salt Lake County, but it's the one solution, or it was the solution that applied here, you know, the building you found. Um, and I would point out it benefits any state employee has the potential to be benefited who might be commuting from other counties or it, or might move to the Wasatch front for a state job. So I see this as a big boost to the morale of our state employees, and I think it's a sensible solution for that building. So I didn't reserve a right to make a motion. So I'll, I'll be anxious to support somebody else who …
H.B. 483 Flower Sales Modifications · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented HB 483, which would let people who may grow flowers on their property also sell them, subject to local licensing, and handed the presentation to the Farm Bureau.
▶ Watch at 2:12:45Read what they said
Representative Owens, uh, house Bill 4 83 flower sales modifications. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Try to help you get back on schedule. This bill simply says if you have a right to grow flowers on your property, you also have a right to sell them subject to getting your local licensing. Uh, and I've got your licensing from your local, uh, municipality. And, and I'll just, uh, turn the presentation now over to the Farm Bureau, Mr. Terry Camp.
H.B. 563 Radon Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks whether an EPA certification already exists for radon remediators.
▶ Watch at 12:45Read what they said
Committee Representative Owens. Thank You, Mr. Chair, and thank Nice see you, Senator. Um, I just, uh, I, you said something quickly, I wanna make sure I understood it. There's already an EPA certification that these remediators have to have, or how did you say something about that?
H.B. 563 Radon Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks Taz Biesinger whether the turf certification was removed so builders no longer need it.
▶ Watch at 32:46Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Bessinger. Thank Mr. Chair. Thank you. Uh, has, for your comments. So the turf creation is just because you builders can do it without the certification now, and and this would have That's correct. Required this correct. So that you're not seeing one particular company that would be eligible or something beyond that.
H.B. 563 Radon Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks whether DOPL or another entity should oversee any future certification requirement.
▶ Watch at 34:12Read what they said
And one little one other follow up. If we were to have a certification requirement, do you think that construction trades licensing, uh, board, or let's see, who is it? Who, who gets the authority? Doppel Dopel. Is that the right entity, or would you want Environment?
H.C.R. 5 House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Supported the goal but objected to the resolution's broad clause on a framework for state operational responsibility over federal land, and said he could not support it in its current form.
▶ Watch at 54:19Read what they said
Mr. Chair. And I, I, uh, Really appreciate all the effort the sponsor's been doing over the last several years pushing for this issue. I think it's really important. There's untapped potential for Utahans to be the state to, to invest in getting Utahans recreating on federal land. So I, I generally love what's going on here. There is a clause in here that I'm troubled by, which is the first therefore clause, which says that we're going to establish a push to establish a framework, allowing the state to assume operational responsibility for federally managed public land in the state. I, I think that's overbroad and it gets us into the, the state versus federal ownership issues. I, I …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presented HB 158, which expands the criminal penalty for placing a tracking device on another person's property without consent, adds civil penalties, and is supported by prosecutors and no known stakeholders opposed.
▶ Watch at 1:57:19Read what they said
So, uh, Senator Vickers, thank you for hearing, uh, the hearing. Me. If you look on Amazon, you can buy four tracking devices like Apple, it, uh, tags, but they're even cheaper. $30 for four of 'em. Um, I mean, you could have bought them and shared them. That would've been courteous. I mean, not, we can't officially ask that, but I appreciate that. 30 bucks. I just am trying to say it's very easily accessible and, Uh, I And they're not the ones that would tell your iPhone that you're being tracked right now? No. Like that? Don't Think so. Okay, go Ahead. I'm not an expert in them. I've never actually purchased them. If I did, it would …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the bill expands coverage to built-in tracking devices in vehicles and explained current law on placing tracking devices in vehicles.
▶ Watch at 2:00:14Read what they said
It, it expands the, uh, coverage for a built-in tracking device in a, in a vehicle. Right now, the law prevents you putting an air tag into someone's vehicle, but this would prevent you using, um, the built-in device if it's not your, uh, consenting adult or family member. So Right now it's already illegal to put a a, an air tag Into an air tag in a car. It's not illegal to put it in a child's backpack or a coat pocket at a,
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the law allows the owner of a vehicle to track that vehicle.
▶ Watch at 2:00:55Read what they said
There is an allowance for that Senator, and you're catching me a little cold. There's an allowance for the owner of the vehicle to track the vehicle.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Described a House amendment letting parents keep tracking children who turn 18 until the child withdraws consent, and letting divorcing people give notice to stop being tracked.
▶ Watch at 2:01:09Read what they said
So, and there was, we did a house amendment to, uh, if your children age out and turn 18, you can keep tracking 'em until they tell you they're not consenting and divorcing people can give notice that they don't want the other person to track. So what I'm tracking on my kids, and they're still 24 and 25 on my phone with The phone. As long as they don't notify you, they don't want you to do it, you're allowed to. Okay.
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presented the bill, which asks the DNR to study wetland regulation after a federal Supreme Court decision and recommend legislation, and said he narrowed it to four Wasatch Front counties after House concerns.
▶ Watch at 48:07Read what they said
Representative Owens Thank you Chair and Senator Vickers. Uh, I know it's late in the session, I'll be brief. This, uh, as y'all know, uh, wetlands are important for hunting interests in the state. In, uh, just a few years ago, the Supreme Court in the SAC versus EPA decision removed federal regulation from intermittent or, or, uh, discontinuous wetlands. And, um, I know that for many that's a good decision. But however you think about that, it has a potential to leave a vacuum in, in regulation on our wetlands. And so this bill just says, let's make sure we don't have a vacuum. Let's not accidentally, um, let that, uh, vacuum develop where we, we actually do may …
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said he is open to changing the timeframe and that the bill aims to avoid a gap in wetland protection after the federal decision.
▶ Watch at 51:09Read what they said
I'm not wedded to that timeframe. That certainly never crossed my mind. It was really, uh, talking to the sportsman when I read the decision about the decision in the newspaper article, got thinking about, well, are we gonna, is this gonna impact our hunting down the road? So the, I don't know. I hadn't thought about that. Um, if, if changing the timeframe would affect your concern, I'd certainly be open to that. Um, I, I don't, I'm not, I'm not sure. It's just the timeframe that concerns me. I'm, I'm, I'm a little concerned that by in statute placing this in, in a study that, uh, that it may sometime in, in, in the future, be held against …
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said he would try to get more information on the timeframe before floor time.
▶ Watch at 53:06Read what they said
Thank you. I'd be happy to try to get some information before floor time on that.
S.B. 204 Physical Therapy Payment Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend SB 204 to the full House.
▶ Watch at 2:14:17Read what they said
You, Mr. Chair. Motion to, uh, uh, make a favorable recommendation on SB 2 0 4 to the full house. That motion is an order.
S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Says local governments and firms have trouble hiring attorneys, and that a night and weekend program could add new attorneys from working professionals.
▶ Watch at 2:20:53Read what they said
Yeah. Uh, so I chair the Criminal Justice Sub Appropriation committee. Every single group that comes to me says we can't find attorneys to, on the, on the local government level and on the government level. As, uh, as national firms have come in, they've pulled attorneys up. We've been at the same amount of attorneys since about 1977 when BYU law, uh, really got going. So we're, we're putting out about 220 attorneys in the state. And we have been, university of Utah has even decreased their enrollment to increase their, uh, their ranking. And so what we're left with is do we want to pay more money to compete for the same pool of attorneys, or do we …
S.B. 209 Gooseberry Narrows State Park Study · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Owens said the bill does not commit major resources and he will vote yes.
▶ Watch at 1:52:12Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree with Chair Albright's comments. It doesn't seem like we're committing, uh, all these resources and decision making, uh, points at this point in time. So I agree with the chair and we'll be voting Yes.
S.B. 214 Home-based Childcare Solutions · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Owens moved to favorably recommend S.B. 214 to the full House.
▶ Watch at 1:21:42Read what they said
call on Representative Owens. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion to favorably recommend to the full house HSB two 14.
S.B. 225 Public Corporation Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked Senator Stevenson or Ben Hart to address public concerns about water usage and whether the bill would incentivize water-intensive businesses.
▶ Watch at 1:42:41Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair, to tough. You've moving around here. Yes. Thank you. Sorry for the trouble. Uh, Senator or, or, uh, Ben, maybe you could speak to some of those concerns. As I understood that Salt Lake now favors the, the sub that was done, and, and I appreciate the work that was done there to get to agreement, I think that's important. But to the larger issue that's been raised by some of the commenters, you know, are we, where, where is this headed in terms of are we gonna incentivize water, uh, conservative businesses or what, could you just maybe address some of those comments about the water usage?
