Legislators / Nicholeen P. Peck
Nicholeen P. Peck
Republican · House District 28
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
- Email: npeck@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-834-5495
- Office: PO Box 81, Tooele, UT, 84074
Constituents get priority, so say you live in their district. Writing about a specific bill? Open it and use Take action for a ready-to-send message.
Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Nicholeen P. Peck serves on:
- Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Education Committee
- House Public Utilities and Energy Committee
- Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee
- Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee
What they've said
454 remarks on 99 billsH.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Opposes the motion, saying certain lines could cause financial confusion for her county and asking for a no vote for now.
▶ Watch at 14:28Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise opposition because there is some lines in this lines 2 66 and 2 68 that are going to create some financial confusion for my kitty, for my county, for Tula County. And so, um, I'm not sure maybe if it's ready yet, uh, even though I voted for this, this before, it seems to be that there's some confusion within the county about whether this will actually be beneficial to them. And so I'm hoping that we can maybe go with a no vote now and wait until later. Thank you
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor will yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 15:07Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will this sponsor yield to a series of questions? Rep Sam Dunnigan, will you yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks about a change in the notice requirements for annexing unincorporated islands, including the public hearing and posted notice, and which version of the bill the sponsor is comparing.
▶ Watch at 15:15Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm looking at lines 2 28 from the original bill and it looks like, um, when we're talking about unincorporated islands being auto automatically annexed that before they were going to be able to have a public hearing and at least 14 days before the day of the hearing, uh, there would've been notice about that. And also posting notice in a place reasonably likely to give notice of a public hearing so people would actually be able to know what's going on and the fact that they're being annexed. But now it looks like they're just getting a written mail notice, um, letting them know that they are being annexed. And so I'm wondering if …
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says residents would only receive a notice of annexation and asks whether they can do anything to stop it.
▶ Watch at 16:12Read what they said
Okay, thank you. So right now people are just gonna get a notice saying they're being incorporated into a new city and there's nothing they can do about it. No, that's Not how it works. Thank you
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether residents can act before a set date to stop an island from being annexed.
▶ Watch at 16:36Read what they said
So is there anything they can do to stop this? The people themselves rather than just the unincorporated area posting something before May 7th that they don't want to be incorporated?
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks for clarification that after receiving mailed notice, residents can go to their leaders to say they do not want to be annexed.
▶ Watch at 17:15Read what they said
Okay. Thank you Mr. Speaker. One more question. So just for clarification in here it, it said that the unincorporated area needed to let them know before May of 2027. Um, so you're saying after someone gets a mailed in notice, letting them know that they're going to be annexed, they can then go to their leaders and let them know that they do not want to be annexed. And that would stop that at that point
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks to confirm that islands can be opted out after mailed notice is given.
▶ Watch at 18:04Read what they said
They can opt them out after the mailed notice has been given. Is that correct?
H.B. 457 County Governance Modifications · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says many constituents will not look at the map and believes they should be able to opt out after receiving mailed notice.
▶ Watch at 18:17Read what they said
I, I can appreciate that. I think most of our, um, constituents won't be following legislation closely enough to go nowhere to look at this map. So I think it's very important that they have the ability to opt out after receiving the mailed notice. Thank you.
S.B. 305 Hospital Quality Incentive Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says she has a question about the bill's finances and asks to yield to the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 1:08:30Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Uh, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. So just a question about the finances on this. Um, we'll, the sponsor yield Oh, thank you.
S.B. 305 Hospital Quality Incentive Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks what the 'match' in the bill's financing means and says she needs an explanation to feel comfortable with it.
▶ Watch at 1:08:42Read what they said
Sponsor yields. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. So there's quite a bit of money that's moving around because of this bill, and, and we said it's not costing the state anything, but then there was mention of a match, and I suppose I'm not understanding that. And so for me to feel good about this, I kind of need to know what you mean by match. Could you please explain that?
S.B. 305 Hospital Quality Incentive Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the bill's federal matching funds mean only part of the spending is being shown.
▶ Watch at 1:10:38Read what they said
Yeah, it is. I with the sponsor yield to a couple more questions. Yes. Will the sponsor yield a series of questions? Yes. Sponsor yields. Okay. Thank you. So are you saying that in one area of our budget we are paying money, and then in this bill we're talking about federal money that's matching what we're paying somewhere else, so we're just only seeing half of the equation? Is that what you're saying?
S.B. 305 Hospital Quality Incentive Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks what the money must be used for in rural hospitals.
▶ Watch at 1:11:26Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And then what exactly is this money going to be used for in the rural hospitals? Do they have specific things that they have to use this money for, or is it just kinda whatever they want?
S.B. 176 Landscaping Procurement Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether anything currently prevents agencies from buying electric equipment when their existing equipment wears out.
▶ Watch at 1:38:36Read what they said
Thank you. Um, is there anything right now that prevents them from buying electrical? Maybe weed eaters and mowers and stuff, if they wanted to, when their ones run out?
S.B. 176 Landscaping Procurement Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks again whether agencies could already buy this equipment if they wanted to.
▶ Watch at 1:39:07Read what they said
Okay. Yes. So are you saying that they already could buy those if they wanted to, then?
S.B. 176 Landscaping Procurement Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says she likes electric trimmers and blowers but sees no need for the bill if agencies can already buy them, and opposes it.
▶ Watch at 1:39:14Read what they said
I actually love electrical weed eaters and leaf blowers and stuff like that, but if they can already do it, I don't know if I see a need, I'm probably opposed.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Presents H.B. 197 as a modernization of raw milk regulation that creates a tiered structure, removes the 51% farm ownership requirement for retail sales while keeping inspection and testing, and describes the bill as largely consensus.
▶ Watch at 2:29:33Read what they said
And how, how it's regulated in Utah so it doesn't remove oversight. We're just looking to modernize and clarify the regulation of raw milk in Utah. It creates a tiered regulatory structure. Retail sales remain permitted, inspected, and tested by the department. It removes the requirement that a farmer own at least 51% of a store in order to sell milk there, but requires milk to be sold in stores inspected by the department. It allows designated agent delivery to a store. It expands producer reach, expands accessibility for consumers, retains all testing, labeling requirements, and the department re uh, the Ag Department maintains full oversight and investigative authority of foodborne illness outbreaks at every level. So we're reorganizing the …
S.B. 181 School Discipline Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says seclusion rooms are not the proper discipline method but notes out-of-control students, and asks where the clear line is for when a seclusion room is not used.
▶ Watch at 3:13:34Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague to my right. I also feel like the sec collusion rooms are not the proper way to do, um, discipline at the school. But we do have a problem in the school where there are wild disciplines happening and teachers are actually walking out of the classroom and leaving a student to destroy property and stuff. And they're not necessarily calling parents to come and get them all the time. And so they have this issue. I'm just wondering if they don't have a seclusion room, room and the person is out of control, or if they're gonna tone that down. Where's the line? Is there a clear line in this? 'cause I'm …
S.B. 181 School Discipline Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks where the clear line is between using a seclusion room and other responses when a student is out of control.
▶ Watch at 3:13:34Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague to my right. I also feel like the sec collusion rooms are not the proper way to do, um, discipline at the school. But we do have a problem in the school where there are wild disciplines happening and teachers are actually walking out of the classroom and leaving a student to destroy property and stuff. And they're not necessarily calling parents to come and get them all the time. And so they have this issue. I'm just wondering if they don't have a seclusion room, room and the person is out of control, or if they're gonna tone that down. Where's the line? Is there a clear line in this? 'cause I'm …
S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Rises in support of the bill and says she consulted her brother, a veterinarian, on whether it would do harm or good.
▶ Watch at 23:45Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tam. I just rise in support of this. I was wondering if this was gonna do harm or good, and I actually talked to my brother who's a veterinarian
S.B. 72 Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Rises in support of the bill and says they spoke with a relative who is a veterinarian to judge whether the bill would do harm or good.
▶ Watch at 23:45Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tam. I just rise in support of this. I was wondering if this was gonna do harm or good, and I actually talked to my brother who's a veterinarian
S.B. 111 Veterinary Post-employment Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Supports the bill, saying a veterinarian relative who owns a clinic expects it to help keep more veterinarians in the workforce and ease shortages.
▶ Watch at 23:50Read what they said
and I actually talked to my brother who's a veterinarian and has owned a clinic and he said, this is going to solve a major problem that will make it so that more veterinarians can stay in the workforce and will will get rid of that, um, problem that so many have where there's not enough docs for the workload. So I support.
S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Spoke in support of the bill, saying it adds clarity and support for the Professional Practices Advisory Commission and protects students and good teachers.
▶ Watch at 43:49Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise in support of this. I'm sure that some people remember that a year ago there was a lot of news in, in my county about teachers who had had indiscretions and problems with students. And of course everyone was shocked and we were focusing on this and how do we fix this? And PAC plays a big role in cracking down on some of those very difficult circumstances that can occur, but don't often occur in a school. And I think that we need to make their job easier for them. I think we need to protect the student, uh, the teachers that are doing well. We need to protect the students always. …
S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Moves to circle the bill, saying it shifts authority from the Capitol Preservation Board to the Legislative Management Committee and reduces meeting frequency, which she believes could affect transparency and accountability.
▶ Watch at 50:07Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro Tem. I motion to circle Motion is to circle, we'd like to speak to it. Yes, I would. Um, as I was looking through this, I feel like I probably need more looking through this because it looks like that in this bill, what we're doing is we're transferring power from the capital Preservation boards over to the Legislative Management Committee line, uh, 1051 to 1054. It talks about a transfer of powers there and whose decision can supersede the others. It also talks in there about not having to meet as often, which I think decreases potentially transparency and accountability. So I feel like we need to look at this and make sure this …
S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Expresses concern that the bill shifts power to the Legislative Management Committee and reduces meeting frequency, and asks for more review.
▶ Watch at 50:13Read what they said
Yes, I would. Um, as I was looking through this, I feel like I probably need more looking through this because it looks like that in this bill, what we're doing is we're transferring power from the capital Preservation boards over to the Legislative Management Committee line, uh, 1051 to 1054. It talks about a transfer of powers there and whose decision can supersede the others. It also talks in there about not having to meet as often, which I think decreases potentially transparency and accountability. So I feel like we need to look at this and make sure this is really the direction we want to go. And I'm hoping that my colleagues will vote to circle this bill …
S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Gives summation on the motion to circle, saying members have questions about the bill and urging a vote to circle so it can be discussed further.
▶ Watch at 56:17Read what they said
for summation on the motion to circle Well, I think that it's pretty clear that there are things that people Have questions about in this bill, and I think it's only prudent that we only pass something that we know what it is. And, and I don't think that the Capital Preservation board and the legislative committee or management committee, whatever they're called, I don't think that's something that we're all super familiar with. And so this is like a, a kind of feels like a blind bill until we are able to discuss it a little bit more. And I, I just think that's the right thing to do. So I urge my colleagues to please vote to circle.
S.B. 192 Legislative Activities Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Argues the bill should be circled so members can better understand it before passing it.
▶ Watch at 56:19Read what they said
Well, I think that it's pretty clear that there are things that people Have questions about in this bill, and I think it's only prudent that we only pass something that we know what it is. And, and I don't think that the Capital Preservation board and the legislative committee or management committee, whatever they're called, I don't think that's something that we're all super familiar with. And so this is like a, a kind of feels like a blind bill until we are able to discuss it a little bit more. And I, I just think that's the right thing to do. So I urge my colleagues to please vote to circle.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Opposes concurring with the Senate amendments because removing the parental transparency provision reduces parents' ability to see what is happening on classroom digital devices, which may hurt trust with parents.
▶ Watch at 1:27:41Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to concurring because to remove the parent's ability to be able to see what's happening in those digital devices in the classroom, I think, I mean, even if it may cost some money, if we are going to require all of this digital access in the classroom, we have to allow the parents to be able to have access to, and I feel like that this is a step toward not having transparency with our parents. And I don't think that that's going to help our state increase trust with the parents. And we've been struggling with that lately. I feel like we keep this in and we go to a committee, …
H.B. 312 School Curriculum and Standards Modifications · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Supports the concurrence, saying the combined bill helps create state-standard curriculum for all subjects rather than relying on out-of-state curriculum.
▶ Watch at 1:38:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support because I think that both the sponsor of this bill and the sponsor of the other, some of the other language that was put into this bill actually are trying to do somewhat of the same thing. Their approach was slightly different, but what this bill is doing as it's combined here is it's making it so that the civics education is created within our state according to our state standards, which is super important and that, but that civics education is not all of the education. The other bill that we voted no on in committee the other day would have superseded this bill, which was one of the reasons that …
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Proposes a verbal amendment to remove certain words from a line of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:56:31Read what they said
Yes. Okay. State the amendment. Yeah. Simple amendment Line 180 5 to remove the words. Okay, Hang on just a minute. Let me get to line 180 5. Okay. Okay. In line 180. See it. Make sure I got the right line. I think it's 180 5. Uh, remove the words directed at a student
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Proposes a verbal amendment to remove wording about a student, then withdraws it after finding it does not apply to the fifth substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:56:34Read what they said
Simple amendment Line 180 5 to remove the words. Okay, Hang on just a minute. Let me get to line 180 5. Okay. Okay. In line 180. See it. Make sure I got the right line. I think it's 180 5. Uh, remove the words directed at a student Representative. I, I don't know. Are you on the fifth substitute? I don't think you're on the fifth substitute. Okay, well hold on. Is that not there? Fifth substitute. I have different wording. Well then maybe the pro, maybe that's the problem. Darn it. Maybe I should motion to circle. I can't. I probably out of order. Yeah. Is that already done? Okay. I don't know why I was still seeing …
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Discusses confusion over which substitute version the amendment applies to and withdraws the amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:56:58Read what they said
I, I don't know. Are you on the fifth substitute? I don't think you're on the fifth substitute. Okay, well hold on. Is that not there? Fifth substitute. I have different wording. Well then maybe the pro, maybe that's the problem. Darn it. Maybe I should motion to circle. I can't. I probably out of order. Yeah. Is that already done? Okay. I don't know why I was still seeing it. I guess I withdraw my amendment.
H.B. 410 Water Leasing Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Having voted on the prevailing side, moves to reconsider the action on fifth substitute SB 267.
▶ Watch at 2:17:19Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Having voted on the prevailing side, I move that we reconsider our actions on fifth substitute SB 2 67.
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Moves to amend, then moves to circle the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:20:06Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move to amend. Oh, I don't know what I say next then Circle. Oh I move to circle this.
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Identifies the line to amend and proposes removing the word "targeted" after "advertising."
▶ Watch at 2:24:30Read what they said
Thank you. Line 2 42. Line 2 42. Mm-hmm. Right after the A, we're just gonna remove the word targeted.
S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the study will cover all advertising, which she describes as more complete, and that removing "targeted" supports that.
▶ Watch at 2:25:07Read what they said
Just really quickly? This is a study that they're gonna be doing and this will just make it so that they study all of the advertising, which is more complete.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presents the bill to allow victims of child sexual abuse material to bring civil lawsuits for damages, citing a federal civil action and a gap in Utah law.
▶ Watch at 43:04Read what they said
Go ahead. Thank You Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Um, I am happy to be here to present this bill today. It's a very important bill that stands up for a marginalized, um, group in our population that is, we're becoming more and more aware of, but have been mostly hidden in many year for many, many years. So in Utah, in 2024, over 8,324 reports of child sexual abuse material. So we're talking about the worst of the worst. We're not talking about porn, not like just, you know, seeing like penthouse magazines or stuff like that. We're talking about when there's people who are perving and creating material where they are sexually abusing children, making it available …
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Says the bill language was worked on with the attorney general and tech companies so internet providers are not covered.
▶ Watch at 52:45Read what they said
And just finally, the only thing I would say is that, um, we've worked really closely with the ag on this and all of the language here to make sure it's good. We've also had conversations with the tech companies and made sure that we put their language in so that companies like Comcast and such wouldn't be caught into providing any of this because they were just providing an internet connection.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Asks whether an amendment is in their name and works through which amendment is pending.
▶ Watch at 57:49Read what they said
Um, Um, Do I, I don't, I don't know if I do have an amendment on that one. Well, yep. It just, it needs to be Is it from, is it assigned to me? Is the amendment Yeah. Back from the 24th. So maybe you've already moved on from that. Yeah, but It, it needs to Oh, okay. Okay. If, if it was my amendment, then yes. Is it my name on it? Yes. You know, things go by. I, I forgot to look at that. So yeah, I do have, um, It's in your name on the 24th. Okay. Thank you. I don't know what to push on here to I bet you this is it. No, that is …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presents the bill, saying it requires districts to vet materials before use, bars sale or promotion of goods through digital materials, and was prompted by advertisements found in a state online library database.
▶ Watch at 59:41Read what they said
Okay, thank you. So, um, I'm gonna be really brief in talking about this. I think there's probably gonna be some public comment, and I don't wanna take too much of the committee's time. This Bill does two things basically. Um, so if you can see on lines 1 92 to 1 93, it says an LEA may not make available for a student. Um, use an instructional material that has been removed statewide, and then it also makes it so that, so if something's been removed statewide, they can't make it available, that's already should be a standard. But it's also says in this bill that they need to vet things prior to putting them out as a material …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Explains that UETN holds contracts with several databases, and that a past vendor's contract was ended for noncompliance.
▶ Watch at 1:04:35Read what they said
Yeah, UETN. So UETN has contracts with multiple different databases like World Book Culture Grams, Gail, Gail is probably their largest contract would be my guess. Um, with that, that database, because their one database comes with many, many databases. If you saw as I was clicking through that I would click into a high school database and then another high school database and then into a database called Power Search. But they have lots of databases that they can pick from in there. That was just one. Have You found issues with other databases or Not any that weren't Gale? As far as the ones that we host now, there was another vendor company called EBSCO that we did …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Says UETN is not expected to take a position but has discussed the bill's language with its head, who sees it as giving them leverage.
▶ Watch at 1:06:54Read what they said
Well, I don't think they're gonna be taking a position on the bill per se, but I've had multiple conversations with the head of UBTN and the, the thing that's been conveyed to me is this language that says that we can't advertise to the children in the school materials will make it so that then they can have some teeth to crack down on this.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Summarizes that the bill's language says an LEA shall review each instructional material, and asks whether the committee wants illegal content left in databases.
▶ Watch at 1:16:51Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. Um, I mean, obviously I would love the bill to go forward, but I'm at the mercy of the committee and I understand that, and that you guys need to decide when you think something is ready to move forward or not. I do wanna just say, um, just for clarification, that, um, it does say on line 1 98 and LEA shall review each instructional material. So that's actually what is written in the bill. Um, there was something suggested otherwise, you know, it is true that those things like CRE and vapes and online gambling and all those things that are presented to children are illegal to present to children. But I think that's the …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presented the bill, which sets minimum standards for teaching human fetal development and requires at least a three-minute instructional video, and introduced the physician joining the meeting.
▶ Watch at 1:24:07Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the committee, I'm happy to be here talking with you about second substitute HB three 15. There will be a doctor that makes a comment as part of my presentation. So if they Get to, why don't you tell us his name and what you think he's gonna say. Oh, I was gonna say his name is Dr. William Lyle if they want to promote him. And he's a board certified OB GYN in Florida. And he is a former department, um, chair as well. He's an instructor at the University of Florida and Florida State Medical School on OB GYN residency programs. Okay. And he's going to be talking about the value …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Said the bill sets specifications for the video without naming a vendor, that more than one video could meet them, and that schools may choose longer videos.
▶ Watch at 1:27:15Read what they said
It's not true. It just gives specifications of what needs to be in the video. Okay. But, But are the specifications, this is important. So limited that there's only one video in existence today that would meet those. That's what I'm asking you. Well, I already know of two videos. Okay. What are they That could mean that one is called Baby Olivia and one is called Baby Oliver. It also the Miracle of Life video. That's not three minutes though. It's not three minutes, but it's over. It's just a minimum of three minutes. Okay. So it could be longer. If they wanna do a full one hour, they can. In fact, USBE does have the miracle of life …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Gave a closing summary saying the video's timelines can be tracked by two methods of counting pregnancy weeks, that the video is medically accurate, and that the bill is an opt-in part of sex education.
▶ Watch at 1:43:43Read what they said
Really short. Um, doctors made this video. There was a list about eight doctors that have made these types of videos and put 'em together for people. There was mention about in, uh, the weeks of pregnancy, there are two different ways to calculate weeks. Uh, LMP, which is last menstrual period, and then conceptual age. And so some of the videos that they could access, like Baby Oliver will track both of those. Um, if they wanna make sure that they're talking about conceptual age and last menstrual period. So there shouldn't be a problem there with what is available out there. Um, it's very medically accurate. And also, my last thing is just in 50 3G, we are …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Presents HB 411 to establish a three-digit human trafficking hotline, citing trafficking statistics and the difficulty of remembering multiple hotline numbers, and says the state would petition the FCC for the number.
▶ Watch at 42:47Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. Members of the committee. I'm happy to be here today to present on HB four 11, which is a trafficking hotline that we are trying to establish. So I don't know if you are aware of some of the numbers of trafficking that actually happened in our nation, but they are significant. So according to just one source, and that's one number, um, the number that is 808 4 3 5 6 7 8, which is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they report in 2025, there was 113,500 reports of possible child sex trafficking. This was a 323% increase from 2024. They estimate that one in seven children that are actually missing, which …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Thanks the supporters, says the bill does not replace 9-1-1, and introduces the survivors who will testify.
▶ Watch at 48:30Read what they said
Yes, thank you. These individuals are here because they believe no victim should suffer in silence. They are here because they believe protection should be simple and accessible. They are here to fight for sons, daughters, our children who deserve to be safe and have a safe way to reach help. This does not replace 9 1 1. It strengthens our safety net three digits could mean the difference between continuing to be exploited and or rescued. Um, I, again, respect and ask for your support now. And as Representative Peck, we would like to turn the time over to Kim and to Julie, um, who are our courageous survivors, um, who have been sex trafficked here in Utah. I …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Says the bill costs nothing now and asks the federal government to release the number, which could take a few years, and offers to take questions.
▶ Watch at 56:24Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Basically all I would say at the end of my presentation is just that this is not going to cost us anything. We're just petitioning the federal government to be part of this with other states so that we can get those numbers released. It could take us a few years to make this happen, but we're hoping just to start the process today. And with that, we're open to any questions.
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Responds that the Attorney General's office approved the bill language after several meetings and that DHHS is already working on the process.
▶ Watch at 57:37Read what they said
Thank, thank you. I don't see anything directly saying it's a feel good bill because it doesn't have teeth to it. So actually, uh, we've worked a lot with the ag on this and that language in there had to be approved like three different times by the ag. They said that they did need us to direct to do that. And so we did. And they are working with DHHS because DHHS has already been through the process with the suicide hotline number. Um, and the may part at the bottom where it's, if the, if we do get the number, they may do these things. Um, they did not want that to have a, uh, be a mandated …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Explains that the bill requires the application process to begin, while the permissive language applies to later steps.
▶ Watch at 59:06Read what they said
Sure. I appreciate that. At the end it's the may parts at the beginning, it's the shall part that they do have to do the application process, which is the most important thing to start it out.
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Gives closing remarks saying she is dedicated to the issue and will keep working on it for vulnerable people.
▶ Watch at 1:09:26Read what they said
Thank you. I just am dedicated to this issue. Um, there's a lot of vulnerable people that have shared a lot of things today and I appreciate you, you listening to them. Um, and I promise to keep working on this issue to make sure that it's done right for them. Thank you. Thank you. Go
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Presented HB 464 as an added option letting parents teach the six-hour road training portion of driver education, citing family needs, third-party costs, and recent driving-instructor incidents.
▶ Watch at 1:10:17Read what they said
Thank you. I'm gonna switch seats 'cause this one's a little bit taller and I'm a little bit short. So anyway, I appreciate that. I do have, um, someone who is presenting online with me today. If we could promote her. Her name is Kiara Poynter. If you can find that person, that would be great. Thank you. So I look forward to presenting on this bill. HB 4 64 parent taught drivers education amendments. I actually had no thought whatsoever about doing a bill like this. And then Kiara Pointer, who you're gonna hear from soon, she actually came to me with this idea and as soon as she said, you know, I think parents should be able to …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said USBE had been consulted and had suggested offering its 30-hour online training as part of the curriculum.
▶ Watch at 1:19:09Read what they said
Are you asking me? Um, yeah, we've had multiple conversations with them and they actually, it was their idea to say, Hey, we can just give you the 30 hour training, that's the online training and they can use that as part of the the curriculum. Do we have USB online? I dunno.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said parents know their children best, that the bill is an option rather than a requirement, and that it would help families in rural areas without access to driving schools.
