Legislators / Norman K Thurston
Norman K Thurston
Republican · House District 62
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Norman K Thurston
- Email: normthurston@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-477-5348
- Office: 965 E CENTER STREET, PROVO, UT, 84606
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Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Norman K Thurston serves on:
- General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee
- House Transportation Committee
- Business and Labor Interim Committee
- Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee
- Transportation Interim Committee
- General Oversight Committee
What they've said
469 remarks on 107 billsS.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says the bill formally defines the state Protection and Advocacy Agency, clarifies legislative intent about its duty to represent disabled individuals statewide, and asks the agency to report information to legislative committees.
▶ Watch at 1:12:14Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So this bill formally defines Utah State Protection Advocacy Agency and clarifies the legislature's intent regarding its responsibility to represent advocate for all disabilities disabled, individual statewide. It also will in intends or attempts to improve transparency and legislative oversight by requesting that the agency provides certain information to legislative committees about meetings held, services provided, population served, et cetera, et cetera, throughout the year. So this will enga strengthen public engagement and accountability and also, um, be the first time that the legislature actually has some type of a formal relationship with the State's Protection Advocacy Agency.
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that federal law requires a state protection and advocacy agency, that the governor designates it, that the state has had one for over 40 years, and that the bill puts its existence into state statute.
▶ Watch at 1:13:50Read what they said
Yeah. So federal law requires the state to have a state protection advocacy agency. Federal law allows the governor to just designate that, whoever that is. So we need to have one. The governor designates one. Uh, so we've had one, I it's been over 40 years that the state has done this. The legislature has never really expressed an interest in this at all. It's just been something that the federal law requires and the governor does. So this now puts a marker in state statute recognizing that this thing does in fact exist.
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says the bill only requests that the agency report to the legislature and does not require it to change what it currently does.
▶ Watch at 1:14:25Read what they said
Yeah, in fact, in fact, Mr. Speaker, it just requests that they report to the legislature. We we're not actually requiring them to do anything different than they're currently doing. We're just asking nicely.
H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Yields to questions and asks the sponsor if she will yield.
▶ Watch at 1:24:25Read what they said
Thank you. We'll sponsor yield to a series of questions. Representative, will you yield? Yes. Yes. Representative.
H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks the sponsor to describe the difference between a tobacco specialty retailer and a general tobacco retailer in the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:24:31Read what they said
Could you describe to us the difference between a tobacco specialty retailer and a general tobacco re retailer in the bill?
H.B. 385 Specialized Product Sales Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the Senate amendment clarifies separate categories and tiers of tobacco retailers.
▶ Watch at 1:24:57Read what they said
And so this, the amendment made in the Senate clarifies that there are those separate categories and tiers of tobacco retailers. Is that correct?
S.B. 147 Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asked to reserve the right to make two motions on the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:25:23Read what they said
You Madam Speaker ProAm, I would like to reserve the right to make two motions.
S.B. 147 Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explained that the bill makes the Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services dependent within the Department of Government Operations with an advisory board, following a legislative audit, and moved to adopt the third substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:25:29Read what they said
So colleagues, there's gonna be a motion to substitute and a motion to amend in just a second, but I wanna explain what the bill does because the, if I describe the substitute, it wouldn't make any sense. So what this bill does, the Office of the Inspector General has been around since 2011, and it's actually technically called the Office of the Inspector General of Medicaid Services. This was established to have better controls over fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicaid program. It's had a rocky history. Uh, we've had some difficult challenges because it was established as a completely independent entity with no real oversight by anyone. So they were completely free to choose what they wanted, …
S.B. 176 Landscaping Procurement Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor will yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 1:35:56Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Representative Tom Peterson, will you yield to a series of questions?
S.B. 176 Landscaping Procurement Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether electric mowers would give snakes more or less warning before a mower reaches them.
▶ Watch at 1:36:04Read what they said
So I am very passionate about certain animals, and in our backyard in the spring, the snakes come out to do what snakes do in the spring in our grass. And you can't see them in the grass until you're mowing the lawn. And we have tried electric mowers, we've tried battery mowers, we've tried gas powered motors, mowers. But when you find one of those snakes, or when your mower finds one of those snakes, it's not a pretty site. And I'm very passionate about the life and friendliness of those snakes. And so I would like to ask the sponsor if he thinks that electric powered lawnmowers would give those snakes more warning or less warning that we're …
S.B. 201 Shelter Animal Euthanasia Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Says some animal shelters resist adopting best practices, that two shelters in second-class counties have weak governing boards, and that he is neither for nor against the motions.
▶ Watch at 1:41:00Read what they said
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, there's been a lot of polite dancing around and I'm about to say the quiet part out loud. So there we go. All the eyes are over here now. Uh, they're over my time here. And I've, I've dealt with these bills as well that we have had a continual series of these bills, their animal shelters across the state. A new best practice becomes available, which makes sense. And the vast majority of them adopt that best practice because they say, that makes sense. We'll do it. We have two animal shelters that are being, can I say buts? Is that decorum all right? That, that are being buts and just resist adopting …
S.B. 78 Property Tax Relief Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Expressed concerns that the deferral program may be sound policy but is unpopular with elderly constituents who want to keep the circuit breaker program, and that counties will struggle to create replacement programs; a brief exchange with a senator in the chamber followed.
▶ Watch at 2:25:22Read what they said
Thank, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have concerns with this bill on the policy of this bill itself. Um, the deferral program. I've asked my elderly residents and I've tried to explain them. I actually think the deferral program is probably the right policy, but it's extremely unpopular. The, uh, residents in my area that are complaining about, you know, fixed income people and I tell 'em about the deferral program and they're like, yeah, that's not gonna do it for me. That's not what we just like, why can't we just keep the circuit breaker program? So what I worry about this bill is we're gonna get rid of the state circuit breaker program. We're gonna allow the counties …
S.B. 78 Property Tax Relief Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Apologized for losing his composure, said counties would have to design and fund programs, and said constituents prefer keeping the circuit breaker program and expanding its eligibility.
▶ Watch at 2:26:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have never had that happen before. I apologize to my colleagues for losing my cool. Um, so we're putting this onto the counties. The counties have to decide to design a program. They have to figure out how to pay for the program. They have to figure out how to recover the, the re revenue from somewhere else. And what ends up happening is, is when they don't do it, the only option for those seniors is the deferral program. Now, like I said, the deferral program is probably the right policy. I can't argue with that. But what I worry about is that this is not the policy that my voters and my constituents …
S.B. 295 Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield for questions and asks for examples of non-curricular clubs allowed at each school level.
▶ Watch at 2:41:56Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Representative? Uh, will you yield to a series of questions? Yes. Yes, sir. Representative Thurston, could You give me an example of non-curricular clubs that would be allowed at all levels? Elementary, junior high, high school, Non non-curricular. Yeah, sorry, Mr. Speaker, non-curricular clubs. Yes.
S.B. 295 Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Raises concerns that the amendment excludes religious and political topics from non-curricular clubs and may conflict with First Amendment protections.
▶ Watch at 2:42:48Read what they said
Well, I'd like to ask you then, the amendment that you just adopted said, um, non-curricular clubs that do not relate to religious issues. Oh, I apologize. Yes, you're right. I'm sorry. Yes. Non-religious, non-political or public policy or social justice. I apologize. Yes. So, um, this is my concern, and I probably should have mentioned it when we're discussing the amendment, but it's still relevant. First Amendment is a pretty important thing, and courts have held that religious speech is one of the most highly protected along with political speech. So we're saying if you want to get together and talk about chess, no problem. You want to get together and talk about the 10 Commandments. You want to …
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that a clause was added to the bill so it connects to the proper section of code that establishes the status quo.
▶ Watch at 3:21:18Read what they said
Yeah. So there was a clause that needed to be added to the bill so that it, that it connected to the proper section of code in another part which establishes the status quo.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the parties have been working overnight on a proposal that should address their concerns with the bill.
▶ Watch at 11:44Read what they said
Yes. Uh, Mr. Speaker, the parties have been working through the night. We believe we have a, a proposal that, uh, should address their concerns with the bill.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Moves to adopt the fourth substitute for S.B. 229.
▶ Watch at 12:36Read what they said
Representative Thurston to you. Thank You Mr. Speaker. I move that we adopt fourth substitute Senate Bill 2 29.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the substitute lets each state employee keep the current benefits or move to the new package, and new employees would be enrolled in the new program.
▶ Watch at 12:45Read what they said
Oh, yes, I would. Um, so colleagues, one of the main points that we have heard from state employees, um, there are some employees who really, really like what they currently have and don't feel like they should be forced to change. So what the forest sub does is it allows every state employee to choose, keep what you currently have or move to the new version of the, of the benefits which is outlined in the bill. So it's strictly their choice. They will have plenty of time to get educated, get informed, and if they want to keep what they have, they can keep the current package that they have or they can choose the new package. New …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the substitute lets each state employee keep the current benefits or choose the new package, with new employees enrolled in the new program.
▶ Watch at 12:45Read what they said
Oh, yes, I would. Um, so colleagues, one of the main points that we have heard from state employees, um, there are some employees who really, really like what they currently have and don't feel like they should be forced to change. So what the forest sub does is it allows every state employee to choose, keep what you currently have or move to the new version of the, of the benefits which is outlined in the bill. So it's strictly their choice. They will have plenty of time to get educated, get informed, and if they want to keep what they have, they can keep the current package that they have or they can choose the new package. New …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says an employee who chooses the current benefit package keeps it permanently, even after a promotion.
▶ Watch at 15:42Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is a fabulous question. It is the intent that whatever choice you make is permanent regardless. So if you choose to stay on the current benefit package, even if you get be a manager, supervisor or whatever, you get to keep that same benefit package. There's no provision in here that said, well, unless or until it's, it is your right to stay on this plan.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Responds that an employee's choice of benefit package is permanent and is kept even after a promotion or move to a new position.
▶ Watch at 15:42Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is a fabulous question. It is the intent that whatever choice you make is permanent regardless. So if you choose to stay on the current benefit package, even if you get be a manager, supervisor or whatever, you get to keep that same benefit package. There's no provision in here that said, well, unless or until it's, it is your right to stay on this plan.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the bill creates a single type of paid time off, enhances retirement benefits based on income, and keeps the state competitive in hiring.
▶ Watch at 16:33Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So for those of you who missed the discussion last night, I think there was one or two of you who may have missed this. Uh, what this bill does something very important. We are, are in a competitive environment as a state government. We are the largest employer in the state. We have to be able to hire a wide variety of employees with a wide variety of skills. We need to be competitive. And so what this bill does is it changes the way we do both our leave benefits by creating a single type of leave, which is paid time off, and also it enhances the retirement benefits. Um, so they're, instead of …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Says the bill replaces leave with a single paid time off type, enhances retirement benefits based on a percentage of income, and makes the state more competitive as an employer.
▶ Watch at 16:33Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So for those of you who missed the discussion last night, I think there was one or two of you who may have missed this. Uh, what this bill does something very important. We are, are in a competitive environment as a state government. We are the largest employer in the state. We have to be able to hire a wide variety of employees with a wide variety of skills. We need to be competitive. And so what this bill does is it changes the way we do both our leave benefits by creating a single type of leave, which is paid time off, and also it enhances the retirement benefits. Um, so they're, instead of …
H.B. 389 Cannabis Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a question.
▶ Watch at 18:05Read what they said
Sorry, Mr. Speaker, um, was sponsor yield to a question. Representative Daley Provo, will you yield to a question?
H.B. 389 Cannabis Amendments · House floor debate (day 44) · Mar 5, 2026
Asks about the funding source for the research institute.
▶ Watch at 18:16Read what they said
Uh, could you just explain to us just a little bit about the, the funding source for the research institute?
S.B. 175 Health Insurance Revisions · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Presents S.B. 175, a consensus bill that directs a study on who can provide autism diagnosis services and get reimbursed, with the Insurance Department publishing the results so insurers and master's level therapists know the rules.
▶ Watch at 8:38Read what they said
Your speaker, I am very pleased to be ready to present this consent bill. Uh, this is a consensus bill that is, uh, proposed us to do a study to clarify several points of confusion that have to do with who can provide autism, autism diagnosis services and get reimbursed. There's a lot of confusion in the, um, industry about who can do it and whether they get paid and how they get paid. So rather than try to clarify all of that with no information, the bill simply asks that there be a study done of this and that the insurance department then publish on their website the results of that study so that both the insurance companies and …
S.B. 148 General Oversight Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Supports the third substitute, saying the cap on bills a committee can open applies to this committee as well as others.