S.B. 225 Public Corporation Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked whether anything in the bill would promote water use beyond what existing project plans already call for.
▶ Watch at 1:46:54Read what they said
I appreciate that. You know, I, I have concerns about the project just because of the sensitive location for some of the areas, but I don't see this bill as increasing the water usage that would otherwise be going forward. Does, is there anything that you see in the bill that would promote water usage beyond where the project is already headed?
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Presented H.B. 412, which would have the Division of Wildlife Resources review wildlife impacts of proposed solar and wind projects within 30 days so the licensing authority has that information before deciding.
▶ Watch at 58:58Read what they said
Morning, Mr. Chair and committee members. Um, thanks for hearing this today. Um, the bill, uh, this bill says that when you're doing a new, uh, solar or wind project that you, uh, the, the issue is that we know those can impact wildlife, uh, migration corridors and winter ranges in particular, they've got large footprints. And so when you're a proponent, the way this bill would work is if you're proposing such a project that you consult with the Division of Wildlife Resources, and then Wildlife Resources has 30 days to collect, uh, the wildlife impacts of your project and transmit that to the licensing authority so that when that license is considered, the, uh, typically it'd be a …
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Owens says the bill clarifies the difference between a water right and a water share, has passed the water task force, and is supported by the state water engineer and the Farm Bureau.
▶ Watch at 1:52:35Read what they said
Mr. Speaker, uh, I'm anticipating a friendly sub from the good representative from the ENA Basin. I'll refer you to the handout you should have received from the Farm Bureau. Uh, getting into some of the technical details of this bill. This is a technical correction to our water law. There's could been confusion between the difference of, uh, what a water right is and what a water share is. It's been litigated unnecessarily in courts. Uh, and this just clarifies this for once in all, what that difference is, uh, the bill has passed the water task force legislative water development. It's supported by the state water engineer and the Farm Bureau and there were no stakeholders opposed. Thank …
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Describes the substitute as clarifying the difference between water shares and water rights and assigning water shares to specific land, and says the bill affects the whole state.
▶ Watch at 1:53:43Read what they said
So, uh, Mr. Speaker, the committee action intended to amend but wound up, uh, with a sub because of, uh, anytime you throw a rock in the pond by you get a ripple effect. And we wind up with a little more than we anticipated. This bill affects the whole state from Porcupine Reservoir near Paradise to the Great Basin aquifers in, uh, the lower end of the state, Colorado River and the Great Salt Lake. The purpose of HB 94 94 sub one is the same as the original bill. It clarifies the difference between water shares of a company and water rights. It's needed because a lot of land that water is associated with has been built on …
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Owens gives his closing remarks and thanks the House.
▶ Watch at 1:56:53Read what they said
I did note did not drink downstream from the herd even before I met the good representative from UA Basin. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Gives closing summation on the bill and thanks the Speaker.
▶ Watch at 1:56:53Read what they said
I did note did not drink downstream from the herd even before I met the good representative from UA Basin. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether the bill would cover purely fictional written material that involves no animal.
▶ Watch at 43:13Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, uh, I guess two thoughts about this. Senator would, you mentioned, Lord of the Flies, and I had been thinking about, you know, photographic kind of generation of this pornographic stuff. Are you, this would cover even just a purely written thing that didn't involve an animal in, in other words, I guess to me, there's two things going on with the bill. One is you want to protect animals, and the other one is you want to not have this kind of material getting created. So, just to clarify, this would cover the, just a purely fictional writing a a person sitting down and writing words.
S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks to confirm that the bill could cover the creation of fiction written in words.
▶ Watch at 44:25Read what they said
So, yes, But Okay. But as a starting matter, this could theoretically just cover the creation of fiction and with words.
S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Says the exception for works with literary value is meant to protect the kind of material Representative Arthur raised, and that the book he recalls would not fall under the statute.
▶ Watch at 49:58Read what they said
To add I to Representative Arthur, I think that's intended absolutely. To protect the very thing you're concerned about. There's a sort of negative in there that's an exception. So if there is literary value, and, and, uh, I think I recall that book and know what you're talking about, and it was one anyway that would, that, that would not fall under the purview of this statute. 'cause it's got that carve out for, you know, the depiction of it, if it does have literary value, literary and, or anyway, I I won't belabor it. I'm sorry. Uh, that will, from now on, I'll waive.
S.B. 111 Veterinary Post-employment Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked whether the bill could also apply to existing contracts, noting such agreements can be hard to unwind.
▶ Watch at 57:59Read what they said
Do you know this, uh, prevents them going forward? I wondered if you thought about invalidating them going backward. 'cause these are really, I find a drag on the economy in my legal experience. They, people enter into a contract thinking the world's gonna go one way, and then it changes, and they need to be able to disentangle and move on. And these are just, I think, miserable things to work through. Um, and so anyway, wondering why you don't want to go backward with it.
H.B. 495 Capital Felony Case Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Owens said the death penalty process should remain careful and thorough, citing past wrongful convictions and the purpose of procedural safeguards.
▶ Watch at 1:31:15Read what they said
Further discussion to the bill Representative Owens, Mr. Speaker, uh, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to, uh, first preface this comment by saying I don't think there are crimes that there are, I, let me start that over. I want to preface by saying I believe there are crimes that warrant the death penalty. What we're talking about is the process that gets us to where that penalty gets imposed. Um, and at times, at its very best that process, the criminal process generally. And then with death penalty litigation in particular, that process can seem clunky and slow, and that's when it's at its very best. Um, but it's easy to make overgeneralizations about the way the criminal process works. …
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Presents H.B. 509, which asks the Division of Natural Resources to study how a 2023 federal Supreme Court decision on non-connected wetlands affects state wetland policy, with no regulatory action in the bill and application limited to four Wasatch Front counties, and notes support from the Sportsman's Caucus and the Farm Bureau.
▶ Watch at 18:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, as any duck hunter will know, the wetlands are important for hunting in our state. And in, uh, 2023, the Supreme Court or the United States issued a decision in Sacket versus EPA that, um, withdraws federal regulation of any intermittent or discontinuous wetland, non-connected wetland. And so that creates a vacuum of federal regulation and there'll be many in the body who will recognize that as a positive change. But however you view that decision, um, it does create a vacuum on, uh, how we look at our wetlands. And so this bill tries to make sure we're not gonna accidentally do something or ignore doing something in relation to our wetlands. And asks …
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Says the motion is to circle the bill, that he would like to speak to it, and that he is working on an amendment.
▶ Watch at 39:36Read what they said
Motion is to circle, would like to speak to it Working on an amendment. Thank you.
H.B. 483 Flower Sales Modifications · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Says the bill lets people sell flowers grown on their own property, while cities can still require a business license, and notes Farm Bureau support.
▶ Watch at 43:19Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. Uh, this bill relates to cut flowers, which is a dynamically growing part of our specialty agriculture sector in the state. There's an annual flower show, uh, run by the Farm Association Conference that, uh, attracts hundreds of home, uh, flower producers. And so this bill says, if you can grow flowers on your lot, you're allowed to sell those flowers subject to your municipality, requiring you to get a business license. So we're not taking that away from the city. The problem is that many ordinances in place in cities allow for home business production, but they'll usually specify within the dwelling. And of course, you don't want to grow your flowers within the dwelling unless …
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Presents HB 494 as a bill brought by the Farm Bureau and asks for Warren Peterson or the state engineer to speak first.
▶ Watch at 31:34Read what they said
Uh, thank you. Uh, this is a bill that, uh, was brought by the Farm Bureau, and I'd like to ask, uh, Mr. Peterson, Warren Peterson, if he's online to, uh, speak to the bill, or, or I'll have the state water engineer if he's not immediately available to start. Or then, Warren, are you online? We've got Warren. Yeah, we've got him. Should I go to him or have you either, do you want me to, or, or I'll start with the, the state engineer here.
H.B. 494 Transfer of Water Interests · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Notes the bill has already passed the Water Task Force and the Legislative Water Development Committee and concludes his presentation.
▶ Watch at 37:22Read what they said
Sorry about that interruption, Mr. Chair. I was gonna just conclude by saying I've had deja vu with this bill 'cause it's already passed the Water Task Force and the Legislative Water Development Committee in the last couple weeks. So I keep thinking, I thought I presented that bill. But anyway, that concludes the presentation. Thank you.