▶ Watch at 1:22:56Read what they said
So I think that the parents know their children best and they also know if they wanna do that. I know that many parents have said to me, I would never want to teach my child those six hours. Right? I'll do the 40, but I don't wanna do the six. I'm like, that's fine, you don't have to 'cause there's gonna be all these options. Um, but then there's others who have said that would be such a blessing for us because my child has high anxiety, they have a hard time being with other people in that type of a personal setting. And that could be difficult for them. It would be so much nicer if they were …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said driver training schools have been vocal about the bill, and presented enrollment data showing third-party growth from 2020 to 2025 and that the bill targets students who cannot afford private courses.
▶ Watch at 1:24:35Read what they said
That? Yeah, in fact they've been very vocal. I'm sure I I would imagine you guys probably got messages or something. They've been pretty vocal on this bill. Um, so I have thought about it quite a bit and I did some numbers. I, I pulled a lot of different data, um, from the state. So in 2020 there was 9,529 students doing from third party driver's ed. And now in 20, 25 numbers there was 20, uh, 12,419. So that's a growth of like 3000 students that have gone to, um, to the third party drivers training programs within a five year period. So there is some steady growth that's actually been happening there. So I don't actually anticipate …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Responded that Utah has about 12,000 DUIs a year and that the state does not publicly track how often children are in the car.
▶ Watch at 1:26:52Read what they said
I didn't look that up for part of this presentation, but if you'd like to enlighten me, you can. Yeah, there's, there's 12,000 total DUIs every year and, and often, I mean, we don't know the numbers. I I don't know that we keep these numbers, um, publicly, but, uh, often there are children in the car, right, which elevates charges.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Said she would like the bill to advance, noting that parent-taught driving is only six hours and that families are welcoming the option.
▶ Watch at 1:45:26Read what they said
Well, obviously I would like the motion to go. I mean, I would like the bill to go forward. I think the parents are welcoming that. I, I think we need to be careful to just realize we're only talking about six hours here. And most children, most young people have gotten into a car or driven something before they ever even did that six hours in that driver training class. Um, and so, you know, we're talking about six hours that a parent is doing something that they do more than anything else, more than mowing the lawn or anything. They are in their cars, driving around. And so they are equipped to teach their children these things, especially …
H.B. 596 Homelessness Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Expresses concern that the bill gives the state authority over municipalities and describes a past experience with a homeless shelter in Tooele, and suggests letting municipalities address homelessness on their own with support that does not dictate actions.
▶ Watch at 1:10:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I appreciate all of the efforts that our state is making in trying to help the homeless population. 'cause I think we all really care about that, and we wanna make sure that we are watching out for the people around us. Tu Willa has a unique experience with the homeless situation that I think relates to this bill and I have some concerns. So in this bill, it looks to me as if we are going to be giving the state the authority to be able to tell municipalities what to do. And I know there's a nod in there in the language that says that with the written consent of a municipality. But …
H.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution Encouraging Strong Family Units · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Peck presents HJR 12, which encourages strong family units, and asks that family terms such as mother, father, and parents be restored to state code, citing marriage and fertility rates and the child tax credit.
▶ Watch at 1:11:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. HJR 12 is a document that came because of all the discussions that have been happening in recent years related to marriage and fertility and those rates across the nation and in our state. Utah is a family friendly state. Our marriage rates and fertility rates are above the norm in the nation, but we are experiencing a fall in those rates and many of us are fully aware of that. So as a state, this resolution is designed to still maintain the, the family unit, the husband and wife caring for their childrens as an important part of our culture here in Utah. Obviously we acknowledge that single parents, grandparents, everybody else that's helping with …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Presents H.B. 315, which would let schools use a free three-minute prenatal development video, and explains its purpose.
▶ Watch at 17:51Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate the patience of the body as we worked out some questions that were, uh, brought to my attention earlier. So we did find that the answer to the question, which, uh, was posed in the previous debate is in lines 1 52 and 1 53 and it talks about how, um, the schools need to at least two times a year, um, between the beginning of grade seven and the end of grade 12, provide the instruction in health and human development. And that usually happens in our state. In fact, I think it always happens in our state, in the ages or in grades eighth grade and 10th grade is when they're doing that. So …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says schools already have a human development section and some videos, but the proposed video shows more detail and would be a free addition developed with USBE input.
▶ Watch at 19:51Read what they said
So they do have a human development section in the health curriculum. There are some videos that they can choose from, but those videos are not necessarily this detailed. They don't show that moment of conception when that fertilization happens. They don't show the same things that are developing that this particular type of video would show, especially at that conceptual age. And so this will just be an addition to the curriculum that they already have, and it'll be something very simple and free that the schools can utilize and that USBE has worked with me on to make sure that the language is correct so that they will be able to have complete ownership over what goes on.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says any producer could make a video meeting the specifications and mentions the existing Baby Olivia video and others without branding.
▶ Watch at 20:49Read what they said
Sure. Well, there anyone could make a video that meets the certain specifications. There is one video already. It is called the Baby Olivia video. There are other ones also, I think there's one called Baby Oliver as well. Um, the baby Olivia one is the one that I'm the most familiar with, but these videos are just so beautiful and they can u they can see them and they can be given to our schools without any type of branding whatsoever. But, uh, there also could be other videos out there that could meet the same criteria.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the video would not go through the local curriculum process because USBE would provide it, as it does other health materials.
▶ Watch at 22:08Read what they said
So it, the video would not need to go through the current process. The video is basically going to be provided by USBE. So just like many of the materials are currently, the other videos that they have to use in health class are also provided by USBE, unless they are ones that they decide on outside of the ones that USBE provide. Um, this would just be one of those that's also provided by USBE.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the video would already be approved statewide and schools would not need to go through the approval process.
▶ Watch at 22:56Read what they said
They shouldn't need to put it through the approval process. It will already be approved across the state and they can use it in their curriculum.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the statute requires high definition video so the developing baby can be seen clearly, including for any ultrasound option.
▶ Watch at 23:46Read what they said
It would need to follow what's in the statute. So it needs to be high definition video so that they can see the details of the developing baby. That's the whole point of the video. And if, like, if they were to show an ultrasound, which is another option that they have also here in this piece of code, it would need to be a very high resolution, high definition so that they can actually see what's going on. I'm sure many of us understand how difficult having seen ultrasounds, it can be to make out certain parts of the baby, but if it's really high definition, then they can see things very, very clearly, especially the heart and the …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says three minutes gives enough time to show development week by week without rushing.
▶ Watch at 24:41Read what they said
Well, because it takes a little bit of time to actually see all the different weeks of development, and I think it's really positive in some of these videos that I've seen that are three minutes in length, some of them just a little bit longer than three minutes, where you can see them going week by week in what is developing within that baby as it grows inside the womb. It gives them enough time to see that gradual process. If we rush over it too quickly in a shorter period of time, then they may not be able to really take in the true formation of this life that's happening inside of the mother.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Gives closing remarks, saying other states and Idaho have done similar legislation and urging support.
▶ Watch at 27:35Read what they said
Thank you. I think I'll just say at the end that there are other states, six or seven states around the nation that have already done this. And so we would be in good company with those states. Um, even our neighbor Idaho has already done this piece of legislation. I don't think we should be afraid of showing our children what life looks like, how they were created, how they grow. I think that's a part of their knowledge that's going to serve them their whole lives as they learn to hopefully respect themselves, respect each other, and preserve and protect the lives of other people around them as well. So I urge my bo the my colleagues support.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the substitute was changed to address concerns and incorporates input from the Utah State Board of Education.
▶ Watch at 1:09:56Read what they said
Yes. When this bill was discussed earlier on, there were a few questions we needed to make some changes to make it so that everybody felt a little bit better about the bill. Also, we incorporated a lot of input from USBE. So this new language reflects what USBE would like to see going forward with this bill.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the substitute added changes made after earlier questions and input from the Utah State Board of Education, reflecting what USBE wants for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:09:56Read what they said
Yes. When this bill was discussed earlier on, there were a few questions we needed to make some changes to make it so that everybody felt a little bit better about the bill. Also, we incorporated a lot of input from USBE. So this new language reflects what USBE would like to see going forward with this bill.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Describes the bill as adding a free three-minute human development video for eighth and tenth grade health classes, and says it is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 1:10:47Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill is a bill that will bring some vital instruction into our classrooms, into our health classes. So in eighth and 10th grade, we study, uh, reproduction and human development. And there are some resources that teachers can use, but this will be a new resource that they can use to help the students understand the development of a baby. They'll be able to see starting a conception when the baby starts developing its heart movements. When the baby's arms start developing, it's a beautiful tasteful video that's about three minutes in length that teachers will be able to use in their health classes. It's provided free to the state with a perpetual license that …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the bill adds a free three-minute human development video to eighth and tenth grade health classes, showing fetal development, and that she is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 1:10:47Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill is a bill that will bring some vital instruction into our classrooms, into our health classes. So in eighth and 10th grade, we study, uh, reproduction and human development. And there are some resources that teachers can use, but this will be a new resource that they can use to help the students understand the development of a baby. They'll be able to see starting a conception when the baby starts developing its heart movements. When the baby's arms start developing, it's a beautiful tasteful video that's about three minutes in length that teachers will be able to use in their health classes. It's provided free to the state with a perpetual license that …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the bill applies to eighth and tenth grade health classes within existing human development curriculum.
▶ Watch at 1:12:42Read what they said
Yes, it's going to be in the eighth grade and 10th grade health classes in the human development sections that are already covered according to that curriculum in our state.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the bill applies to eighth and tenth grade health classes in the existing human development sections of the state curriculum.
▶ Watch at 1:12:42Read what they said
Yes, it's going to be in the eighth grade and 10th grade health classes in the human development sections that are already covered according to that curriculum in our state.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the language should state that it applies within health classes and that the wording may need to be checked.
▶ Watch at 1:12:59Read what they said
Um, that's a really good question, but it should say just within the health classes, uh, is what it should say make available.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says the intent is for the bill to apply to health classes and suggests an amendment may be needed if the wording is missing. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:13:34Read what they said
I'm looking for the, I'm sorry, I don't wanna take time, Mr. Speaker. Um, but that is what this is intended for, is for the health classes. And if we need to amend to put that, um, it, it says human development includes at a minimum. Um, I think it's in the existing language, which is why I'm having a hard time finding it.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says she believes the language is included elsewhere and will locate it and return to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:14:51Read what they said
Yes. Sorry to take my colleague's time on that. I'm pretty sure that it is included in the other part. We'll find it and bring it back real quick.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Says she believes the wording is included elsewhere in the bill and will find it and bring it back.
▶ Watch at 1:14:51Read what they said
Yes. Sorry to take my colleague's time on that. I'm pretty sure that it is included in the other part. We'll find it and bring it back real quick.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presents HB 188 as tracking school-based juvenile recidivism, citing 2025 USBE incident data and school administrators' concerns about drugs and bathrooms, and says the bill requires parent notice of drug offenses, clarifies school search plans, and allows court referral for distribution or after repeated possession offenses.
▶ Watch at 1:22:25Read what they said
Alright. I'll try to be as quick as I can, but this one does have a little bit of explanation to it. So there is a, a flyer that's being handed around. I wanna mostly draw your attention to the second page. So if you turn, there's a page with graphs. This is from the 2025 report from USBE for their incident reports. And you can see on here, 2025 that the total incident report that were reported, not all are reported, but a lot of them are is 115,981. But then distinct incident count, which means, um, how many children are actually doing the incidences or, or what that one incident happens is basically distinct is 88,434 incidents. And …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Thanks stakeholders and colleagues for their work on the bill and declines to sum up further.
▶ Watch at 1:34:46Read what they said
No, just to say how much I think everybody else who's worked with me, I mean, this has been a year of work and tons of meetings, tireless meetings with Van and Pam and all the people and I just really appreciate Them. So I remember you called me months ago and I'm like, you gotta talk to the crew. And you did. So thank you for that. Yeah.
H.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution Encouraging Strong Family Units · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presents HJR 12 and the second substitute, explaining its emphasis on marriage, intact families, and the importance of family-focused language in bills.
▶ Watch at 1:00:36Read what they said
Thank you everybody. It's good to be with Health and Human Services today, um, to talk about HDR 12. So, uh, last year when I started my time at the legislature, I thought, you know, we really need to be focusing on family and making sure that that's in the forefront of all of the policy that we were working on here at the Capitol. And so I drafted a resolution, and then, you know how it goes. We didn't get to it, and that kind of thing, and we kind of had a thing about resolutions last year. And so I just said, well, I'm not gonna worry about it. So then throughout the interim, there was a whole …
H.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution Encouraging Strong Family Units · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Concludes the presentation and says she would like to see the child tax credit increased further.
▶ Watch at 1:05:11Read what they said
Well, so I'm pretty much at the end, but then it, it really talks about, um, you know, things that we want to be, be focusing on. One of the biggest ones I wanted to mention though, was the, the child tax credit for helping with things like, um, childcare and providing for the needs of the children. I know that we increase the child tax credit already, um, but I would actually like to see that go up even more to help people in that way. And with that, I am done.
H.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution Encouraging Strong Family Units · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Responds that the success sequence is a mindset for education and that HJR 12 focuses on strong marriages and intact families for children's outcomes.
▶ Watch at 1:06:07Read what they said
Oh, sure. So the success sequence really is a mindset, I think, to put together a pattern when we're talking about like education and, um, success for children and the conversation in the school, especially that they'd be looking through that lens. But I think this one really is focusing on making sure that we put a focus on creating strong marriages, good communication and families, intact families to try to improve, um, the outcomes for children before they even are looking at their own success sequence going forward.
H.B. 518 School Curriculum Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Joked about the committee's procedure and moved that the committee favorably recommend HB 518.
▶ Watch at 2:57:01Read what they said
This time, I don't, I don't want him to have to do it himself. Okay. So, But Representative MacPherson had so much fun saying, wait, I Mean, we are not the Senate. That does not usually happen here. Okay. Um, I move that we favorably recommend HB five 18 with a favorable recommendation.
S.B. 234 Rulemaking Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asks how the bill keeps state environmental rules grounded in transparent, reliable science while still protecting public health.
▶ Watch at 35:45Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm just wondering, I mean, if you could just explain a little bit about how this bill ensures that we keep those state environmental rules and how they're grounded in that transparency and that reliable science, but also how we are still protecting the public health.
S.B. 234 Rulemaking Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Thanks the presenter and asks how the approach compares with recent experience.
▶ Watch at 39:18Read what they said
I really appreciate that. You could, you kind of went even beyond where I needed to go. Sorry. But I loved it and it was good. Sorry. Um, I, I like what you're doing here, and I was hoping you would share a little bit more of how this is comparing to what we've been experiencing around us. I think that we have been subject to a lot of theorized things that have come in to rule, and I love the idea of going back to the concrete. And so that's what I was hoping you would explain. So thank you. Yeah.
S.B. 234 Rulemaking Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asks whether the witness has data or proof that the bill would cause children to get cancer.
▶ Watch at 50:13Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair. I just trying to make sure that I understand what you're talking about. I appreciate you being here today and your comments and your work in protecting children. I'm just wondering if you're insinuating or saying in your comments that if we pass this bill, that you have some sort of data or proof that children will get cancer and die.
S.B. 234 Rulemaking Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Restates the witness's answer as environmental concerns and thanks her.
▶ Watch at 51:16Read what they said
Okay, so you're saying that, um, that the children, well, that you have environmental fears and you're kind of like assuming something could happen. Okay, I got it. Thank you.
S.B. 234 Rulemaking Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Supports the motion and says the bill focuses on settled science, citing a review of breast cancer risk factors and saying research should continue.
▶ Watch at 1:09:01Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to, I appreciate that emotion. Um, I, that emotion, that motion, I'm feeling emotional about that emotion anyway. Um, I appreciate it and, um, only wish I had been faster on the button to do it myself anyway. Um, but I just wanted to add a little bit to the conversation in support of the motion today, which is that we heard a lot of comment about things related to health and stuff. And so I was just kinda looking some things up on here, especially because I've been engaged in a lot of women's health issues. The comments about breast cancer were interesting to me. And so I started looking up, um, …
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Presents H.B. 149, which concerns child sexual abuse material and would let victims sue for damages under state law, in line with the federal standard.
▶ Watch at 1:37:54Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. This bill is about child sexual abuse material. It's not a very happy topic to talk about. It's like the worst of the worst pornography that's out there. And sadly, it is becoming a bigger problem in our society because this problem is a newer growing problem. We actually don't have the mechanisms in the courts to be able to handle it. In fact, even at the federal level until just a few years ago, there wasn't a way for people at the federal level to actually sue have a civil action federally, um, for damages related to child sexual abuse material. So, um, and that came about because of a court case that …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck introduced the bill requiring a free fetal development video, such as the Baby Olivia video, to be shown in maturation, health, child development and biology classes, and introduced Noah Brandt online.
▶ Watch at 37:21Read what they said
Thank you. This morning, uh, we do have handouts. Why don't you go ahead and pass those out. Thank you. Second, thank you. Oh, not on. Oh, Should be working now. Okay. Thank you. We were just trying to navigate some technical difficulties. I appreciate everybody joining me here today for, uh, h oops. Hello for HB three 15. Okay. So this bill is actually a bill that I feel is so very important because there is actually a little gap in our, um, educational training for the children. And, um, when I saw a video that came out, oh, I don't know, it was a, maybe a couple of years ago, there was a little video that came out …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck said the bill is not prescriptive about the brand of video, though the intent is to use this short donated video.
▶ Watch at 48:17Read what they said
I, if they felt like it, I suppose they could. Yeah. We're not being incredibly, uh, prescriptive on the brand of the video. And by the way, nothing will be branded. Nothing will say anything on it. It will just be the video itself that will be donated. Um, but it does say from an organization so that it's given from an organization so that there's not a for-profit, uh, reason why anybody would have, you know, to give that video. But the intent is to use this video 'cause it's so short and nice, it's three minutes. It wouldn't cut into a lot of class time.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck said the video is tasteful and not graphic, and fits into fifth and sixth grade maturation discussions.
▶ Watch at 49:16Read what they said
Yeah, for sure. I, I am a big fan of things being age appropriate. Of course. No, there is nothing graphic in this. And in fact, I think that's one of the things that's so beautiful about this video is that is so tastefully done. Um, it shows how a baby moves in the womb. It shows the kind of a little bit of personality that a baby could have and what the development is looking like at all the different stages. But it's not something that's graphic or would be titillating in any way, or there's nothing like that, um, in this, in fact, I feel like there's going to be just a lot of really interested little light …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck said children are not currently learning fetal developmental stages in maturation classes.
▶ Watch at 51:50Read what they said
In our maturation, this Is a whole, um, so, So kids aren't learning how babies form in their maturation classes in human development. They're not learning those developmental stages of how a how a baby grows. Mm-hmm.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck said if she is wrong the bill would add to existing curriculum.
▶ Watch at 52:14Read what they said
Yeah. I mean, if so, I'm wrong and I'm happy, happy to be wrong, but then hopefully this would add right to it. Sure, sure.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck described several ways curriculum enters schools, including legislative mandates, procurement, board standards and vendors.
▶ Watch at 52:50Read what they said
Well, there's a lot of different ways that it, that, that happens. Sometimes it is legislatively mandated that it has to happen sometimes. Um, such as things like safety curriculum, sexual abuse curriculum, those types of things. They're started in the legislative process. And then sometimes there's a procurement process that happens and sometimes there's a, Hey, we're gonna actually use this vendor process that happens. Sometimes it starts from the USBE saying, we have a need here in our standards, so we wanna fulfill that. And then they start looking for things in that way. Sometimes a vendor comes to them and says, we have something good to offer. And then they say, Hmm, I wonder if that fits …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck confirmed the substitute would be followed by the amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:13:57Read what they said
I really appreciate that, but I think we actually want the first, um, oh, sorry. Okay. So the substitute, then the amendment. Sorry, yeah. This, yeah, we'll need the amendment too. Thank you. Yeah, I think we're doing this in the right order.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck opposed the motion, saying USBE only contacted her about a date change and the bill adds resources for educators.
▶ Watch at 1:16:56Read what they said
Um, I would not consider that a friendly motion. I think that this bill opens a door for educators to be able to use this video, and I think that there's a lot of people who would probably welcome it. I'm happy to talk with anybody about anything. Um, the USBE reached out to me only about a date that is changing in the amendment that we just changed. That is it. And so, um, any other things that they wanna talk to me about, I am happy to have conversations going forward with them, but I think this is an important piece of legislation that can really help add extra resources to this area of discussion of the schools.
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck called the motion hostile, said local committees welcome pre-approved materials, and noted this is the last committee meeting available for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:21:59Read what they said
Yeah. I think to move to the next agenda item is a hostile motion. And I think that it actually, um, it actually is putting, um, a, a, a picky thing about, um, a, a procedural thing that somebody wants to nitpick about in order to undermine the bill above what this video and this training would do. I think we have to put the, the truthful education out there first. I, you know, I've been in, um, I have been in these committees. I was part of the parent approval committee in my local school district for health curriculum. And let me tell you, they just adopt stuff from other places all the time. And it actually was like …
H.B. 315 Human Development Instruction · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck thanked the committee and asked for support.
▶ Watch at 1:26:55Read what they said
I appreciate the motion. I think we've said a lot about it and I hope that we can get the support and make this go
S.B. 54 Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked what percentage the program has grown.
▶ Watch at 2:09:22Read what they said
Thank you. So you've mentioned that it's growing and either I didn't hear it or maybe it wasn't said, but I'm just wondering what's the percentage of that growth? And by the way, um, to the good sponsor, I noticed that you are lucky enough to get the SB 54 4 number. It's fine. That's just so lucky. Anyway, um, happy to see it being a, a good topic. Yes.
S.B. 54 Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend SB 54.
▶ Watch at 2:12:07Read what they said
Uh, there's not a sub or anything, right? We're just good. Kay. I move that we favorably recommend SB 54.
H.B. 520 Higher Education Student Housing Study · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Says the bill appears well considered and asks why $60,000 would go to a study rather than encouraging private builders to add housing.
▶ Watch at 16:41Read what they said
It looks like a lot of thought has gone into this and a lot of conversations, and I really appreciate that, especially because I have college aged children who have struggled with housing. Um, I do have a question, however, which is, um, you know, normally things like this, the market kind of like sees where there's a need and then they, they handle it. They, you know, builders or, you know, people will come in and they'll make rentals or whatever for people. So I'm wondering, um, why we're putting $60,000 into a study instead of maybe just like inviting some people who could afford to maybe make housing and, and build housing to handle it instead. Is there …
H.B. 257 Opiate Information Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Peck said the bill would shift the cost of printing and displaying opioid information pamphlets from the state to pharmacists, with DHHS still creating the pamphlets, and that it would save the state money.
▶ Watch at 58:52Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This is a pretty simple bill. It was actually born out of our work in the social services appropriation subcommittee. So we were looking at the way that we were spending all of the money and found out that there was this one area where the state is paying for opiate, uh, pamphlets to be handed out at pharmacies. And there are a lot of other programs where we mandate things such as no smoking, signed, osha, injury logs, all kinds of things. But the state doesn't pay for them. They're usually just part of whoever's doing that business is part of their business. And so what this bill does is it just basically makes it …
H.B. 257 Opiate Information Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Peck said the bill changes no public messaging, saves the state $14,700, and keeps the state from paying for regulatory duties that she said belong to private businesses.
▶ Watch at 1:01:43Read what they said
Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker. There is nothing changing in this bill as far as notifying the public and making sure that they still get the same messages that they've always been getting. So let me tell you how much this bill is saving the state. It's saving the state. $14,700. The pharmaceutical business is a billion dollar business, billions of dollars businesses. And so I think if across the state we have a whole bunch of pharmacies that are somehow having to split $14,700, that they can do that in their operational costs. That isn't a big expense for them, especially because this is a product they are selling at their own private businesses. And I really just think …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Rep. Peck presented H.B. 411, which would petition the FCC for a three-digit human trafficking hotline, citing rising reports of sex trafficking and the need for a simpler number, and said she was open to questions.
▶ Watch at 2:08:59Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. HB four 11 aims to petition the FCC and the federal government to create a three digit hotline number so that we can better protect people who are trafficked. So I don't know if you're like me, but when you're at the airport and you see those signs, they all have different numbers on them. I've tried to memorize them. The truth is we just don't memorize numbers well anymore. And there are multiple people who are having lots of different telephone numbers, which makes it even harder as they're trying to counter our trafficking problem. And when we're talking about trafficking, I'm talking about sex trafficking, but also labor trafficking that affects so many people. …
H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether the bill will create more or fewer lawsuits and how it affects citizens.