▶ Watch at 35:37Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of adopting the third substitute. Uh, you know, the other bill was great. I can't fault the sponsors for that. But, uh, since that came out, there were a couple of changes that were identified that were needed. And in particular just colleagues, this idea that, um, every committee is gonna be capped at the number of bills that they can open applies to this committee as well. There's no special treatment of one committee over another. I think that's a, a critical add. And I appreciate our rules chair for bringing this amendment forward. So thank you to the rules chair.
S.B. 148 General Oversight Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Supports adopting the third substitute and says it applies the same cap on committee bill openings to this committee, which he calls a critical addition, and thanks the rules chair for the amendment.
▶ Watch at 35:37Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of adopting the third substitute. Uh, you know, the other bill was great. I can't fault the sponsors for that. But, uh, since that came out, there were a couple of changes that were identified that were needed. And in particular just colleagues, this idea that, um, every committee is gonna be capped at the number of bills that they can open applies to this committee as well. There's no special treatment of one committee over another. I think that's a, a critical add. And I appreciate our rules chair for bringing this amendment forward. So thank you to the rules chair.
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Thurston asks what specific products the fourth substitute would allow.
▶ Watch at 44:14Read what they said
Representative Thurston. So In the fourth substitute, we are allowing them to produce specifically what types of products?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Asks what specific types of products the fourth substitute would allow producers to make.
▶ Watch at 44:15Read what they said
In the fourth substitute, we are allowing them to produce specifically what types of products?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Thurston asks for a follow-up question and requests the sponsor continue to yield.
▶ Watch at 44:45Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. A follow up if I may. Representative, will you continue to yield to a series of questions or to a follow up question?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Asks to confirm that producers would make extracts in Utah for export only, for one year, with Pure Leaf-only requirements applying afterward.
▶ Watch at 44:55Read what they said
So just to make sure I understand. So these are people who are producing extracts in the state of Utah. Those extracts would not be available for sale in the state of Utah. We're just gonna allow them to produce and export and only for one year. So that gives them time to figure out their business model and other, otherwise the bill goes, has the same requirements that are in the, the third sub, which is Pure Leaf only. Is that correct?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Thurston asks whether extracts produced in Utah would be exported only, not sold in Utah, for one year before the Pure Leaf only requirements apply.
▶ Watch at 44:55Read what they said
So just to make sure I understand. So these are people who are producing extracts in the state of Utah. Those extracts would not be available for sale in the state of Utah. We're just gonna allow them to produce and export and only for one year. So that gives them time to figure out their business model and other, otherwise the bill goes, has the same requirements that are in the, the third sub, which is Pure Leaf only. Is that correct?
S.B. 162 Online Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Asks to have the sponsor yield to a series of questions and calls on Rep. Monson.
▶ Watch at 1:08:40Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The sponsor yield to a series of questions. Representative Monson, will you yield to a series of questions?
S.B. 162 Online Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Asks whether the products were already taxed with only confusion about collection, or whether the tax is newly added.
▶ Watch at 1:08:47Read what they said
So is it your understanding that these things were already taxed and there was just confusion, or that these things at some point in the past were not taxed and we are adding the tax onto them?
S.B. 162 Online Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the bill appears to help enforce taxes already imposed rather than create a new tax, and considers it acceptable on that reading.
▶ Watch at 1:09:43Read what they said
So, colleagues, um, this bill could be read two ways. One of the ways is that we're taxing something new and this would be a tax increase. Um, and if that were the case, I would be all excited about broadening the base, and then I would ask that we also lower the rate. But I think the sponsor has, um, answered my question in a way that makes me think that that's not what's happening here. That this is something that we had always intended to be taxed. It was already being taxed, but we weren't doing an adequate job of collecting it, and the tax commission lacked the tools that they needed to enforce the collection. So with …
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Opposes the amendment, saying it gives too much without a corresponding concession and that the legislature should allow a transition period rather than continued production.
▶ Watch at 1:26:41Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I don't like this amendment. Um, for a couple of reasons. Representative Stoddard has already mentioned the ones, my primary ones, but I did want to add that part of this has been a discussion about give and take, give and take, allowing them to continue to produce for a year and allowing them to continue to market hold crem. Originally there was not supposed to be any crem sold in the state of Utah. There's been a lot of give and take going on here, and this is too much give with not enough take. So if the amendment had said, okay, that's fine, we're gonna have a complete ban in the state of …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Presents S.B. 229 as the floor sponsor, describing the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee's review, the changes to 401k matching, leave accrual, and short-term disability, and his own experience with unused sick leave; says he is open to questions and that an amendment may be pending.
▶ Watch at 2:10:56Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So I think many of you are aware of this bill. It's had fairly good coverage and interest out there, but I want to kinda just take you back just a little bit about kinda where the genesis of the bill came from. So, uh, Senator Fillmore and I are the chairs of the State Employee Benefits Advisory Committee. And so all during the last calendar year for 2025, we have been working with, uh, stakeholders including those from the private sector, those from the public sector, uh, government leaders to review and understand how our employees are compensated, uh, compared to the private sector. And as you are all aware, over the past several years, …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says he would rather circle the bill so the substitute can be attached.
▶ Watch at 2:15:35Read what they said
Yeah, well I'd really like to have this sub, so I would rather circle and we can get that right on the Vernon. Go.
S.B. 281 Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to encircle second substitute S.B. 229.
▶ Watch at 2:32:11Read what they said
Speaker Pro. Tim, I move that we encircle second substitute Senate bill 2 2 9. That motion is in order.
S.B. 281 Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the substitute proposed by a colleague is ready and asks to encircle the bill so that colleague can present it.
▶ Watch at 2:32:19Read what they said
Yes. So I believe the, uh, substitute that was being proposed by my colleague is now ready. And we, I would like to encircle so he can present his substitute.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Yields his time to Representative Loubet.
▶ Watch at 2:32:43Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Prote. I would like to yield my time to Representative Loubet.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Moves to adopt the third substitute to S.B. 2 29.
▶ Watch at 2:32:55Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro tem, uh, motion to adopt third sub, uh, to SB 2 29 in my name.
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Explains that the substitute adds a voluntary leave bank so employees can donate leave to coworkers with serious illnesses in their family or chronic conditions, and that DHRM will develop a model policy and rules.
▶ Watch at 2:33:06Read what they said
Uh, yes. So, uh, what this sub is trying to do is I, I had been receiving lots of, uh, emails and calls from constituents. Um, also had conversations with the Utah Public Employees Association about some of the concerns with, uh, the current version of the bill. And one of the things that kind of kept coming up was concerns for somebody who had either chronic illness or if any event a family member had, uh, become ill and they needed to spend time, use sick time for it. Um, under the old policy, they would've had 52 additional sick hours to be able to utilize. And so, um, with this newer, uh, version, this, they would no longer …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says the bill creates a safety net of paid time off, leave bank, and disability benefits, and that the retirement change is a four percent contribution matched by two percent, giving most employees more pay.
▶ Watch at 2:36:08Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, pro Tim. So with this addition, I understand that there may be a circumstance here or there where people are in, in dire straits with this subsidy. We've basically created a safety net that takes care of just about everyone. If you have PTO in your account, you can use your PTO. If you don't, uh, you can get it, get leave from the sick bank. If you have a serious issue, you can get short-term disability that keeps you whole. Even though short-term disability only pays part, you can take money from the leave bank. And if it goes beyond what's allowed under short-term disability, we are providing long-term disability already. And so …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Argues the bill adds to the existing safety net of PTO, leave bank, and disability benefits, increases compensable leave, and corrects his earlier statement on the retirement match, saying most employees would receive more value.
▶ Watch at 2:36:08Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, pro Tim. So with this addition, I understand that there may be a circumstance here or there where people are in, in dire straits with this subsidy. We've basically created a safety net that takes care of just about everyone. If you have PTO in your account, you can use your PTO. If you don't, uh, you can get it, get leave from the sick bank. If you have a serious issue, you can get short-term disability that keeps you whole. Even though short-term disability only pays part, you can take money from the leave bank. And if it goes beyond what's allowed under short-term disability, we are providing long-term disability already. And so …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Responds that leave types are combined into paid time off, total hours may drop in the short term but balances can build over time, and DHRM rules can address chronic conditions under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
▶ Watch at 2:38:50Read what they said
So what this program does is it eliminates the different buckets of leave. So we combine sick leave with admin or annual leave, which is currently the case into a single category, which is paid time off. You don't have to justify why you're taking it. You don't have to actually be sick. You just contact your manager and say, look, I need to take time off. And so for those employees, it makes it, it simplifies the rules. Now, in the short term, for some employees, there will be a decrease in the total amount of hours, but they are compensable and we're increasing the amount that you can build up. So over time, employees can build more, more …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Answers that the bill combines leave categories into paid time off, may reduce total hours for some employees in the short term but increases what can be built up, and notes DHRM can make ADA accommodations through rulemaking for chronic conditions.
▶ Watch at 2:38:50Read what they said
So what this program does is it eliminates the different buckets of leave. So we combine sick leave with admin or annual leave, which is currently the case into a single category, which is paid time off. You don't have to justify why you're taking it. You don't have to actually be sick. You just contact your manager and say, look, I need to take time off. And so for those employees, it makes it, it simplifies the rules. Now, in the short term, for some employees, there will be a decrease in the total amount of hours, but they are compensable and we're increasing the amount that you can build up. So over time, employees can build more, more …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Says tier two employees can contribute to a 401k at any time, with the first 4% matched by 2%, subject to federal limits.
▶ Watch at 2:40:27Read what they said
Oh, yes. That's a fabulous question. We haven't, we've been focusing a little bit on the leave and not as much on the retirement. I appreciate this from our good chair of the, of the RA e committee. Um, so with this modernization of our retirement benefit, tier two employees, whether they're on hybrid or on pension, always have the option to contribute their own own funds to a 401k. This will just say that the first 4% is matched with 2% and they can contribute as much as they want. Well, there's federal limits for the tax benefit, but they can contribute significant amounts of money into their 401k and this, uh, this actually facilitates growth in their retirement …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Answers that tier two employees can already contribute to a 401k, that the bill matches the first 4% with 2%, and that contributions are subject to federal limits.
▶ Watch at 2:40:27Read what they said
Oh, yes. That's a fabulous question. We haven't, we've been focusing a little bit on the leave and not as much on the retirement. I appreciate this from our good chair of the, of the RA e committee. Um, so with this modernization of our retirement benefit, tier two employees, whether they're on hybrid or on pension, always have the option to contribute their own own funds to a 401k. This will just say that the first 4% is matched with 2% and they can contribute as much as they want. Well, there's federal limits for the tax benefit, but they can contribute significant amounts of money into their 401k and this, uh, this actually facilitates growth in their retirement …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Summarizes that the bill helps recruit and retain employees, that DHRM will help employees use the benefits, and that the leave bank and retirement changes give employees more value.
▶ Watch at 2:41:49Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm, I just want to also, uh, you know, having been both a manager and employee of the state for 16 and a half years, um, I was a manager the whole time I was there. This is a fantastic tool for us to be able to recruit and retain our employees. Um, I know that there's, this is change and that there are people who are afraid of change. They're not sure how it's gonna work for them, but we have assurances from DHRM that they will work with every individual employee to understand how to take full advantage of these benefits going forward. Uh, I think the addition of the leave bank is a …
S.B. 229 State Employee Benefits Amendments · House floor debate (day 43) · Mar 4, 2026
Gives closing summation, saying the bill helps recruit and retain employees, that DHRM will help employees use the benefits, and that the leave bank and retirement changes are valuable.
▶ Watch at 2:41:49Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm, I just want to also, uh, you know, having been both a manager and employee of the state for 16 and a half years, um, I was a manager the whole time I was there. This is a fantastic tool for us to be able to recruit and retain our employees. Um, I know that there's, this is change and that there are people who are afraid of change. They're not sure how it's gonna work for them, but we have assurances from DHRM that they will work with every individual employee to understand how to take full advantage of these benefits going forward. Uh, I think the addition of the leave bank is a …
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Asks about the intent of changes allowing school buses and transit vehicles in bike lanes.
▶ Watch at 25:17Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, so lines 4 37, 4 39, uh, change when a school bus or transit vehicle is allowed to be in a bike lane. And the old language was to load or unload passengers and the new language says along the buses or transit vehicles planned route and schedule. Could you just comment as to what the intent?