H.B. 533 Groundwater Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asked whether the committee was being asked to hold the bill or send it to interim study.
▶ Watch at 1:02:42Read what they said
Just a point of clarification. Were we being asked to hold this or there was some discussion about mentioning of taking it to interim, but I hadn't heard that from the sponsor. Were are we
H.C.R. 14 Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Transfer of Federally Managed Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Moved to adopt Amendment #1 to H.C.R. 14.
▶ Watch at 1:43:42Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion that we favorably recommend HCR 14 to the full House amendment. We need to move the amendment. I Move the, sorry. I recom, I, uh, motion that we move, that we, uh, adopt amendment number one to HCR 14. Would you like to speak to that? No.
H.C.R. 14 Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Transfer of Federally Managed Lands · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Moved to pass H.C.R. 14 as amended and said past land exchanges were bipartisan and can benefit both conservation and housing.
▶ Watch at 1:44:23Read what they said
I now would like to make a motion that we, uh, recommend favorably to the full house HCR 14 as amended. Okay. Would you like to speak to it Just briefly? I think this hearkens back to a time when we used to do these exchanges. We used to be less polarized. We used to be more pragmatic, working across party lines to do things that were obviously beneficial for the state. And I'd like to see us get back to that. And, uh, on, on some public land management issues, these, these can be win-wins for both conservationists and needing to develop housing. So I, I think it's a great resolution and it's not in the far distant past …
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Asked how deleting the auditor's authority to determine reasonable and necessary expenses would curtail her spending discretion if funding stays the same.
▶ Watch at 1:06:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, auditor, I'm looking at this, this line that you referred to 9 33 to 37. And I'm also mindful of the sponsor's, uh, comment that we're, his, the effort is to bring the normal constitutional role to bear that the legislature appropriate funds. So when I read the old language, the existing language dating from the forties, the state auditor's not limited in the selection of personnel that's maintained with the, with the amendment. But then it says, or maybe you can speak to that if that's not correct. And then, but the way I read it, it is, and then it says, the part that's really changing is the deletion of or in the …
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Rep. Owens asked the sponsor to respond to the auditor's concern about losing the safety valve, noting the auditor is meant to be independent.
▶ Watch at 1:22:29Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to hear the, if we could ask the sponsor what the, to comment on, on the auditor's concern about losing that safety valve. On the one hand, it seems like an odd safety valve. 'cause you don't, agencies typically don't get to just go draw funds. On the other hand, she, the, the descendants above on line 9 22, or I may not be getting the line right, but above that change language, 'cause I may be looking at the old version, but it, the, the state auditor is independent of any executive or administrative officer. So I can see that, you know, 80 years ago, maybe they thought there was a need …
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Rep. Owens asked whether removing the provision diminishes the auditor's independence.
▶ Watch at 1:23:59Read what they said
Do you feel like that diminishes her ability to be independent? If we take away this,
H.B. 512 Land Surveyors Licensing Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Made lighthearted remarks praising Rep. Chew's comments and stories.
▶ Watch at 43:23Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanna say that ever since I met the good representative from the basin, that I had a deep seated sense that he was my moral superior, and he's the guy who taught me to drink, not to drink downstream from where the herds in the water. And, uh, and I, I've just had it reconfirmed how, how much he is my moral superior here today. I appreciate his comments and questions. Thank you.
H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asks Steve Hiatt to explain the dog fighting devices and whether they have legitimate uses.
▶ Watch at 56:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to follow up on that question, maybe for Mr. Hyatt. I, I don't know what those words mean a lot, most of those, and I, I, I think the idea this bill is great because if you've got an object that's only used in a crime and has no other legitimate use, then the possession of that device should be penalized. So I take it that all those things, if people know what those are and they have no legitimate use in agrarian for agrarian purposes and stuff like that, I, uh, could you just, uh, elaborate a little bit on that? Yeah,
H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asks whether these devices have no legitimate purpose and questions whether the bill overreaches.
▶ Watch at 57:30Read what they said
Okay. Um, so your understanding though, the net net here is your understanding is none of these have legitimate purposes like Juab the treadmill, for example, I've seen videos of very happy looking dogs trotting along on treadmills. Yeah. And I don't think they were used for fighting. They were like little cordy and stuff. I mean, do you think we're not, we're not over, we reaching here, right?
H.B. 341 Animal Fighting Penalties · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asks when the last dog or fowl fighting bust in Utah occurred and whether drugs were involved in it.
▶ Watch at 58:43Read what they said
So I had a couple more questions. So when, when was the last time we had a bust for this kind of activity here in the state of Utah? For dog fighting? Yes. Or foul Fighting? Um, the, the foul would, I think the most recent one would be, uh, the Provo case. And that was, um, three four. I may have to phone a friend. It's, it's been a, uh, Approximately December 25, December of 2025. So, okay. Two months. And you mentioned drugs, uh, in your speech. Uh, is there a nexus there or a real nexus that this activity brings drugs? Um, well, yes sir. There is a suggested nex. I've been to this committee enough times …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House floor debate (day 30) · Feb 19, 2026
Owens presented H.B. 412, which requires wind and solar project developers to consult the Division of Wildlife Resources during licensing, with DWR's wildlife impact information passed to the local licensing authority.
▶ Watch at 1:22:02Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, this bill is for you if you like wildlife either hunting, trapping, or cuddling with it. This relates to solar and wind projects, which tend to have large footprints and can really impact wildlife, either migration corridors or occupying winter range and other issues they can cause. And so the way this bill works is that if you're a proponent of such a, a wind or solar project, that you consult with the Division of Wildlife Resources as part of your licensing process. And, uh, DWR responds within 30 days with, uh, some, uh, information about the wildlife impacts of your project. And then that information goes to the licensing authority. We're not giving any …
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks why the bill emphasizes single-family detached homes over condos or townhomes.
▶ Watch at 1:13:13Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, thanks for bringing this forward. I find it very interesting. What's the, uh, finger on the scale about single family detached about, could you articulate a little more? I, I, sometimes, sometimes what I hear is condo or townhouse is a better starter home option. Let people build some equity, you know, isn't that a bigger leap? Can you speak to that? Why the preference over a condo or townhouse?
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the funds could support transit-oriented developments and notes he is referring to the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:16:34Read what they said
Yeah. Which are those more transit oriented developments. Yes. But I, I think even in a faster growing area, uh, you might have even a city that wanted, uh, to have a density, you know, an area with greater density, even if it wasn't dependent on transit or, um, you know, I take it we're speaking to the second sub.
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the definition of infrastructure should be more specific, including whether roads are covered, and why this is the pinch point for housing.
▶ Watch at 1:16:55Read what they said
Thank you. Um, and then, uh, the infrastructure facility definition is, it specifies a number of things starting on line 91, but it's not exclusive. It says including, right. So could that be, I wonder if you're open to being more clear about what you mean, and, and this goes into my second question, in other words, being more exclusive or not, just to have an including but meaning and limited to the following, and then specify what you want. I wonder, 'cause I, I don't know if we're building roads with this money or what, you know, and maybe you want roads, I don't know what the cities need. And this is really goes to my second question is, …
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the funds could be used for regionally significant roads.
▶ Watch at 1:19:59Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And, and oh, sorry, what, could you circle back then with that background? What about the roads? I mean, is it your intention that this could be used for roads then For regionally significant roads?
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks to put a question to the governor's office representative.
▶ Watch at 1:27:23Read what they said
Chair. Would it be acceptable to ask, uh, Mr. Waldrep a question? Uh, yeah, I just, I would you mind coming up, Steve? And my question is, I
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the governor's office supports the legislation.
▶ Watch at 1:27:35Read what they said
Could you, I I, maybe I missed it, but are you, you, you said you've worked with a sponsor, I take it you support this legislation?
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether this is the most effective pinch point for state dollars to free up starter housing.
▶ Watch at 1:28:02Read what they said
No, but I, I take, I understand there's demand. I guess I was looking for, do you feel, maybe, just to put a finer point on my question, do you feel like this is the lowest hanging fruit in terms of, this is a pinch point. It's obvious and I I appreciate the sponsor bringing it forward. Um, the, do you feel like this is the lowest hanging pinch point where the state dollars are gonna do the most good in terms of freeing up, you know, starter housing and I mean, maybe you could just round out your response a little bit more.