▶ Watch at 1:05:45Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Uh, just a couple of questions, and I don't know if this is best for you or if, um, the ag should be answering this, but as we look at this piece of code that we're creating here, or go, we're not really creating, but we're fine tuning all these pieces. Um, do we see this as creating more lawsuits, less lawsuits? If we could speak to that. And then I had one other question after that.
H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks how the bill helps citizens in practice.
▶ Watch at 1:06:23Read what they said
Okay. And then my next question is, how does this help the citizens? Like when we see this right in the moment, what does this look like for the citizens?
H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and comments on the example.
▶ Watch at 1:07:56Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And you know about those plastic straws I actually heard a little while ago, this might be hearsay, but that actually that was a planted photo in the end. Ha. Well, there we go. That's even better. Thank you.
H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Responds to the public comment and asks whether private citizens can bring nuisance claims under the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:12:22Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. Um, Yes ma'am. Yeah, sorry. I, I just thought it, it was a public comment without, well, You know, every once in a while Sure. Ask the question and, and I appreciate your comment mm-hmm. And where you're coming from. And I think, you know, it always takes a lot of hard work and, and bravery to come up here and to make a comment. So I, I really appreciate that. For me, I don't think this is brave. I'm, I'm an auntie and I'm a chosen grandmother. I think it's my duty. Okay. Thank you. So, so my question to you is, you were mentioning about the businesses and, and how this favors businesses. The way …
H.B. 591 Nuisance Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether private citizens should be able to bring these types of claims.
▶ Watch at 1:13:19Read what they said
Yeah. Anyway, so I, I, I suppose my question to you is, do you feel like that private citizens shouldn't be able to make those types of Pieces? I'm not saying
H.B. 549 Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether the government or the companies pay for the rebates and how the rebates work.
▶ Watch at 1:27:30Read what they said
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am wondering on this with the rebates, um, do, does the government pay for these rebates, any of them? Or is it all just like, uh, the companies are paying for the rebates? How, how are the rebates actually happening? Because it's been around for probably 20 years.
H.B. 549 Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks what cost and policy outcomes she hopes to see from the $500,000 studies.
▶ Watch at 1:31:01Read what they said
Hopefully it doesn't take a full 30 seconds, but I just am wondering what you hope to see come out of these reports. So you're going to be doing these studies, it takes $500,000, that's a lot of money to do with studies. What are you actually hoping to see? What sort of policies going forward are you hoping to further because of these reports?
H.B. 549 Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Says she has questions about the bill and does not think it is suitable for the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 1:42:40Read what they said
Yeah, I'm not, I'm not sure that this is gonna be a good one for consent because as I read it, I had a lot of questions with it and it kind of has a lot to it. So I, I don't know if it's a super great one in my mind for it, but,
H.B. 582 Asbestos Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether the goal of the bill is to make selling a home easier, and says she appreciates it.
▶ Watch at 1:45:44Read what they said
Is it your goal to make selling a home easier for people? Because I really appreciate this.
S.B. 223 Sales and Use Tax Exemptions Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Supports holding the bill and says the tax credit should cover all energy types rather than favor one.
▶ Watch at 2:16:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I approve. I I wanna go with that motion. I think that's the smart way to go. We're making all of this effort in the state to diversify our energy toward nuclear and stuff like that. And I don't, I don't like that what we're doing in this bill here is kind of cherry picking, or could be cherry picking a tax credit. I, it kind of makes me feel a little bit like, um, what happens with Walmart and small towns. Like, they come in and say, we'll, come into your town if you give us a tax credit. And then as soon as that's almost up, they want another one to do something else. …
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks about the financial burden the bill could place on counties and cities, citing Tooele County's past drop box costs.
▶ Watch at 2:34:09Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. Yes. I have a few questions if that's okay. Um, I have also had so much contact on this bill. I think we all could probably say that my phone has been blowing up all day for people saying, please support this bill, please support this bill. And then some people saying, please don't support the bill. You know, anyway, um, there was some talk in your presentation about the funds and I appreciate that because I would say that's probably the thing that's been brought up to my attention the most is that somehow the cities or the counties are going to be expected to come up with a lot of expenses for this. I …
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks how voters will be informed about the changes.
▶ Watch at 2:36:35Read what they said
Thank you. So also, I've been asked about locations. I think you've addressed that, so I'm not gonna hit on that one, but I have two other quick questions, if you don't mind. One related to, um, how the people are going to find out about this, like the, the change that's gonna happen. I mean, obviously the news is probably gonna cover it, they're standing right behind me. Um, but, but I also think that they're concerned about are they going to need to be sending things out to people? What is that going to look like? How do you envision that?
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks to confirm whether the drop box method becomes the default unless a voter chooses mail.
▶ Watch at 2:38:19Read what they said
Question. I think so. So the, so this Dropbox method is going to be the default method unless they say, I want to do the vote by mail, but if they've already said, I want to do the vote by mail, then they're already on that list basically, and nothing's gonna be changing for them until that time's out. And so basically then they would be informed at that point. Is that what you're saying?
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks to confirm that the state, not clerks, will bear the cost of informing the public.
▶ Watch at 2:40:02Read what they said
Okay. It sounds like you've contemplated a lot of these scenarios already and, and maybe not, maybe the public doesn't even fully understand all, all the things, but it sounds like that you are saying that the government, in order to make sure we have secure elections, is saying that we will pay for a billboard to let people know in places or something like that to make sure that outside of word of mouth or what happens with normal day-to-day interactions with the county clerk, that we're gonna make sure that the people know and we're not gonna put an additional burden to educate or inform on the clerks. Is that right?
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asks what identity verification measures are currently in place.
▶ Watch at 2:41:03Read what they said
A good point. I was confused at that time. Okay. What my final question, and I'm sorry Mr. Chair, I'm really going along here. I apologize 'cause I know we are already long. Um, so last question. Um, do we already have, uh, what verifications are in place currently to validate identity? Do we already have like a multifactor auth authentication, um, happening already? I think you might have already addressed this slightly, but I guess are we saying that this is going to be in alignment with that?
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Says she will vote yes, citing the sponsor's commitment to avoid financial burdens on counties and constituents' desire for ID-verified, secure elections.
▶ Watch at 3:28:20Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I really appreciate, um, the sponsor of the bill taking so many questions earlier today, taking questions, taking questions again, and then taking so many questions, um, here today. And I feel like he's really tried to work with people and I really am encouraged by the promise that there isn't going to be a financial burden put on the county clerks and the cities and whoever's going to be, uh, rolling this out. So that's important to me and, and I'm glad that we've thought of that and that we're not trying to make an inconvenience because as was mentioned, there is fear. And when I've heard from people that have been contacting me today, …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Introduces H.B. 464, which would add parent-led driver training as an option for minors' driver education, and explains the bill's provisions and reasons.
▶ Watch at 9:24Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro 10. I don't know if a lot of people know, but in the state of Utah are minors getting driver's licenses are actually growing. So this year in 2025, the numbers of minors getting their driver's license were 49,285 and 36,866 of those drivers, minors getting their driver's licenses, took their driver's education at the school. 12,419 of those minors took their driver's ed at a third party facility. So just an independent driving school, which is actually up 3000 on that independent driving school side. That's up 3000 students from 2020. So in the last five years, there's been a significant increase of people taking driver's ed from independent parties. So I was reached …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says the amendment contains language agreed on with DLD and USBE.
▶ Watch at 15:33Read what they said
I'll waive Representative Peck to the motion to amend That language is just agreed upon language with DLD and USBE. Thank you.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says parents would use the 30 hours of online modules, log six hours of in-car training, and attend a zero fatalities class.
▶ Watch at 19:03Read what they said
Well, the parent is going to have access to all of the 30 hours of training modules so that they can go through those with their students. So that would be like the whole entire class. They also have to do the six hours of that observation training time in the car with the student. So they would have to log those things down. They also have to attend the zero fatalities with their student as well. So this isn't gonna be for the lighthearted parent. I mean, this is actually gonna be harder than having their child do the, the class at the school. I would think more of your lazy parents would wanna just go the school route. …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says parent and parent insurance liability would stay the same, and that driving schools would have some added liability.
▶ Watch at 20:00Read what they said
So Mr. Speaker, right now, as soon as your student gets their learner's permit, the parent and the parent insurance is technically liable for what is going to happen with that driving whenever they are in the car with that learning driver anyway. And so that's just gonna maintain the same that it currently is. So driving schools would probably have some additional liability because they are now being the driver in the car with the student. But when the parent is in the car with the steward student, that already can happen and that already is covered under basic insurance liability, um, when you have a new driver that's coming into the market. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says USBE provides the modules at no charge and the bill concerns the six in-car hours, which parents would log and turn in with the license application.
▶ Watch at 21:38Read what they said
Well, as was mentioned in a previous comment, really what we're talking about here isn't the modules. So those modules are going to be provided by USBE. There's not going to be a charge there. Um, and so they'll be able to go through all of that training material, but what we're really talking about is the six hours of in-car training that's happening. And so the parents are going to be allowed to do that six hours of in-car training and then do the logs like they would do at the public school. And then those will be turned in when they come in to apply for the actual driver's license.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says parents who teach would be experienced drivers meeting license and record requirements.
▶ Watch at 22:20Read what they said
That's a really good question. I know that some people have mentioned that they have had, uh, an amount of training, a considerable amount of training. Um, I think that most people who've taught children to drive, I know I've taught many, um, how to drive, um, that know that actually being a driver and, you know, being out there on the road all the time, which all of the parents most likely are, otherwise they wouldn't be able to qualify. 'cause they'd have to have a, an active license and a good record and stuff for this bill, um, should be able to teach the, the trade, you know, to their children.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says she is not aware of a statutory certification requirement and notes that the bill requires minors to complete driver education.
▶ Watch at 23:56Read what they said
Not to my knowledge. It does require, from what I know, but putting this bill together is it requires that the students who are minors have to go through driver's education.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says the data cited from another state was not comparable and that parents in Utah would have many options.
▶ Watch at 24:53Read what they said
There has been some information about one state that has been shared, and that information, apparently according to the DLD, was not really applicable to what is happening here because in those states, in, in the state where they mentioned that the people didn't have any other option except for to use the parent lead driver training model. And actually in our state, parents will have tons of options. So whether the person has a certification to teach it or not, the parent can choose. The parent can say, what do I think my child needs the best? So this really just puts the parents in the driver's seat. And I don't think that that information that was shared about, …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says insurance companies have not contacted her about the bill and she has not requested conversations with them.
▶ Watch at 29:57Read what they said
They've been really silent with me on it. I haven't had any requests for conversations with them.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Gives summation urging support, saying parents should have the opportunity to choose how their children learn to drive.
▶ Watch at 32:04Read what they said
Thank you. I think the, the last thing that I would just like to share is that the parents care about their babies, their children, I think more than anyone, and they're not going to want to put them in danger. So however a parent thinks is the very best way for their child to learn how to drive is what they're going to do. And we just wanna make sure that all parents and all families have the opportunity to do what they is best. And that's what this bill is all about. And with that, I encourage your support.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Presented the third substitute of HB 149, saying it lets people sue those who publish or distribute child sexual abuse material and aligns Utah law with federal law.
▶ Watch at 42:41Read what they said
Thank you. So I, I will be speaking to that third substitute today, um, because that has language that has been agreed upon by people in the digital space, so that we have, we hit this just right. So this is actually a bill that I've been working on for a couple of years. Um, this is something that we, we began work on last session, but didn't get it quite ready in time to make it all the way through. So I'm happy to be here again with you today. I've been working with child advocates. I've worked very intensely with the ags office and with different tech companies in order to try to get this where we need …
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said a person online wanted to testify and introduced Trey Dellinger, who has experience with this type of work.
▶ Watch at 49:02Read what they said
I had someone online, I forgot. Is that okay? I I think we've already brought it back to C no. Yeah, that's Fine. Okay. I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. I'm like, oh, no, he's gonna be playing hardball with me. Yeah. Okay. I do have someone, it'll take just a minute or two, um, that is coming in from, uh, zoom land. So Trey Dillinger is here with me today, and he would like to, he's had a lot of experience, um, with this type of work, and so I'm happy that he's here with me.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the bill would give victims a path to civil action and could deter websites from hosting or advertising such material.
▶ Watch at 53:07Read what they said
Thank you, Trey. Um, you also notice in the packet that there are examples from Utah of reports that have come in and some additional material there. As far as what we are trying to do, um, we need to open this little door for victims so that they can have representation and so that they can, um, and we can hopefully deter some of this from occurring too. So we pass a law like this and people know that there's an opportunity to be sued out there, then maybe they'll be paying attention, um, to what they wanna host or advertise on their website.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the obscenity definition is longstanding language borrowed from other parts of Utah code and was not new.
▶ Watch at 54:35Read what they said
No, it's already there. It's, it's been there for a really long time. In fact, this was not language that I presented to the drafters. This is just language that compares to other places in code, from what I understand. And it's been illegal all the way along. And like you, I actually didn't know that they all, they already could not sue for this.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the provision is specifically targeted at child sexual abuse material and the obscenity definition has long been in code.
▶ Watch at 55:45Read what they said
No. I mean, this is specifically targeted toward child sexual abuse materials. But this is just bringing in that definition of what we already have, have defined. This obscenity has been, this definition of obscenity has been in code for a long time. I know that while working with other things related to obscenities, say in like, um, schools or something like that, it's the same language. It's always used. It's, it's goes back to like the Millard test. That's the definition of obscenity.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the obscenity category covers the illegal material the bill is intended to address.
▶ Watch at 56:26Read what they said
Yes, it does. Well, because that's, that's the category that it falls into, right? So that, I mean, obviously it's abuse material as well, but it falls into that category of obscenity, which is then illegal material. So we wanted to make sure to capture, this is just the illegal stuff that we're going for here.
H.B. 149 Sexual Material Modifications · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Thanked the committee and said she would be brief in closing. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:06:24Read what they said
Thank you. Just really quickly, um, maybe in closing, well, actually, this is the sub wave.
H.B. 528 Local School Board Reporting · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks whether other states do this kind of reporting and asks Christine Cook Fairbanks to answer.
▶ Watch at 2:03:39Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this done in other states? Because I do recall like Arizona or something and seeing their system for how they do this, and I was quite impressed. Is is that your under I'm going to ask Christine to answer that because she's kind of a, something of an expert on this. So go ahead, Christine.
S.B. 88 School Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks whether the bill's parent access to student activity extends to databases and whether the sponsor expects that on school-managed devices.
▶ Watch at 2:21:38Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I do appreciate a short bill from Senator Fillmore, so thank you for that. I'm not saying they're all long, I'm just saying some of them are My last one. Oh man. Yes. Anyway, um, and I appreciate this Bill. I, I was, uh, really happy to see it that we were gonna discuss it today. I just, we've had some conversation about this bill and I just wanted to make sure that it was clear on the public record that does this parent ability to see what the child has been seeing on the computer extend into being able to see within the databases. Uh, the, the language is written here. It is, it …
S.B. 88 School Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Notes that accessing databases requires logging in and asks whether the bill can reach past that barrier.
▶ Watch at 2:22:47Read what they said
Okay. So, and to get into the databases, you do have to like log in. So I, I'd be interested to see if that's actually going to be able to cross that barrier or not, or if it's just gonna be other things that are maybe just generally on web.
S.B. 88 School Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asks the sponsor to comment on how the bill differs from the vice chair's related technology bill.
▶ Watch at 2:23:08Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Alright, thank you. Um, you mentioned, uh, a number of bills that are in the, uh, digital technology space, in this technology space. Um, I know a good vice chair here is your co-sponsor, but also is, uh, running some legislation in a similar space. Wondered if you might comment on some of the places where there is, uh, unique aspects of this bill that, uh, would, would be important for the committee to know. Yeah,
H.B. 521 Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked whether the trust fund money would have a set distribution priority and whether the State Treasurer would oversee the funds.
▶ Watch at 2:33:29Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Vice chair. I have two questions. The first question is, as this money goes back into education funding that's needed in the programs, is it going to be distributed with a particular priority or just generally as needed charter schools, public schools, just generally what's needed or is it going to be like earmarked in a certain way? That's my first question. And then I have one other follow up. So this bill doesn't contemplate, uh, how those funds will be spent, only that they have to be spent on education. Okay. At this point. Thank you. And then the second question I have, is the treasurer going to be overseeing these funds? I understand that would …
H.B. 521 Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute to HB 521.
▶ Watch at 2:38:05Read what they said
There's a first sub. Okay. Representative Peck, I move that we adopt the first sub, first sub to HB 5 21. That motion is in order. Would you like to speak to that? Uh, no. I think we're good. Um, to the bill sponsor.
H.B. 521 Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend HB 521 as substituted.
▶ Watch at 2:39:16Read what they said
Representative Peck, would you like to keep going? Yes, I would love to. I move that we recommend h we favorably recommend HB 5 21 as substituted.
H.B. 453 Unspent Funding Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Peck says the bill shifts general fund money to childcare and mental health, notes recent childcare tax credit increases, and states opposition to the bill.
▶ Watch at 25:31Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Um, I appreciate the creativity in this bill, but I do have concerns in it because it is shifting money from the general fund to childcare. We just did a bill where we put, um, money and tax credits, uh, toward childcare and we're increasing the, um, the childcare tax credit as well. And so to take additional funds and to put it toward mental health and childcare just seems to be a little over the top, especially at the tune of 50%. So I'm, and I'm opposed.
H.B. 453 Unspent Funding Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Opposes the bill, citing concerns about shifting general fund money to childcare and mental health after recent childcare tax credit increases, and the 50% share.
▶ Watch at 25:31Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Um, I appreciate the creativity in this bill, but I do have concerns in it because it is shifting money from the general fund to childcare. We just did a bill where we put, um, money and tax credits, uh, toward childcare and we're increasing the, um, the childcare tax credit as well. And so to take additional funds and to put it toward mental health and childcare just seems to be a little over the top, especially at the tune of 50%. So I'm, and I'm opposed.
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Checks that her microphone is working before beginning her presentation.
▶ Watch at 30:48Read what they said
Thank you. I dunno if I'm wrong, you are not. Gimme one second. Now you are. Okay,
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Presents HB 411 to request a national three-digit child trafficking hotline, citing reporting statistics, multistate participation, and a zero fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 30:54Read what they said
Wonderful. Thank you so much. Um, I'm happy to be here today to present HB four 11, which is a traffic, human trafficking trafficking hotline amendments. I don't know if you are aware how many cases of human trafficking actually occur in our nation each year, but according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who has one of the numbers that people can call, there are, there was in 2025, 113,500 reports of possible sex trafficking, which was an increase of 323% just in one year from 2024. They also reported in 2025 that one in seven of these victims of child trafficking were also missing children. So sometimes the children are trafficked under the nose of …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says the hotline would also cover other exploitation cases and introduces a statistic from Wendy Jensen Nichols.
▶ Watch at 48:06Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you Kimberly. Um, so I appreciate that. So when we're talking about trafficking, obviously there's sex trafficking that we're talking about, but there's also labor trafficking, there's also trafficking for adults and there's trafficking for children and they all can get caught up in it. Um, as far as this hotline goes, we do anticipate that not only will it be a easy reporting for trafficking, but it will also make it so that some of these other exploitation cases are actually reported. Um, Wendy has a quick, uh, stat on exploitation.
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Expects the bill to help identify additional abuse and exploitation cases and offers to take questions.
▶ Watch at 49:03Read what they said
So anyway, we do anticipate that there will be other abuse cases and exploitation cases that will end up being recognized and dealt with. Also, just because there is an easy number that people will have to be able to call. Um, we've already heard a story, a heart wrenching story. I hate hearing those stories, but they're also so important for us to hear. There are a couple of people who, um, I've known about their circumstances who are close to me. One within my extended family who went missing for like a year and a half came back, um, pregnant and luckily was found after searching all over and never had left the state, but had been trafficked. …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Answers that 911 could route calls to other agencies and that a dedicated line would bring specialized responders together.
▶ Watch at 50:42Read what they said
That's a super good question. I mean, obviously right now that would probably be, if somebody thought, okay, I don't know the number, there's probably a number for it, I'm gonna call 9 1 1. What would happen is 9 1 1 would then actually route to other things. They might say, well, maybe we need to call DCFS about this, or maybe we need to call one of the trafficking hotlines, or maybe we need to call something related to Homeland Security. You know what I mean? Like, they might try to route some things. The nice thing about having a line that's just specific to trial trafficking, which we already have right now, multiple lines, like I mentioned, …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says the bill covers both labor and sex trafficking, including familial, nonfamilial, buyer-perpetrated, and gang-related forms.
▶ Watch at 52:12Read what they said
Yes, it does both and I'm glad you bring that up because there's actually a lot of different reasons that people are trafficked. I actually have, um, multiple, so we heard about, um, familial trafficking, which is what Kimberly's situation was, but then there's nonfamilial trafficking, which are people who you might develop a relationship with, could even be like a boyfriend or a neighbor or something like that. And they'll groom you and pull you into trafficking. And then there's buyer, um, perpetuated trafficking where they actually like sell you from place to place through a buyer network. And then there's, um, trafficking related to gangs and stuff, and these types of trafficking, um, happen for labor and for …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Explains that the bill requires an application to the FCC for a three-digit number, with DHHS and the attorney general's office working on it, which she says keeps costs low.
▶ Watch at 53:16Read what they said
Now? I know, right? We worked really hard on that to make sure. So yeah, so basically, um, DHHS has already done the application for 9, 8 8. They know how to apply to the FCC in order to get these three digit numbers started. And so what this bill really calls for is just an application process is please just apply because the FCC owns those numbers, those three digits numbers are considered national assets, so they have to dish them out. And so it has to be an application. So we're just saying make an application. The ags office has been really involved with this on putting together the ideas for this as well, because of course they …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says 911 is for emergencies and is busy, so a separate trafficking number would reduce its workload.
▶ Watch at 55:51Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. I probably should have been a little bit, a little bit more detailed in my answer to that previous question, so I appreciate you asking it again. So basically 9 1 1 is for emergencies, right then, right? So it could be that there's a sign of like, oh, well, there could be something going on at the neighbors, but we're not sure if it's like actually an emergency. It requires more of an investigation instead of an emergency. 9 1 1 is so incredibly busy already with all of the calls that come in, it makes sense to have these investigations handled under people that are currently already working in that space. And so 9 1 …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says callers include tipsters, emergencies, and survivors seeking resources, and that she does not have the exact breakdown.
▶ Watch at 57:33Read what they said
Sure. I appreciate that. And I do think that there's some people who call with tips and there's some people who call with emergencies, and there's some people who call wondering where resources are because maybe they've been trafficked and now they're, you know, acclimating back into things or whatever. And so that's why having it all under one house is kind of nice, because we wouldn't wanna send all that stuff through. I don't have an exact number for you on what, I mean, that's an interesting question. I I hadn't thought of what's the percentage of what types of questions are being asked at these national numbers that are these nonprofit numbers at this time. I mean, we …
H.B. 411 Human Trafficking Hotline Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Thanks the committee and says the bill also addresses labor trafficking and that raising awareness will help people.
▶ Watch at 1:16:20Read what they said
Thank you. I really appreciate it. I just have one little thing that I wanted to say regarding the 9 1 1 conversation that we've had. And that is that this, like was mentioned in another question, will also bring in labor trafficking as well as sexual trafficking. Even though that we have spent time there, especially in labor trafficking, people are not going to be calling 9 1 1. They're gonna be thinking, this is my job, this is what I have to do to stay in this country, or whatever it is. And I really do think that shining a light on trafficking itself is going to really do a lot of people a lot of good. So …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Peck presented H.B. 188, describing its provisions on school drug offenses, parent notification, school drug searches, and referrals to court for repeat possession and distribution, and said she is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 2:20:12Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill actually represents two years of work. Before I was even elected to office, people were saying, if you get in, could you please look at the drug situation in the schools we're struggling. So this came first from teachers. I talked to administrators, but then last year during the session, without me even knowing they were coming, 20 youth came up and asked for a meeting with me. And the subject of their meeting was, please representative, can you help us fix the drug problem in the school? We can't even go to the bathroom. On further inspection, I actually found out that even some of our high ranking police officials out in the …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Peck gave a closing summation on school drug and vaping issues and asked colleagues to vote for the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:23:50Read what they said
Thank you. I think I'll just add that there are some things that are happening in the school where the children are paying per puff. They're ven mowing. When they go into the bathroom, the, the vapes and TCS are taped to toilets. They take it take a puff, Venmo, somebody. There's some really strategic things that are happening. They're spraying spray deodorant at the same time as puffing the vapes so that they're not detected by the THC monitors. Um, we just really need to help them. They need us to take an interest in this. And if we make these clear, uh, parameters in the law, then it will be more kind to all of the students and …
H.B. 257 Opiate Information Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Presented HB 257, which would have pharmacies, prescribers, or other sellers of opioid drugs provide the state's opioid information pamphlet as a PDF or in a form they choose, instead of the state printing and paying for it.