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Says the language could let vehicles drive in the bike lane along the whole bus route.
▶ Watch at 26:48Read what they said
So it's not your intent. 'cause the way I read this, a motor vehicle may not drive in a bicy lane except along the bus's route. And so it sounds to me like that they can just drive in the bicycle lane along their whole
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Suggests discussing the issue later. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 27:09Read what they said
Okay. So we can have a conversation about that later. Yeah. Great. Thank you. Thank you.
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Describes an amendment changing bus language to loading, unloading, or time point adjustments to prevent bike lane travel.
▶ Watch at 49:47Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, in talking with UTA, I have some simple amendments that we'll address those lines. I'm just gonna describe the amendments while we're waiting to get the final drafting. But on line 400, the amendment would change the word operating to loading or unloading passengers or making a time point adjustment. So, in other words, they can't just impede the bike lane because it's on their route, they have to actually be doing something. And then, then a similar change on 4 37. It would similarly say, uh, re reinstate to load our unloaded passengers or make a time point adjustment along the vehicle's planned route or schedule. So those, that's be the amendment and …
S.B. 242 Transportation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend SB 242 as amended.
▶ Watch at 52:33Read what they said
Thank you. I move that we favorably recommend third substitute Senate bill 2 42 as properly amended.
S.B. 31 Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Moved to adopt Senate Amendment 2, which restores the licensed-acupuncturist language and corrects what he described as an oversight.
▶ Watch at 51:30Read what they said
Yeah. So I would like to move that we adopt Senate Amendment number two, I believe is the correct number. Okay. Would you like to speak to that? Uh, I would, I mean, for all of our acupuncturist friends here, I mean, this, this really was just a typo and oversight, no offense was intended, or no policy was intended to be changes. It was just an oversight. And so this amendment does correct that, and hopefully that makes, um, everybody feel a little bit better that we weren't trying to do something sneaky. It just was an oversight.
S.B. 31 Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Explained that House Amendment 3 would remove the 2000-hour nurse practitioner requirement and return to current law, arguing the bill does not fix the underlying school problem.
▶ Watch at 53:14Read what they said
I would. So, uh, colleagues, so what this does, we, well, Let me, sorry. Uh, three, number three. Three. I'm sorry. I got the wrong number. Uh, so here's the issue with the nurse practitioners. There is a problem with the schools, and we worked over the interim to try to figure it out we're, we have a solution that's kind of agreed on. I look at that. I don't really actually think it solves the underlying problem. And if we pass this and everyone say, well, we come to an agreement, it was a compromise. Nobody really loves it, but it's the compromise. It's the deal. We're gonna have a real hard time coming back again next year and …
S.B. 31 Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Argued the 2000-hour requirement does nothing and would make future negotiations harder, and urged removing it.
▶ Watch at 1:04:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To me, this is doing something for the sake of doing something, not for the sake of solving a problem. Everybody who looks at that 2000 hour says this really literally does nothing. We already heard comments about that earlier. Um, it's, it's about three months beyond what they're getting in school. There's no restrictions on what quality they get. They could literally just take an internship over their summer, just changing bed pants at the hospital as a, as a volunteer. And so it does nothing. So having that in the bill makes some people feel like, oh, we solved the problem, we solved the problem. Or as I heard, maybe at least it's better …
S.B. 298 Programmable Money Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked whether the issuer of a digital currency can place contractual restrictions on how it is used.
▶ Watch at 1:22:35Read what they said
Thank you. I, I actually have another question if we can go for it. Yeah. So I'm trying to understand, so this is a digital currency, so in the realm of Bitcoin type things, but that the issuer of the currency has the ability to place contractual restrictions on its use, is, am I understanding that correctly?
S.B. 298 Programmable Money Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked whether any such restricted currency exists today.
▶ Watch at 1:23:37Read what they said
So, and is anybody doing this today? Is this, does this type of thing actually exists in the world? Is is a unicorn or is it something we've actually seen Senator,
S.B. 298 Programmable Money Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked why someone would use a restricted currency when alternatives without restrictions exist, comparing it to credit card rewards.
▶ Watch at 1:23:59Read what they said
You can see where, I can see where you're headed with this. I'm just, I'm just wondering why anybody would ever use that when there are alternatives that don't have restrictions. Why would, like, it's like me. If I, if I had a credit card, but I got charged 1% every time I used it, I wouldn't use that credit card. I would use someone a different one. Right? Well, The one where they're giving you lots of flights, line miles or whatever.
S.B. 298 Programmable Money Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 3, 2026
Rep. Thurston said the answer addressed his question.
▶ Watch at 1:25:45Read what they said
Okay. Thank you. Mr, can I, may I add That, that that's, I think that answers my question.
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Says he wants to reserve the right to make a motion.
▶ Watch at 35:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to reserve the right to make a motion That's o that motion's
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Asks what the difference is between an executive director and a director.
▶ Watch at 35:24Read what they said
Could, could you tell me, uh, so I'm looking at line 37. Can you tell me the difference between an executive director and a director?
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield for a follow-up question.
▶ Watch at 36:22Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker with the sponsor yield to just one more question, a follow up Representative MacPherson, will you yield to a follow up question?
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Asks why division director is a high enough level to be covered and how the bill fits with the Highway Patrol.
▶ Watch at 36:31Read what they said
Thurston. Okay, so in my time in the executive branch division director, there were lots and lots and lots and lots of those. Um, could you just explain why you think di division director, which is just a higher level manager, is high enough of a level to be a, a problem, and along with that, how you envision this fitting into the framework of Highway patrol?
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Withdraws his question while the sponsor looks up information.
▶ Watch at 38:39Read what they said
Mr. Speaker, I, I just with withdraw that question while he is taking a minute to look that up so I can speak. Is that all right?
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Asks to withdraw the question so the debate does not stop for the sponsor to look things up.
▶ Watch at 38:49Read what they said
Hear you. Oh, sorry. I, if it's okay with the speaker, I would just withdraw that so we don't have to take time for him to just look things up. Thank you. Oh, That I'm still going to, okay.
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Moves to amend line 37 to replace division director with commissioner.
▶ Watch at 38:59Read what they said
See. So I, um, I would like to make the motion at this point to, um, amend on line 37, replace the words division director with the word commissioner.
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Says division directors are often promoted managers, that the title is used too broadly, and that commissioners should be included in the amendment.
▶ Watch at 39:40Read what they said
So there, there's a lot of history to this. There's a lot of history about which, um, which executive branch employees can serve in the legislature. Um, historically, just historically we have said that if you are appointed by the governor, um, and so you're at that level, then you're not eligible to serve legislature and all other employees are. So in my experience working with executive branch agencies, division directors are just promoted. They're, they're managers that are promoted to a higher level. They're not typically at, at that higher level. Now, there are some exceptions to that. There are some divisions within DGO that are kind of higher level, but they're, it's just, it's just a title that's …
H.B. 604 Local Government Official Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Says that is a good point and suggests limiting the term to commissioners and directors who are full-time employees in the state executive branch.
▶ Watch at 43:36Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, that's a great point. In my mind, I was thinking of the tax commissioners who are full-time employees, they go to work every day. They're at the highest level of the tax commission. Um, I don't think they're all cabinet members. I think that would make me nervous if they were to be also in the legislature. But now that you mention it, there are people who are on the, for example, transportation commission. And I think that might be a concern. Um, I wonder if there is a question here about full-time employee, if maybe that would be the answer is this, that it should be a executive director, director or commissioner who is …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Sponsor presents the bill to broaden the restaurant tax base and lower its rate, says counties would be held harmless, and argues the tax is broad and low enough to be nearly invisible.
▶ Watch at 1:43:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker Port. Tim, may I have permission to read a brief passage? Granted, The best tax is a neutral tax one that is broad enough to be low and simple enough to be invisible. By broadening the base, lowering the rate, and simplifying the tax calculation. We can stop the government from picking winners and losers and start letting the market work for everyone. So colleagues, um, about 30 plus years ago, we implemented a restaurant tax. And that's actually a bit of a misnomer. It's a food tax, it's a tax on a specific type of food prepared, made to order food. You pay that tax when you get a pizza from Little Caesar's, you pay …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Explains that the tax rate calculation must be rounded to two decimal places, so every county would receive more revenue, about 7 percent on average.
▶ Watch at 1:53:44Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Porter for the question. The hold harmless is actually quite simple because when we take 1% and reduce that off, this special type of food, we have to calculate a rate to apply to everything else, the broader base. And in that rate calculation, the tax commission won't let us go out to four decimal places to get it exactly right. They don't want to deal with four decimal places. They said we can only do with two. So when you only go to two decimal places, you round up every county will round up to the, to the nearest second decimal place, which means by definition, every county will get more money. And for example, …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
Says the bill is not exactly revenue neutral and is designed to raise slightly more revenue, and that counties are guaranteed not to lose money.
▶ Watch at 1:55:03Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. Um, sometimes we think about tax increase, tax decrease, and we, we get all wrapped up around that one. There is no way to get this exactly revenue neutral. So we have erred on the side of revenue enhancing. Again, the total amount of new revenue collected or statewide would be roughly $6 million spread across the citizens. It's less than a candy bar per person. It's a tiny amount for us to try to dial it in that close. The more important thing to the counties was, is that they not lose money. So we have guaranteed that no county will lose money because of this, and in fact, because of the calculation …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House floor debate (day 42) · Mar 3, 2026
In closing, the sponsor argues the bill does not harm counties or tourism, that the cost shift is small, and that the simpler, broader tax should be approved.
▶ Watch at 2:08:56Read what they said
Thank you. Colleagues. Um, I wanna say this in the most delicate way possible, but some of the comments that you've heard today reflect the misinformation that is circling around among county commissioners. I heard someone say this bill is bad because we depend on this for infrastructure. This bill does not change that this bill promotes and protects the ability of counties to bond for their infrastructure. Does not change that. I heard a colleague say this will decimate the tourism industry, decimate the tourism industry, and at the same time saying we're shifting the tax away from tourists. It makes no sense. Nothing about this bill has any potential to decimate the tourism industry. I heard another colleague …
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Noted that an amendment needs to be adopted.
▶ Watch at 1:36:30Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I would just note that there is an amendment that needs to be adopted. That's when the time is right. Um,
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the amendment adds language requested by USBE staff to make the bill complete.
▶ Watch at 1:36:57Read what they said
Uh, I, I probably should just, uh, this amendment adds in language that was requested by USBE staff to make the bill complete. Uh, so it is important amendment.
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented the bill, saying it clarifies the Education Board's existing rulemaking authority by linking two code sections that use different language, with no change to that authority.
▶ Watch at 1:37:22Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair members, the committee. So this, um, particular topic has somewhat of a checkered past. There have been people who have tried to use bills to, um, change the board's rulemaking authority. And that is not my intent at all. So I wanna make make it absolutely clear that, that despite the fact that they may have been in bills in the past by whoever sponsors, that is not my intent today. Our intent today is simply, uh, I was working on a different version of this bill, and our alleged research pointed out to me that there's an inconsistency in the code. That part of the code in entitled 53 E has different language that doesn't …
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said he had nothing to add beyond his presentation and appreciated the motion.
▶ Watch at 1:39:43Read what they said
Yeah, I don't have anything to add other than my presentation, so I appreciate the motion.
H.B. 394 Veterinary Amendments · Senate Education Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presents HB 394 to change the statute on the veterinary internship from six months to 1,000 hours to match the rule.
▶ Watch at 1:40:43Read what they said
Again, wait minute. Veterinary amendments. Okay, that's kind of an interesting one for our, our committee. It is, it has to do with a veterinary training. So when a veterinarian completes their schooling, they have to do a six month internship, doppel, uh, in, in current code. And so Doppel had to decide how to incorporate that. And of course, they don't know how six months of work. What does that mean? Does that mean part-time, full-time, weekends, weekdays? What does that mean? If you're a doctor? Six months internship means something different. So they, doppel has incorporated a 1000 hour rule, which means statute and rule are inconsistent. And as I reviewed that with the veterinarians, a thousand hours …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presented H.B. 231 to repeal the 1% statewide restaurant tax, argued it is a complex tax that falls mainly on local residents, and urged the committee to adopt the bill.