H.B. 492 Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Comments that he may have missed his chance to make a motion.
▶ Watch at 1:29:38Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. I think I, I blew up my opportunity to make a motion, didn't I?
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Responds briefly to the chair's greeting before starting the bill presentation.
▶ Watch at 41:44Read what they said
Oh, I've been running, been, we're, I've just been waiting in the other room. I've, I've appreciate you. Uh, not helping, helping me not have more conflict. Thank you. Thank you all. You're smiling now. That's good. Thank you. He always smiles. I'm very happy to be here. Maybe you pull that mic a little closer. Very happy to be here. Thank, there we go. Thank you.
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Presents H.B. 117, saying it would promote organ donation through high-traffic state websites and ask hospital patients about donor registration, and introduces Mark Dixon.
▶ Watch at 42:03Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm joined by Mark Dixon of Donor Connect, who'll comment on this bill. But, uh, this is a bill that got through last year, the process, but died on the Senate Board on the last night. Um, it's about organ donation. You know, we have about 55% of the state signs up to be organ donors, but there's a real need to try to up that percentage because we have about 80 Utahans every year who pass away waiting for an organ donation. While at the same time we have about 300 people pass away in Utah who do so under the circumstances where they could have been organ donors. So there's a mismatch there. We're …
H.B. 483 Flower Sales Modifications · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Presents the bill to let people who may lawfully grow flowers on their property also sell them from home under reasonable local licensing rules, and introduces Terry Camp of the Farm Bureau.
▶ Watch at 1:33:54Read what they said
Morning and I hope a good deal, Les Complicated. I'm gonna be joined by Terry Camp from the Farm Bureau, and, uh, would love to just tell you briefly about this bill. Um, this bill, uh, confirms people who have a right to grow flowers on their property, can also sell 'em, uh, at, at their house, um, under reasonable local licensing rules. Um, that where it's a lawful use of the property. The problem is some, uh, cities have ordinances that allow home production, but they'll say within the dwelling and they prohibit commercial agriculture. And so a combination of those two things stops people from selling flowers. Um, so we're just, uh, in this case weighing in as …
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Presents HB 400, which asks cities in the Great Salt Lake drainage without a water-efficient landscaping ordinance for new construction to enact one, and explains the water-use reasons for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:40:12Read what they said
We will go to HB 400 Landscaping water amendments. Yes. Thank you. Madam Chair and committee members got a handout that'll be coming around now. Uh, this was a bill that has passed previously, uh, the Water Legislative Water Development Committee Commission, and also the Water Task Force. This is a water conservation bill. And what it says is it asks, it requires, I should say, cities who are in the drainage of the Great Salt Lake who have no water efficient ordinance for new construction to enact one. It states that it's a requirement, but it has no enforcement teeth whatsoever. It just has the carrot of, uh, pointing out that if they want to, they can enact an …
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Responds that he does not know the answer offhand, that the cities on the list still lack an ordinance, and that a general plan is not the same as an ordinance.
▶ Watch at 1:44:58Read what they said
The short answer is I do not. I I do remember this coming up previously, uh, in a discussion with somebody that was helping me develop this, uh, over the interim. Um, and I could phone a friend, but I don't know on off the top of my head. I do know that this was checked a few days ago that these cities still don't have an ordinance. I guess there's a, maybe actually there's one issue, which is there's a difference between a plan and a and an ordinance. Yes, definitely. So I, but I haven't checked all those plans in those cities. Uh, I do know that as of last week, this list is accurate in terms of …
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Explains the bill requires cities to enact an ordinance but does not authorize enforcement or impose consequences, serving as a message to subdivisions.
▶ Watch at 1:46:01Read what they said
Well, there's just no, there's no enforcement teeth whatsoever. It says these, these municipalities shall enact an ordinance, but it does not, uh, allow anybody to come in. It doesn't authorize water resources or any police agency or anybody to go say, Hey, you haven't done that. You need to do it. It doesn't impose any consequence if they don't. It's just trying to be a message from the, uh, the political entity that is Utah saying to our subdivisions, in this day and age, if you're in the drainage of this, of the lake, you better, we'd like you to attend to this.
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says cities may enforce their own ordinances, and that the bill does not go beyond its initial request.
▶ Watch at 1:46:40Read what they said
They may, yes. It's just that we are not pushing beyond the, the initial request. We don't force them
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says a plan is not an ordinance and that the bill asks cities to act rather than only plan.
▶ Watch at 1:47:12Read what they said
Well, I I, if I could respond, I I do think the answer part of that answer, uh, was that a plan is not an ordinance. So if they want to just enact what they planned, that's great. If they want to do something different, that's great. They just, we're just saying act rather than do a plan, we're saying and act something.
H.B. 400 Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says it is embarrassing that cities in the growing Great Salt Lake drainage lack an ordinance, ties the bill to lake restoration and the Olympics, and acknowledges local control concerns.
▶ Watch at 1:50:36Read what they said
Thank you for hearing it. Uh, I, I suppose you could look at it as a message Bill. I, I think in this day and age, to have a third of the population of a very fast growing area that drains to the Great Salt Lake, not to have enact an ordinance is frankly a little embarrassing. Um, and, uh, we, we, we need to put water in that lake before the Olympics, get here in eight years and show the world we can manage our situation. I think just having these folks think about it and get something done and into their code is a good, is a good idea. So, and, and I understand local control. I, I …
S.B. 89 Health Care Services Platforms · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Says SB 89 is a technical correction to last year's bill that removes references to a platform for matching temporary medical shifts and narrows overly broad language about higher-level medical providers so it does not cover doctors and advanced specialists.
▶ Watch at 24:44Read what they said
Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Um, this is a bill that we passed last year, just technical correction to, um, eliminate the references to this is a platform that allows people to match shifts when they're, um, temp employees in the medical sector. And it had, uh, over broad language that related to, uh, uh, higher level medical providers. It's intended to be, uh, not cover doctors and advanced specialists, so just, uh, nursing and, uh, other kinds of techs, radiation techs and so forth. So we're just, it's just a technical correction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Presents HB 509, which directs a Utah Geological Survey study of wetlands within 18 months in response to the Sackett v. EPA decision, limited to four Wasatch Front counties in the second substitute, with a fiscal note he hopes will decrease from about $150,000.
▶ Watch at 2:09:28Read what they said
Representative Owens, the floor is yours. Good evening. Be brief. I hope. Uh, I, I'll be speaking to this second sub of, uh, HP 5 0 9. Okay. Wetland study. And, uh, the, the purpose of this, uh, bill was in the aftermath of a decision a couple of years ago from the Supreme Court called Sackett versus EPA, that, uh, removed the ability of the EPA to regulate disc disconnected or intermittent wetlands. There was a lot of reaction to that decision, either for or against it, uh, depending on where you stand. But the fact is that a lot of federal regulation of wetlands is gonna go away. And, uh, so what this bill says is that let's …
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Responds that the fiscal note is high, that the study could be done within normal workload, and that the scope could be narrowed to the areas of greatest interest.
▶ Watch at 2:14:45Read what they said
Well, I thought it was pretty hefty. I, I thought they could do it within their normal, kind of, within their normal workload, but they, the fiscal note was 150,000. So I thought that was kind of hefty in this, in this environment. So I thought we could try to reduce that by focusing on the area of most in, you know, greatest interest. So they're no people hired for, they're gonna work within.
H.B. 509 Wetlands Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Says he hopes the cost will come down significantly, since much of it relates to isolated wetlands in other parts of the state.
▶ Watch at 2:15:09Read what they said
Yeah. And I hope it'll come down fairly dramatically. 'cause I think a lot of that cost was associated with some of our more isolated wetlands in other parts of the state that I don't think are the primary concern.
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asks how the office would handle lost digital assets given their design and how much burden the bill places on the office.
▶ Watch at 52:21Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think this is probably a dumb question, but I, um, I thought the whole point of these kind of digital assets was to, that they really were secure when, when somebody lost them, that they were gone. And, uh, I'm, I'm intrigued. I mean, uh, certainly the concept seems sound, so I, I think I support this, but, you know, there was a case in Britain where the guy threw away a hard drive with three quarters of a billion dollars worth of Bitcoin. Like could he recover that as a lost asset? I thought the how much are you gonna be spending effort to do stuff where the whole point of it, the, uh, …
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Compares a lost personal wallet with assets held by a bank and asks what unclaimed scenarios the office has seen so far.