▶ Watch at 1:55:29Read what they said
I know this bill is really short, so it is Short, short. Really fast. My intern is bringing up a paper. If that could be handed out, that would be fantastic. Okay. So the story of this bill is actually that it originated in the social services sub appropriations committee. And, you know, we're looking at ways that we can save money and stuff like that. And so that's what we figured out here, was that we have one thing in the state of Utah that we are funding to the tune of, of $14,700 per year ongoing. And there are tons of different industries that have, um, you know, similar things that they need to do to be in …
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
The member asked how much districts contribute to special education in addition to state and federal funding. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 56:17Read what they said
Thank you. And we are thoroughly vetting this bill this morning, and I think that's important. This committee does a good job. I am just wondering, uh, you and I have talked about this before and I know over interim, excuse me, there was a discussion around how much the district puts in. So there's a state portion and the state to representative McPherson's point, we have been trying to increase this, but even when we do that, I feel like there's this, um, disconnect from what's happening on the ground because we're constantly hearing special ed's. Underfunded. It's underfunded. And I know when I talked to our fiscal analysts end of last session, there were concerns of, well, we …
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
The member asked about current state funding and summarized the state and district contributions. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 58:00Read what they said
So it's 56 million on top of, do you know what we're currently putting in? And I'm not trying to grill you, I'm trying to understand, right, Yeah. We put double 56 million in. So we put 120 million in. We'll ask for another 56, and then the district is putting 12 to 16 in, is that sound right? Yeah, just
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
The member asked whether the current formula helps or hurts districts like Jordan with specialized schools that attract high-need students. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 58:31Read what they said
I, I'm just trying to get a handle on how we fund this, because I think that's where there's this gap in us understanding. 'cause we feel like we're funding it, but then I'm just wondering where that's at. My second question is, I know like in Jordan School district, thank you, they have Kari Sue Hamilton, which is fantastic. I volunteered there in high school. It also, to your point, parents are moving in to that area so their kids can go to Kari Sue. Right. And so my question would be in a situation like that, is our current formula helping or hurting them because they are going to have a disproportionately high number because they have found …
H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 20, 2026
The member restated the question about whether the formula disincentivizes innovative programs like Kauri Sue Hamilton. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 59:28Read what they said
Uh, the second was, so like, say Jordan School District with Kari Sue Hamilton, you have more and more students moving into that area who are, have higher needs, uh, because it's a great service and it's, I think it's a cool way to customize learning experience. But I'm wondering with our formula the way it is, are we actually, um, decenting innovative solutions like that? Or are they, or is it accommodating for that kind of resource?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Opposes the bill, saying it could raise prices for small contractors such as her husband's plumbing business and favor unions or large corporations.
▶ Watch at 1:00:54Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this bill also, and it's probably for a little bit more of a personal reason. My husband actually is a plumber and a contractor. And as I look at this bill, I'm like, this is designed to make it so that his prices are gonna have to go up and he's not gonna be able to compete because he's gonna have to pay a government set wage. This seems to be, I know it said that it's not a union bill, but it does seem to be really favoring the unions being able to monopolize a market or bigger corporations. And I think we have to watch out for our small …
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Expresses concern that certifying everything could raise barriers to entry for people who are naturally skilled, and asks to yield to questions.
▶ Watch at 1:05:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some concerns with this bill. I feel like a, I don't like that we're actually certifying everything all the time because that, that decreases the barrier of entry for a lot of people finding jobs that they might just be naturally good at like landscaping. But I'm, I'm wondering if the sponsor will yield to two questions.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Expresses concern that certifying more work lowers the barrier to entry for people entering landscaping jobs, and asks the sponsor two questions.
▶ Watch at 1:05:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some concerns with this bill. I feel like a, I don't like that we're actually certifying everything all the time because that, that decreases the barrier of entry for a lot of people finding jobs that they might just be naturally good at like landscaping. But I'm, I'm wondering if the sponsor will yield to two questions.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether overseeing the extra certification would add burdens to businesses.
▶ Watch at 1:05:56Read what they said
Thank you. My second question is, does overseeing this extra certification end up making mandates to public businesses that ends up making them have to have more of a burden?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether the extra certification creates more burden for businesses.
▶ Watch at 1:05:56Read what they said
Thank you. My second question is, does overseeing this extra certification end up making mandates to public businesses that ends up making them have to have more of a burden?
H.B. 443 Amendments to Procedure to Fill A Legislative Vacancy · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Opposes the bill, arguing it would override voters' role in filling vacancies and that another bill already passed addresses the issue.
▶ Watch at 1:32:02Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this bill. So I represent an area that recently had a senator resign and then, and the people that voted them well before he resigned, he changed parties and then the people who voted him in initially did not get the opportunity to vote in his replacement because of that strategic move. And we have another bill that we have already passed through this body that addresses that so that people, if they elect somebody in and somebody resigns, those same people that elected in their person still has a, have a voice. And what this would do is this would just make it so that the people who voted somebody …
H.B. 443 Amendments to Procedure to Fill A Legislative Vacancy · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Opposes the bill, saying a previously passed bill already addresses voter representation after a resignation and that this bill would replace the caucus system with a full general election.
▶ Watch at 1:32:02Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this bill. So I represent an area that recently had a senator resign and then, and the people that voted them well before he resigned, he changed parties and then the people who voted him in initially did not get the opportunity to vote in his replacement because of that strategic move. And we have another bill that we have already passed through this body that addresses that so that people, if they elect somebody in and somebody resigns, those same people that elected in their person still has a, have a voice. And what this would do is this would just make it so that the people who voted somebody …
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks why sales tax would not be collected on Olympic sales, given the expected volume of sales.
▶ Watch at 2:02:06Read what they said
Um, I guess I don't understand why we would not want to collect sales tax on this time in the state where there would be obviously a lot of opportunity to collect sales tax. Could you enlighten me on that?
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks a follow-up question and asks the sponsor to continue yielding.
▶ Watch at 2:03:07Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I ask another question? Representative Hawkins, will you continue to yield?
H.B. 537 Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether the Olympic organizers will pay the state and communities through another method rather than sales tax.
▶ Watch at 2:03:18Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. So are you saying that they technically are going to be paying to the communities and to the state sales tax money, but it's going to be coming another way? I'm just trying to make sure that I'm understanding that the people that are rolling out the red carpet for the Olympics are not going to be thrown under the financial bus as it were.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Presents the bill, which asks schools to preselect instructional materials and prohibits selling products to children through digital school materials.
▶ Watch at 2:43:58Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill is a combination of a couple of years of work. Now this, a version of this bill died number nine on the Summit floor on the, the last night, last year. But since then, there has been a sensitive materials audit and there were recommendations that were done in that sensitive materials audit. So this bill represents a combination, a very simplified combination of a key element out of the bill last year, and then one element out of those three audit recommendations from the Sensitive Materials audit. So basically what the bill does is it says that our LEAs and schools need to proactively select. So look at the materials that they are …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says schools would rely on existing state code and education standards, with selection kept under local control.
▶ Watch at 2:46:37Read what they said
Well, I would hope so. There is already code that talks about objective sensitive, material, subjective, sensitive material obscenities, as well as there are state educational standards that they have to utilize while they're making selections for all of those instructional materials. So hopefully they will rely upon all of those things that are already there when they are pre-selecting. No one from the state is gonna be there looking over their shoulders. It's all in the local control of what they select. But obviously we would expect that the LEAs and the schools would be keeping in alignment with the standards that are already presented from USBE and that are codified in our state code.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the bill does not change sensitive materials rules and only requires schools to choose materials ahead of time, using Huckleberry Finn as an example.
▶ Watch at 2:47:36Read what they said
Yeah, no, this doesn't make any mandates on what can or cannot be on the shelves that's already codified in the sensitive materials code. What this does is just says that the LEAs need to choose ahead of time. So if they say we wanna have huckleberry fin on the shelf, then they would just look at it, make sure they know what's in it, and then they would put huckleberry fin on the shelf.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Says the bill targets current products marketed to children, not historical documents, which would still need sensitive materials review.
▶ Watch at 2:50:30Read what they said
No, the idea is not that this is supposed to, uh, make it so that somebody can't look at the history of what somebody sold a milk cow for or a new plow for or something way back in time. The idea of this is to capture things that should not be sold to children in current times. That they're not actively selling to children, the things that they could go and buy right now. That's the idea. When I'm, when it says selling to children, we're saying do not think of children as a market so that they are trying to get to, uh, children spending money, maybe their parents' credit cards, maybe, you know, however they're doing it …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Gives closing remarks that the bill adds a proactive review process for materials, and says vendor-curated materials and database advertising are difficult to police reactively.
▶ Watch at 2:52:58Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, just in reference to some of the things that were said, I think it's important to note that this is not changing the sensitive materials process that is still in place. It's not touching it at all. What we're saying is that right now we have a reactive process and what we are hoping for and what the Sensitive Materials audit suggested in both of those audits was that we have a proactive process. And this would make it so that schools are not looked bad on and targeted. There's a lot of parents around the states who are becoming very disenfranchised with their schools. They're not sure that schools have their child's safety in …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asked whether her intern could hand out literature to the committee.
▶ Watch at 1:36:32Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is it okay if my intern, uh, pans out, hands out some, uh, literature for the
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Presented the third substitute, which bars PEHP public insurance from paying for elective transgender procedures while allowing current treatment to continue if medically necessary and covering detransition for those previously covered.
▶ Watch at 1:36:46Read what they said
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I'm happy to be here today in Senate business again, so I appreciate you, uh, inviting me to come and present on HB 1 93. So, HB 1 93 was a bill that began with a constituent of mine that happens to be a broker for insurance for public entities, so for government organizations and helps them get their insurance. And he notified me that there were some concerns from municipalities, school districts, people that he was working with, that when they were trying to sign up for the public insurance for, uh, PEHP, that they didn't have any choice about whether their insurance coverage would pay for transgender procedures …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said it applies to anyone covered by taxpayer-funded PEHP insurance.
▶ Watch at 1:42:25Read what they said
Right. So it's just anyone who is covered by a taxpayer funded state, PEHP insurance.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said PEHP told her it could change some administrative procedures and costs but they would carry on, and she is open to more conversations.
▶ Watch at 1:42:51Read what they said
Yes. I've had conversations with them as well, and that's why I said I'm happy to have more conversations with them too, just to make sure we really landed in a good spot. Um, they have said that this will change the dynamic a little bit for maybe some people, but for them they're gonna be, you know, carrying on. It could make some changes in the, in some of their administrative procedures and costs and stuff, potentially, is what I was told.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said individual entities cannot easily opt out due to how insurance pools work, and the bill aims to protect them from litigation.
▶ Watch at 1:46:06Read what they said
Do you want me to respond? Okay, sure. Um, so I think there's a little bit of a problem with just going to your, say your school district or something and saying, Hey, can you please not pay for transgender procedures? Or Could you not have my money pay for transgender procedures because of the way that the pools work? I think that that would be very difficult for people to do. And I think that they make these contracts with the insurance companies. And so really the only way to say, okay, taxpayer dollars aren't going to be used for that, because we all know that if it's a government like municipality or if it's here at the state, …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said universities offer multiple insurance options, the bill applies only to PEHP, and the University of Utah does not use PEHP.
▶ Watch at 1:48:26Read what they said
Right. What I do know, and I probably won't like, nail it, nail it because I am not an insurance agent, so that I probably can't phrase it perfectly. However, I will say that, um, in conversations with the University of Utah and people who also have been working with the University of Utah based upon this bill and what we're trying to do here, we do know that in that particular case, there are some people within the University of Utah as employees that would, um, be able to get the publicly funded or the taxpayer funded. But then there might be other people that aren't necessarily public employees that then would get different insurances. So they offer multiple …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Explained the University of Utah was the example she had recently discussed.
▶ Watch at 1:49:23Read what they said
So, or, but that's the one that I was specifically, uh, recently having conversations about. I see.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said those examples are religious, while these are elective procedures comparable to other uncovered cosmetic surgeries that public employers should not be forced to fund.
▶ Watch at 1:51:58Read what they said
Thank you, Senator. I really do appreciate actually you being so candid and just expressing, you know, how complex of an issue this is, because it really is, I do think when we're talking about Jehovah Witnesses not wanting to pay for blood transfusions or maybe not wanting to pay for circumcisions, most of those things are done because of religious reasons. And I do think that when we're talking about, um, elective procedures for transitioning, we're not talking about a religion. So there is a little bit of a difference there. But I, but I will say also that, you know, we've got these municipalities and we've got school districts and, and people like that who are looking for …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said both would be elective procedures, she is unsure that is actual policy, and the bill reflects concerns of entities choosing insurance.
▶ Watch at 1:55:32Read what they said
Well, it sounds like both of those things would be elective things. And so those, and they're very elective things. I mean, because one of them is based on fear, I guess, of what they perceive their possible medical future could be. And the other one would be based on another desire to look a different way. And so they're both very elective. And all I can say is I'm not sure that's an ac actual policy. It sounds like we might be going on what we, you know, we're remembering someone says, I'm not sure if it is. That's a very interesting question. And I, I, you know, I don't think that personally as a taxpayer, I would want …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Agreed insurance involvement drives up costs, citing her dental billing experience, and noted unforeseen consequences of elective procedures can add taxpayer costs.
▶ Watch at 2:05:27Read what they said
expensive. Thanks. Do you want me To comment on that? Sure. Okay. Just maybe two comments. I don't wanna take too much time. I know that the committee has, there's a lot of people here that care about this bill. Um, but one thought is, you're absolutely right. I used to work for a dental office and I did their billing, and I also was a dental assistant. And I remember that there were certain insurances that once those insurances started chiming in on some of those elective procedures, the cost of those procedures with the dentists, they all went up. Mm-hmm. Everything always go up, goes up because they don't pay the full amount. So then they have to …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said other states passed similar bills and succeeded in lawsuits, and she has worked with the attorney general and risk management on defending the law.
▶ Watch at 2:07:58Read what they said
Yeah, I appreciate that question. We have, so there have been, like I said, multiple other states who've passed bills just like this. And there have been, uh, litigation, you know, suits that have happened, and there have been very successful outcomes for those states in those suits. I've had a lot of conversations with our attorney general and other risk management attorneys, and we have had a lot of time working on, okay, what do we make sure that we do to, to, um, keep the, the state safe if we make this law? And what are we prepared to, um, you know, who, who, what state are we willing to, to follow if we had to defend ourselves? …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Explained that sub one covered all public funds and would have affected University of Utah hospital procedures, while sub three applies only to PEHP public insurance.
▶ Watch at 2:32:47Read what they said
Thank you. So the sub that has been posted sub one takes in all public funds. And when we said that that language was recommended, and then we didn't realize that it would make it so that the University of Utah would not be able to do the procedures at their, uh, hospital, and we didn't. That wasn't the purpose of this bill. The purpose was just for public insurance. So sub three just says that PEHP public insurance cannot pay for transgender procedures.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said she is open to changes, argued the bill shields public insurers from litigation on both sides, and said it maintains parity with HB 258.
▶ Watch at 2:35:42Read what they said
Thank you. Um, as was mentioned, um, I am very adaptable on this bill. We wanna make sure that we get it exactly right and I am happy to work with anyone. In fact, I really wanna express my thanks to all of the members of the committee who have been involved in the process of trying to fine tune things and get us to where we are on sub number three, especially the chair who's worked tirelessly with me to do this. Um, and I'm not above making other changes that need to be made because that's how these things go sometimes in this process. My dad used to say, um, that he hated when he was stuck between …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Presented the third substitute, explaining that parents could choose a parent-led driver education option using the USBE 30-hour online course, a DLD-issued log for six hours of driving instruction, and Zero Fatalities training, all turned in at the DLD.
▶ Watch at 1:03:43Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I so appreciate all of the engagement from everyone on this, from members of the committee, from people in the public, from, uh, the DLD, from USBE. They have been incredibly supportive saying, Hey, we wanna help you do the very best with this. What can we give you? What can we offer? How can we make this work? And so we really have found ourselves in this third sub at a really good place. Um, before I get into a few of the nuts and bolts in the third sub, um, I'm not going to recap all of the testimony that was shared before. 'cause I think pretty much everybody who was here, who is …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said she understands schools simply report completion and that parents would log more detail than independent driving companies.
▶ Watch at 1:12:51Read what they said
Sure, thank you. So basically they just submit that a person is done with their training. Um, I don't, now I could be wrong on this just because I didn't ask that specific question, but from what I understand from conversation is that they just go into the system and they say, this child is done with, you know, whatever the qualifications are, but I don't think that they log, they came this day and we did these things in the driver training. I think the parents are gonna actually be logging even more things in that log that they have to turn into the DLD than even the independent driving companies would have to do.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said she expects no or a minimal fiscal note since the DLD said adding the option is easy and USBE's training is already taxpayer funded.
▶ Watch at 1:14:36Read what they said
Yeah. Um, so in the previous subs there wasn't a fiscal note. Um, still I anticipate that it's going to be the same or very minimal, um, just because there's, I mean there maybe potentially could be for scanning the log when it comes back in, but the DLD told me when we put this together, it's not gonna be hard to add another option for them. And they didn't sound like it would be difficult at all to, to hand out the log and to be able to bring it in. Because again, we're not talking about the gross majority of people here. It's the small major, the small minority that are gonna be doing this. Um, and then …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said a USBE official had offered the course for the bill without mentioning a cost, which is why she did not expect one.
▶ Watch at 1:17:56Read what they said
Those questions? Uh, yeah. So I had conversations about this with, um, Elise Newie and there wasn't a cost that was mentioned to me when I had that conversation. She just said, we would like to give that, it it for this bill. And so I, uh, and, and she didn't act like there was any barrier there. And so we didn't ha she didn't act like it was gonna cost a lot of money. So that's why I said I didn't think that there was going to be a cost.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said she welcomes the amendment as improving the logging system.
▶ Watch at 1:44:58Read what they said
Yeah, I've looked at the amendment. I think it's great. I think it actually makes the logging system even better, so I think that it's a very welcome amendment.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said she did not have that number.
▶ Watch at 1:45:55Read what they said
The exact number, I'm afraid I don't have that number for you right now. I'm sorry.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said the number changes constantly and would require research.
▶ Watch at 1:46:02Read what they said
No, I think it's changing all of the time. I would have to definitely go researching for that.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Called it a friendly amendment and a good idea.
▶ Watch at 1:48:55Read what they said
It's a friendly amendment. I think it's a good idea. I mean, the more that they have to, to work with and to monitor the better.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Thanked the committee for its collaboration and said the bill gives parents flexibility while keeping guardrails and resources.
▶ Watch at 1:54:43Read what they said
Thank you. I really appreciate the engagement, the help, honestly, from everyone in the committee that has come and said, listen, this, I see that this is something that we need to think about. We need to talk about this. How are we gonna do this? And, and I feel like it's been really collaborative. I like it. Um, I, I feel like this is again, like was mentioned from the good representative, that it's not gonna be used by every single person. This is not the lazy parents' track. We have made it so that the lazy parents track, not that again, anyone should be called lazy would be just sign 'em up at the school. That's gonna be …
H.B. 426 Online Education Service Provider Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked whether students in online programs have bad outcomes and what problem the bill is meant to solve, and said she is concerned about inconvenience to online programs.
▶ Watch at 45:23Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, Madam Vice chair. I'm just wondering if, do students in online learning programs right now have bad outcomes? Do they like not get into college or something like that? Because it seems like it's trying to solve a problem. And I'm not sure I could pinpoint where the students are failing in these programs and, and what the problem actually is. The answer is we don't know how the students are performing as a state. Uh, the state, the state school board, the LEAs don't know how the students are performing. Okay. It looks like that this could be a bill that could make online programs become very inconvenienced and could really make a lot of changes …
H.B. 426 Online Education Service Provider Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Thanked the public speakers, said she will vote for the bill, and asked that she have a chance to talk with the sponsor before floor changes.
▶ Watch at 1:12:42Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. I would like to thank all of the people who came today and who commented online. I really think it's valuable to hear from people that are using this program. I'm also a little bit concerned that they have not been able to get a meeting with the sponsor. So I, I know how much work has gone into this. I've been part of meetings where the sponsor has worked with these groups and has really tried, but maybe at the end, things have gotten busy here in the session. I don't know. I am going to vote for this because I think it is going in the direction that is, that is the best …
H.B. 524 Public Education Financial Officers · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked whether the bill applies to charter schools and was told it does not.
▶ Watch at 1:18:45Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Vice chair. So I have a couple of questions. My first question is, um, I'm just trying to make sure that I understand this correctly. This applies to charter schools, correct? Um, I can't remember if it says just districts or if it says, I think it says, it says School districts, but that would be, well, districts doesn't charter schools. That doesn't mean in, in this context, school districts is districts. It is not charter schools. That is correct. In this context, we did not change that. Okay. Well then that probably negates my other questions. Thank you.
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether there is a substitute, then moves to favorably recommend HB 462.
▶ Watch at 2:04:03Read what they said
Thank you. Is there a sub or anything? I don't think there is. I don't think so. There's not, this is a one and done Bill. Bill by itself. Wow. What a rare thing this time of the session too. Okay. I move that we favorably recommend HB 4 62 school bus internet access.
H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says allowing homework on buses makes sense now that students no longer rely on paper and pen.
▶ Watch at 2:04:25Read what they said
I think it just makes sense actually, that we allow the children to do the homework when they're not using paper and pen anymore. We've got to adapt, I guess.
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked the sponsor of the substitute what 'materially disrupt' means in the proposed language.
▶ Watch at 2:38:40Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, is it okay if I ask the sponsor of the substitute motion a question? Yes, you may. Okay. Thank you. So on line 100, in your proposed substitute motion, it says materially disrupt. I feel like that's a little bit subjective, but what would you mean by materially disrupt?
S.B. 69 School Device Revisions · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Raised concern that the term is subjective, could affect the bill's cultural goals, and asked what consequences would apply if a disruption occurred.
▶ Watch at 2:39:16Read what they said
Okay. I'm just concerned about that term, uh, because I feel like what we're going for in this type of policy is a cultural shift in the school culture. I think that what we've seen happen over the evolution of cell phones is that there was the culture of no, nobody's gonna have any, nobody's gonna have any, we're gonna keep 'em away, keep 'em away, and then, oh, the parents kind of wanna give 'em to their kids, and these are happening, and how do we keep 'em out? Okay, maybe we embrace 'em and then, no, this is a problem, actually, whatever, we're just not gonna deal with this. Okay, now we've lost our culture, and now we're …
H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked how the existing LEA welfare check policy works and how many days schools wait before checking on absent students.
▶ Watch at 3:05:36Read what they said
Thank you. Um, my questions relate to the welfare check policy. So you're saying that there's a policy that already exists. How many days do they wait? Currently? This is an LEA specific policy. Uh, so LEAs will, will do checks and, and I think your elementary schools oftentimes will check, uh, after three or four days, because that's a lot of learning for an elementary school kid. High school's not so much. Uh, and so they Just call the family. Yeah, I mean, when you're absent, there's, most schools have an automatic notification that goes out and email and a text or an email and a phone call will go out. And so the parents are notified if the …
H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked the sponsor to clarify how the bill's welfare check language relates to SB 58, which sets a less prescriptive chronic absenteeism policy.
▶ Watch at 3:11:51Read what they said
Um, uh, I I do have a couple of que just one clarifying question. So Representative Welton, you've got all this language about what happens if a student is absent and, and, uh, um, we just heard a bill and just passed, just recommended favorably from this committee, SB 58, uh, Senator Fillmore's bill that says in a much less prescriptive way that the LEA should craft a policy, um, once to deal with chronic absenteeism and it specify some things there. This would be a, this would take away their ability in that bill to craft a policy because it's very prescriptive about what we want them to do. Uh, what, what do we, what do we want to …
H.B. 534 Firearm Immunity Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Peck asks through a hypothetical about a dropped medication whether the government should be held accountable, and whether the same logic applies to firearms.
▶ Watch at 1:02:13Read what they said
Let's go to Representative Peck. Oh my Life. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm thinking of a scenario. I have a, a little scenario I'd like to share with you, and then if you could just answer the question after that. So let's say I had some medication of some sort. Let's say that the color of the medication was blue. 'cause that could be fun. And let's say I'm colorblind. Don't get too crazy With me. Okay. Sorry. All right. So anyway, and let's say I'm walking around the capitol and um, and I had that medication in my pocket and it happened to, I pulled out my badge to get through a door. The me medication came outta …
H.B. 534 Firearm Immunity Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Peck jokes that the color of the hypothetical pill confused them.