▶ Watch at 37:09Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Oh, wow. Gotta get that way closer. Uh, I'm going to, I've prepared my remarks very carefully to the current sub, but I will also point out that there is a second sub, which I would not oppose, but I think the points still here are helpful. So, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, this represents an opportunity to statewide repeal of the 1% surcharge on prepared food that is sold as ready to eat, commonly referred to as the restaurant tax. Although, as you will see, that's a really a bit of a misnomer. But before we want I get into that, I want to talk about how we got here. So over the summer …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Explained that the second substitute would keep the restaurant tax revenue for counties through a more stable general sales tax source and would remove the complexity of the current tax.
▶ Watch at 43:40Read what they said
Yes. So will you Speak to that later or I'll I'll go ahead and speak to that now that's that's a great question, Mr. Chair. So, uh, so in the world of worlds, I would repeal the tax and give the people of Utah a $95 million tax cut. That's, that would be my ideal in that, in that case, we'd need to adopt a amendment. But I understand that that causes a lot of heartburn, a lot of anxiety because that money is being spent on projects and programs that are out there. And those people might not like that. So the second sub sets us back to essentially the, the deal that I thought I had negotiated in …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Explained that both substitutes allow counties to continue paying off and issuing bonds backed by the restaurant tax revenue.
▶ Watch at 45:46Read what they said
Absolutely. So the, the first sub, which is the one before you has a, a hold harmless provision on bonding that they can continue to ta to receive the tax and collect the tax to pay off existing bonds. The second substitute basically has, has unlimited, they can con they can pay off their current bonds and they can actually issue new bonds in the second substitute, as I'm glad you mentioned that. So yes, uh, in, in the current version, there is a provision that allows them to pay off their bonds. And in the second substitute that is a fourth provision, which is that they can continue to bond against this revenue. We did not pull back on …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Explained that the second substitute would replace the restaurant tax with a small increase in the general sales tax base, about 0.1%, applied to nearly all items except grocery food.
▶ Watch at 46:43Read what they said
Absolutely. So the restaurant tax is a 1.0% tax on prepared food that is made to order. The proposed alternative funding source would allow this to be a revenue neutral or slightly enhanced revenue from the general sales tax, which tax pretty much everything except for grocery store food. So a, a can of beans at the supermarket would be that kind of thing would be the only thing that's exempted from that sales tax. And when you do that, broaden the base, lower the rate. First of all, nobody has to reprogram 'cause that's already in their system, second of all. So that, that decreases the complexity. But that on average would be about 0.1%. So it's a 10th …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Confirmed that the alternative would tax most purchases at a much smaller rate instead of taxing restaurant food.
▶ Watch at 47:37Read what they said
you're taxing, instead of taxing restaurant food, you're taxing everything. You're taxing automobiles, you're taxing like new end used cars, you're taxing shoes, you're taxing clothing, you're taxing, uh, everything that pays a sales tax would be taxed at that much, much smaller rate.
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Cited a study estimating that about 81% of the restaurant tax is paid by Utah residents and said prepared food purchases by busy families are increasing.
▶ Watch at 48:04Read what they said
Yes. So there was a study done by the Kimsey Gardner Institute, um, non-resident travelers pay only 19% of the restaurant tax 80, 81% tax. Uh, that was, and that's with old data. Um, beginning January 1st, 2026, that rate has been applied to new products, which are presumed to be largely resident based. So when you go to Macy's and buy an ice cream cone that's now taxed, it didn't used to be taxed. If you go to this, the there and there are other examples of that. So the prepared food within grocery stores, that tax rate got raised on them too. So, um, I I I think I'll just be feel comfortable saying at least 81% of …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said the shift to residents would be small, that the change would benefit local small businesses, and that the second substitute keeps funding for arts and other programs.
▶ Watch at 1:10:57Read what they said
Yeah, I'd be happy to do that. I think one of the public comment mentioned the, the, the fear of shifting from out of towners to locals. Um, so we collected data on that's also, you can figure it out from the Kemsey Gardner report. The maximum amount of the shift would probably be a couple of dollars per person per year. So think about that. We're talking about maybe a dollar, $2, two 50 per person per year is the, is the size of the shift. But what that ignores is the benefit to your local small businesses to the benefit to those business owners and their employees who are also being, again, it goes back to the scene …
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said he supports the second substitute because it reflects the deal he had thought was reached with counties.
▶ Watch at 1:12:55Read what they said
Yeah. Um, I like the first substitute better, but in this spirit of, I will stick to the deal that I made even when the other guy doesn't stick to the deal that I thought he made. Uh, sub two is the deal that I thought we had. So I'm going to support the motion to adopt second substitute because I thought that's what we had agreed to. In fact, it's a little better than the deal we agreed to, but I'll talk later if I have to about that.
H.B. 231 Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments · House Judiciary Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Argued that the data shows a small shift to residents, that the change would reduce small business complexity, and that the funded amenities are worth the cost.
▶ Watch at 1:14:36Read what they said
to favorably recommend second substitute. Yeah, so I appreciate the motion. Um, and I'm just gonna give my some comments now. I hopefully not need to do those again later. So as you heard from public comment, the only substantive opposition to a to second substitute is this theoretical. Um, that it then some counties it may shift from out of towners to locals. The reality is that the data shows that that's trivial at best. Uh, ignores the benefits entirely from, from getting rid of this complex and burdensome tax on the Loa on local small businesses. And then finally, um, it's even if we went down the road, you could theoretically justify it because most of the TRCC …
H.B. 581 Autonomous Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Said he is concerned about GOEO providing incentives, noting that over-incentivizing has contributed to higher housing prices, and is not ready to go down that path.
▶ Watch at 46:02Read what they said
Thank you. I feel similar to the chair. I mean, I think that's a great thing. It's something that we need. Um, I'm also concerned about the, the involvement of GOO in providing incentives, incentives, incentives. We've, we've over incentivized too many things, and the result of that is higher housing prices. Let's just, just at the end of the day, I'm like, I, we just, I'm not, I'm not sure that I'm ready to, to go down that path.
H.B. 479 Election Code Modifications · House floor debate (day 41) · Mar 2, 2026
Asks whether the third substitute still allows dropping off a ballot without showing ID and having the signature verified.
▶ Watch at 1:20:11Read what they said
I'm reading the third substitute. Um, uh, I understood that the purpose was to create another way of doing this. And it, it makes sense to me that if I was worried about my signature being matched or not matched or whatever, that this would create sort of like a fast cast approach to make sure that my ballot is counted, I show my ID and nobody has to check my signature off it goes. Uh, for those people who for whatever reason need to go to a Dropbox at 11:00 PM when there's nobody there, is that, would that still be an option under the third sub? Uh, so is there still an option to do dropping off a …
H.B. 597 Alcohol Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Asked whether state liquor stores selling non-alcoholic spirits has come up and whether it would need statutory authority.
▶ Watch at 1:06:32Read what they said
there have been some conversations about the state liquor store selling non-alcoholic spirits. Um, and so I'm wondering if that's something that has come up in your conversations, or if that's something that I could maybe bend somebody's ear and we can maybe talk about if that requires statutory authority, adding that to the list of things.
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Presented the bill, which formally defines the state protection and advocacy agency, clarifies its duties, and requires an annual report to interim committees and at least three public meetings a year; the reporting language is permissive.
▶ Watch at 1:23:49Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you. Members of the committee? Uh, this is a fairly straightforward bill, but it's meaningful. This bill formally defines Utah's State Protection Advocacy Agency, and it clarifies the, that agency's responsibility to advocate, to represent and advocate for all disabled individuals statewide, which is a cleanup of existing state language. It improves transparency and legislative oversight by requiring them to submit an annual written report to specific legislative interim committees, which describes the meetings they held, the services that provided the populations that serve and agencies they worked with. This bill will strengthen public engagement and accountability. They must hold at least three public meetings each year across the state to gather input, provide education, and share resources. …
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said federal law has the governor designate one agency as the state's representative, and that it is reasonable to expect performance reporting from a designated agency.
▶ Watch at 1:25:35Read what they said
Yeah. So under Federal code, the governor is required to choose one agency and designate them as the state's official representative for these activities. And so, since they have been chosen and been basically granted, uh, uh, a charter to be the state's representative agency, uh, it's reasonable for us to expect certain performance metrics from them. Uh, and so that's, that's where that comes from. 'cause we, we could change that at any time, but it was sort of nice to know that you're, that the agency is doing what you want it to do.
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said he believes the agency's funding is federal and that he is not certain whether it receives any state funding.
▶ Watch at 1:26:10Read what they said
I don't, I believe it's all federally funded. If there is federally funded, I don't actually know. Okay. Like, I should probably not say that. 'cause I just don't know. Okay.
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the listed items are not requirements, signal legislative interest, and that he has no problem with reinstating them.
▶ Watch at 1:30:44Read what they said
We'll bring it back to the sponsor. Yeah, so that's, that's a, that's a great thought. So on, uh, line 42, it's clear that the report may include, so it's nothing below is required. This just signals interest that these are things that, that they might include that we might be interested in as a legislature. And so if you are interested in these sorts of things and they have the data on those and want to report on those, I have no problem with those being reinstated. So, um, I, you know, there's of course the question, since they may, they may, may not, and they, they may or may not have data, but it just signals an intent …
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the bill establishes a formal relationship in which the legislature recognizes the agency and wants to hear from it on a regular basis, and that this is the full extent of the relationship.
▶ Watch at 1:34:48Read what they said
So Representative Abbott is not wrong. Um, pre, previous to this bill, there has been no formal relationship with the legislature. And this bill corrects that issue that establishes what is that formal relationship. And the formal relationship is that we recognize that they have been, uh, designated that they are the State's Protection Agency, and that we would like to hear from them on a regular basis. And that is the full extent of the, of the relationship. There is no more, there is no less, but the legislature, if this bill passes, would in fact have a relationship with them. And it, and I think as was mentioned, it's probably a good thing that this not be off …
S.B. 154 Protection and Advocacy Agency Reporting · House Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Said the organization is publicly funded through federal grants that the state government allows, that the bill only recognizes the agency and asks to hear from it regularly, and that this clarifies the relationship.
▶ Watch at 1:36:50Read what they said
I appreciate that. I appreciate that. This is a private organization, but they're not really a private organization. They are a public organization. They're funded by the federal government. They're allowed to be funded by the federal government, by our state government. So our state government action allows them to be received millions of dollars from the federal government. Um, and so as the people's representatives here on Capitol Hill, I think we do have some interest and, and at least having some relationship with them and, and reading the bill, the relationship that we're asking for in this bill is minimal. We're just, we're recognizing them. We're saying, we know who you are and we would like to hear …
S.B. 175 Health Insurance Revisions · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 27, 2026
Moved to place the second substitute S.B. 175 on the Consent Calendar.
▶ Watch at 1:47:20Read what they said
Thank you. I would like to move that we place this on the consent calendar. Uh, I'm sorry.
H.B. 394 Veterinary Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Thurston explains that the bill changes the required veterinary internship from six months to 1,000 hours to match current practice.
▶ Watch at 26:44Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. For those of you that didn't have time to read this bill, I wanna just give you a moment. Okay, that's enough. So this bill, simply for, for students who have completed their veterinary training, they have to do an internship before they can get a license. The statute currently describes that internship as a six month internship, and we're simply changing that to 1000 hours. That makes it consistent with the current doppel practice and general understanding of what that internship actually is. With that, I would conclude my presentation. Mr. Speaker,
H.B. 468 Mobile Mammography Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Asks whether the operating costs of mobile mammography units are higher or lower than those of in-network facilities.
▶ Watch at 55:48Read what they said
Yes, yes. Representative Thurston, I, I'm, I'm very sensitive to the fact of making sure that these mobile units are compensated fairly. So in your discussions with them, do you think that their costs of operation are higher or lower than the corresponding in-network facilities?
H.B. 468 Mobile Mammography Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Rephrases the question, asking whether mobile mammography units cost more to run than brick-and-mortar clinics.
▶ Watch at 56:21Read what they said
Yeah, so let me rephrase the question. So if you have a mobile mammography unit, there is a certain cost associated with that program, right? They, the program, they have the bus or whatever, they have the equipment and all the people and they gotta travel and there's a lot of cost to that. Or if you have a clinic, a brick and mortar store, they also have costs, they have to pay for their utility and their lights and the people and all of that stuff. So I'm just wondering if the mobile mammography unit is actually more expensive than the brick and mortar store,
H.B. 468 Mobile Mammography Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Raises concern that providers such as Huntsman Cancer may lose money on mobile units and that insurers could underpay, and says he supports the bill while asking that payments be watched.