▶ Watch at 54:12Read what they said
Okay. So, so if I could just add, and, and maybe this is not a good analogy, but the way I think about in my mind, the, the example you gave is if someone had a suitcase of cash, they just lost it. That's very different than if you Uintah a bank and you had the bank hold it on your behalf, and then you abandon it somehow. You don't hear from them for three years, and then they come back to the treasurer's office and say, find this person giving it back their asset. Gotcha. I guess it did turn out to be a dumb question. Thank you, though. Could, could one of you go through the scenarios you've …
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Recalls a prior conversation about how the office funds its costs and asks how that works under the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:00:26Read what they said
You know, I remember a for earlier conversation with your office about how you fund the, uh, do you, do you get a percentage of what you return to the person to cover your costs or I I think you get the interest bearing account for other kinds of assets helps defray the cost of running the services you're providing. How does that work with this bill?
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Says he understood the office earns interest on accounts that helps cover costs.
▶ Watch at 1:00:54Read what they said
But it, but it, I thought when you, I thought you explained to me that you get the interest on the account
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asks whether a comparable feature exists for digital assets under the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:01:02Read what they said
Is there any comparable feature that lets you, uh, defray the cost of your office through the Bitcoin piece or the crypto piece here That is not contemplated?
H.B. 519 Unclaimed Property Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Suggests some compensation back to owners may be worth considering since the office provides a service.
▶ Watch at 1:02:12Read what they said
I think it's a good idea to think about that because this is, uh, because you're performing a service that's directly related to an individual, and in that, that's a good argument for some kind of compensation back to the person. But anyway, thank you.
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Presents the bill directing Water Resources to study water losses once water enters culinary and agricultural systems, with no required action yet, and notes it passed unanimously in the Water Task Force and Legislative Water Development Committee.
▶ Watch at 52:24Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, this bill, uh, there, there's been a lot of great water action from this legislative body in the last five years. Um, there has, uh, been one little stepchild issue of water losses. And, um, when the, uh, big unified water infrastructure analysis was completed a year ago, uh, it did not take account of water loss issues. And there are some numbers out there suggesting that in some areas of the state, there may be enough losses to want to take account of them. So this bill, uh, requires water resources to look into the issue of water losses once we get water into systems to provide culinary and, uh, ag water and, uh, …
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
In summation, says water is a top state issue and that the bill puts the Legislature on record asking for the report within a set timeframe.
▶ Watch at 55:07Read what they said
You, Mr. Speaker. I would address that I think that, uh, water is, there's no more important issue in the state right now. And water resources supported the, the idea of the bill, and I think it, uh, puts us on record as wanting that report in a certain timeframe. So I think there's value to it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Moves to bring H.B. 158 back up for consideration and to adopt the first substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:49:55Read what they said
Representative Owens Thank you Ms. Speaker. Motion to uncer HB 1 58. The motion is to encircle first substitute house bill 1 58 Unlawful tracking amendments.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Presents the bill on placement of tracking devices on vehicles or other personal property, describes a friendly amendment on children tracked by parents who become adults and on police uses, and says the bill has been supported by law enforcement groups and prosecutors.
▶ Watch at 1:50:12Read what they said
Uncircled Representative Owens Mr. Speaker, this is a bill we considered a few days ago that, uh, concerned placement of tracking devices on vehicles or other personal property. There were some concerns raised. I'm anticipating a friendly amendment here momentarily concerning how to handle children who are, uh, being tracked by their parents and become adults. I think that's been fully addressed. There was also a concern about whether we were impinging on police uses of tracking devices. We are not, we've, the friendly amendment, uh, makes clear that there's no touching of police powers. And this bill has been supported by, uh, the, uh, legislative law enforcement committee, CCJJ, statewide Association of Prosecutors. So far as I know, we've …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Says the amendment is friendly and he appreciates it.
▶ Watch at 1:51:30Read what they said
Representative Owens to the motion to amend. I, it's a friendly amendment and I appreciate it. Thank you.
H.B. 466 Utah Rural Jobs Act Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks Rep. Abbott to explain the fiscal note, including the shift from ongoing to one-time funding and scalability.
▶ Watch at 1:32:29Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just looking at the fiscal note Representative Abbott, and maybe you could speak to that for a minute. I, I guess I don't understand the, are you shifting from an ongoing to a one time? Like, could you just explain that? And then also what, what's the scalability of this? If EAC is not up to funding it this year? Like what, uh, is this, I presume it's scalable, but anyway, maybe you could speak to those two questions.
H.B. 466 Utah Rural Jobs Act Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Spoke on the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:37:05Read what they said
I'll carry on if you choose Mr. Chair. Yes, please. Thank you. Motion to Recommend with a favorable motion to send HB 4 66 to the full house with a favorable recommendation for sub HB 4 66 for sub.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether the conduct was already illegal and how the bill fits within existing law and its penalties.
▶ Watch at 1:42:19Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for bringing this. I actually thought this was already illegal, and maybe you could just describe the, where this statute will fit in the field of legislation and related area, if you're okay with that. I, I actually did. I had, I've been under the impression this was already illegal, and anyway, I'm supportive. And then I had one other question, the civil penalty, I'd go even higher than that, but I'll vote for this. Okay. But anyway, maybe touch on how you thought about penalties and Yeah. How those could be, uh, well, yeah, thank you.
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asks whether the conduct is criminal for adults.
▶ Watch at 1:43:18Read what they said
Okay. Yes. I'm sorry. I'm, it's getting late. So you, you're saying that it was criminally, it was already illegal criminally, but now we're providing a private right Of action. Yeah. Is that correct for adults? Is it, it's illegal criminally for adults, is that correct?
H.B. 276 Artificial Intelligence Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Supports the bill and suggests AI-generated images should be identified more clearly in the future.
▶ Watch at 1:43:39Read what they said
I'm very supportive. I'll just add one comment in support if that's appro, if, yeah. Um, you know, I, I I think we need to go further and just say, AI in generated images are really problematic. They ought to be identified in some clear way. Um, there's such potential for abuse. Um, this is only the most extreme aspect of it. I think we ought to go further eventually. Uh, and I'll, I'll leave it at that. Thank you. I like the bill. Thanks.
H.B. 475 Development Planning and Coordination Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asked Roberts to confirm that the council adds no decision-making authority beyond what the coordinated entities already have.
▶ Watch at 2:01:12Read what they said
Thank you, Representative Roberts. I'm just taking a look at the bill and it doesn't, it looks like it is, as you described, purely coordinative. I just wanted you to confirm that none of these entities that are being coordinated, like in the, in the overall, we're not creating a sum that's greater than the parts. It looks to me like the authorities remain within the confines. They're currently in it. These, this, uh, overarching council is, uh, not invested with any more decision making authority than already belonged to the entities being coordinated. Would that be a fair description?
H.B. 490 Water Optimization Reporting Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Presented HB 490, which Farm Bureau requested, on unknown water switching to municipal and industrial use, and asked the committee to move on after brief remarks.
▶ Watch at 1:07:33Read what they said
Consideration. Mr. Chair. Um, this bill idea that, uh, I'm presenting today was brought to me by Farm Bureau, and I'd like Mr. Warren Peterson to speak to it. And I'm gonna, uh, ask the committee just at the end of this very brief presentation to just move on to the next item. This is a bill that needs some work that's got a big fiscal note that we think we can reduce. And primarily, I think we can work on it at least the first year administratively with the good folks in the DNR about water usage. Uh, but this, the, I wanted to take, even though I intend to, you know, bring this bill back next year, if …
H.B. 490 Water Optimization Reporting Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Said that water conservation bills focused on municipal use should be watched, that estimates of agricultural share of Great Salt Lake depletion are likely too high, and that the state should develop more accurate numbers next session.
▶ Watch at 1:12:02Read what they said
is important, again, it's important to bear in mind when you see a water conservation bill coming through this year, if it's about municipal water conservation, please pay attention. Because what we've been doing is everybody's thinking we're gonna take this water to save the great Salt Lake out of the height of agriculture. And it's, we're gonna find it, isn't there? It's, it's some, you see estimates ranging from 60 to 80% ag usage in the drainage of the Great Salt Lake. It's probably quite a bit lower than that. And, uh, we are, we are needing to think harder about how much water we're depleting in that m and i setting. So I do think, uh, the, the …
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the substitute is not yet available on the system and makes a motion to circle the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:37:32Read what they said
I'll motion to circle then I have it when I look on my computer, Mr. Speaker, but I'll wait till we get it on the system. Motion to circle.