▶ Watch at 1:04:41Read what they said
Thank You. You confused me with the blue. If it were a gray pill, I could have answered that question like that.
H.B. 534 Firearm Immunity Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Peck moves to pass HB 534 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
▶ Watch at 1:05:51Read what they said
Thank you. Is there a sub or anything, or we're just to, uh, the main, Yeah, just the main. I, I don't, I don't see any subs online, so I guess it's just, okay. HB 5 34. Great. I move that we favorably recommend HB 5 34 out of this committee.
H.B. 534 Firearm Immunity Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Peck says the bill is a principled, common-sense measure and thanks Ivory.
▶ Watch at 1:06:57Read what they said
Uh, I think the comment I would make is this is a super principled common sense Bill. I, I appreciate it. Thank you.
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Spoke on the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:09:43Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker with the sponsor. You yield to a series of questions. Representative Gwynn, will you yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the tanks come from the manufacturer already inspected.
▶ Watch at 1:09:51Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Do these tanks come from the manufacturer already inspected? I'm sorry, could you repeat that again? Do these tanks come from the manufacturer already inspected?
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether the tanks are inspected for safety before purchase.
▶ Watch at 1:10:19Read what they said
Okay, thank you. So prior to getting the tanks, they are not, they're not inspected for any safety before they buy them.
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Asks whether Utah should stop requiring these inspections, as other states have done, instead of passing this bill.
▶ Watch at 1:10:40Read what they said
Okay. Final question. So it sounds like we are the only state who's doing these type of inspections and we're, because of maybe the burden of it, we're trying to now pass it off onto another company or other companies that do this. Would it maybe be in our best interest to just get out of the business of it, of needing these inspections like other states have done? I mean, could that be another option instead of doing this bill?
H.B. 190 Child Care Business Tax Credit · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Moved to amend the bill with House Amendment 1 to the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:16:48Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that we amend with house amendment one sub second sub.
H.B. 190 Child Care Business Tax Credit · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Said the amendment closes a possible double-dipping loophole where employers could be paid to provide childcare and also claim the tax credit.
▶ Watch at 1:17:12Read what they said
Yes. So this bill has a problem in it where employers could double dip without this amendment. So they could get paid by someone to provide childcare at their establishment and get the tax credit from the government. And we wanna just make sure that they aren't enticed to do that, should they find that loophole that exists. So we're closing that up.
H.B. 387 Kratom Modifications · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Expressed support and asked whether online kratom sellers in Utah, including those selling to children, would have to register and be subject to fines.
▶ Watch at 1:28:45Read what they said
Peck. Okay, thank you. I really like the direction that this is going, and I'm pretty supportive of it. Oops. But I do, um, have a question, which is that, um, I, so I happen to know that Kratom is being sold on digital as well as in physical locations, and it's even being sold to our children within their school databases. So in this section, uh, where it's lines 1 0 9 to one or 1 0 8 to one 10, I love that part about the fee that's there. And I'm wondering, and the registration and how the Raum sellers have to register. For the record, I'm just wanting to know, would people selling online within the state …
H.B. 387 Kratom Modifications · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Suggested future higher penalties for selling kratom to children and expressed appreciation for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:30:01Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And I would just support even going forward, forward with this, if it is sold to children, that there's definitely a higher penalty, penalty of some sort, an increased penalty, bigger teeth, and I just really appreciate the direction that this is going. Thank you.
H.B. 390 Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Has concerns about spending about $2 million in state funds on psychedelic treatments and urges colleagues to vote against the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:41:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, I have concerns about this bill because while I love to honor veterans in any way possible, and whenever I feel like 2 million, maybe 4 million with matching and four psychedelic drug treatments, um, is a really big thing to ask. I think we can care about our veterans without investing 2 million state dollars into psychedelics. And so I would just caution my members of the body to vote against this bill. Thank you, Representative Peck.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck confirmed she will present the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 47:36Read what they said
Yes, I will. Thank you. Okay. Can you hear me in this? Okay, I I'll bring it closer.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck introduced student Kiara Poynter, who proposed the bill, and clarified that the bill no longer lowers the driving age and now addresses only parent-led driver education.
▶ Watch at 47:43Read what they said
All right. Thank you. And I have here with me, um, Kiara Pointer, who is actually the person who came to me initially with this bill at the very beginning. So I'm happy to have her with me today to help in the presentation. I absolutely love when youth get involved in the legislative process, when they learn how it works and they start participating, coming up with ideas, having conversations, and she was inspired and reached out to me and she came up with some ideas for a bill. Now the news cut hold of that first bill that came out pretty, uh, pretty intensely and I just wanna make it very clear to everyone here in the committee …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck explained the bill adds a parent-taught option on the learner permit application, keeps all DLD testing unchanged, and requires parents to hold a clean license, use existing materials, complete required hours, and attend a Zero Fatalities parent-teen night.
▶ Watch at 52:00Read what they said
Thank you Kiara. So you can see that she actually has put a lot of thought into this. And when I met with her, I was super impressed by how much thought and research she had put into the ideas behind this bill. But when she brought up this idea of parent led driver education, it hit a core with me in a good way. I was like, you know what, that makes complete sense because I don't know if you're like me, if you've already had your children go to adulthood and become drivers, but really you're teaching them anyway all the time. You have to do that 40 hours of training with them. You are in the car …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck added that seven or eight other states already allow parent-led driver education.
▶ Watch at 58:36Read what they said
It does, except for I have one other point. I'm sorry. Can I say one other point? You can, or is are we too late? Keep going. You know, I've never done that before, but one other point that I thought I'd bring to everybody's attention is that we would not be the first state doing this. There are multiple other states, seven or eight other states in, in the United States that are doing parent led driver's education. So this is not an unusual practice.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said she had not researched insurance data but her own children, whom she taught, had no accidents or insurance changes.
▶ Watch at 59:31Read what they said
Actually, I would doubt that, but I haven't looked that piece up, so I have to be honest, I'm not a hundred percent sure about that. I think that it, that part of the conversation without looking up the current data would be conjecture. Um, so I don't know. I don't know if they are actually unsafe because like I said, I pretty much was the one who did teach my children how to drive, even though they did watch some modules of things or whatever, they already knew ahead of time and they didn't ever have accidents or anything like that. And, and then their insur, of course they wouldn't have known, but their insurance didn't change, so.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said materials are available but statute does not let parents declare themselves the driver education teacher at DLD.
▶ Watch at 1:00:27Read what they said
Currently, materials are available to parents who want to be part of the learning process, but it is not in statute that they can say at the DLD that they are going to be the driver's education teacher.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said the issue arises on the permit application form, where the bill adds a third option, and the materials would be the same ones currently available.
▶ Watch at 1:01:07Read what they said
That's a really good question. I'm not sure their exact words, but my guess is that because it's not legal, you would, you have to mark something when you're signing right now. So I would think that question would come up sooner. So that at the moment you're signing for the application for the driver permit, you would make a statement of, we're going to do this or we're going to do this. I think later when you come back that they probably wouldn't ask you, did you do, did you do your school class or did you do this? They're gonna just see if you pass the test, but they're just asking you at the time. That's what's on …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said DLD is aware of the bill and indicated adding a third option would be no big deal.
▶ Watch at 1:02:04Read what they said
Well, I've had some conversations with the DLD and they are very aware of this bill and so, and they're, you know, they, they basically said, well, we just need to add a third item on there and that wouldn't be any big deal, is basically what they told me. So I don't think that they would reject anyone if it was in code. Is that what you're asking? Did I understand that? I
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said that currently parents would be forced to claim a school or third party on the form, and she wants them to be able to state they are teaching.
▶ Watch at 1:02:29Read what they said
Happens at the end when they come back in today, I think the parent would be forced to basically lie at the beginning and they'd have to say, I'm doing a third party, or I'm doing a, um, or I'm doing an A school and then not do it. And the child would have to come back and take a test, but they, but they'd be forced to lie. I just don't want them to have to lie. I'd like them to, I, you know, if they're gonna do it, let's let 'em say I'm gonna do it. Okay.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck confirmed all students would take the same written and driving tests.
▶ Watch at 1:03:12Read what they said
Correct. They still have to prove that they can drive a car and that they can parallel park and, and they have to pass a written test. Same exact as everybody else. Yes. We would never change the bar. Okay. Yeah.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said DLD appears neutral and has helped with language changes.
▶ Watch at 1:03:43Read what they said
I think they're pretty neutral on this. Okay. Because they've given us some language changes and stuff like that and said, this would be a better way to phrase that. And I mean, I don't think they're gonna take a position on we love this or we hate this, but they've been very good to work with and understood what we were doing and, um, even, you know, said, Hey, we already have materials for parents and those could be used. And so, you know, they've been very helpful and good all, all the way along. Okay.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said USBE's digital materials already exist and would only need a dedicated page, and DLD manuals are also available.
▶ Watch at 1:04:31Read what they said
Right. According to USBE, so they have all of the materials, basically they would just have a certain page that is just a dedicated page that any school district would just link them to those things. Those digital materials already exist. They're already there. They already have them, they own them. It would just be the matter of making one page that people would go to and they'd probably have a login, you know, that they, so that it's not just shared broadly per se, but it's like this person's coming in or something. However they wanna set that up is up to them how they're gonna do that. Um, but also DLD does have manuals and things. 'cause as …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said from her experience she did not recall any follow-up; students simply take and pass the test.
▶ Watch at 1:05:46Read what they said
I'm gonna go on my own memory from all of my children that have come in, but I do not re remember ever having to say anything about what did happen. We just come in and take the test, take the test to pass the test, and if you pass the test, that's it. Yeah. Okay. So,
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck suggested someone in the audience could answer the fee question. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:06:33Read what they said
Good question to number. And there's someone in the back that I think knows the answer, we may want have you come up Yeah.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said USBE and DLD told her parent resources, online modules, and a DLD manual already exist, while the $300 instructor manual is for classroom settings and not being requested.
▶ Watch at 1:13:06Read what they said
So if I may, um, in conversations with USBE and DLD, I was told that there is, there are already parent resources that are available and that DLD already has a book that is available. So I know that there is a book, a manual for driver's ed instructors through USBE, that's $300 per book. However, that book would go into more like, here's how you lay out the class in the school setting. But we're not at, we're not asking for that. So that of course, is not available to parents, but what I was told was that there are already online things and stuff like that because students are already taking it online through the school. So there …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck agreed there is no dedicated curriculum but said existing resources are adequate for licensed parents who also complete the parent-teen night and 40 hours.
▶ Watch at 1:14:17Read what they said
Correct. That's the difference. And, and where the, um, where A DLD does have already a whole manual of all of it that can be available to anyone. And then there's those parent resources that's adequate for the parents, especially if they're already drivers and have a good record. And they also do that zero fatalities and they're already going to be doing those 40 hours with their students.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Peck said the bill does not ask USBE to create new curriculum and leverages existing resources.
▶ Watch at 1:16:41Read what they said
Exactly. Exactly. That's exactly, it's not asking USBE to create any other, um, any other curriculums or anything like that. We're just gonna leverage what we have.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said she had not had that conversation and that families homeschool for many reasons, including wanting a different environment than public school.
▶ Watch at 1:45:59Read what they said
Yes, if I may. Um, I have not had that conversation with each parent in particular, but I will say that people choose to homeschool not just because of the, or choose to. They, they want this not just because of the cost, and they don't choose to homeschool, um, just because they don't or do want a certain class. So, I mean, there's a lot of different reasons that people homeschool, but lots of times it's because there's a certain environment that they want their child to learn in, and that environment is not the same environment that's at the public school. And so even though they may be, could go there, um, that's not necessarily the environment that …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said she was unsure, noting one school listed a $150 fee that might be waivable, but whether it fits a family is a separate question.
▶ Watch at 1:46:57Read what they said
Do you know? I'm not sure because, um, I was informed that on a school website that for one school it, it was saying that it, there was $150 fee. I know that we heard that there might be a fee, it could be a waived fee. It could be. So it probably could be free for them, but whether that actually fits their family or not is really the thing. Right.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the core question is whether parents should be allowed to teach their children to drive as they teach other skills.
▶ Watch at 1:47:22Read what they said
Yeah. And whether, I mean, I think in, in essence, we're kind of trying to decide too, um, do parents really have jurisdiction over this? Like, should they be allowed to teach their children this? If they can teach 'em to do other things like mow a lawn and cut with knives and all kinds of other things, you know?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Opposed the hold, saying parents who skip the 40 hours do so regardless of the bill, and said she was open to other motions.
▶ Watch at 1:50:59Read what they said
Yeah, I, I really obviously don't want the bill to be held because it's not sounding like it's being held with an emphasis in let's talk about it and bring it back. It's sort of sounding like, let's just hold it to hold it and I would like to see this bill, you know, move forward. Obviously, I think that if parents are not doing their 40 hours currently, they're not already being the teachers of their children. And that's gonna happen regardless of whether we pass this bill or not. So, um, I mean, if people want to make other motions, I would be open to other motions. But I'm at the mercy of the committee, obviously.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said she is open to options making driver training more accessible and affordable and would discuss test changes.
▶ Watch at 1:57:45Read what they said
I am happy to look at any options that would make drivers trading more accessible, less expensive and, and more workable for families. Absolutely. So, I mean, and if we wanted to put something about the test in there, I don't, I don't know what that would look like, but I'd be happy to discuss it. Yeah,
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the second substitute is the version she wants and that the Driver License Division finalized it.
▶ Watch at 1:59:43Read what they said
That is the sub that I would want and the, the DLD has put their finishing touches on, so thank you.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether she was to give a summary or comment on the motion.
▶ Watch at 2:01:14Read what they said
Is this my sum or is this my, just what I think about the motion.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Supported the motion, noting areas without driving schools, recounting an instructor's comment to her child about drinking, and saying parents care most and should be allowed to teach driving.
▶ Watch at 2:01:25Read what they said
The motion. I appreciate it. I think that this bill is going to actually bring a lot to the conversation for parents with their children. I think we've heard that we have people in places in the state where they don't have driving schools and we teach our children all kinds of things. And I also know that when my children were in a driving school that has been actually mentioned here today, um, that they were told by their driving instructor, you know, when you, when you get drunk one time and, and don't tell me because you're from Utah that you're not gonna drink 'cause you all drink and you all get drunk. And when you get drunk …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked that the bill be passed out, saying parents in certain parts of the state need this option.
▶ Watch at 2:03:46Read what they said
Um, I, I won't repeat what I said before, but I would obviously like to have it passed out. I feel like people need this in certain places in the state especially. Um, and the, the parents want this and it would help in so many ways.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Presents HB 188 as a clearer framework for school searches, responses to drug offenses, and tracking of repeat juvenile offenses, and describes her background and conversations with educators and officials.
▶ Watch at 2:30:05Read what they said
Okay. Well, I appreciate you having me back to this committee and, um, I'm just pulling all my papers together here. Last time when I was here, we were talking about HB 180 8 Juvenile Justice Amendments, and there was a, a request to come back and to bring some people with me that could testify and to bring some of the data that I had been looking at. And I am happy to do that for us today. In fact, um, we've had some additional meetings on the bill just since, uh, we met last time. And I feel like this bill is at a really good place. Um, so just a little bit of a backstory about me. …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Presents referral and disciplinary data, student statements, and a school resource officer's account, and says the bill aims to address repeat school-based drug offenses.
▶ Watch at 2:32:07Read what they said
Anyway, so, um, people came and they spoke with me and asked me if I would help with the drug situation in the schools. And I met with the schools, I met with the district, I met with people from other districts besides my own. And what I recognized is that everyone is concerned. Everyone is working really hard. They are trying their best, they're working with the instruction that they've been given, and they are feeling like it's not being taken seriously enough that the youth aren't taking things seriously enough when it comes to the drugs. And we're seeing a lot of the same youth again and again that are repeat offending with the same offenses. And I'm …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thanks the vice chair for his work and notes the third substitute does not address youth courts.
▶ Watch at 2:58:47Read what they said
Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate the vice chair and for all of his effort and, and helping get this to a really great place. Just one clarity and that is that the third sub does not have anything in it about youth courts. So that's not something that's addressed. Okay. Thank you. Correct.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Says the bill aims to make rules clearer for teachers, students, and parents, and expects better outcomes for youth.
▶ Watch at 3:00:07Read what they said
Thank you. I would just say clear is kind, you know, and this bill aims to just make things more clear for teachers, students, parents, everyone. And by so doing, I think we'll have better outcomes with our youth. So I appreciate the, the vote. Thank you.
H.B. 364 Certified Teacher Librarian Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether schools can already hire teacher librarians.
▶ Watch at 49:30Read what they said
Thank you Madam Vice chair. Um, I have a few questions. So the first question is, um, can't schools already hire teacher librarians?
H.B. 364 Certified Teacher Librarian Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether the bill would lead to replacing current staff and why money should go to librarians rather than needs like special education.
▶ Watch at 50:19Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. So it sounds like then, and you'll have to answer this, um, if we are putting an emphasis on hiring more teacher librarians at a higher cost, then we will be firing or replacing some people that currently have jobs and we will be increasing our budget. So I guess my questions are why would we wanna fire people that are already doing a good job? What would we get out of it that's any different? And, um, also, why would we take money for librarians when librarians are telling me that children aren't actually really reading books in the library that much, why would, why would we take more money for libraries when we have a …
H.B. 364 Certified Teacher Librarian Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether the bill is an unfunded mandate given the zero fiscal note, and how a degree helps someone connect with children better.
▶ Watch at 52:30Read what they said
Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. If I, if I may, I have just two other quick little things. If he could answer them quickly, are you okay with that? Yep. Okay. Thank you. I'll keep it brief. Okay. Thank you. Um, so my first question is, um, since there is a zero fiscal note, but there's money listed, is this an unfunded mandate? And then my second thing is, um, how exactly does a person with a degree have a better chance of sparking learning in a child or sparking a child to read a book, um, than somebody who just is already there and knows the child? How would a piece of paper help a person connect with a …
H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the sponsor's work improves customer service and clarity, but questioned whether the bill mandates accreditation for private schools.
▶ Watch at 1:41:08Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, the good sponsor has truly put in so much effort into this, and I am fully aware of that. I do like that it improves the customer service and clarity and such, but it seems to mandate accreditation for private schools. And my question is, um, do you, oh, is that, is that still on?
H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked where the sponsor sees accreditation requirements for private schools overstepping, citing non-accredited schools families have chosen.
▶ Watch at 1:41:48Read what they said
So my question then is, since we are mand mandating accreditation for private schools, um, where do you see this overstep as then continuing more overstep into private school spaces? There are many people, uh, me included, who, like my oldest son, Uintah, a non-accredited liberal arts university, because we wanted that education, we didn't care about the accreditation and, and I feel like, um, we're maybe dipping into a space that's unnecessary. Can you speak to that?
H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked a follow-up question.
▶ Watch at 1:45:33Read what they said
Thank you. I I appreciate that. I just have a follow up then question to that. I I do.
H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked whether approved provider rules amount to picking winners and losers among schools.
▶ Watch at 1:45:43Read what they said
could just be very fast then. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so if, and I appreciate that anyone can sign up to be an approved provider or not if they choose to, but then aren't we essentially picking winners and losers? Because wherever the money goes, and if accreditation or government oversight is attached to the money, then aren't we actually in essence picking which, which businesses, which schools could fail and succeed in our society?
H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said the substitute is an improvement but that she will vote no because she does not think the bill is ready yet.
▶ Watch at 2:19:25Read what they said
Thank you, Uh, Mr. Chair, I just wanted to say that I do think that the sub is an improvement going in the right direction. I am still gonna vote no on this bill, however, because I don't think we're there yet. And I hope that if it does pass out that the sponsor will keep engaging us to make sure that we get it to the best place possible.
S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Asked why the bill references all student data under the state statute rather than specific items such as a transcript, and why students cannot simply provide their own transcripts.
▶ Watch at 2:21:40Read what they said
Thank you. Um, so in the bill, uh, on line 39 it says Student data and we're passing along student data. It referenced section 53 E 9 3 0 1, which basically defines that student data is all student data and that it's not aggregate data or de-identified data, which would mean in my understanding that we would be passing on behavioral data and all kinds of things. And, um, so I'm wondering why you feel like that the universities need all student data and, and not more, um, specified like just a transcript. And, and why can't, another question would be why can't the students just provide their own transcripts to schools like they always have? Why do we …
S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Expressed concern that people will not know exactly what data is shared and that the bill lacks specific listed items, and said the bill may not be ready yet.
▶ Watch at 2:27:10Read what they said
Yeah, I just, I just have concerns that they're not gonna know exactly what is shared. I also have concerns that without those prescriptive things in the bill saying name whatever, that we're gonna, we're gonna miss the mark. And I have, I have people in my family who are in Davis School district under the DOJ uh, thing that happened there where they said one word wrong in an English class got written up and it was put on a permanent record. And I'm like, this type of stuff could get passed around. I just feel like we need to be good to our students and this is maybe not ready for prime time yet.
S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said she is glad work will continue, will vote no, and wants to flag the bill so it is fixed before reaching the floor.
▶ Watch at 2:29:11Read what they said
Thank you. Just really quickly, I'm glad that we're gonna continue to work on this. I'm gonna still vote no because we need to flag this bill to make sure it really does get to where it needs to be if it's actually gonna make its way to the floor. Thank you.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Expressed support for maternity leave and asked whether the change could pressure small businesses to pay for additional leave.
▶ Watch at 42:22Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I know that we're moving from six to nine weeks. I'm in total support of supporting maternity leave in any way possible. However, um, when we do this at a state level, are we concerned that this could be setting a precedent for other businesses around the state? I would really hate for us to be putting that type of pressure on other businesses who are just trying to stay afloat that they would have to pay for additional maternity, maternity leave. I know that that's not specifically mentioned in the bill, but there could be, uh, an effect because we're passing something at a state level. What do you say to that?
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Supports maternity leave but asks whether the state action could set a precedent that pressures small businesses to pay for maternity leave.
▶ Watch at 42:22Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I know that we're moving from six to nine weeks. I'm in total support of supporting maternity leave in any way possible. However, um, when we do this at a state level, are we concerned that this could be setting a precedent for other businesses around the state? I would really hate for us to be putting that type of pressure on other businesses who are just trying to stay afloat that they would have to pay for additional maternity, maternity leave. I know that that's not specifically mentioned in the bill, but there could be, uh, an effect because we're passing something at a state level. What do you say to that?
H.B. 102 Victim Privacy Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Asked the sponsor whether she would yield to a question.
▶ Watch at 1:47:25Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker with the sponsor yield. Two Question. Representative Hayes will yield No Our Representative Peck.
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Asks the sponsor where the $122 million taken from the Division of Workforce Services would come from.
▶ Watch at 1:38:29Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro. Tim, um, would the sponsor yield to a question? Yes. With the Sponsor yield, go ahead. Okay. I know the fiscal note says $0, but it also says in there, in some of the notes that, uh, 122 million will be taken from the division of Workforce Services. And I'm just wondering what part of Workforce services is being given up to, uh, bring that money over to these buckets in Goyo?
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Asks which part of Workforce Services would give up funds to move money into the new structure, given the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:38:36Read what they said
Okay. I know the fiscal note says $0, but it also says in there, in some of the notes that, uh, 122 million will be taken from the division of Workforce Services. And I'm just wondering what part of Workforce services is being given up to, uh, bring that money over to these buckets in Goyo?
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Asks whether the bill creates a new program director position with a salary funded in the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:40:04Read what they said
Thank you. Um, my next question is there, it has to be somebody overseeing this like program director and stuff. And I see that also within the fiscal note, that there's an amount that's appropriated for that. So we're actually creating another, um, salary position is what it looks like. Is that correct representative?
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Asks whether the bill creates a new program director salary position reflected in the fiscal note.
▶ Watch at 1:40:04Read what they said
Thank you. Um, my next question is there, it has to be somebody overseeing this like program director and stuff. And I see that also within the fiscal note, that there's an amount that's appropriated for that. So we're actually creating another, um, salary position is what it looks like. Is that correct representative?
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Says the bill is both exciting and concerning to her because of possible unforeseen consequences, and that she cannot support it.
▶ Watch at 1:40:49Read what they said
Thank you. I think that for me, I want nothing more than to do something to help the housing situation. But I also feel like that when we are getting too deep into controlling the housing market too, we could also have unforeseen consequences. And this makes me, um, excited on one hand, nervous on the other, which makes me feel like I just really can't go for it. But thank you.