▶ Watch at 57:15Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I, I think that's part of my question. My biggest concern is that, for example, if Huntsman Cancer has a mobile mammography unit, which we know they do and that they're asked to accept, 'cause the bill says that they have to accept it as the actual, the same payment that they would get for in-person, but they're losing money on the mobile mammography units and that those will go away over time. I wanna make sure that the insurance companies are not just short changing the mobile mammography, but I think looking at the bill the way that it's structured is certainly better than what we're getting today. And maybe over time we will find …
H.R. 7 House Rules Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Thurston moves adoption of the second substitute to HR 7.
▶ Watch at 1:12:02Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to move adoption of the second substitute. Thank
H.R. 7 House Rules Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Thurston describes the second substitute, which moves the sponsor statement provision from House Joint Resolution 10 into HR 7 as a house resolution, places the information on legislators' webpages, lets the chief clerk designate staff, and allows multiple-word changes on the House floor.
▶ Watch at 1:12:22Read what they said
I would, so, uh, colleagues, you'll remember that we had house joint resolution 10, which allowed us to provide sponsor statements. Um, and that passed out of the house, had a successful committee hearings over in the Senate. It's being held in bill jail over there. So, uh, the solution is to take that and we'll just make it a house resolution. So we'll just make it, we'll do, we'll let the Senate figure out if they wanna do it later, but we'll go ahead and put that into this bill. And so it would be incorporated into this bill. And I've worked with the sponsor who had some concerns about that. So there is one modification regarding the placement. …
H.R. 7 House Rules Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Explains the second substitute: it moves the sponsor statement provisions from H.J.R. 10 into the bill as a House resolution, places that information on legislators' personal webpages instead of the bill page, lets the chief clerk designate staff or technology to make the addition, and expands the rule on reinstating or striking words to the House floor, matching committee practice.
▶ Watch at 1:12:22Read what they said
I would, so, uh, colleagues, you'll remember that we had house joint resolution 10, which allowed us to provide sponsor statements. Um, and that passed out of the house, had a successful committee hearings over in the Senate. It's being held in bill jail over there. So, uh, the solution is to take that and we'll just make it a house resolution. So we'll just make it, we'll do, we'll let the Senate figure out if they wanna do it later, but we'll go ahead and put that into this bill. And so it would be incorporated into this bill. And I've worked with the sponsor who had some concerns about that. So there is one modification regarding the placement. …
H.R. 7 House Rules Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Thurston says the provisions are not new, and that the stricken-language change makes House floor and committee rules the same.
▶ Watch at 1:14:40Read what they said
Yeah, so thank you colleagues. This, uh, you know, this is, again, this, these are not new things. They're things that we have considered before. And then the other part of this, the stricken language just makes that parallel between committee and house floor. So that you don't have to wonder like, oh, is this a committee thing or a house floor thing. It's the same no matter where you are. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.R. 7 House Rules Modifications · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says the changes are things the House has considered before and that the stricken language makes the rule the same in committee and on the House floor.
▶ Watch at 1:14:40Read what they said
Yeah, so thank you colleagues. This, uh, you know, this is, again, this, these are not new things. They're things that we have considered before. And then the other part of this, the stricken language just makes that parallel between committee and house floor. So that you don't have to wonder like, oh, is this a committee thing or a house floor thing. It's the same no matter where you are. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says he cannot determine from the drafted section whether the substitute makes in-state tuition easier or harder for students without legal status, and asks to circle the bill to understand it before voting.
▶ Watch at 1:31:37Read what they said
I would. Um, I am looking at the section starting on line 4 61. I don't believe it does what the maker of the motion says it does. So I've been on the phone with the drafting attorneys to try to figure this out, and I don't think we're going to be able to come to an easy understanding of this anytime soon. And let me just explain what the question is. This says that a student shall be exempt from paying the non-resident portion of total tuition. In other words, they get to pay the in-state tuition unless they are a non-immigrant alien defined in US. Code section 1101, A 15, 11 0 1 A 15 does not define …
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says a section of the substitute does not appear to do what its sponsor describes, and asks to circle the bill so members understand it.
▶ Watch at 1:31:37Read what they said
I would. Um, I am looking at the section starting on line 4 61. I don't believe it does what the maker of the motion says it does. So I've been on the phone with the drafting attorneys to try to figure this out, and I don't think we're going to be able to come to an easy understanding of this anytime soon. And let me just explain what the question is. This says that a student shall be exempt from paying the non-resident portion of total tuition. In other words, they get to pay the in-state tuition unless they are a non-immigrant alien defined in US. Code section 1101, A 15, 11 0 1 A 15 does not define …
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says it is unclear whether the bill makes it easier or harder for undocumented students to get in-state tuition, and asks to circle so members know what they are voting on.
▶ Watch at 1:34:31Read what they said
Yes. So I had lengthy discussion while discussion was going with the drafting attorneys. It's not clear to me, it's not clear to them. I don't know. There is a reasonable chance, colleagues that this bill makes it easier for undocumented kids to get instate tuition because we don't know what it really does. There's a reasonable chance that it makes harder for undocumented kids to get in state tuition because we don't really know what it does. So if you're gonna vote on this, this bill, you better figure out if we're not gonna circle it, you better figure out for yourself whether you're voting to make it easier or harder for those kids. I don't know, is it …
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House floor debate (day 38) · Feb 27, 2026
Says it is unclear whether the bill makes tuition easier or harder for undocumented students and asks to circle the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:34:31Read what they said
Yes. So I had lengthy discussion while discussion was going with the drafting attorneys. It's not clear to me, it's not clear to them. I don't know. There is a reasonable chance, colleagues that this bill makes it easier for undocumented kids to get instate tuition because we don't know what it really does. There's a reasonable chance that it makes harder for undocumented kids to get in state tuition because we don't really know what it does. So if you're gonna vote on this, this bill, you better figure out if we're not gonna circle it, you better figure out for yourself whether you're voting to make it easier or harder for those kids. I don't know, is it …
S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asks whether the Rio Grande plan fits into this bill.
▶ Watch at 1:01:44Read what they said
Yeah, thank you, Andrew. Um, could you just comment briefly on the Rio Grande plan and if, does that fit into this? Is that just a pipe dream or would it be helpful? And what do you think about that?
S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Moves to replace the word board with commission on line 876 of the substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:11:36Read what they said
Yes. I move that on line 8 67. We strike the word board and replace it with the word Commission. Okay. 8 8 76. 8 76. Sorry. Okay, the motion is on line 8 76 to strike the word board and replace it with commission.
S.B. 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asks the sponsor to address how employees on the front lines will be involved in the new structure.
▶ Watch at 1:15:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I also want to echo Representative Fay's comments regarding the involvement of the employees. And, and hopefully the sponsor can address that in his summation as well. I, I do think that sometimes we create leadership structures or oversight structures that don't connect all the way to the people who have the great ideas for efficiency. And so maybe in your summation, if you, if you wouldn't mind just addressing that, um, how this, how you envision this involving the people on the front lines and their brilliance and their great ideas for being part of the organization as well. So that's my only comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
S.B. 150 Healthcare Providers Scope of Practice Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the current code can be slow to respond to innovation and is encouraged the bill would let people adopt new technologies and training.
▶ Watch at 49:22Read what they said
Trying. Okay. Yeah, I, um, oh, she disappeared. All right. Yeah. I, I, I feel the same way that some of you have also said that, that when it comes to innovation, that our code often makes us too slow to respond. That there are opportunities for people to do things that they can be easily trained to do. And we've talked about, you know, modular credentials and all these other sorts of things. Uh, so, um, yeah, I, I'm definitely encouraged that, that we could have a way to move forward and to allow people to, to get into new technologies, new training, and figure it out as we move forward without being sort of locked in or provincial …
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asks for confirmation that the bill keeps the current private employer verification act in place with no change in practice.
▶ Watch at 56:46Read what they said
Thank you. So I wanna just clarify, the Utah Private Employer Verification Act is currently the law, and it would have been repealed only if the guest worker program was going to go into effect. So what your bill does is just says, we're going to continue doing what we've been doing with the Private Employer Verification Act. Nothing would, nobody would perceive any change in that, uh, that regard. Is that correct?
H.B. 386 Immigration Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says Utah's earlier approach needed a federal waiver that never came, says the state should keep raising concerns about federal action, and supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 59:16Read what they said
And that's my cue. No, I, I, I, I was not in the legislature when this was, bills were passed, but I was working in the governor's office, so I was very aware of the conversations at the time. Um, Utah had a much, much better solution. And all we needed was the federal waiver. That's all we need now. Like that as if that was just some sort of simple thing that they could just get out a piece of paper. Like if Obama had a phone in a pen, he could have just done it. Oh, wait, he did. And he could have and he didn't, which is very unfortunate for us. Um, because that was a, a …
H.B. 543 Uniform Commercial Code Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asks why the entitlement holder is not placed first in line ahead of the bank.
▶ Watch at 1:08:20Read what they said
Thank you. Since I have demonstrated extreme love to the banks all session, I would like to know why we don't just switch this around so that the entitlement holder has first place in line and the banks can be second. That's what I would love to do,
H.B. 543 Uniform Commercial Code Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Says the answer given is a good one. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:08:41Read what they said
Oh, I see. So I, I I think it's, I that, that is the concern that, that I, that's A, that's a good answer by the, The way. So, yeah. And,
S.B. 149 Licensing Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked whether Mr. Steinle could speak now about the feasibility and impact of the move or later in the meeting.
▶ Watch at 1:19:56Read what they said
You. Mr. Chair, would it be possible to invite Mr. Steinle to come and tell us about the feasibility of making this move or the impact, or do we wanna do that in another point in the meeting?
S.B. 149 Licensing Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asked about the impact on the agency in terms of scale, scope, capability, and capacity.
▶ Watch at 1:21:20Read what they said
Just, uh, if you could talk about the, the impact on the agency in terms of scale, scope, capability, capacity, those sorts of things.
S.B. 149 Licensing Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Spoke in favor, saying regulatory agencies should regulate while other agencies perform their executive functions, and said Doppel performs well.
▶ Watch at 1:24:04Read what they said
Yeah, I, I, you know, I actually just, this, this speaks to something that's real important. We have regulatory agencies that specialize in regulation, department of Public Safety, specializes in public safety. And to me, it makes a ton of sense to allow the regulatory agency to regulate and the other agencies to perform their executive functions. And so, I'm, I'm kind of only half joking about, we've actually had conversations with the, the Supreme Court about contracting with Doppel to perform those legal, legal regulations for them. They, they do a fantastic job. They're efficient, they're cost effective, they know what they're doing, and they do a great job. And so, I'm, I'm encouraged that this probably will be …
S.B. 149 Licensing Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Said the move adds to his budget committee's workload and noted both members had made motions to adjourn.
▶ Watch at 1:25:50Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. That also puts some more turf under my budget committee, so I'm always looking. There you go. For more turf. But by the way, we're, we're now even, we've both made motions to adjourn, so we're good. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Explains that the Senate found an error in the definition of farm vehicles and corrected it, and that an amendment adjusted the timing of appropriations to better match expenditures.
▶ Watch at 15:59Read what they said
Yeah. So in the Senate we discovered that there was an error in the definition of farm vehicles. We corrected that and we also had an amendment to correct the timing of the appropriations to more adequately, um, match the timing of the expenditures.
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Supports adopting the second substitute, saying it clarifies how executive branch agencies participate in the budgetary process.
▶ Watch at 54:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the second sub adopting the second substitute. It, um, for those of you who are aware, it, there were some very important conversations that happened and I appreciate the sponsor allowing me to be part of that. And, um, I would encourage us to do that. I, I think the second substitute gets us to a point where the law is clear as to how the various participants, the various executive branch agencies participate in the budgetary process. And it's very important that we have that clarity so that we all know what the rules are and there's no misunderstanding. So thank you Mr. Speaker. Adopt. I I encourage the adoption …
H.B. 545 Budgetary Modifications · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Speaks in support of the second substitute, saying it clarifies the rules for how executive branch agencies participate in the budgetary process.