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Makes a motion to encircle first substitute House Bill 117.
▶ Watch at 1:50:56Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, motion or sorry. Uh, motion encircle HP one 17. Motion is to encircle first substitute house Bill one 17.
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Presents the bill, which would add links on high-traffic state websites encouraging people to sign up as organ donors and require information at hospital discharge, citing low donor sign-up rates and waiting lists.
▶ Watch at 1:51:46Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This, uh, colleagues represents a bill that we passed last year. It died, uh, on the Senate board on the last night. Uh, it relates to organ donation. We have a, an issue in the state where only 55% of our population signs up to be an organ donor, yet we have 80 people a year approximately going to the grave, uh, waiting for an organ donation. And Interesting. The the interesting thing is that we have 300 people or so every year who die under circumstances where they could be organ donors but have not opted to do so. So this bill just tries to provide a nudge to ask people to consider being organ …
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Presents H.B. 117, saying only about 55% of residents sign up as organ donors, and proposes links on high-traffic state websites and donor information at hospital discharge to encourage sign-ups.
▶ Watch at 1:51:46Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This, uh, colleagues represents a bill that we passed last year. It died, uh, on the Senate board on the last night. Uh, it relates to organ donation. We have a, an issue in the state where only 55% of our population signs up to be an organ donor, yet we have 80 people a year approximately going to the grave, uh, waiting for an organ donation. And Interesting. The the interesting thing is that we have 300 people or so every year who die under circumstances where they could be organ donors but have not opted to do so. So this bill just tries to provide a nudge to ask people to consider being organ …
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the bill starts with organ donation but also covers other lifesaving programs that could be promoted on state websites.
▶ Watch at 1:54:21Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I, I should have mentioned that it, it starts out with organ donation, but it, it does end up rotating through other lifesaving, uh, programs that can be, uh, called attention to on those high traffic websites owned by the state. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the bill begins with organ donation but also covers other lifesaving programs that could be promoted on state websites.
▶ Watch at 1:54:21Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I, I should have mentioned that it, it starts out with organ donation, but it, it does end up rotating through other lifesaving, uh, programs that can be, uh, called attention to on those high traffic websites owned by the state. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Presents H.B. 158, which expands the existing tracking-device statute to cover other people's personal property, children, and non-consenting adults, with a class A misdemeanor, a private right of action, and $50 per day statutory damages.
▶ Watch at 2:18:51Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, colleagues, there's an increased, uh, prevalence of tracking devices. They start at, uh, $30 for a four pack. Those little tags you can put on your key chain or in your car to find it when you're trying to lost at the mall, trying to find your car. And, uh, those are great ideas to do with it, but there's some creepy uses that are coming up according to some research. I ask lrc Gs our office of, uh, alleged counsel to look into. There's some cases nationally where of a family, for example, found a tracking device in a child's, uh, electric toy car after they spent time in a park. Um, a a …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Responds that the bill's notice provision covers a divorce, where an adult tells the other adult they no longer consent to being tracked, and that he does not see the scenario raised.
▶ Watch at 2:22:26Read what they said
Uh, I don't think so. The, uh, the provision is in there for, in a divorce proceeding for the adult to give notice to the other adult. They don't want to be tracked anymore. I don't see that potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the bill prohibits continuing to use a tracking application after permission is revoked, which would cover a divorce, and does not see the other scenario.
▶ Watch at 2:24:06Read what they said
Uh, the, uh, if I look on line 84, you're just not supposed to intentionally continue to use a tracking application after the individual revokes the permission to use it. So that would cover the divorce situation. I'm not, I guess I'm not sure where the statute would be effective, where it would be inappropriate. I don't see that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says that knowingly tracking someone else is not permitted and that he has advised people that this practice is unacceptable.
▶ Watch at 2:25:55Read what they said
If they, yes, Mr. Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. Yes. If they, uh, are knowingly, uh, tracking someone else, um, yeah, they're not supposed to do that. Uh, and, uh, I have advised, uh, anyone who asked me that, that this is not a acceptable practice.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the conduct described is already a crime under existing statute for installing a tracking device on another person's vehicle, and that the bill narrows it by adding a knowing intent requirement.
▶ Watch at 2:27:11Read what they said
If I could respond to that. Please. Question. Uh, that is already a crime. This bill does not make that a crime. In fact, it, it narrows it. If you look at line 57, the actor knowing it's already a crime to install, uh, a, uh, tracking device on a motor vehicle belonging to someone else, I'm not changing that. We're actually knowing adding, uh, an in an intention, a state of mind, the actor knowingly installs. So the, the circumstance that the, uh, the, uh, representative is asking about is already covered under existing statute.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says permission is a commonly understood term that would be subject to proof, and that adult children tracking a parent under the statute does not require the parent's permission.
▶ Watch at 2:28:40Read what they said
Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. I, I think that commonly understood term of, of granting permission would be subject to proof. I mean, I think you would just say they gave me permission and I You don't need it from your children. Well, They're adults under the statute. You don't need permission. You're allowed to track the children under, under the statute your own children.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says he is not sure about the question of games, that permission is not difficult to solve since people can record whether permission is given, and that he is unsure about the family scenario.
▶ Watch at 2:29:51Read what they said
I, I'm not sure the answer to that question. I, I do think the permission question is not difficult to solve. I think when, when people ask each other, whether they give permission to track their phone, there's a record of that being accepted or not. Uh, but I'm not sure about the latter circumstance you're asking about.
H.B. 184 Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Moves to hold the bill for additional work with the expectation of bringing back a new version.
▶ Watch at 1:47:56Read what they said
Representative Owens, Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to hold the bill for some additional work and, uh, with the expectation we bring it back shortly to if, with a new version.
H.B. 184 Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says he made the motion expecting work to produce a workable bill.
▶ Watch at 1:57:18Read what they said
I made the motion with the expectation that we try to work on it and get something Workable. Thank you. Thank
H.B. 184 Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Restates the motion to hold the bill and work on it with the intent of possibly bringing it back.
▶ Watch at 1:57:42Read what they said
Oh, let me just restate the motion if I can. The motion is to hold, um, and work on it, uh, to, with the intent of possibly bringing it back. So that's the motion.
H.B. 382 Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks which other states have adopted the bill and whether Utah's version modifies the Uniform Law Commission's recommendation.
▶ Watch at 2:23:41Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the sponsor for doing this, Representative Teuscher and, um, the, uh, what other states have already adopted this. And then the second question is, have you modified what the recommendation of the, the, uh, commission was in any way? And, and could you speak to those modifications if so?
H.B. 382 Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and says he appreciates making sure the bill is correct in the code.
▶ Watch at 2:25:35Read what they said
No. I want to thank you for doing this. I, I want to tell you that I got to be a lawyer and pass the bar without River ever really understanding the UCC and all that stuff. So I appreciate you taking care to get this correct in our code.
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens presented the bill, which requires consultation with DNR on wildlife impacts for large solar and wind projects, with DNR responding within 30 days and no required action.
▶ Watch at 53:47Read what they said
Good afternoon chair and committee members. Nice to be with you. This is a simple bill. It's simp. It says that, uh, when you're gonna do a utility scale, solar wind project, you consult with DNR about wildlife impacts. As you all know, we're growing very rapidly, um, and we're doing a lot of construction and we're impacting wildlife. And this makes sure we try to take a look at that and not do anything inadvertently, or, sorry, not do anything accidentally without considering it in developing these large swaths of land that can get devoted to wind and solar projects. And, um, it's, I think, not unduly burdensome on industry. 'cause it requires DNR to respond within 30 days. …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said DNR would only describe wildlife impacts within 30 days and would not approve or deny projects.
▶ Watch at 55:52Read what they said
Does not give DNRA right to give a thumbs up or down to the project. They just weigh in 30 days after an application. So we're not trying to let them slow down a project. You know, it's gonna easily take longer than 30 days to get these projects licensed. So we're just warning the entity to apply for the, uh, DNRs input. And then DNR has 30 days to respond, and that should give ample time to the license, license applicator or the person applying for the license to then turn around and give that information to the licensing authority. So it's putting a timeline on DNR to hurry up and give that information and not slow down the, …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said the division does not have approval or denial authority and would only provide wildlife information to the local licensing authority.
▶ Watch at 57:13Read what they said
My understanding is they do not have that authority and we just wanted to make clear we're not giving them that authority. We're just wanting them to weigh in and help the local licensing authority to have that wildlife information.