H.B. 68 Housing and Community Development Amendments · House floor debate (day 25) · Feb 13, 2026
Says she sees potential benefits and unforeseen consequences in the bill and is undecided about supporting it.
▶ Watch at 1:40:49Read what they said
Thank you. I think that for me, I want nothing more than to do something to help the housing situation. But I also feel like that when we are getting too deep into controlling the housing market too, we could also have unforeseen consequences. And this makes me, um, excited on one hand, nervous on the other, which makes me feel like I just really can't go for it. But thank you.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Presents HB 197, which would bar vendors from selling or promoting goods to students through school digital materials and would require local education agencies to adopt selection policies, citing a 2025 audit.
▶ Watch at 1:09:12Read what they said
I apologize, your microphone should now be on. There We go. Thank you so much. Um, if you don't mind, my intern has some papers for everybody. If she can bring 'em maybe up to Yeah, if you bring those up here to, uh, our fi our, uh, policy analyst. Thank you. Okay. So last year there was a bill that was before this committee related to school materials and instructional materials that Bill made it all the way through the process, but ended up being one of those that dies on the last night. It was number nine on the Senate board. And so we got to start the process all over again. But in a way I'm glad …
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says UETN indicated it would remove sensitive materials from databases.
▶ Watch at 1:15:30Read what they said
So I was told by UETN that they would have no problem removing those materials.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says database advertising often looks like articles but is product press releases, and that the bill targets current advertising.
▶ Watch at 1:15:39Read what they said
Okay. So it sounds, uh, I think you're, I know what you're targeting and you're trying to make sure that there aren't, like banner ads on the sides and things like that in the, there Aren't actually banner ads on databases. Um, they're actually just, they, they look like it should be an article, but it's literally a press release on a product.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says historical sensitive materials could be removed but the target is paid advertising aimed at children in public schools.
▶ Watch at 1:16:15Read what they said
Well, I think those historical ones in my conversation with UETN, they said, you know, any of those old historical ones that are in those old periodicals, if they're sensitive materials or something, then we could pull them out. But I don't think, that's not really my target. The target really is that people are paying these large, um, aggregate database companies to put advertisements in there that reach our children. So if they want them to reach people somewhere else, you know, at the library or maybe even on a college campus, fine. But when it comes to children in the public school, I, I really feel like they shouldn't be advertised to there.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says UETN would remove old materials if they are sensitive and that the current advertisements are recent.
▶ Watch at 1:17:07Read what they said
Yeah, yeah. But I mean, we often, we often find things that we don't intend in V and so I just wanna make sure that it is clear in that regard. I Did have that discussion with UETN and they said that if it had sent some materials in some of those old things, you know, then they would still move that, remove that. But these advertisements are very current. Okay. Like you can even see when they're added, which some of them were this month.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says the two bills would not conflict and that the sponsors have communicated about their work.
▶ Watch at 1:17:53Read what they said
I don't think it would be in conflict. Obviously the drafters, if they both passed, would have to coordinate if there's anything there. Um, but we both know what each other is doing. I know I've had, I told them what I'm doing, but it, we didn't necessarily try to step on each other's toes, if that makes sense. Well, I assume you wouldn't step on each other's toes on purpose.
H.B. 197 School Materials Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Says the bill aims to keep school materials focused on education and free of marketing to children, and urges support for the fourth substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:38:02Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Um, so really this bill, the whole point of it is to help the school materials stay focused on education instead of selling to the children. Instead of bringing sens sensitive materials into the school. Uh, we heard in the public comment from multiple librarians, some who were in favor of the bill, some who were against the bill, but all of them want there to be good, appropriate educational material for the students. And I think that's the whole premise of this bill, is let's please focus on the education. And it is my hope that if we also don't expose our children to being marketed to during their, when they're, um, using their school materials, …
H.B. 219 Higher Education Civics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Asked which year and course level the requirement would apply to, and whether it duplicates recently passed legislation.
▶ Watch at 1:46:04Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm not seeing here what year in college or university would this be considered one of the core classes or is this just an elective thing? And the reason why I ask actually, is because I love what you're proposing here. It's a great idea. I do worry a little bit that it might be slightly duplicative with some of the other things we've passed recently, although you could speak to that as well. Um, but then my son, my oldest son, Uintah, a liberal arts university, and the whole first year was like, and that, that freshman year was like, all this foundation stuff just like this, right? They even went as …
H.B. 219 Higher Education Civics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend the first substitute of H.B. 219.
▶ Watch at 1:58:07Read what they said
Thank you. Is there a sub to this one? It's already been adopted by rules, then we're awesome. I move that we favorably recommend, uh, first substitute HB two 19.
H.B. 219 Higher Education Civics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Closed by encouraging colleagues to vote for the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:07:08Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. Um, it sounds like me and Representative Moss will be on the same side and I love that. Anyway. Anyway. Um, so I, I, uh, encourage my colleagues to vote for the bill.
H.B. 399 Prohibition Against Student Character Tracking and Grading Systems · House Education Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Supports the bill's intent and asks whether the sponsor would rename character education to leadership education and still avoid grading.
▶ Watch at 3:14:42Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. I'll try to be fast. I know this is going long and I'm sensitive to that. Um, but I, I just wanted to say and to ask, I wanna say something and ask a question. First off, I love the intent of this bill. I think it's been known for a very long time in, in a lot of circles that we've kind of missed the mark when it comes to some of our social training. We were for a long time saying, you know, school, what about the social, what about the social? And then we just dove off this cliff and, um, like emotional intelligence is being propagated in a way that it was never …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck thanks the chair and asks staff to distribute a data sheet to attendees.
▶ Watch at 46:15Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I think that there is a flyer, a, a data sheet up there for people. We, we do. We'll have the staff ask that. Could you Pass? Okay. That would be fantastic. Thank you. Thanks. All right.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the bill would require insurers that cover gender transition procedures to also cover detransition procedures, cites detransition data, and introduces Dr. Kurt Miceli to speak.
▶ Watch at 46:33Read what they said
Well, um, I appreciate you hearing HB 2 58 today. The bill is actually a pretty simple bill. So what it does is it just brings into awareness that there is a certain population that is a growing population, which is the Daggett trans population that is not actually getting coverage from many insurance comp companies. In fact, I think most insurance companies, so this bill says that, um, that private insurance companies, so think, you know, IHC, uh, blue Cross Blue Shield, something like that in our state, if they pay for transgender procedures for a person that they would also need to pay for deran procedures if the person wanted those. Of course, that's their decision always. Anyway. …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck thanks Miceli, notes possible harms from medical procedures that insurance would need to cover, and says she is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 52:41Read what they said
Thank you, Dr. Ms. Hill. I really appreciate you joining us here this morning. I know you had to squeeze it into your schedule to make it happen. Um, just one other thing that I would like to add on this conversation before this presentation is done is just that with every medical procedure, there can be an iatrogenesis effect to any medication or, or procedure, which means that there can be a harm when you're trying to even do good. And this legislation would make it so that if there are certain harms or iatrogenesis effects that happen because of transition procedures, it would also make it so that those things would need to be covered under insurance, because …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says she prefers less government involvement in private business but argues a growing population lacks available insurance codes and coverage, and that the bill is meant to be light touch.
▶ Watch at 53:47Read what they said
I appreciate that, Senator Ipson, because I am definitely the type of person that does not like to get into private business at all. My husband owns a business. I own a business. I, I don't think government should get involved. But what we have here is a whole population of people, a growing population of people that don't have codes within the insurance network to be, even if they want to detransition, even if their insurance companies want to pay for that, because it's not something that's broadly done right now, the codes don't even exist. So they can't get care. And the insurance companies can totally decide. They can say, if I, if we wanna pay for hormonal …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the plan was not to reach ERISA plans and that the bill applies to private insurance companies.
▶ Watch at 57:32Read what they said
Are we dictating to self-funded as well here? If I May, um, the plan was not to go into erisa. The plan was just to go, I mean, for the record we can say it's just for the private Okay. Insurance company.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the bill is not meant to make every insurer pay for detransition, only to let a person reverse a transition with the coverage they already had.
▶ Watch at 59:48Read what they said
That's exactly right. So the idea is not to make every private insurance company pay for detransition. That's not the idea. The idea is that if they're already, if they've already serviced in a transition way and that person wants to detransition, then they should be able to, with the same coverage that they had doing the transition, undo that transition.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says PEHP would not be part of this bill, that a separate bill addresses PEHP, and that this bill applies only to private insurance.
▶ Watch at 1:00:57Read what they said
But, um, PEHP would not be part of this bill. So I do have another bill, um, HB 1 93 that actually was related to the PEHP issue. So this one is just for the private insurance, so it won't touch public insurance. This bill won't.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the drafting attorney will be asked to clarify whether the bill covers PEHP. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:01:46Read what they said
We'll, uh, we'll reach Out. You maybe asked to the drafter, but the idea was that we'll reach Would Be separated, but, But we'll reach out to the drafting attorney and try to clarify that In the other bill. It specifies that anyway, so
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the issue is real, citing other states and reported detransition rates, and that people who need care should not be left without it.
▶ Watch at 1:19:10Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I may, I don't think this is a problem that doesn't exist. Um, there are other states who are going down this road as well, because they're also seeing the issue. Um, Texas already has passed legislation like this as well, and because they also have had people, um, detransition in their state who have not been able to get care and have spoken out. And I, I feel like that we know that there are high numbers between 10 and 30% of people who either detransition or who regret their transitioning and then wanna discontinue care, which means that they will potentially need, in some cases, a lifetime of hormonal treatments. I just don't …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · Senate Business and Labor Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Peck says the bill asks insurers not to make people who detransition invisible and respects personal decisions to transition or discontinue care.
▶ Watch at 1:24:00Read what they said
Thank you. Just quickly, really, this whole piece of legislation is just a reach out to the insurance companies to say, Hey, let's not make this whole other group of people invisible. I really appreciate all of the testimony that was shared today, and I think we see how personal the decision is to transition and, and I respect people's decisions to do whatever they feel like that they need to do for themselves. But on the, on the same vein, I also know that it's a very personal decision to detransition or to discontinue care. And I think we have to care about that population of people as well. So thank you for your consideration.
H.B. 324 Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026
Peck asked whether marriage rates in Utah are increasing or declining.
▶ Watch at 1:35:58Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, would the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Yes. Yes. Is, are our marriage rates in the state of Utah increasing or declining generally?
H.B. 324 Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments · House floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026
Peck asked whether the funding is going toward marriage volume or curriculum, and whether the cap should be increased.
▶ Watch at 1:36:37Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate that. So if this money isn't going toward a higher volume in marriages, then is it going toward these curriculums and things that the, that their, the department is volunteering to make? And are we wanting to increase that amount that they can get that percentage because there's less marriages and we're in danger of losing the office? So I guess that's two questions, but
H.B. 172 Food Safety Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says she supports the bill as common sense and values the flexibility it gives people in the food service industry.
▶ Watch at 26:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. It's super common sense. I love the flexibility that gives people working in the food service industry.
H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks to yield to a question from the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 1:04:21Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker with the sponsor yield to a question. Representative Peterson, will you yield to a question?
H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says constituents are concerned about what the regions will be and asks how they will affect technical colleges and a USU campus in the area.
▶ Watch at 1:04:28Read what they said
You. I appreciate this bill and what it aims to accomplish, but there have been constituents in my area in ULA that are worried about what those regions will actually be. It's my understanding that there's going to be certain technical colleges, maybe junior colleges and then larger universities all put together to create kind of a funnel path to each other. And like in Tu Willow, we have a USU that's out in Twila, but they're being told, or at least they're understanding that they're going to be in the region with the University of Utah instead of with USU. They have concern about that. Um, can you speak to that and is that going to be happening to …
H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says he will vote for the bill and asks that each community's needs be considered when regions are decided.
▶ Watch at 1:06:23Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, I'm gonna go ahead and vote in favor of this bill, but I do hope that since this is on the record, that when these, um, are decided that they can keep in mind what each community might need or desire in their region. Thank you.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 2:27:55Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to series of Questions? Representative Bowes will yield to a series of Questions, certainly.
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks how permission is defined and proven, citing a family situation where adult children track a parent's location without written permission.
▶ Watch at 2:28:05Read what they said
did not receive permission, but I'm not seeing where permission is really defined, and I'm wondering what that means. 'cause there's a situation in my family where my children track me because they wanna know when it's a good time to call mom. Like they know if I'm here, they can call me if I'm, or they, I, they can't call me if I'm somewhere else. They could, if I'm in my car, they're gonna call, you know, that kind of stuff. And, and I've never given 'em like a written thing or whatever. And how do we prove position, um, permission? How do you see that playing out with the permission?
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says the permission term may be vague to prove in her family situation and asks whether young people have better games than tracking each other in cars.
▶ Watch at 2:29:04Read what they said
Okay. These are my children that are adults tracking me. That's what I'm saying. So, and I, and I'm fine with it, but I haven't given them a, a permission. And if they were to suddenly, you know, go over some line, I suppose I could declare, I've never really given them permission 'cause I didn't write anything down. And then, anyway, I just feel like that might be a little bit vague to try to prove, although I love this. Um, this bill. And then another question just as a follow up to, um, the previous question that you had, and that is, um, do you think that there are maybe better games that young people can play rather …
H.B. 158 Unlawful Tracking Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says she was trying to help and that young people may need a new game.
▶ Watch at 2:30:10Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. I was trying to give you help out there because I do think that if that's the game our young people are playing, they probably need a new game to play.
S.B. 58 Public School Attendance Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks about a line in the substitute and the existing bill language on local school board and charter school governing board actions.
▶ Watch at 1:05:54Read what they said
Can you hear me? Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so the questions that I have actually are not really related to the new items in the sub, but they're related to the existing, uh, language and changes that were made in the existing bill. So if you go to, in the sub line, which Sub, Well, I guess we better go with the fourth sub. That's what I'm looking at online, but I think it's the, the, this is pretty consistent anyway, throughout the subs. If you go to line 3 36 in the first sub, it should start with a local school board, charter school governing board. Do you find that spot? I see line 3 36, but I …
H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says she has a few questions and apologizes in case she repeats questions already asked.
▶ Watch at 2:11:04Read what they said
Thank you. I have a couple Mr. Chair, go right ahead. Thank you. And, and I apologize that I was in and out, so I hope I am not repeating questions that I've already been asked. And you can tell me if I am. Will do. Okay.
H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor has consulted the state board and what the board's position is.
▶ Watch at 2:11:15Read what they said
So, um, have you consulted with the state board on this and what, what is their position on this?
H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks what prompted the bill and how it came about.
▶ Watch at 2:11:30Read what they said
Okay. And then what is the, how do you see this playing out? What is the reason why we're doing this? Like it, was there something that occurred? Is there, like, are they feeling like they need this? Like how did this come about? Why, why is this a thing? Sure.
H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Questions whether the bill is still needed because the board has already addressed ethics, and says she is inclined to vote against it.
▶ Watch at 2:20:16Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, it seems like we've already covered it at the board level, and so I'm wondering, uh, if we really need the bill any longer. And I'm, I'm inclined to. I'm glad it's already covered. I'm glad that they've already done things to, to address, uh, what they feel like needs to happen with the ethics on the board and, and that they're overseeing that. So, well, I know that we're supposed to kind of cut down on number of bills and stuff, and so I, I'm inclined to maybe go against it just because it seems like it might not be needed at this point.
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks about struck lines 127 to 133 and whether removing them could affect the parent balance requirement.
▶ Watch at 3:06:25Read what they said
Yes. Um, a question about lines 1 27 to 1 33, which basically is saying, um, well, it just says if after an election the number of parent members who are not educators employed by the school district does not exceed the number of parent members who are educators employed by the school district. The parent members of the school community council shall appoint one or more parent members to the school community council so that the number of parent mem members who are not educators employed by the school district exceeds the number of parent members who are educators employed by the school district. So it sounds like we're saying in lines 1 24 to 1 26 that we …
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the change is vague and could create a loophole, and mentions an amendment she plans to offer.
▶ Watch at 3:08:23Read what they said
Yeah. I I just feel like it makes it vague enough that it could, it could make them, um, go well, but you know, we don't, so now we're not gonna get parents, so now we're gonna get other more educators instead. I just feel like it would, it would make it better if there was a, that little, okay, if it's a awkward situation, here's how you handle it. I feel like that's more clear for the councils going forward instead of taking it out. I think when you take it out, it, it kind of creates a loophole, um, for that standard not to be followed. So, and I do have an amendment related to that for later.
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether councils have had problems with the existing language.
▶ Watch at 3:09:18Read what they said
So have they not been, um, able to, with the existing language that's here lines 1 24 to to 1 33, which has already been in code, um, have they not been able to have proper elections?
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether something should be added to address handling before an election.
▶ Watch at 3:09:56Read what they said
I see. So do we need to add something that says that then that to do it before an election?
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Moves to adopt Amendment 1 to the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 3:14:36Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I move that we adopt Amendment one to the second set of HB 1 44.
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the amendment restores the existing post-election process language so councils have a procedure if an oversight occurs.
▶ Watch at 3:14:47Read what they said
Yes. I was just thinking, you know, there's so many different people who are employed by the school district and I could see it being an oversight in an election and maybe not filtered out at the beginning. And I feel like that keeping this part in lines 1 27 to 1 33, which my amendment just puts it back in the way it's already there as it exists currently in code. I think this just gives a really good, it's not saying you have to do it after an election. I think they can do it prior to the election and make sure that everything's okay. But if there's some oversight that happens, we don't want there to be …
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the amendment adds protection if an oversight occurs and that she appreciates the bill.
▶ Watch at 3:16:39Read what they said
Thank you. I also appreciate all of the work that the sponsor has done and how, how much she's talked to everybody and made sure this came to a good place. I just think this is an extra protection that helps them, uh, if they end up in a circumstance where maybe there was an oversight and they didn't get that balance method that they needed to. And so I, I don't see it as being harmful in any way. Only helpful. So I'm hoping that people will vote for that and I appreciate the bill despite that.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend the second substitute of H.B. 273 as amended.
▶ Watch at 3:21:51Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend second substitute HB 2 73 as amended.
H.B. 273 Classroom Technology Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the bill strikes a good balance and expresses hope for more learning opportunities such as handwriting for students.
▶ Watch at 3:22:02Read what they said
Just briefly? I really appreciate this bill. I think this is a great balance. I actually hope that this, uh, goes in a direction where we can even have more learning opportunities that lead to holding a pen in a hand and stuff like that for our students, because I think that they need it. And so I, I really like the bill. Thank you.
H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether the bill means credit is earned by hours of seat time rather than by days, and whether that affects pay.
▶ Watch at 3:25:23Read what they said
Thank you. I just wanna make sure that I'm understanding this. So we're not saying that we're gonna get, uh, that they're gonna get paid for the credits of the classes or that that's how we're gonna monitor somebody getting through school, but we're going to, um, get credit for the classes by the number of hours that they have in the seat. Am I misunderstanding that?
H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether pay would be based on hours instead of days.
▶ Watch at 3:26:30Read what they said
Yeah. Sorry, I guess the pay part came in when I, because I know that it's like 180 days. It's like, oh, you get paid for each child each day, right? Yeah. So that's 180 days. So you're saying that you want the pay to come in for the hours as opposed to the days? Is that what you're kind of saying?
H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says she was trying to understand the purpose of the bill and how it would affect the calculations.
▶ Watch at 3:26:53Read what they said
Okay. I I just, I was trying to understand the why of this and I'm, you know, and I'm and how it would play out in, in the factors of like the, the math. Yeah.
H.B. 358 School Scheduling Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says she does not believe the bill changes pay and suggests someone else address that question.
▶ Watch at 3:27:22Read what they said
Okay. I don't believe it changes pay in any anyway, but somebody smarter than me can phone in on that. Okay.
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Peck asks Thurston to yield for a question.
▶ Watch at 46:37Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Where the sponsor yield two question Representative Thurston, will you yield?
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Peck asks whether the sponsor alone controls when a bill is abandoned or whether it could be chosen for them.
▶ Watch at 46:42Read what they said
Thank you. This seems like a good idea. I'm just wondering if this is going to be one of those things where the sponsor of the bill for sure is choosing exactly when that happens. I, is it all in their court or does it, could it ever get chosen for them?
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield for a question.
▶ Watch at 49:52Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the sponsor yield to a question? Representative Dunnigan, will you yield?
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a question.
▶ Watch at 49:52Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the sponsor yield to a question? Representative Dunnigan, will you yield?
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Says the bill includes moves of PID provisions without a clear reason and asks why it is so large.
▶ Watch at 49:57Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Just a little bit of a comment. I have no problem with cleanups and making sure that things are matching and code and stuff like that, but as I look at this, I'm seeing, um, some pretty key things like PIs being moved to other places and not really hearing why. So I'm just kind of wondering what is the real reason that we have to do this big, huge long Bill.
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Says they have no problem with cleanups but asks why PIDs language is being moved and why the bill is so large.
▶ Watch at 49:57Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Just a little bit of a comment. I have no problem with cleanups and making sure that things are matching and code and stuff like that, but as I look at this, I'm seeing, um, some pretty key things like PIs being moved to other places and not really hearing why. So I'm just kind of wondering what is the real reason that we have to do this big, huge long Bill.
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield for another question.
▶ Watch at 51:11Read what they said
Okay. So with Mr. Speaker, can I ask another question? Please? Would the sponsor yield Representative Dunnigan, will you yield to another
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to another question.
▶ Watch at 51:11Read what they said
Okay. So with Mr. Speaker, can I ask another question? Please? Would the sponsor yield Representative Dunnigan, will you yield to another
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks for clarity on which provisions of the bill are policy changes as opposed to cleanups.
▶ Watch at 51:19Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, that's some good clarity. You said just now in your comment that there was some policy, some cleanups and some policy changes and then saying there wasn't policy change for the PI just moving to a newer location. But what are the policy, the actual meaty policy changes that aren't part of the cleanups? 'cause I'm having a hard time discerning that as I'm hearing the presentation and reading through. Are you talking, uh, uh, any clarity Mr. Speaker? Are you talking about policy changes from s going to PIs or into bill generally? I ge I guess yes. Um, but specifically related to the PIs 'cause now I've, I just heard there wasn't …
H.B. 38 Local Government Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Asks for clarity on what the policy changes are, since the sponsor described both policy changes and no policy changes.
▶ Watch at 51:19Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, that's some good clarity. You said just now in your comment that there was some policy, some cleanups and some policy changes and then saying there wasn't policy change for the PI just moving to a newer location. But what are the policy, the actual meaty policy changes that aren't part of the cleanups? 'cause I'm having a hard time discerning that as I'm hearing the presentation and reading through. Are you talking, uh, uh, any clarity Mr. Speaker? Are you talking about policy changes from s going to PIs or into bill generally? I ge I guess yes. Um, but specifically related to the PIs 'cause now I've, I just heard there wasn't …
H.B. 84 Dangerous Weapon Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Says the change should have been made long ago and mentions people who have concealed carried on campus for years.
▶ Watch at 46:04Read what they said
Just had a comment. Okay. Yeah, I really appreciate this. I just wanted to say this should have been done a long time ago. And I know people who have been concealed carrying on campuses for a long time saying, listen, they can lock me up if they want, but I am protecting myself, especially with what's going on on campuses. And there's people, um, very close to me who are probably gonna be really happy now that this is the way it is. So, thank you.
H.B. 419 Environmental Legal Action Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Asked whether the bill relates to a recent situation at Mag Core.
▶ Watch at 50:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair Pro Tim, um, just one, does this have anything to do with the recent, uh, situation at Mag Core?
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Peck asked how the 30-day DNR response period works and what the purpose of the bill is.
▶ Watch at 55:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for your presentation. Um, I think it's a good idea to protect all of our wild lands, so I like that. Um, I am looking in here though, and it basically looks to me like that DWR would be notified, but then 30 days later, um, it would make it so that whatever project goes forward, is that true? So it's like, I just wanna make sure I understand what's going on here in the list logistical minute by minute. So, um, tell me how this plays out with the 30 days and then it says that the DWR is not going to deny or permit anything. Um, what's the purpose then? Right. …
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Peck asked whether the Division of Wildlife Resources can approve or deny project applications.
▶ Watch at 56:45Read what they said
Okay. May if I may ask another, is that okay? Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um, so in fact, maybe I have two, sorry. Whoa, We're pushing it now. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay. You know, the life of a questioner. Okay. So anyway, um, currently can DWR approve or deny any applications that come in for projects based upon
H.B. 412 Energy Development Planning Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 6, 2026
Peck asked whether this bill could conflict with the earlier bill on solar projects and agricultural land.