▶ Watch at 54:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the second sub adopting the second substitute. It, um, for those of you who are aware, it, there were some very important conversations that happened and I appreciate the sponsor allowing me to be part of that. And, um, I would encourage us to do that. I, I think the second substitute gets us to a point where the law is clear as to how the various participants, the various executive branch agencies participate in the budgetary process. And it's very important that we have that clarity so that we all know what the rules are and there's no misunderstanding. So thank you Mr. Speaker. Adopt. I I encourage the adoption …
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Reserves the right to make a motion and asks the sponsor to yield to questions.
▶ Watch at 1:35:27Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to reserve the right to make a motion, Mr. Speaker ProAm. Um, and then we'll also will the sponsor yield to a series of questions. Representative Pucci, will you yield to a series of questions?
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks whether a high school concurrent enrollment teacher must hold a master's degree in the language or any master's degree.
▶ Watch at 1:35:42Read what they said
So on line 67, the way I am reading this, it says that the, in order for a high school teacher, an LEA employee, to qualify they must have a master's degree or higher. Could you tell me, does that master's degree have to be in language or can it just be any master's degree?
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks why a teacher with demonstrated advanced language proficiency needs a master's degree.
▶ Watch at 1:36:11Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker pro tem. So my second question is, if a teacher has demonstrated language proficiency of advanced high or higher, um, why does it matter that they have a master's degree if they're competent? In other words, if they're competent and they know what they're doing at a very high level, why does it matter what kind of schooling they Uintah?
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Asks whether removing the master's degree requirement would make more qualified teachers available to students.
▶ Watch at 1:37:02Read what they said
So my final question, and Mr. Speaker pro tem, if I may, all concurrent enrollment teachers in Utah have to have a master's degree. Okay. So I'll just ask my last question then that, that maybe changed my thinking. But, um, would it, would it help in any way to just strike that language from line 67 holds a master's degree or higher? Would that make more teachers, more qualified teachers available so that more students could get more credit and more, more students could be prepared for further learning? Mr. Speaker ProAm,
S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments · House floor debate (day 37) · Feb 26, 2026
Says he will not make his motion, and argues that teacher qualifications should be based on competency rather than degrees, suggesting a future study.
▶ Watch at 1:38:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm. I, I, I will not make the motion that I had to reserve the right to make, but I think this calls attention to something that we are experiencing in our higher ed system, uh, credential creep. That we somehow believe that, um, what degree you got or how many hours you took is more important than your abilities. And I think that's preventing some very good teachers in our high schools from teaching students. Um, and for we're saying, look, if you want to, if you want to do this, you at your own expense have to go back. And sometimes the schools pay for it, but you have to go time, energy to …
S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked why unclaimed cash at the airport would not be turned over to the state treasurer.
▶ Watch at 41:42Read what they said
Right. Thank you. So, regarding the unclaimed property, I see that there is a, a cash component to that. Um, would there be any reason why we wouldn't just have them turn the cash over to the state treasurer and let the state treasurer handle it from there on out? Um, I think that question is probably better for Salt Lake City Department of Airports who are here. Are they, Is there somebody that we can ask Mr. Chair That question? Come on up.
S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked a follow-up question about how unclaimed cash is handled.
▶ Watch at 43:33Read what they said
So the, may I ask a follow up question? Sure, go ahead. I dunno if we have time for this today, but You're fine. Alright.
S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked what Salt Lake City's current policy is for unclaimed cash and what public interest uses it could go to.
▶ Watch at 43:38Read what they said
So, so, and in the bill it talks about that, that if you are going to dispose of the cash, then that essentially means that you would use it for a public interest use. What is Salt Lake City's current policy? Where, where does that money go? What public interest are you giving it to? Right.
S.B. 172 Airport and Air Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked whether the bill resolves federal rules on unclaimed property left inside the TSA security area.
▶ Watch at 45:01Read what they said
Yeah. And one last, if I may. Yeah, go ahead. So, um, there's also, I'm, there's, um, there are federal rules regarding unclaimed property that's left inside the TSA security area. Does, does this solve that problem or is that still a problem? Um, no, this, it's, it will operate the same. Um, we, we have been dealing with this, we just need the law to say that because we're not a law enforcement agency.
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Asked how the bill would apply to designations honoring groups rather than individuals.
▶ Watch at 1:00:26Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, I didn't see in here how this would apply if you're wanted to name a highway after someone who's not a person. So for example, we have the Grand Army of the Republic, we have Minuteman Highway, we have some of our highways that have been designated to recognize groups of people. Um, is that, is your intent that that would just still follow the legislative process? Or what, what are, what are, what, what, what do you think should happen in those cases?
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Reviewed existing highway designations and asked whether the Legislature rather than the governor should make these decisions.
▶ Watch at 1:04:40Read what they said
I just pulled up the list that, that we currently have. And so I don't think my amendment will cover all these cases, but I think it covers most of them. Um, the I 15 is d is the Veterans Memorial Highway. So honors a group, veterans, the 10th Mountain Division, Memorial Highway Legacy Loop. I don't know what Legacy Loop is. Utah National Parks Highway, Dinosaur Diamond, prehistoric Highway, Ram Boulevard. I don't know how Ram Boulevard got in code. That's an interesting question. Is that In Lehi? I don't know. I'm gonna have to look that one up. That Would be Pioneer Boulevard. Yeah. Utah Fruit Way, purple Heart Trail again, purple Heart Trail. James V. Hanson, Mormon, …
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Said that without a process, many local requests such as school mascot names could be sought for state highways.
▶ Watch at 1:06:55Read what they said
Yeah. So it sounds like Mr. Chair, that that, that, maybe you're right, that this, if we don't do something like this, we're gonna have every high school mascot wanting us to have a state designated highway. And we don't want that. And
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Proposed a substitute amendment to rename Ram Boulevard as Wildcat Boulevard in Monroe.
▶ Watch at 1:07:25Read what they said
I might propose a, a, a substitute amendment that we renamed Ram Boulevard, Wildcat Boulevard in Monroe for reasons that many of you won't understand.
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Moved to adopt House Amendment 2.
▶ Watch at 1:09:19Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you refresh your screen, That's what I'm trying to refresh. I'll Amendment Tool Shop. I move the adoption of House Amendment two.
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Explained that the amendment includes the earlier language and lets an individual or a group with significant state ties be honored.
▶ Watch at 1:09:41Read what they said
Yeah. Obviously it incorporates a really good part, which was an Amendment one. Um, but it also just, so, it just clarifies that the Honor can be either an individual who has all the criteria were previously outlined, or a group with significant ties to the state. Yeah. And otherwise, the process would be the same. And very, very good job, by the way, drafting people. Fantastic. It looks wonderful. They're pros. That's why they get paid the big bucks. Thank you to our staff who is so nimble. Appreciate that.
H.B. 491 State Highway Designation Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Moved to favorably recommend the bill as amended and said handling minor designations administratively would make the Legislature more efficient.
▶ Watch at 1:10:53Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend first substitute House Bill 4 91 as amended. That is an order discussion to that motion. Yeah. I, I mean, as it's gonna come a surprise to everybody. We have a lot of bills that are not really critical policy issues, but yet are important. And if we can find a way of handling those in a way that doesn't gum up the works, I think that you were referring to earlier, I, I'm all in favor of taking care of these important issues through administrative action. I, it's something that I think is a, it makes us more efficient as a legislature, and also increases public confidence and trust …
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Moves to adopt House Amendment 1 in Rep. Matthews' name, which requires notifying parents when a minor gets into trouble.
▶ Watch at 1:31:17Read what they said
I would like to move, we adopt amendment one. I would actually like to move amendments one and two, but I probably, somebody will call point of order if I try to do that, so, Okay. One at a time. Okay.
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Supports Amendment 1 as an important part of the toolkit for law enforcement, requiring that parents be notified.
▶ Watch at 1:32:01Read what they said
uh, summation by the make a motion. Yeah, I think that's an important part of this. That's, that's part of the toolkit as the law enforcement officers. And this isn't, to me, this is shall that if, if you're gonna deal with somebody's kid, you need to let the parents know that you're dealing with their kids so that everybody's on the same page.
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Explains that Amendment 2 removes criminal liability of a parent for a child's acts in this case.
▶ Watch at 1:32:42Read what they said
Yeah. So Amendment two, uh, then the chair's name removes, um, the liability, the, the criminal liability of a parent for their child's acts in this specific case.
H.B. 561 Use of Motorized Vehicles by Minors Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 25, 2026
Supports Amendment 2 for simplicity given other bills on parental liability, and says the impound process itself creates enough consequence for parents.
▶ Watch at 1:41:02Read what they said
Yeah, I, yeah. On this specific amendment, I, I do think, 'cause we have several bills that are out there. Representative Cutler's bill, the unlicensed driver bill, and there's other bills out there. I think for the sake of simplicity, it's better to pass amendment two. Sure. And let look to those other things for parental liability. And I think the sponsor mentioned, what I think is important is that you're, it's gonna be a hassle. You're gonna have to go down to get that thing outta impound. You're gonna, the kid, the 13 year old's not gonna pay the 50 bucks. Well, my kids would be made to pay it somehow later. But you're gonna have to go down, …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Supports the bill, explaining the three parts of driver education and that the bill affects only the six in-car hours, which a parent could provide as a one-time instructor.
▶ Watch at 16:08Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, a rise in support of this bill and I, I want my colleagues to understand why. 'cause it might seem counterintuitive first, but the reality is that for a young person, so this is not an adult, this is for a young person who is seeking can get a driver's license. There are three components of education. The first component is what we call the classroom or the workbook or whatever you wanna call that. It's the, it's the textbook part of learning how to drive. And that can be done in many ways. It can be done in a classroom, it can be done online, or there's actual, in some cases there used to …
H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Explains how state employees' retirement and health benefits work during legislative service under the current system.
▶ Watch at 45:45Read what they said
Mr. Speaker ProAm, I just want to clarify what happens with retirement. Uh, so I did a, you know, obviously when I was a state employee for several years, so when I was here at the legislature, I was on unpaid unbenefited leave. Um, but as you all know, we don't get our health insurance just for part of the year. We get our health insurance year round. So, uh, I was on legislative health and from a retirement perspective, what happened was, for those seven weeks I was accruing service credit in URS under my legislative account, but did not accrue service credit under my state employee account. So I was still getting credit for it, it's just now …
H.B. 409 Legislator Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Explains how retirement service credit and health benefits work under the current leave-without-pay system.
▶ Watch at 45:45Read what they said
Mr. Speaker ProAm, I just want to clarify what happens with retirement. Uh, so I did a, you know, obviously when I was a state employee for several years, so when I was here at the legislature, I was on unpaid unbenefited leave. Um, but as you all know, we don't get our health insurance just for part of the year. We get our health insurance year round. So, uh, I was on legislative health and from a retirement perspective, what happened was, for those seven weeks I was accruing service credit in URS under my legislative account, but did not accrue service credit under my state employee account. So I was still getting credit for it, it's just now …
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether under the second substitute a city's water rates could rise sharply, as one city has raised concerns.
▶ Watch at 1:49:53Read what they said
So I just want to make sure that I am on the same page. So, um, one of my cities had contacted me and said, oh, this will cause us to raise our water rates by, I don't know, some number, like 500% or something like that. Could you address the, whether under the second sub, if that's the case at all?
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether a city could see a very large increase in water rates under the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:49:53Read what they said
So I just want to make sure that I am on the same page. So, um, one of my cities had contacted me and said, oh, this will cause us to raise our water rates by, I don't know, some number, like 500% or something like that. Could you address the, whether under the second sub, if that's the case at all?
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Asks whether cities that do not need state funding can keep their current rates unchanged.
▶ Watch at 1:50:35Read what they said
Yeah, so think so just I I think then that, that, what that suggests to me is, is that there may, there is an increase for some cities, but it's not the draconian. Like, I'm not gonna pay $180 for my water, probably something like that. Correct? Yeah. And the second part of my question is then, um, if states, oh, so if a city does not need state funding for a project, they can just continue to charge their current rate indefinitely and just pretend like the bill doesn't affect them. Is that right, Mr. Speaker? Yeah.
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says the increase may not be draconian and asks whether cities not seeking state funding can keep their current rates.
▶ Watch at 1:50:35Read what they said
Yeah, so think so just I I think then that, that, what that suggests to me is, is that there may, there is an increase for some cities, but it's not the draconian. Like, I'm not gonna pay $180 for my water, probably something like that. Correct? Yeah. And the second part of my question is then, um, if states, oh, so if a city does not need state funding for a project, they can just continue to charge their current rate indefinitely and just pretend like the bill doesn't affect them. Is that right, Mr. Speaker? Yeah.