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said HB 16 has a broader scope with a wildlife clause, and that the two bills complement each other without conflict.
▶ Watch at 58:12Read what they said
It's a great question that I think you're referring to HB 16, which belongs to the chairman. Um, and that is a much broader scope about what it impacts, but it does have a clause in there that talks about getting wildlife information, um, when you're doing a solar project. So I think it dovetails perfectly. This gives just a little more meat on the bones. That was a little more cryptic, a little shorter when it addressed the wildlife issue. It's go that bill covers lots of other, um, like tax credits and or things like that, tax incentives that may relate and ag land impacts. And so it's a lot broader, but then it does have a wildlife …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said an objection would not carry legal weight because the local licensing authority makes the decision.
▶ Watch at 1:00:18Read what they said
Well, I don't think so. And representative, I don't think this invites 'em to do an objection or a, you know, a a thumbs up or down in any kind of, even a, what's the word? It, they clearly don't have the lawful authority to give it a thumbs up or down. I don't think it gives them, suggests that they should, you know, do it as a suggestion. Thumbs up or down? I think it's just saying, what, what are the wi please weigh in within 30 days on what the wildlife impacts may be. So we don't lose our hunting and fishing potential in the state over time without thinking about it. So I don't, I don't think …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said the division would only report wildlife impacts, and the licensing entity could consider that report or not.
▶ Watch at 1:01:50Read what they said
Well, it just doesn't have any legal weight. They would just do the report about what the wildlife impacts are and then the licensing entity could take that into account or not. So it's, it's just giving information to the decision maker about it. It doesn't, It doesn't Give the DNR ability to do a thumbs up or down.
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Owens said DNR is ahead of the curve on wildlife planning and that the bill addresses growth and construction impacts on wildlife.
▶ Watch at 1:06:23Read what they said
I, I only want to add, I should have pointed out that the DNR really is ahead of the curve on this kind of issue where they're doing a great job planning ahead, looking at where our corridors are. And, and I, I just think it's, uh, an issue whose time has come with our construction rates and growth that we not accidentally, um, damage our wildlife. Not inadvertently not even think about the issue of damaging wildlife habitat. So I hope we take a look at it and hope and, and I do want to commend DNR for being ahead. They've got this website, wildlife habitat analysis tool. It's, uh, ahead of the curve and they're gonna speed up …
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Introduced HB 154 as a small bill that would study water losses in water systems, and said it has passed the Water Task Force and Water Development Committee.
▶ Watch at 1:02:58Read what they said
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and committee members. Nice to be with you. This, uh, just tell you, this bill has passed Water Task Force and Legislative Water Development Committee already. It's a small in scope bill. We've been doing a lot of important changes relating to water in the last half decade. And there's, uh, in particular, uh, the unified water infrastructure plan integration that's got us concerned about costs. And the idea of this bill is just a small, uh, small idea, and that is to pay some additional attention to water losses when we've gotten water into a, a delivery system. And then we're losing it. And I'd like to ask, uh, Mr. Joel Williams, who's acting Director …
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said the study would use existing staff and data, would not impose costs on anyone, and would help identify where fixes may be worthwhile.
▶ Watch at 1:06:25Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, Mr. Williams. So you might be asking Owens, why don't you just ask water resources to do that? They could do that. Um, but there, there are reports out there. Sometimes they don't, aren't able to get the information as readily as they'd like. So I think having a little piece of legislation to put some wind in their sails and, uh, obtain the information they need, uh, to get that accurate and holistic assessment. And I think it, it dovetails nicely with the unified water infrastructure plan. We're trying to get in place and get funded. That Representative Snider ran. We're not gonna impose costs on anybody. It's just to identify where those problems are, where …
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said an earlier water loss audit bill was run for several years without success, and this bill asks for a study rather than audits.
▶ Watch at 1:07:55Read what they said
If I, if I could respond, Mr. Chair. Go ahead. There, there were a period of about three years in a row where a lot a water loss audit bill was, was run, I believe it was Representative Ballard that ran it three years in a row trying to, to get this message out. And it was unsuccessful. Okay. And so, and that, that was requiring or asking systems to do an audit. This is more just saying, let's just study what those losses might be and then take next steps. Okay.
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said there are no penalties or size minimums, and that the work would focus on larger systems rather than burdening small towns.
▶ Watch at 1:08:33Read what they said
There's certainly no penalties involved. Uh, I thought, I think it's just asking water resources to look up and down the systems. I, I don't think we had a threshold or a limitation or a minimum size. I guess my question is, in some of these little small towns, here we go again, as the dog catcher, the grave digger, the whatever, is it gonna be a burden upon them to determine this? Are you, how are you gonna work with these little small towns? Let me, I I I would assume water resources is gonna be looking primarily at the larger systems where there's more potential to, you know, recoup losses. I don't think we're trying to burden anybody. …
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said a protective clause could be added if needed and offered to talk further with the member.
▶ Watch at 1:12:12Read what they said
Uh, you know, I, I think if we need to put a protective clause in there, let's do it. I'd be happy to talk with you further.
H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens asks whether about $675,000 moves from the endangered species account to projects benefiting the lake.
▶ Watch at 1:25:49Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Representative Ward, I, if I look at your chart, I'm trying to grasp this, uh, you're effectively, it takes $675,000 out of the, the, um, endangered Species Act and, and puts it more directly to, to the lake through these expenditures to benefit the brine shrimp fishery, which is beneficial to the lake generally. Is that correct?
H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens asks whether Endangered Species Act funding already goes to the lake and how much would change.
▶ Watch at 1:26:11Read what they said
So, but can you help, just to help me understand that? 'cause I thought a lot of, there was a lot of Endangered Species Act funding that also Uintah the lake also, but maybe I'm wrong about that. And is it, how much is really changing? Is it opposed to, is it going in the lake just under a different account or is it, was it not going into the lake at all?
H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens asks whether some of that funding already goes to the lake.
▶ Watch at 1:26:43Read what they said
But is there not some of that that is going to the lake already, like for the year grieve and stuff like that?
H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens asks whether the $675,000 would already have been going to the lake.
▶ Watch at 1:27:12Read what they said
Okay. So right as we sit here today, your understanding is that 6 75 would not have already been going to the lake under some other,
H.B. 247 Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens says the funding would not have gone to the lake's health and thanks Ward.
▶ Watch at 1:27:37Read what they said
I see. But it wouldn't have been going to the lake for the Health of the Lake necessarily. Appreciate The help there. Thank you.
H.B. 348 Dedicated Water Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks for a plain-English explanation of whether the bill affects the beneficial use standard.
▶ Watch at 1:44:19Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I just wanted to understand in plain English, sometimes it helps when I read the technical language to have the plain English understanding in mind. And I think I understood you to say, besides the jumping in priority of a dedicated applica a water, an application for dedicated use, there's also a presumption of beneficial use. Is that right? You don't have to consider that. Or what did you say anything along that line? Or you did it, does this have no bearing on what's a beneficial use?
H.B. 348 Dedicated Water Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks whether the bill issues a certificate and asks about the provision allowing denial of applications that would dry agricultural land.
▶ Watch at 1:45:15Read what they said
Gotcha. Okay. And then you get a certificate, this application or this, this type of process will not have that. It'll be annual reporting and deliveries and then tracking at the end of the system. Okay. Thank you. And then season one other question, if I could, um, either to the sponsor or to the engineer, there's a portion in here, line 3 0 3, starting deny. You may deny an application if you determine it would cause the drying of land essentially, and it could be taken out of ag use. And I, I understand, I think the priority you're getting to, but wondering if you might speak to that and what the policy thought there is. Um, are …
H.B. 348 Dedicated Water Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Says he is glad the bill gives attention to the dedication time limit.
▶ Watch at 1:46:19Read what they said
Yeah. Okay. I, I I like that priority. I think that's good. I, I think it should have. I, I just, I'm glad to have a little attention to it. Thank you. Thank you.
H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Said they support the legislation.
▶ Watch at 1:17:45Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanna say to all the adult children out there who may be listening, that some of us love you and support this legislation. Thank You.
H.B. 392 District Court Amendments · House floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026
Opposed the bill, saying it interferes with the independent judiciary and that he sees no clear problem it solves.