▶ Watch at 57:26Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And then my final question promises this will be the final, um, you all heard it. That is, we had another bill earlier on in the session that we heard in this committee about how, um, solar panels and solar panel projects needed to not be on agricultural land. This bill, uh, I don't know. I'm wondering if it could conflict with that bill in any way as far as like, oh, it was like turning in something saying this is wild land, but do we know it's not agricultural wildland? I don't know. I'm just wondering if there's any kind of a problem there.
H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Appreciates the bill's intent but asks whether a person who steals, becomes anxious in court, is found incompetent, and later recovers would be barred from possessing a weapon under the bill, saying the bill may be too narrow.
▶ Watch at 40:44Read what they said
Thank you. I really appreciate the intent of this bill and how the bill is, um, trying to make it so that the people who maybe should not have weapons because of having mental duress or something like that, should, should not have them, thereby, hopefully not causing as many crimes. And I get that. Um, but as I read the bill, it looks to me as if a person could steal something and then be in court and have a lot of anxiety because of the court and related to that court, maybe even have PTSD episode and so then be ruled as mentally incompetent. And then later when they're maybe on medication, maybe not even on medication, just …
H.B. 86 Restricted Person Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Says she remains concerned the bill could be a loophole and does not think it is ready yet, though she appreciates its intent.
▶ Watch at 42:43Read what they said
Okay, thank you. I I'm still just really concerned this could be a loophole. I'm not sure this is ready yet, even though I do appreciate the intent.
H.B. 139 Female Genital Mutilation Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Says the bill and her bill share the same goal, and explains that it repeals a prior education program and its funding because the Social Services Appropriations committee found the program was no longer needed.
▶ Watch at 44:28Read what they said
Oops. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Yeah, the repeal at the bottom was originally my bill. We put the two bills together and basically we're on the same page with this female genital mutilation. We really care about it. It's not something that we want perpetuated in our state, but there, when the original draft legislation went in to make female genital mutilation illegal in the state, there was also a little education program that was put into that with a fiscal note on it. And in the Social Services Appropriations committee, I ended up talking over the interim with the agency about that program and if it was still needed and what the usefulness of of was the program. And …
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 52:56Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Representative Ballard will yield to a series of questions.
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 52:56Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Representative Ballard will yield to a series of questions.
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Says the goal of ID for people leaving custody makes sense and asks whether incarcerated people will drive to take a driving test while in jail.
▶ Watch at 53:03Read what they said
Thank you. I think that this bill sounds like a, an important idea to make sure that people have IDs and I think I understand the reason behind it, but I have a couple of concerns that I'd like to be put to rest before I could vote for it First. Um, will they actually do drive time while they are incarcerated in jail for these driver's license?
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Says she has concerns about ID access and asks whether incarcerated people will be able to drive in jail to obtain licenses.
▶ Watch at 53:03Read what they said
Thank you. I think that this bill sounds like a, an important idea to make sure that people have IDs and I think I understand the reason behind it, but I have a couple of concerns that I'd like to be put to rest before I could vote for it First. Um, will they actually do drive time while they are incarcerated in jail for these driver's license?
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks whether incarcerated people will be allowed to register to vote.
▶ Watch at 53:55Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And then my next question is, um, when they are incarcerated and getting these IDs and licenses, are they going to be allowed to register to vote?
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks whether incarcerated people getting IDs will be allowed to register to vote.
▶ Watch at 53:55Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. And then my next question is, um, when they are incarcerated and getting these IDs and licenses, are they going to be allowed to register to vote?
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks what happens to IDs for incarcerated people who are not legal citizens.
▶ Watch at 54:22Read what they said
You. And then finally, um, what if they are incarcerated but not legal citizens? Would this change any of that for them? As far as identification goes?
H.B. 230 Offender Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks whether the bill changes identification for incarcerated people who are not legal citizens.
▶ Watch at 54:22Read what they said
You. And then finally, um, what if they are incarcerated but not legal citizens? Would this change any of that for them? As far as identification goes?
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Presented H.B. 188 on juvenile drug offenses at schools, citing constituent concerns, school recidivism reports, and the bill's referral, data collection, and non-judicial adjustment provisions.
▶ Watch at 1:07:10Read what they said
Thank you. Members of the committee. This bill, um, HB 180 180 8 Juvenile Justice Amendments was a bill that I started last year. So I had constituents that came to me even before I was elected, saying, please, if you get in, can you please help with the drug problem in the schools? It's out of control. The teachers came to me saying, we know that there are older brothers and sisters, sometimes even parents that are sending drugs to the children with their children to school to deal the drugs at the school because nothing is happening to them. And there was a lot of miscommunication about what the administrators could do and couldn't do. They were like, …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Explained that possession would move from two non-judicial adjustments to one and that all drug offenses would have to be referred.
▶ Watch at 1:11:57Read what they said
Right. So currently there's two non judicials that they can have as for possession. And it would just move to one so that we just knock it down because there's a lot of just repeat offenders that keep happening. So we're hoping that if we can just say, all right, let's just take it seriously right at the beginning. And the biggest thing too is to refer it, right? Like, okay, we have to refer it every time. We have to take it seriously every time.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said she did not have the data with her but would try to provide it, and that drug incidents in local schools had increased.
▶ Watch at 1:12:45Read what they said
You know, right. With me, I don't have all of my data stuff. I have a whole packet of stuff probably in a drawer in my office that I did not bring. Um, we could probably find some of those points for you if you want me to get those things. Um, but I do know that as far as IC data goes, okay. Um, into Willa schools, for instance, the amount of drug instances have gone way up. I know just even since session have started, there's been fentanyl pills found in the school bathrooms and all this kind of stuff, and it's just getting to be a lot more, I guess, egregious. Yeah,
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said there is little recidivism data collected now, which is why the bill defines recidivism and requires data collection.
▶ Watch at 1:13:43Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I may answer that. Um, go ahead. So now that you said that, I actually am remembering in, I think I had, I don't even know a, a ton. It could have been like six or eight meetings with, um, JJOC, uh, CI don't know, but you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, all the J'S and all the, anyway, um, but we had lots of meetings and over the interim, and I think now that I remember, um, and this is gonna be on the record, but this is what my memory recalls just right off the bat, was that actually, um, there's not a lot of data that is collected on recidivism. That's …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Confirmed the bill would collect aggregate numbers on juvenile and school-based recidivism.
▶ Watch at 1:14:46Read what they said
Yes, it will start collecting data on juvenile recidivism and school-based recidivism. So those are defined here in the bill, and it will basically just track, um, it, it will how much those, um, people are re-offending. And it's not gonna be like per the person, it's just, just numbers. Yeah, just numbers. Okay. Exactly.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said districts are actively working on the problem, and described a district's view that alternative high school consequences deter drug dealing.
▶ Watch at 1:17:43Read what they said
and maybe level of interest and support? Yeah, That's kind of a broad, a broad question. I'll try to distill it down so I don't take too much time there. Um, but I will say that they're working on it. I, I didn't see one district that wasn't, that didn't have their eye on this problem and saying, okay, how do we handle this? We're collecting so many vapes and so many, you know, drugs and stuff like that. And we're having to try to figure out is that a nicotine one or is that an actual drug one? Or, you know, and these types of things that they're doing. And they're working so hard. And I was so impressed …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Explained that the bill requires all drug offenses to be referred to law enforcement, with distribution not eligible for non-judicial adjustment, and described a school incident.
▶ Watch at 1:20:20Read what they said
So that, I think we only have the, the, okay, the numbers on what would be reported. But the idea in this bill would be that, that everything would need to be referred to a law enforcement so that it would actually get to either go on a non-judicial or go in front of a judge and that there would need to be someone who makes that decision. Whether this is one of those situations that needs to, you know, okay, go further down the track. And this is for drug distribution, drug distribution or possession with the intent to distribute All three. Either di either Or possession Or possession. But there, but possession is one non-judicial. But if it's …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said some data exists but she did not have it memorized.
▶ Watch at 1:21:39Read what they said
Data. Certainly there's some data right Now there. Oh yeah, there is some data. I don't have it memorized. I have to apologize for that.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said the drafters researched the bill extensively and that it strengthens consequences.
▶ Watch at 1:22:13Read what they said
Um, I think that's all the questions from the committee. I mean, The drafter, the drafters worked on that for a long time and did a lot of research on that and we had a lot of conversations, so I'm pretty sure we've got it to, um, we're stepping it up a little notch on, on the consequences there.
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said educators she spoke with supported the bill and that USBE was supportive.
▶ Watch at 1:25:52Read what they said
Yeah. So every person within education that I've spoken to was in support and everybody I spoke to at USBE was in support as well. And when I discussed the, all of the USBE reports of all the incident reports with the person that makes the incident reports, I don't know if he could technically, you know, take a position of support, but he was like, I understand why you would be looking for this. And nobody seemed to flag this as anything that would make their life hard. I think everyone that I spoke to on the school level was saying, yeah, no, this is good. We need this clarity and we need to know how to help this …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said the bill was prompted by teachers, administrators, parents, and students who asked for action on drugs in schools.
▶ Watch at 1:27:05Read what they said
Yeah, I haven't had a lot of people, it was teachers and administrators that actually brought it to me. So that was the first. And then, and then as I talked about it more and then it was, oh, parents and then a whole group of students actually came to the capitol last year of their own accord, about 20 of them. I thought I was getting a meeting with one person last year and there were 20 students sitting in the house lounge waiting to meet with me when I thought I was having a meeting with one person and they all came to say, please, Representative Peck do something about the drugs in our schools. That's why they …
H.B. 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments · House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Said non-judicial success data from JJOC measures completion rather than recidivism, and that the bill's recommendations were largely incorporated.
▶ Watch at 1:29:49Read what they said
Uh, yeah, I would like to comment on that. Um, because I just had a lightning bolt that came back to me. Um, when representative was just speaking about the data on the non judicials, I do believe the data you will see on the non judicials will say, because they gave this to me last year, um, that they will say that they are like 93% effective or 94% effective or something like that. Um, no successful, they won't say effective, they'll say successful. And, but then I asked them, what does successful mean? And they said that successful means that they did their non-judicial, which means if they earned a few hours of community service, they did the …
S.B. 43 Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Asks why the commission does not include a representative of educational interests in the trust lands.
▶ Watch at 33:02Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I'm noticing that in this commission that there are people from the industries and because I wasn't in that particular committee, maybe I'm a little bit ignorant of this, but I'm wondering why we don't have somebody who is kind of represented representing the educational interest in these lands as well. That are you asking sponsor To yield? Oh, yes. Can, yeah. Can May
S.B. 43 Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Asks again why no representative of educational interests serves on the commission.
▶ Watch at 33:29Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'm just wondering why we don't have somebody who represents the educational interests on this commission as well. Can you answer that?
S.B. 43 Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says the listing does not show an education representative and asks to see it.
▶ Watch at 33:45Read what they said
Thank you. I'm not seeing it, so if you could show that to me, that'd be great.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Explains that the bill prohibits publicly funded insurance from paying for transition procedures and requires coverage of gender-affirming procedures for anyone whose public plan already covers a transition procedure.
▶ Watch at 1:17:48Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill is a pretty simple concept. It was brought to be by a constituent who was concerned about municipalities having to make a decision that could potentially put them into legal problems. And had been hearing from the, his clients and people that he works with to, um, help them get health insurance in the public sector, that they felt that there was a problem with having to choose to cover certain elective procedures that, um, their tax base may not agree with. So anyway, this bill basically just says the publicly funded insurance cannot pay for transition procedures. And it also says that if a publicly funded insurance already did pay for a transitional …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Opposes the second substitute, saying hormone use for other reasons would not change and that the bill treats transgender procedures as elective.
▶ Watch at 1:22:56Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate the representative's attention to this matter and all of the research that he's done and his expertise in the area. However, I reject the substitution because as he even mentioned, if a person who is not undergoing a, a transition, a gender transition treatment wants to take medication for acne, this is not going to alter that this is not going to make any difference there. They still can go to their doctor. Basically what this bill does for the public insurances is it says that transgender procedures, including the hormones, would be considered elective procedures that are happening. And so long as the doctor doesn't say this is for an elective transgender procedure, then the …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Opposes the substitute, arguing that it would not change treatment for patients not seeking gender transition and that the bill treats transgender procedures, including hormones, as elective for public insurance.
▶ Watch at 1:22:56Read what they said
Thank you. I appreciate the representative's attention to this matter and all of the research that he's done and his expertise in the area. However, I reject the substitution because as he even mentioned, if a person who is not undergoing a, a transition, a gender transition treatment wants to take medication for acne, this is not going to alter that this is not going to make any difference there. They still can go to their doctor. Basically what this bill does for the public insurances is it says that transgender procedures, including the hormones, would be considered elective procedures that are happening. And so long as the doctor doesn't say this is for an elective transgender procedure, then the …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Summarizes that the question is who pays for elective procedures and urges passage of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:31:19Read what they said
Thank you. Um, what has already been said is, uh, good enough. I think, uh, any adult can do whatever they would like to do. The question is just who pays for it and we shouldn't be forcing municipalities to pay for elective procedures. There's a lot of elective procedures that we don't pay for, like stem cell research and tattoo removal and all kinds of things. And this falls in that same sort of a category. So I encourage you to vote for this bill.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Gives summation, arguing that the question is who pays for elective procedures and that municipalities should not be required to pay for them, and urges support of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:31:19Read what they said
Thank you. Um, what has already been said is, uh, good enough. I think, uh, any adult can do whatever they would like to do. The question is just who pays for it and we shouldn't be forcing municipalities to pay for elective procedures. There's a lot of elective procedures that we don't pay for, like stem cell research and tattoo removal and all kinds of things. And this falls in that same sort of a category. So I encourage you to vote for this bill.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
As sponsor, says the question is who pays for procedures, that municipalities should not be forced to pay for elective procedures, and that this is similar to other procedures public funds do not cover; urges a yes vote.
▶ Watch at 1:31:19Read what they said
Thank you. Um, what has already been said is, uh, good enough. I think, uh, any adult can do whatever they would like to do. The question is just who pays for it and we shouldn't be forcing municipalities to pay for elective procedures. There's a lot of elective procedures that we don't pay for, like stem cell research and tattoo removal and all kinds of things. And this falls in that same sort of a category. So I encourage you to vote for this bill.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says the bill would require private insurance coverage for detransition procedures on par with coverage for transgender procedures.
▶ Watch at 1:33:02Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This bill is along the same lines of what we've just been talking about. Um, it's just a simple bill to help private insurances have parody in their coverage. So in the private insurance world, some private insurance companies are paying for transgender procedures but are not paying for deran procedures. And the deran population is growing all of the time. And we just wanna make sure that if we're covering one population of people, that we also cover the other population of people. And since it's a private insurance, they of course have complete say over what they're gonna cover. We're just saying that we need to make those codes so that drans can also …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Accepts the substitute as a friendly amendment and says an insurer covering one treatment should only have to cover one afterward.
▶ Watch at 1:35:02Read what they said
Um, I consider that a friendly, um, substitution and so I accept that. I think it makes sense that if an insurance company was only paying for one thing before that they should only have to pay for one thing afterward.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Accepts the substitute as a friendly amendment and says it makes sense that an insurer paying for one treatment should pay for the other.
▶ Watch at 1:35:02Read what they said
Um, I consider that a friendly, um, substitution and so I accept that. I think it makes sense that if an insurance company was only paying for one thing before that they should only have to pay for one thing afterward.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says she cannot think of such a case and that some hormone effects, such as lower voice, cannot be reversed by surgery.
▶ Watch at 1:35:47Read what they said
Not that I can easily think of. Uh, I mean most, many of the effects of hormone treatments reverse just when you stop taking the hormone treatments. Some of them do not. Um, but the ones that I can think of that, that don't easily reverse such as a, a biological female's voice becoming lower when she takes testosterone to my knowledge, are not able to be reversed with a surgical procedure.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says such surgeries are not well defined, have lower success rates, and are unclear in benefit, and prefers that coverage be paired one-for-one.
▶ Watch at 1:36:49Read what they said
My understanding, Mr. Speaker, is that many of the, those types of procedures, um, for those unfortunate enough to find themselves in the position where they want that surgery done are still not well defined at all with a much lower successful surgical rate and just very unclear if that's gonna be helpful or, or injure the person, um, to go through that procedure. So I guess to me, I would prefer to just have if you do the one, you do the other.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Accepts the motion to strike as friendly, saying the removed language implies an elective procedure.
▶ Watch at 1:40:06Read what they said
Representative Peck on that motion. Uh, this is a friendly motion. I think it's good because basically that would suggest that it wasn't an elective procedure. And these are elective procedures
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Calls the amendment friendly and says it would suggest the procedures were not elective.
▶ Watch at 1:40:09Read what they said
Uh, this is a friendly motion. I think it's good because basically that would suggest that it wasn't an elective procedure. And these are elective procedures
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Gives summation saying the bill is a good step forward and urges a vote for it.
▶ Watch at 1:42:29Read what they said
I think a lot of it's been said about this and I just really feel like this is a good step forward in really caring about our growing Daggett trans population. So I encourage everyone to vote for this bill. Thank you.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House floor debate (day 17) · Feb 5, 2026
Says the bill is a good step forward for transgender Utahns and urges members to vote for it.
▶ Watch at 1:42:29Read what they said
I think a lot of it's been said about this and I just really feel like this is a good step forward in really caring about our growing Daggett trans population. So I encourage everyone to vote for this bill. Thank you.
H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend the first substitute of HB 218 as amended.
▶ Watch at 52:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend first substitute HB two 18 as amended.
H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and says the bill is needed to help children and schools prepare for technology such as AI.
▶ Watch at 52:14Read what they said
I would just briefly, I would like to thank the sponsor for bringing this forward. We had some talks about it earlier in the year, and I just think it's such a wise bill. It's so needed. I know that as a legislature, we have our eye on technology right now, especially because of AI and everything. And I feel like we're just like a little bit ahead of the game doing this. And so I'm so glad that this is coming forward to help our children and our schools prepare.
H.B. 204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asks whether the bill would cover assignments that require taking a position on issues like race or other matters of conscience, and the sponsor confirms.
▶ Watch at 1:02:18Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Um, I appreciate this. I just wanted to be sure. So last year, my first year as a legislator, I actually got multiple emails from students saying that their teacher had assigned them to do certain things to reach out to me, just like what you're talking about. Um, and one of them said that she had to take a position on a racial issue and she was like, don't, you don't have to contact me back and whatever. This is just what I have to send you. And her wording was just so very forced and awkward and I felt really bad for her and I wrote her a big thing back. So your …
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the bill is tied to any pre-planned curriculum.
▶ Watch at 2:07:15Read what they said
Thank you. Can you hear me? Okay? There we go. Thank you Mr. Chair. I do have a few questions. Um, my first question is, is this associated with any type of a pre-planned service app curriculum going forward?
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Said she supports defining the term but asked how terms like mutually beneficial relationships would be kept from being steered toward romantic or sexual content.
▶ Watch at 2:07:49Read what they said
Okay. Um, another thing is that whenever we define things that leads to, you know, changes in, in other places as well. And I am glad that this term that you're looking at defining this term, I think that's a good thing. I I'm actually in support of the idea of defining this term because I think there's a lot of people right now who quite frankly don't trust the conversations related to relationships and, and social stuff that's happening in the, in the schools. Even with the best intentions. I think things are just, people are feeling unsure about what's going on. Um, but there's words in here like, um, mutually beneficial relationships. And I'm feeling like that might …
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked to pose one more question.
▶ Watch at 2:13:32Read what they said
I had one other, if that's okay, Mr. Chair. Okay. I'm just, if they can answer it fast, I'll ask
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked how the definition would actually be implemented in schools.
▶ Watch at 2:13:44Read what they said
Okay. I'm gonna ask it fast. Hopefully you can answer it fast. Okay. Um, so with the conversation that was just had, and I appreciate all of that explanation, it sounds like there's a methodology in mind that's supposed to go with this definition and I'm afraid that I'm not understanding the actual implementation methodology or something because you were talking about tracking at a school. Like, okay, well we saw that this was brought in and, but like, how is it brought in? That's what I'm, that's what I'm having a hard time holding
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked what health topics are currently taught in kindergarten, including whether suicide prevention is included.
▶ Watch at 2:21:01Read what they said
I promise it'll be brief. Mr. Chair, thank you for that indulgence. So I remember years ago looking through the health standards that were created, um, in our, in our state curriculum. And I remember some things being in there related to suicide prevention even for kindergarten. Correct me if I am wrong. Um, but it was mentioned, I know at that time and when I was in a group looking at all of those standards, what health things are currently taught right now in kindergarten, are there any health things? And if so, what are they? Do you know? Well,
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Began a motion to delete new language in lines 137-140.
▶ Watch at 2:28:10Read what they said
Yes. Um, I move to delete lines 1 37 through the new parts in lines. 1 37.
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Noted the substitute had not yet been adopted.
▶ Watch at 2:28:25Read what they said
Excuse me. I am on the sub. We didn't move the sub yet, did we? We have not
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute of H.B. 317.
▶ Watch at 2:28:32Read what they said
Yes, I amend my motion. I move that we adopt first substitute HB three 17.
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moved to delete the new language added in lines 137-140.
▶ Watch at 2:29:29Read what they said
to make a motion, thank You. I move that we delete from lines, uh, lines 1 37 to one 40, all of the new parts that would be added into code.
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Clarified the motion would reinstate the phrase 'A student shall receive.'
▶ Watch at 2:29:51Read what they said
Yeah. And reinstate the part that says A student shall receive, A student shall receive.
H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Said concerns center on which grades receive instruction, so the amendment keeps the existing grade structure while adding the definition.
▶ Watch at 2:30:18Read what they said
Yes, just briefly. It seems like the intent of the sponsor is really the definition for the clarity, and I feel like that a lot of the frustration and communication and maybe heartburn on this is really coming from the ages and is it new for certain ages and that kind of thing. So I think we keep it to how it's been going with the ages, and we just put that nice definition in there.
H.B. 298 School Design Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether there is concern that districts will still want their own designs even if a pool of designs is available.
▶ Watch at 2:44:45Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, so it looks like that the LEA can use the pool of designs if they want to, but you, like you said, you're leaving it open to them. But I'm wondering, do we have any concern? I like the problem you're trying to solve here too, by the way. Um, do we have any concern that there is going to be a pool of designs and people still want their own fresh monster? Yeah.
H.B. 298 School Design Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked about ongoing funding and whether the change to permissive language would reduce the fiscal note. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 2:45:26Read what they said
It has ongoing funding. That's why I was like, you know, is there a time where we are gonna look at it and say, well, I I think the no one's taken the plan, the funding is Because before I had shall, and now I said May, if they can work it out, they don't have to spend that. I see. So it should reduce the fiscal note.
S.B. 26 Pest Control Amendments · House floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026
Peck asks how many state industries require permits, says a permit requirement could be a barrier for people who want to enter pest control work, and says the rules should target bad actors.
▶ Watch at 40:26Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, my husband actually, when we were early on in marriage, did, uh, spraying of lawns and stuff like that. And it was something that was really great for him to like jump into to be able to help our family stay afloat at the time. And I feel like this creates a barrier of entry for people to get into one one of those jobs that is really helpful. I'm also concerned about the permitting part of everything that we keep requiring permits for. And I'm just wondering, do you know how many industries that in the state right now that we actually require permits for and that we have changed in recent years to …
S.B. 26 Pest Control Amendments · House floor debate (day 16) · Feb 4, 2026
Peck comments that the state is increasingly permitting industries, says the bill may benefit an industry at the expense of small operators, and states she will oppose it.
▶ Watch at 41:38Read what they said
Thank you. Um, mi mr. Speaker, if I may, just a quick comment. It seems as if we have a lot of industries that we're increasingly permitting and, and creating more state oversight too. I think we need to be careful about that. And I also feel like, um, that this sounds like a bill to me, that an industry wants to capitalize on so that other little mom and pop people who are like, I need something to support my family cannot get into. And so I'm gonna be in opposition. Thank you.
H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Asks whether the study would lead to using geothermal in the same areas as coal plants if geothermal were developed there.
▶ Watch at 39:12Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Vice Chair. So I just wanted to make sure that I completely understood. You are saying that in areas where there's decommissioned coal power, power plants Or working, Oh, they might even be working. Yes. Okay. So is the idea behind this then that if they could get geothermal going in the same area, in a safe place, if they were to do the study and figure that out, that then they would be using some of the same mechanisms that are with that power?
H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Asks whether the study could later be used to justify removing coal power from the area.