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Summarizes that cities manage their own water planning and rates and must first do what they can before seeking state help.
▶ Watch at 1:51:28Read what they said
Okay, so, so thank you Mr. Speaker. Sounds to me like then that, that, uh, cities can, and many do manage themselves appropriately. They plan for future needs. They plan for pumping station water treatment plans, infrastructure, and they charge water rates accordingly if they have water systems. Um, and some cities may find themselves in a bind and may need to come to the state for assistance. And then we would be asking them saying, are you doing everything that you can do on your own first and then we will help you. So you, you do what you can first and then we'll help you with the rest.
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Summarizes that cities should do what they can first before the state helps with the rest, and asks the sponsor to confirm this.
▶ Watch at 1:51:28Read what they said
Okay, so, so thank you Mr. Speaker. Sounds to me like then that, that, uh, cities can, and many do manage themselves appropriately. They plan for future needs. They plan for pumping station water treatment plans, infrastructure, and they charge water rates accordingly if they have water systems. Um, and some cities may find themselves in a bind and may need to come to the state for assistance. And then we would be asking them saying, are you doing everything that you can do on your own first and then we will help you. So you, you do what you can first and then we'll help you with the rest.
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Says the bill is a good step to help cities address water needs and thanks the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 1:52:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I, I think this is a, a great, uh, opportunity to meet the city's part way and help, help them address needs. So I, I appreciate the sponsor for the second step. Thank you.
H.B. 501 Water Modifications · House floor debate (day 36) · Feb 25, 2026
Supports the bill as a way to meet cities partway and thanks the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 1:52:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I, I think this is a, a great, uh, opportunity to meet the city's part way and help, help them address needs. So I, I appreciate the sponsor for the second step. Thank you.
H.B. 394 Veterinary Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Presented H.B. 394 and its first substitute, which changes the term six months to 1000 hours for technical release reasons related to rules.
▶ Watch at 35:47Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, uh, I'll be speaking to House Bill 3 94. The first sub, the first sub does one thing. It changes the term six months to 1000 hours, which is something we need to do for technical release reasons related to rules. Okay. Thank you.
H.B. 394 Veterinary Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute for H.B. 394.
▶ Watch at 36:31Read what they said
Mr. Mr. Chair? Yes. Oh, I move that we adopt first substitute house bill 3 94.
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked which types of lease arrangements the 60-day requirement would and would not apply to.
▶ Watch at 1:07:40Read what they said
I think I have two questions if I may, Mr. Chair. So the first one is, um, so this 60 day provision would apply to not all types of lease arrangements. What types would it apply to and what types would it not apply to?
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked whether student housing on semester or four-month contracts would be covered.
▶ Watch at 1:08:20Read what they said
So if it was student housing, sorry, I'm gonna actually have three questions now. Sorry. Uh, so if it was student housing, it would, were there, there basically semester four month contracts, it would apply to those, but if it's month to month, it would not apply to those?
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked about the current notice requirement for leases compared with the proposed 60 days.
▶ Watch at 1:08:37Read what they said
And then the other question is, um, I forgot. I'm good. It's not that important. You have a 60 day notice to come up with that question again. Alright, there we go. Chairman. A uh, quick question. Uh, so we're changing it to 60 days. What's the current policy now?
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked under what circumstances a landlord would not be able to give 60 days' notice.
▶ Watch at 1:18:52Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just, uh, uh, under what circumstance would a landlord not be able to notify? I, I'm like, I'm assuming that mom and pop means maybe they forgot or there's some sort of, uh, unintentional thing, but if, if everybody knows the rules, if this is the big boys, is there a circumstance under which they would not be able to comply with a 60 day requirement?
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Made a motion to move to the next agenda item.
▶ Watch at 1:24:33Read what they said
did we move to the next agenda? Sorry. That's why I turned off my light.
H.B. 478 Residential Rental Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the hearing is a necessary first step, that students have left his classroom after rent increases with short notice, and that policy should protect both renters and owners.
▶ Watch at 1:24:58Read what they said
I, I'll just say this very briefly, uh, before Chair Malloy jumps over the, the DA there. No, I, I just wanna say that this, this committee hearing is a necessary first step, I think, for getting the conversation going. And there are, especially in the, the community where I teach, there have been many students who I've suddenly lost outta my classroom who have suddenly disappeared and gone off someplace else because they were not given notice enough of a, a rental increase. Not, not an eviction, but the, the fact that they're, they're not gonna be able to afford to live in the place where they're living right now. Uh, and, and I wanna make sure that we …
S.B. 80 Physician Practice Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said the issue is difficult, raised concern about ending a life as part of a job, and said a provider who objects should not face a license issue; urged support for the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:32:25Read what they said
I would actually, uh, this is a difficult area. I mean, there, there are expectations on healthcare providers to do no harm. And so I'm more concerned about that one, that if somebody, part of their job has to end somebody's life, that's concerning. And I also like the idea that on the other side, if they say, look, I don't, I can't do this. I have a moral objection or a, some other issue, I, they don't, they shouldn't have to do it either at the, at the peril of their license. Maybe that's a job issue or with their employer, but at least in terms of their license, it's not a license issue. So I would encourage to …
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked about the recommended serving size of the Super K Extra Strong extract product.
▶ Watch at 2:20:23Read what they said
Are you familiar with, uh, super K extract strong? I am. Um, what is the standard recommended whatever amount that a person should take of that?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked whether the bottle resembles an energy shot that people might drink all at once.
▶ Watch at 2:21:02Read what they said
Okay. So would it surprise you to know that that looks an awful lot like a, uh, 24 hour energy shot and people might be drinking the whole bottle all at once?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked whether taking more than 150 milligrams in a day is unsafe.
▶ Watch at 2:21:43Read what they said
Okay. So, so you think it's not safe to take more than 150 milligrams in a 24 hour period?
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Asked whether her patient advocate role is a paid position.
▶ Watch at 2:28:49Read what they said
You. Um, just tell me, can you tell me a little bit more about what it means to be patient advocate? Is that a paid position? Do
S.B. 45 Kratom Adjustments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 24, 2026
Said he would prefer a stronger bill but the third substitute balances access and regulation.
▶ Watch at 2:41:38Read what they said
I would briefly. I, I actually think the third substitute is, um, not, it's less than I want, but I understand that the senator has to get what he can get. So, um, just so people know that I would actually prefer a stronger bill than the third substitute, but I think the third substitute puts us on a path in the right direction to be able to provide some balance between some access and some regulation. So with that, I appreciate the adoption of the third sub.
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Proposes striking lines 150 through 157 of the bill, starting at the word 'and'.
▶ Watch at 1:15:52Read what they said
I would like to, uh, starting on line one 50, strike from the word and all the way through the line of 1 57.
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Describes the amendment as striking a specified passage of the bill's text.
▶ Watch at 1:15:52Read what they said
I would like to, uh, starting on line one 50, strike from the word and all the way through the line of 1 57. You count it. How many words that is Representative Thurston? Um, I believe that sends it. Strike out. It doesn't matter, but I don't, I haven't counted. No,
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Confirms the scope of the proposed deletion.
▶ Watch at 1:16:16Read what they said
Okay, so, uh, explain that again. So line one 50, starting at and, and delete it all the way through and including line 1 57. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay.
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Confirms the amendment's line range for deletion.
▶ Watch at 1:16:18Read what they said
So line one 50, starting at and, and delete it all the way through and including line 1 57. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay.
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Argues that commemorative periods should be designated through the governor's office rather than by statute, and urges removing the added line and adopting the amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:16:31Read what they said
Yeah. So colleagues, um, a few years ago it became, uh, de to ask for commemorative days and periods. And we had a lot of bills, a lot of opportunities, and some of them are good, some of'em I liked. Some of 'em were good and I didn't like some of 'em were bad and I liked, and some weren't bad and I didn't like, there were all sorts of things coming along our way. Um, and so we were asked as a government operations committee to take a look at a way of cutting down on that list. And the agreement was that we would allow the governor's office to have control of designating commemorative periods. And so, if …
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Supports the amendment to remove a commemorative period provision, saying commemorative designations should go through the governor's office and the Legislature should not add more.
▶ Watch at 1:16:31Read what they said
Yeah. So colleagues, um, a few years ago it became, uh, de to ask for commemorative days and periods. And we had a lot of bills, a lot of opportunities, and some of them are good, some of'em I liked. Some of 'em were good and I didn't like some of 'em were bad and I liked, and some weren't bad and I didn't like, there were all sorts of things coming along our way. Um, and so we were asked as a government operations committee to take a look at a way of cutting down on that list. And the agreement was that we would allow the governor's office to have control of designating commemorative periods. And so, if …
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Summarizes the amendment and asks colleagues to review bills and contact sponsors.
▶ Watch at 1:20:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and, and apologies for not being able to read every bill and keep up on it. I, that's, it's a, a challenge around here. Uh, I would encourage this to be a team sport, and if anybody else is watching for these, please, uh, also take it upon yourself to contact any of the sponsors as well. And I soon, your apologies for having to do it this way. And I do apologize to my good friend. Thank you.
H.B. 559 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments · House floor debate (day 35) · Feb 24, 2026
Gives closing remarks on the amendment, apologizes for not reading every bill, and asks colleagues to contact sponsors about bills like this.
▶ Watch at 1:20:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and, and apologies for not being able to read every bill and keep up on it. I, that's, it's a, a challenge around here. Uh, I would encourage this to be a team sport, and if anybody else is watching for these, please, uh, also take it upon yourself to contact any of the sponsors as well. And I soon, your apologies for having to do it this way. And I do apologize to my good friend. Thank you.
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · Senate Rules Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says he has a handout and asks to circulate it.
▶ Watch at 8:30Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I have a handout if that would be okay to circulate that
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · Senate Rules Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Presents HJR 10, which would let sponsors post a two-page sponsor's supporting information PDF on the bill's webpage so the public and legislators can see the bill's purpose earlier, and offers to take questions.
▶ Watch at 8:45Read what they said
It sure is. Okay. So, um, those of you who were here last year, remember we had this discussion about allowing, uh, sponsors to create a PDF that could be included on the website near the bill. Um, there were some fantastic suggestions in the Senate rules committee and then we also had a discussion in legislative policy committee over the summer. And then I've got even more suggestions back. So this incorporates all of those comments and suggestions and gets us to the point where we are today. Just as a reminder is where did this idea come from? The idea came from the fact that many times I will have a constituent or a colleague say, what does …
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · Senate Rules Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Answers that a House member's concern was one more step in the process, and that handouts already become part of the record, and that a disclaimer says the sponsor statement is not official legislative record.
▶ Watch at 11:22Read what they said
Yeah, so for the first question, um, and I think Senator Fillmore will appreciate this. Representative Dunnigan is not a fan of this particular thing. Um, I had another house resolution and they were together on the board and some people in the house when they saw Dunnigan oppose this one, they thought that we were talking about the other one, which actually had been, his concerns had been addressed. And namely the speaker and the majority leader. So the voting called, like say, well, Dunnigan told us that there's a bill coming up that we should vote against. And I said, it's not this one. You're voting no on the wrong. And he said, oh, okay. But the concerns …
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · Senate Rules Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says the bill content is the sponsor's own speech, that substitute bills can offer other views, and that no rule requires equal opposing presentation.
▶ Watch at 15:41Read what they said
No, I, I actually don't, don't think that's necessary because the, the, the content of the bill is the sponsor's speech, right? So when I drafted this bill, this represents my speech. So I'm speaking as a legislator, this is what I want to have changed in a, in a legislature. And if somebody else wants to propose a substitute bill, then they can propose a substitute bill and that can be their speech, right? That would be, that would be their prerogative. But there's no reason why we have to allow in rule by any, I I think, I think you're making more of a moral or an ethical question about should we be fair and allow others. And …
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · Senate Rules Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says alternative views are available on the bill webpage through recordings, and that a one-year trial could be rolled back if major problems arise.
▶ Watch at 20:04Read what they said
Yeah. So I, I have had a moment to think about this question about alternative points to that is in fact, on that Bill's website, if you go to the Bill's webpage and you go hearings and debate and votes, you can hear anybody from the legislature who has given an alternative point of view, they have an opportunity to speak on the floor, they have an opportunity to speak in committee, and those recordings are readily available. So the alternative point of view is in fact available, uh, as well. And somebody had already mentioned that if they happen to have brought a handout to committee, that committee handout is there as well. So I think that's, that, having …
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Presents the bill as a cleanup of Department of Government Operations references after recent mergers and changes executive titles to commissioner, and offers Marvin Dodge to answer technical questions.