▶ Watch at 14:59Read what they said
Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise with some concerns about this bill that, uh, I, uh, I think that we're unnecessarily meddling in the business of an independent branch of government. Um, I look at what the, when I look at a piece of legislation, I think, well, what's the problem we're designing this to, to fix? And I really don't see a problem that we're designing this to fix. I see a solution looking for a problem. I think this is clearly the, it gives the executive branch or the legislative branch the opportunity to get step into the court administration to ask them to set up a special court for us to have our issues that we …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Presents H.B. 158, which extends the existing prohibition on secretly tracking motor vehicles to other personal property and to built-in tracking apps, and makes violations a class A misdemeanor with a civil cause of action.
▶ Watch at 1:42:45Read what they said
Thank you, Ms. Chair. Committee members, um, this bill concerns, um, the issue of the increased prevalence of tracking devices. I looked on Amazon today. You can buy four Apple tags for $70, and there's some knockoffs for less than half of that, less than $10 a piece where you can drop that in somebody's car or backpack and track where they go. It's a great idea for keeping track of your lost keys. Or if you can't find your car in the parking lot, I find it's also effective to hit the panic button and hear the alarm, and you can go find your car that way, the ho honking horn. But, uh, anyway, uh, the, uh, currently we …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Closes by saying the bill is a good step, that more could be done later, and that it includes exceptions for parents tracking their children.
▶ Watch at 1:50:29Read what they said
It's a good step. I, there are more things that could be done down the road. I mean, ideally if you found one, you could take it to law enforcement and say, who's using this device on me? I don't think we're there yet. Um, and it does have exceptions for parents tracking their kids and things where we obviously wanna allow it, but thank you.
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Presents the bill, which would have state websites with heavy traffic link to organ donor registration, adds donation information at hospital discharge, and sets up a rotation for other public health messages on those websites.
▶ Watch at 8:55Read what they said
Good afternoon, chair and committee members. Uh, glad to be with you. This bill, uh, passed through the process last year and died on the Senate Board on the last night. So it did get some vetting last year. Um, and, uh, this bill is addressing the issue of organ donation. Only about half of Utah Utah's sign up to be organ donations. And here's, uh, some interesting numbers. There are just a couple that are really interesting. About 80 Utahans a year. Go to the grave, um, where they, because they were, uh, unable to get an organ donation, and yet over 300 on average, uh, people in Utah die every year under the circumstances where they might've been …
H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation by adopting the first substitute.
▶ Watch at 2:30:43Read what they said
Motion to pass with a favorable recommendation to the, oh, uh, motion to adopt first sub.
H.B. 309 Juneteenth Observance Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute of HB 309 for discussion.
▶ Watch at 2:30:50Read what they said
Um, motion is to adopt first substitute, um, HB 3 0 9, uh, discussion to that motion.
H.B. 296 Water Commitment Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Owens moved to make a favorable recommendation to the full House on HB 296.
▶ Watch at 1:07:35Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I'd like to ask the committee, or a motion that we make a motion to make a favorable recommendation to the full house on HB 2 96.
H.B. 296 Water Commitment Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Owens said the bill is a deliberative step that does not make fundamental policy changes and does not appear to carry an expense.
▶ Watch at 1:07:52Read what they said
Yeah, I would like to comment briefly. Uh, I just think it lets, it's, it's a deliberative process that it, uh, authorizes and don't see it, you know, making any fundamental, uh, policy shifts. It's just suggesting that we start taking account of that issue and seems timely and, uh, appropriate. And I don't see it being an expense, so why not think about it? So I, I like the bill. Thank
H.B. 296 Water Commitment Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Owens moved that HB 296 pass out with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:09:42Read what they said
I'll place that motion that we pass out with a favorable recommendation. HB 2 96, water commitment amendments by Representative Nguyen.
H.B. 286 Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend the first substitute of H.B. 286.
▶ Watch at 1:20:16Read what they said
Happy to, uh, follow up then, uh, mo motion to approve, uh, sub one of HP 2 86 with a favorable recommendation.
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Supports the bill, raises the notice issue, and asks whether a higher fee adjusted over time for inflation was considered.
▶ Watch at 1:33:09Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I was gonna ask and I wasn't then I, I I, I support this bill and I, I guess I have a question for the sponsor in the larger context and, and sort of going to these other questions. 'cause we're habituated to think of that as a flat fee. And so there is the notice issue, which I think would be a good one to address. You know, the other question and, and you recounted that the person who suggested it to you had actually quit offering the service. And I think one good point of this bill would be to encourage more businesses to offer the service, right? 'cause they can make money at …
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Distinguishes quick basic inspections from full inspections and argues that letting the market set the price is a reasonable approach.
▶ Watch at 1:34:23Read what they said
And, and I would also look at it saying, well really there's two types of inspections that's going on there. The superficial quick one, looking at the headlights, blinkers wipers where you're buying a car or something, you're just like, Hey, just take a quick look at it. They're gonna charge probably whatever that max is anyway. If, if it, if we raise it to $70, that just becomes the standard, I'm guessing, uh, regardless of the time or if they're doing a bumper to bumper looking at the axles, the joints, the drive train, um, again, you're gonna get whatever that time allotment allows, which is $70 worth of man hour. It's so it it's gonna be a quick …
H.B. 192 Vehicle Inspection Fee Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Says they like the change discussed. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:35:35Read what they said
But I appreciate the thinking on it. Yeah, and I like the change. Thank you. Yeah, Thank you. Okay.
H.B. 37 Used Oil Management Act Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked whether the committee needs to adopt the substitute and moved to adopt substitute number one.
▶ Watch at 53:35Read what they said
I Think Representative Owens Thank you Mr. Chair. Do we need to adopt the sub? Yeah. Yes, we do. Would you like to do that? Motion To adopt the sub one?
H.B. 64 School and Institutional Trust Lands Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said he fully supports the bill and stressed the value of preserving historic places.
▶ Watch at 1:16:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I just want to say I wholeheartedly support the bill and I appreciate the sponsor working on it. I think there's, my, my family goes way back in Garfield County in particular. But this is a, a statewide issue. And I just think there's a few things more important than identifying and hanging onto these historical points of reference. They keep us oriented as a people, and they're healthy for people psychologically to know where we came from and to encounter these places, even if they're strangers to the area, to see a sign on the road is a meaningful, uh, connection to the past and to place. And I just, I don't know of …
H.B. 60 Water Rights Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said he is unable to support the bill in its current form, seeking greater clarity and possible amendments on decisions made outside the engineer's role.
▶ Watch at 2:28:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, in listening to the concerns, I, I've been trying to address them today and, and yesterday, uh, by stakeholders. Uh, and, uh, I've also had encouraging discussions with the sponsor and the, and the state engineer in whom I have a great deal of confidence as well. Um, I I am concerned there may be disconnect between the stated intention and the legislation and, and some impacts on the side. I just want to get great greater clarity on that. Um, and, uh, so I'm unable to support the bill in its current form and, and, uh, look forward to working with the sponsor and the engineer either to change my understanding or to perhaps …
H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Asks the sponsor to confirm that the substitute reports non-anonymized data, facility by facility, and the sponsor agrees.
▶ Watch at 1:05:19Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, just looking, uh, Representative Koford at the red line, comparing the sub the, uh, the change changes made there include, uh, reporting non anonymized data that it's gonna be facility by facility. That's correct. I think that's a healthy change, and I think that's great. Just wanted to be sure we were on the same page there. Thank you.
H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Asks what quantities of water data centers use and whether the engineer can provide those figures.
▶ Watch at 1:05:51Read what they said
And actually, I, I do have one further question, Mr. Chair. And that would be, you know, what kinds of quantities, and, and I don't mean to put you on the spot, but are we, I mean the, these are reputed to be water intensive. Uh, some are less, more so than others. 'cause I understand there's some technologies that allow recirculation rather than evaporation of water. But anyway, just curious the volumes of water, if you're familiar with, uh, maybe the engineer could Helper if I'm just curious what kinds of quantities we are talking about.
H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Asks the sponsor to respond to public comments that publishing water data could let people work out trade secrets.
▶ Watch at 1:28:42Read what they said
Just to maybe a question to the sponsor to follow up on some of that public comment, uh, on the disclosure of trade secrets, the potential for people to triangulate. I mean, I, that strikes me as not a particularly, um, I mean, I don't agree with that concern because I dealt with that in my professional life and don't see that issue. But have you, what do, what do you think about that, those comments, uh, on the trade secret portion and keeping that, to me, that's, because that's only published in the aggregate, I see that as essentially nullifying the concern there. I, I wondered if you'd wanna address that.
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