▶ Watch at 40:01Read what they said
So, um, is there any danger at all? 'cause I'm very, you know, pro coal anyway, is there any danger at all of us doing this study, making a case for putting geothermal there that could potentially in the future say, well, we already can have geothermal here, so now we can get rid of the coal. Is there gonna be any kind of that, do you think?
H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Says she is cautious about the study being used against coal later and wants to keep options open.
▶ Watch at 41:33Read what they said
Is it, is it even there? Mm-hmm. We don't, we don't Know. Okay. That was just my, maybe just like my little caution. I would hate for it to options. I like one of those on my computer too, so. Yeah. Well, I would love, I love the options. I just hope that we don't go down a road that then later somebody uses it against us. 'cause we did a study, you know, or something. Anyway, it was just, well, I wouldn't Be here at that time, but I would hope somebody would be here that would fight. Like I would, We'll chase him down. Okay. Sounds good.
H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Moves to pass HB 401 favorably with no amendment.
▶ Watch at 46:07Read what they said
Thank you. I move that we favorably pass. HB 4 0 1 doesn't have an amendment or a cyber. Yep. No, as is.
H.B. 401 Geothermal Study Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Says research into geothermal led her to appreciate the bill.
▶ Watch at 46:27Read what they said
Um, I, not much, but just to say that because of this, I started doing lots of research into geothermal and I was really grateful for that. Thanks.
H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks what is on the reintegration checklist, what on it is not working, and how the bill affects its use.
▶ Watch at 32:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I noticed that in the bill that it says that there is a checkoff list that is normally used for reintegration and that in this case, they wouldn't be using the checkoff list. What on the checkoff list? Well, first off, what is on the checkoff list and what on the checkoff list is not working? Those are my two
H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks where the checklist would no longer be used under the bill.
▶ Watch at 33:21Read what they said
but at the same time, I'm not seeing that language here. Could you point out, uh, where the checklist would no longer be used? Well, if you're going to tailor fit it, right, if you're gonna say like, well, we're just gonna kind of like, see what we need to do, then that would suggest to me that we're not going by the checklist. So that's why I'm asking.
H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Expresses concern that the bill could counter the checklist and asks for staff to address the issue.
▶ Watch at 34:12Read what they said
Okay. I'm just a little bit concerned that it's gonna counter that. Sure. And I think I'd feel a little bit better if it was like, like follow the checklist and, you know, make sure that we get the checklist in there. Mr. Chair, could I have our staff, um, address that issue, uh, with the, the representative's concern? 'cause I don't, I don't, I guess I wanna make sure it, it's a concern. Did you hear the concern or would you like it repeated? I, I
H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Restates concern that tailored plans could eliminate the need to consult the checklist.
▶ Watch at 34:42Read what they said
And I'll turn my, I'll turn on, uh, our, our policy analysts, uh, microphone here. Okay, sure. So, as far as reintegration goes, when there's been a situation like this, which I'm completely understandable of this situation, when there's been a situation like this, there's a, a protocol, like a checklist that they need to go through. And this bill is saying that you would tailor fit a reintegration plan for someone just based upon that person. But I would not want that to eliminate the need to still go through the checklist and consult the checklist. Does that make sense?
H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Says it would be useful to hear what a unique plan might include and suggests asking the sponsor afterward.
▶ Watch at 40:25Read what they said
Thank you. I, I think I'm pretty good here. I just realized that, um, that we, it would be nice to hear like what one of these unique plans might entail, but I don't know if we have time for that or not. I thought we were going to, 'cause we were waiting for the draft. I, I'd recommend you get with the sponsor afterwards. And, uh, if you want to, and you can, uh, do some additional, provide some additional questions there.
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Opposes the bill, saying it removes parents from councils and reduces oversight of internet filters, and asks which schools have all parents working at the school.
▶ Watch at 48:22Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, well, I can appreciate people sometimes, you know, wanting to clean up some language and stuff like that. Um, there's some things I have concerns about in this bill. Um, I am, I'm seeing parents being removed from the conversation. I know that there's been a justification for rural districts that that might be, you know, an issue there, that there's not enough parents in their community to actually be in a community council. But what this would do across the state, I think would be a really, I mean, the whole point of a school community council is to be a check on the school system. So if you have all teachers in your …
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks which rural districts would need the exception to balance parent and teacher voices on councils.
▶ Watch at 50:28Read what they said
Okay. Maybe. So what I was understanding from the presentation, Mr. Chair, if I may go ahead. Um, what I, what I was understanding from the presentation was that the rationale for not having to have that, that balance between the parents' voices and the teacher's voices on the school Community council was because in rural districts, there's not enough parents that aren't teachers. And so they wouldn't be able to find that balance. And I'm wondering, where is that school? What, what ones are there that we're trying to make that accommodation for?
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Says some parents may be ruled out by where they work, and suggests more parents should be contacted before changing the council makeup.
▶ Watch at 51:57Read what they said
Thank you. This sounds to me like a situation where there's some parents who want on the board, but because of, or, or the council, but because they work at a certain place that would rule them out from it. But I don't know if other parents have actually been contacted and asked to be on this. And so to me it just seems, um, a just a little bit of a, a myopic lens on this community council and we're missing the big picture about what it's supposed to be. So I have concerns. Thank
H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks whether any rule prevents a district employee's spouse or family member from serving on a council instead of them.
▶ Watch at 56:20Read what they said
Yeah. Okay. Is there anything That, uh, over here, Oh, sorry. Sorry. Is there, thank you. And thank you for your testimony. Is there anything that prohibits, at this point, if there's a person who works at a school within the district, but not the same school they're trying to be on the community council for, for their spouse or anyone else in living in their household, maybe a mother, a father, a spouse, to actually be on the community council instead of them. Is there any rule that says that can't happen?
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks which lines of the second substitute relate to the merged revolving loan fund concept.
▶ Watch at 1:04:36Read what they said
Thank you. Um, could you please, I, I'm just looking at the second sub mm-hmm. Now, and I haven't seen that before. Um, and I'm wondering the part about the merge with the other bill, can you point me toward the lines with that?
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks for clarification on whether the provision is related to disputes between charter schools.
▶ Watch at 1:06:08Read what they said
Thank you. Does this have also, I guess I'm asking you if I can question you. You okay? As long as the sponsor will allow Me to participate. I'm so confused now. Okay.
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks whether the provision reflects disputes between certain charter schools.
▶ Watch at 1:06:18Read what they said
Anyway, so does this have, um, I, I remember having conversations before about this concept, and I'm wondering, um, is this one of those situations where, um, there are, there are certain charters who are upset at other charters, and this is why this
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thanks the sponsor for the clarification.
▶ Watch at 1:07:21Read what they said
Thank you. I just wanted to make sure that we, what we were putting together there. Thank you.
H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked why the bill replaces the word teacher with other terms and why the fiscal note is so large.
▶ Watch at 1:34:34Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is such important work, you know, that people are doing and I really appreciate your testimony and for what you're sharing about what you do. And um, and I know that for the confidence of our young people going forward, this really does a lot for them. It kind of chokes me up a little bit. I had a, a couple of children who had, um, dyslexia problems, not speech problems, but still, you know, it's, it's the same kind of idea, but it kind of makes me think of, um, that in the same bucket, it's like the people who work with dyslexia in the schools, are we calling them a teacher? 'cause it …
H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Said the explanation did not clarify her concern about drafting language that uses the term individual instead of teacher.
▶ Watch at 1:36:33Read what they said
Okay. It doesn't clear it for me. It almost messes it for me in my head. But, um, alright. I, I guess I have, um, sort of a problem, and this is probably just with the drafters with, uh, how we remove a lot of things. Like we remove mother, father, parents, teacher person, and we just keep getting individual everywhere. And I feel like, are we making every individual a teacher? Because individual is just such a broad, non-descriptive term. So anyway, um, but if, if we feel like it's gonna hit its mark, then Okay. Thank you.
H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Said she supports the policy, expressed concern about the funding, and said she will vote yes while hoping funding can be addressed before the floor.
▶ Watch at 1:52:05Read what they said
Thank you. And I appreciate everybody for answering my questions and all of that. I actually really also really love this policy and I hate to see people so qualified getting underpaid for what they do. I don't like that. Um, but at the same time, I do worry about the money. I'm gonna vote yes, but I'm hoping that by the time it gets to the floor, that maybe there's some work you could do on that money piece of it so that I don't have to work. So we don't have to vote no on the floor. 'cause we don't wanna waste a ton of time. E everybody's time pushing something through that ultimately dies on the chopping …
H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked to confirm that the affected cadets would all be U.S. citizens from other states.
▶ Watch at 1:59:42Read what they said
Just a quick question. Are I just wanna make sure I understand the lay of the land. These would all be US citizens though, just from other states, correct?
H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Explained a no vote, saying the loophole could hurt institutions' tuition and could be manipulated, while supporting the bill's intent.
▶ Watch at 2:08:39Read what they said
Thank you. Um, I wanna explain my vote. I am gonna be a no on this because I do feel like that the loophole actually potentially hurts the universities or the colleges or wherever they are as far as tuition. And it also seems like it could potentially be pretty easily manipulated. I do like the spirit behind this though, and the heart of honoring people who are willing to, you know, get into protection and military service and go in that direction. I love the ROTC. I just feel like this isn't quite there yet. It's not ready to, anyway. I don't like the loophole. Simon A no, but thank you for bringing it forward.
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Says she appreciates the bill and describes constituent contacts about sports issues over the interim.
▶ Watch at 2:59:44Read what they said
Yes. I really appreciate this bill a lot. And I'm, and now I'm, I'm knowing who to maybe think, think for the, the fact that people were contacting me over the interim, they're like, we've got a problem with sports and we've got, and I'm like, where are these people coming from? Like, why? And you must have triggered it. That's what I'm guessing. Because my constituents were suddenly wanting me to reach out to my school board about it and all that kind of stuff. Um, my main question is, well, okay, first off, before the, before my question, um, I do also have to share that my, uh, I have a family member who
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Shares a family member's experience with year-round sport pressure and says she supports the bill; asks how broad its coverage is, mentioning dance and cheerleading.
▶ Watch at 3:00:26Read what they said
I have a question. Okay. We'd like to hear your Question. Okay. I know I'll get to it. I'll get to it. I promise. I promise. But I feel like this is pertinent for, for the intent of this bill going forward. Okay. So anyway, um, I have a nephew who was really into sports and it was pushed so hard, so hard by the coaches and encouraged that even when they weren't doing the coaching at the school, that then after school and after practice, now you have to go to a private gym and do even more. It was just pushed and pushed. And I hope we even addressed that kind of pushing at some point. Um, and …
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asks how far the bill's coverage extends across UHSAA activities, including cheer and dance.
▶ Watch at 3:01:45Read what they said
How long does this go? This if our meeting is supposed to adjourn at 5:00 PM Sorry, I missed the end question. I missed the last part of your question. What was it? Okay. How was it? It's 'cause I got interrupted by the chair. How far does it go? Okay, so I'm asking how broad does this go? When we're talking sports, are we talking Everything? U-H-S-A-A is over. So like we're talking cheerleading, we're talking dance, we're talking. Cheer Is a sport now, I believe, right? Yes. Okay. Yep.
H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections · House Education Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Moves to pass HB 293 out favorably as amended.
▶ Watch at 3:19:09Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't need to really speak much to this. I move. Thank You. We're gonna have to have a talk. Okay. I move that we pass out favorably HB 2 93 public education student athlete protections.
H.B. 222 Limitation of Actions Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 29, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute for HB 222.
▶ Watch at 52:32Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we adopt the first sub to HB 2 22.
H.B. 314 Firearm Purchase Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 29, 2026
Says she appreciates efficiency bills and thanks firearm dealers for the safety steps they complete.
▶ Watch at 1:00:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, it's not so much a question as I just wanna make a comment. I, I love a bill that is an efficiency bill, right? To take some of the unnecessary workload away from people. But I really also, as I was reading through this bill, started looking a little bit last night into the process too. And I really have a, an appreciation for how many steps and things that firearms dealers actually have to go through. And so I wanted to just say on the record how grateful I am for them being so willing to do all the safety things to keep everybody so safe. So, Amy, thank you for this bill.
H.B. 139 Female Genital Mutilation Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Rep. Peck said the bill removes the statute of limitations for female genital mutilation, since victims are often young children, and that the substitute strikes an education line item as unnecessary while keeping the penalties.
▶ Watch at 2:25:58Read what they said
So in 2023, this legislative body put as a second degree felony. Uh, those who perform fm female genital mutilation. Uh, but what was missed is that most of the time that is, uh, occurs to young children or infants. And so this, uh, legislation puts it under the provision of the code, uh, that there is not a statute of limitations. Currently, the statute means that once this is done, the victim has to come within four years, uh, to prosecute. And obviously that is not going to take place if it's a child. So this, uh, just removes that statute of limitations. Okay, thank you. And I would like to speak to the sub, uh, very simple, um, …
H.B. 98 Residential Notification Amendments · House floor debate (day 9) · Jan 28, 2026
Says the bill's intent is good, but facilities already send such notices, so codifying it is unnecessary, and urges care about government overreach.
▶ Watch at 1:08:18Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, this bill I think has a really great intent to it, and I think it's trying to make sure that people aren't afraid in their neighborhoods and that they're having good working relationships with each, with each other. However, from the facilities that I've talked to, this type of a practice is already happening and I don't think it's necessary to codify it. I think there are some legitimate concerns about action that might need to be taken later. And so I think we need to be careful about overstepping that role of government. Even though I, I really recommend that all of the facilities that are already sending out notifications should continue to send …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked the chair for permission for an intern to hand out a paper.
▶ Watch at 2:39:54Read what they said
Thank you. Madam Chair. Can I have permission for my intern to hand out a paper to everybody?
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Presented HB 193, saying it would bar publicly funded insurance from paying for elective transgender procedures, and described substitute provisions on continuing hormone treatment and coverage for detransition.
▶ Watch at 2:40:02Read what they said
Thank you. All right. Thank you. Madam Chair and members of the committee. Um, this bill, HB 1 93 is, was brought to me by a constituent of mine who happened to be an insurance broker. And he, he called me concerned because he works with municipalities, school districts and fire stations and such, helping them get insurance, government insurance. And he said, we have a problem. There is a default in our system that when they are signing up for PEHP insurance, that the default is that it would pay for transgender procedures. And some of these municipalities don't want their pools and stuff to be paying for that. And if they were to opt out of it, then …
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Welcomed the substitute.
▶ Watch at 3:09:38Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. I welcome the sub and I feel like that's very friendly and I was happy to work with a representative on that.
H.B. 193 Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Said the bill is about the use of taxpayer dollars for procedures they consider elective, and urged support.
▶ Watch at 3:12:05Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. Um, I think the distinction in this bill, uh, is, is really about if it's transgender procedure related as opposed to just, um, any type of hormone or or thing for any other reason. Um, the point of this bill really is about the use of taxpayer dollars and prioritizing that. I sit on Social Services committee and I listen to all of the needs that are out there, um, that are absolutely life threatening that we have to make decisions about. And, um, and, and this one is something that I feel like, um, is very obviously elective. And so we need to protect those taxpayer dollars. And really, that's all that this is about. So …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Presents HB 258 and says it would require private insurers that cover transition procedures to also cover detransition procedures, citing studies on detransition and care disengagement rates.
▶ Watch at 3:14:15Read what they said
Um, so the next bill, HB 2 58 is still in the insurance, uh, conversation, but this one is about private insurance, which is slightly different. So some private insurance companies has been at, as has been discuss, discussed in the last, um, Medical care. Just hold. Okay. So, um, anyway, some of the transgender procedures are covered by some insurance companies, but not all. Um, and so there isn't really a standard across the board. Um, but drans procedures are largely not acknowledged or covered at all. And there's, uh, kind of an invisibility actually of drans. There isn't ICD 10 CM codes to be able to even bill insurance companies for the deran procedures. And so those types …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Says the bill aims to ensure people are represented by their private insurance coverage and is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 3:19:11Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you. So in short, we're just trying to make sure that all people are represented by their private insurance companies and without, we're open to any questions.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Answers that if an insurer covers transition procedures, the bill would require coverage of the related detransition procedures and hormones.
▶ Watch at 3:19:46Read what they said
Right. So basically what the bill says is if a private insurance company chooses to do transition treatments, which would include the hormones as well as any surgical procedures and such, then yes, they would need to also do the drans procedures and hormones that would be required for the patient.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Responds that the number of treatments is not settled and may be personalized, and that the bill is about financial coverage for parity. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 3:20:54Read what they said
Every single treatment. And, and that hasn't been something that, you know, I've looked into either. Is there 20, is there five? Is there, does it depend? It could be that it's personalized and maybe the doctor could speak to that. Um, because you know, each person's effects, there's iatrogenic effects that can happen from any treatment that could occur, right? Mm-hmm. And so they might have to treat a, a myriad of things. But I think the point is, yes, if you're going to choose to cover, and this is just financial coverage, if you're choosing to financially cover transition treatments, so even any for the purpose of transition, not a woman who is, you know, going through menopause …
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Says the bill does not specify those details and that covering transition procedures and hormones would require the same for detransition. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 3:22:06Read what they said
I see what you mean. Um, those types of things aren't particularly specified in the bill as far as this one, then this one and this one, then this one, it just basically says if you cover transition procedures and hormones, then you must also do the same thing on the detransition side. So I guess the answer to your question would be yes.
H.B. 258 Insurance Coverage Amendments · House Health and Human Services Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Thanks the committee and says Utah will provide clarity, fairness, and dignity to the detransition community, urging support.
▶ Watch at 3:32:52Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate all the discussion and all of the comments that were really thoughtful. Um, I think that Utah, um, is going to provide a lot of clarity, fairness, and dig dignity to a growing Daggett trans population and will be following after states like Texas, who've already navigated this and gone down this road. Okay. And I urge your support. Thank you.
H.B. 83 Imitation Firearm Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Asked how many instances there are in the state of children brandishing weapons that look real and cause concern for law enforcement.
▶ Watch at 21:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was a tiny bit late to your presentation, so if you already covered this, I apologize, but I do have a question for you. And, and by the way, I, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of this and, and the attention to law enforcement and, you know, and all that kinda stuff. Um, I am wondering how many instances in the state right now do we have of children brandishing weapons that look exactly real, that end up being a concern for law enforcement or put law enforcement into a compromising situation? What is the number?
H.B. 83 Imitation Firearm Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Said she could support holding the bill but is unsure it will get there because it regulates toys, and supports protecting children from police misinterpretation.
▶ Watch at 42:05Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I suppose that, that I can go for holding. It's just that I'm not sure that this is gonna get there because we're regulating toys. I don't know if we've ever regulated toys before. Like, I feel like this is a whole new, you know, area. Um, I like, I like the idea of protecting children from possible police misinterpretation of what's going on and, and possible accidents that could happen because of that. Like, I, I feel like that's a really important part of this bill. But I also feel like that we're sort of stepping into other people's business, their homes, what their parents should be teaching them, and we don't …
H.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Religious Freedom · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Supports the resolution, saying intolerance of religion is high and Utah should be welcoming of faith expression.
▶ Watch at 1:17:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I would like to thank the sponsor for also bringing this forward. I, I share a lot of the same sentiments as my colleague, um, from Sanpete County. So as much as this seems like it should be a no-brainer, we actually are at a stage where I think intolerance for religion is at an all time high. And I feel like that a great healing can happen in a nation when people decide to take each other where they find them, you know? And, um, like you, I do a lot of travel and I have been in the halls of the United Nations with people who are Muslim of all different faith, and …
H.B. 214 Firearms Liability Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Says the bill makes sense and thanks the sponsor for bringing it forward.
▶ Watch at 1:41:58Read what they said
Yeah, just this makes total sense to me and I really appreciate the good sponsor bringing it forward. Thank you.
H.B. 238 Utah Energy Generation and Transmission Planning · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Asks what data the commission would collect and whether a commission is necessary for this role.
▶ Watch at 1:54:14Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for this presentation. You answered quite a few of my questions actually already in your presentation, which is good. Uh, but I have a few others. Uh, so while I'm not a big fan of commissions in general, no offense, um, None taken Just because I think they can protect, but I also think they can control. And so I think we have to, you know, like always have a balance there. Um, and, you know, I'm, I'm wondering in, in this particular role that the commission would take on, um, what that would kind of look like with, as that role goes into action, what do we see that looking like? Um, …
H.B. 238 Utah Energy Generation and Transmission Planning · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 26, 2026
Says the explanation was helpful and that the answer addressed her question.
▶ Watch at 1:56:54Read what they said
A lot? Yeah, you're, you're putting it in my language now, so thank you for that. I appreciate that. Um, I think that's good.
H.B. 75 American Indian and Alaska Native Education Amendments · House Education Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Asks why the bill singles out one student population, whether it would apply beyond remote districts, and what needs and similar programs exist, and says she is not yet ready to support it.
▶ Watch at 1:52:33Read what they said
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I, I have a, a couple of questions. So the first question, I think I, I was a little bit on the same line maybe as Representative Ox year in wondering, um, why we're, why we're singling out a, a, a special, um, program when they're already in schools that hopefully every student matters, not just based on race. I don't like singling people out. I don't like looking at one nationality of person and say, you might need extra help because you're that nationality. So that kind of, um, makes me a little concerned. Um, and I, I'm, I'm wondering, you had mentioned, well, we don't have, you know, maybe this is you …
H.B. 53 Community Rehabilitation Program Amendments · House floor debate (day 3) · Jan 22, 2026
Peck supports the bill's intent and asks for clarification of the reporting language in lines 26 and 27.
▶ Watch at 24:08Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I appreciate this bill and the intent of this bill, but I just wanted to make sure that we were really clear, uh, with the language on lines 1 26 and 1 27, um, when it says with disabilities that we're actually talking about just tracking how many placements were made by the agency, instead of tracking how many people within the agency have disabilities. So I guess, can I ask a question?
H.B. 53 Community Rehabilitation Program Amendments · House floor debate (day 3) · Jan 22, 2026
Peck asks who the reporting requirement in lines 26 and 27 applies to.
▶ Watch at 24:50Read what they said
Thank you. So my question is, could you please clarify on lines 1 26 and 1 27, uh, who that applies to?
H.B. 69 Drinking Water Restructuring Amendments · House floor debate (day 3) · Jan 22, 2026
Asks what the drinking water system currently does when no receiver or agent is in place.
▶ Watch at 48:08Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Um, Mr. Speaker, I am wondering what they are doing currently without one of these receivers or agents in place.
H.B. 69 Drinking Water Restructuring Amendments · House floor debate (day 3) · Jan 22, 2026
Asks how much the tool would cost if it is probably not used often.
▶ Watch at 48:37Read what they said
Okay. So my next question is if we, if we don't have it already, and it's probably not being used a lot, how much money is it gonna end up costing to do it?
H.C.R. 1 House Concurrent Resolution Regarding Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Jan 21, 2026
Peck asked what challenges nuclear development may face going forward.
▶ Watch at 35:49Read what they said
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I really like this resolution. I loved it before. I love it again. But, um, I just wanted maybe to see if you could elaborate just a little bit on the language, uh, overcoming the challenges. What type of challenges do we see going forward? Do you have an idea there?
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor will yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 1:36:30Read what they said
Woo. Goodness. New microphone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Yes. Representative, Will you yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks why the bill changes the usual practice of shutting off service and attaching the debt to the person's name.
▶ Watch at 1:36:41Read what they said
Okay, thank you. So, um, usually when somebody doesn't pay a bill for a service or something like that, then you remove the service. So you like, shut off the water and you attach it to the person's name, not to another piece of their property. So you would, um, you would attach it to their credit or something like that. Why is it that we're feeling that there is a need to change that normal pattern with this particular bill?
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks whether special districts have other places in code where they can place a lien on property.
▶ Watch at 1:37:49Read what they said
Um, o okay. And then my next question is, uh, Mr. Speaker, is there any other place in code where we have special districts? I noticed it said special districts in there. Is there any other place in code where special districts can put a lien on a person's property? Or would this be the first time that that's occurring?
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks what the substantive change is if special districts already have this power.
▶ Watch at 1:38:40Read what they said
Okay, thank you. So then, I guess finally my question would be, um, so it sounds like a lot of these pieces are already in place from what you're talking about, and I appreciate all the research that you've shared. Um, so what, what exactly is the substantive change if they're already able to do this?
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks whether the purpose is billing convenience rather than avoiding collection agencies.
▶ Watch at 1:39:32Read what they said
So is this more for, um, convenience, for billing purposes, to not have to contract with collections agencies? Yeah,
From the official recordings' automatic captions, with speakers and summaries identified by AI. Use the ▶ links to check the recording before you rely on a quote.