▶ Watch at 32:31Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the committee. It's good to be with you as always. Uh, this bill is, um, the Department of Government Operations Cleanup bill, if you will. There were just a few things that were, have been pending out there since the, uh, merger when they brought DTS Finance, DHRM, all of those sort of divisions or our departments are now divisions of Department of Government Operations, and there are some things related to that that needed to just be cleaned up in the last little bit. The other part of this is cleaning up the titles. I guess the governor wants to grant titles of Duke and Prince, but couldn't …
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Answers that executive directors would be called commissioners, giving the example of a department head's title change.
▶ Watch at 33:37Read what they said
Yes. So we currently have a mix of commissioners and executive directors. And so if you are the executive director of whatever, uh, you would now be called a commissioner. So Carlos would now be commissioner instead of Carlos.
S.B. 151 Public Safety Funding Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the bill increases any taxes or fees or only allocates existing revenue to a special fund.
▶ Watch at 1:21:08Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I just wanna make sure that I'm clear on this. So this does not increase any taxes or fees. This allocates existing revenue sources to this special fund. Is that correct?
S.B. 151 Public Safety Funding Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 23, 2026
Says he had concerns about using firefighter funds for the Highway Patrol and supports the fourth substitute, which funds the Highway Patrol from the general fund.
▶ Watch at 1:24:49Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. The sponsor. Um, I was, when I came in here, I was, I had a real concern about taking money outta the firefighters fund to fund highway patrol. As you mentioned, it's just not clean. Maybe it's a good idea, but it's just not clean. And so I really do appreciate the fact that you were able to work out this fourth sub so that we are funding highway patrol from the general fund, which where we should be firefighter, cancer from the firefighter fund, which where we should be. And I very appreciative of this fourth sub for doing that. Thank you.
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Thurston asks that the sponsor yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 15:37Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm, will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Will The sponsor yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks how tax liens and criminal records count as conflicts of interest, given that a conflict usually involves a legislator benefiting personally.
▶ Watch at 15:45Read what they said
Uh, so my first question is, um, conflict of interest usually, uh, in the world that I live in, a conflict of interest means that my action as a legislator might benefit me personally, financially, or a member of my family in some way. Um, could you explain how, um, tax liens and criminal records are conflicts of interest,
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Thurston asks how tax liens and criminal records fit the definition of a conflict of interest.
▶ Watch at 15:45Read what they said
Uh, so my first question is, um, conflict of interest usually, uh, in the world that I live in, a conflict of interest means that my action as a legislator might benefit me personally, financially, or a member of my family in some way. Um, could you explain how, um, tax liens and criminal records are conflicts of interest,
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the items to be disclosed are already matters of public record.
▶ Watch at 16:31Read what they said
Um, my second question is, it would seem to me that the things that you're asking to be disclosed are already matters of public record. Is there a circumstance in which they wouldn't be matters of public record?
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Thurston asks whether the items to be disclosed are already matters of public record.
▶ Watch at 16:31Read what they said
Um, my second question is, it would seem to me that the things that you're asking to be disclosed are already matters of public record. Is there a circumstance in which they wouldn't be matters of public record?
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether having a tax lien signals a moral failure or lack of judgment.
▶ Watch at 17:48Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. My last question is, um, does the fact that somebody has a tax lien inherently signal something bad about them? A moral failure or lack of judgment or something like that is, is a tax lien necessarily mean a black mark against them?
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Thurston asks whether having a tax lien signals a character flaw or lack of judgment.
▶ Watch at 17:48Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. My last question is, um, does the fact that somebody has a tax lien inherently signal something bad about them? A moral failure or lack of judgment or something like that is, is a tax lien necessarily mean a black mark against them?
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Expresses concern that the bill conflates conflicts of interest with prejudicial personal information that could be misused and that requires people to self-incriminate unfairly.
▶ Watch at 18:59Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I have a lot of pause about this bill because I, I think we're conflating a lot of things. We're conflating conflict of interest, which is inherent to the nature of our business with potentially requiring people to disclose prejudicial information, information that may be misinterpreted or misused by, um, campaigns against each other and, and claiming, oh, this person's not a fit candidate because they have an unresolved tax lien that's not even their fault. Or that they had a criminal record 30 years ago or 40 years ago. And assuming that there are some, I think the things that we're being asked to disclose in this bill, first of all, could also be …
H.B. 446 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Thurston expresses concern that the bill conflates conflict of interest with prejudicial information that could be misused and requires self-incrimination that is not fair.
▶ Watch at 18:59Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I have a lot of pause about this bill because I, I think we're conflating a lot of things. We're conflating conflict of interest, which is inherent to the nature of our business with potentially requiring people to disclose prejudicial information, information that may be misinterpreted or misused by, um, campaigns against each other and, and claiming, oh, this person's not a fit candidate because they have an unresolved tax lien that's not even their fault. Or that they had a criminal record 30 years ago or 40 years ago. And assuming that there are some, I think the things that we're being asked to disclose in this bill, first of all, could also be …
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor will yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 32:16Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? The Sponsor yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to questions about whether concerns over the recess-before-lunch target were addressed in the proposed substitute.
▶ Watch at 32:16Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? The Sponsor yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the proposed substitute addresses concerns about a recess-before-lunch target that could be burdensome for schools.
▶ Watch at 32:23Read what they said
Yeah, I just wanna make sure. Um, so in the current version, not the proposed version around 3 0 9 3 42, somewhere there, there's a lot of little details that could make things burdensome on schools. And it kind of feels like that we're saying, well, you can decide whatever you want for your school. Uh, but we have this target of having recess before lunch and you need to kinda get there. So is is that issue been addressed in the proposed substitute?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says the current version contains details that could burden schools and asks whether the recess-before-lunch target issue is addressed.
▶ Watch at 32:23Read what they said
Yeah, I just wanna make sure. Um, so in the current version, not the proposed version around 3 0 9 3 42, somewhere there, there's a lot of little details that could make things burdensome on schools. And it kind of feels like that we're saying, well, you can decide whatever you want for your school. Uh, but we have this target of having recess before lunch and you need to kinda get there. So is is that issue been addressed in the proposed substitute?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the changes address the concerns raised by USBA.
▶ Watch at 33:19Read what they said
Thank you Then. So with that, with those changes, um, do you believe that addresses the concerns of U-S-B-A-I?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Asks whether the changes address the concerns raised by USBA.
▶ Watch at 33:19Read what they said
Thank you Then. So with that, with those changes, um, do you believe that addresses the concerns of U-S-B-A-I?
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Encourages adoption of the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 34:01Read what they said
Okay. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would encourage adoption of the second sub. Thank you.
H.B. 440 School Lunch Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Encourages adoption of the second substitute.
▶ Watch at 34:01Read what they said
Okay. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would encourage adoption of the second sub. Thank you.
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Sponsor explains that the bill clarifies the State Board of Education is an executive branch agency whose rulemaking authority is limited to what statute requires.
▶ Watch at 47:27Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, uh, colleagues, we are the legislative branch. We pass laws and occasionally as my colleague from Utah County has mentioned, we give people rulemaking authority. Um, when we give people rulemaking authority, we are giving them the ability to act as, as a, an agent of the legislative branch. We're allowing them to make laws too, and we should be very careful with that power that we give to the Executive branch to do that sort of thing. So, um, when it comes to the State Board of Education, they are an executive branch agency. They do not have inherent or constitutional powers to make laws or to make rules or to pass laws or …
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says the Constitution and statute make the board exclusively an executive branch body without inherent powers to make binding laws.
▶ Watch at 49:57Read what they said
So thank you Mr. Speaker Pro tem. So I think the Constitution and our current statute is very clear. There's case law that the State Board of Education is exclusively an executive branch. They're not like a county commission where they have potentially a dual role of being executive and legislative. They are like the Attorney general, the state treasurer of state auditor, the governor. They are only the executive branch. They do not have inherent powers to make binding laws, um, on their own authority. Thank,
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says the board could make rules needed to implement statutes, including rules to spend federal funds that statute appropriates.
▶ Watch at 52:42Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker ProAm. Uh, so under this bill, they would be able to make rules that are necessary to implement the requirements of a statute. So, and that would include the appropriation. So if we have appropriated for them to receive and spend federal funds and they needed to make rules to do that, that would be included under that. So, um, yes.
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says the bill places the board under the Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act like other executive branch agencies, with no extra powers.
▶ Watch at 53:11Read what they said
Uh, so I think the implication here as required by statute, if you go back to read 60 3G chapter three, and I wouldn't expect anyone to read that whole thing, but if you do read that, it's the Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act. We clarify for all executive branch agencies what are the terms, conditions, limitations, et cetera, circumstances when they can make rules. And so this just clarifies that those abilities of the state board are just the same as every other executive branch agency, that there is no extra special powers just because they're a state board of education, they don't be, they don't have the opportunity to act outside of the legislative framework.
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Says courts have held that the board's scope is determined by the legislature, which sets its domain and rulemaking authority.
▶ Watch at 53:59Read what they said
There's case law that has, there's, there's actually been case on this exact point as to what does that mean? And the courts have said that that is as determined by the legislature. So we decide what their domain is, we decide what their authorities are, and we decide what rulemaking authority they have.
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House floor debate (day 34) · Feb 23, 2026
Gives closing remarks that the legislature establishes the education system, the board has general control and supervision, and the board can make binding law only when the legislature delegates that authority.
▶ Watch at 56:23Read what they said
You, Mr. Speaker Pro Tim. So Article 10, section one clearly states that the legislature is responsible for providing for the establishment and maintenance of the state's education system. That's our role. Section three mentions that the general control and supervision of that system is vested in the state board of education. That's the executive branch. So under that authority, which has been confirmed by the courts to be executive branch authority, they do not have the ability to create binding law on their own authority only we have the authority to create binding law. We can delegate that authority to the board and give them rulemaking process. And that system is outlined in Title 60 3G, chapter three. But …
H.B. 433 Professional Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Asks what types of issues the office would have capacity and skills to respond to, versus those that could cause confusion.
▶ Watch at 1:20:20Read what they said
Just following up on that answer to her question, um, what types of things, how, how do you imagine that there, what types of things would you actually have the bandwidth and the skillset to respond to versus what types of things could just gum up the works and cause confusion?
H.B. 433 Professional Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Asks why someone with a concern about cosmetology regulation would go to the office rather than the regulating board.
▶ Watch at 1:21:27Read what they said
Yeah. So if I may, Mr. Chair, so if, if a cosmetologist has a concern about the way cosmetologists are regulated, that likely you said would be a doppel concern. Maybe it's, maybe it's a problem with the way the rules are crafted. So why wouldn't they just go to Doppel and work with the cosmetology board? Why would they be coming to you saying, I need you to provide to me a recommendation to repeal or modify an occupational regulation and not go to Mark Steinle and say, mark, what the heck? This doesn't make any sense. Could you get the board to fix this? Try to answer that, and then Yeah, other folks do the Same. Yeah, they …
H.B. 433 Professional Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Expresses concern that individual complaints about occupational regulation could overwhelm the office and asks whether that should be its mission.
▶ Watch at 1:22:26Read what they said
Yeah. And this isn't an invitation for, for that at all. That's, I mean, they're not, they're not doing that for doppel necessarily. Well, I mean, that's what the short title says to make a recommendation to repeal and modify an occupational regulation for an individual. So allows an individual to petition in the office to make a recommendation to repeal and modify an occupational regulation. Some worker out there is miffed about an occupation regulation, and they're going to go to Opular and say, Hey, could you give me the backing that I need to get someone else to make the change? I, my concern is, is that if this is an invitation at the individual level to complain …
H.B. 433 Professional Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether a fiscal note would be needed. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:24:00Read what they said
You might need a dynamic fiscal note. Do you Do those? We have worked with them carefully to make sure there's not one.
H.B. 336 Recovery Operations Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether the sponsor will yield to a friendly question.
▶ Watch at 44:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a friendly question? Representative Christofferson, will you yield to a friendly question?
H.B. 336 Recovery Operations Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks the sponsor to yield to a friendly question.
▶ Watch at 44:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a friendly question? Representative Christofferson, will you yield to a friendly question?
H.B. 336 Recovery Operations Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether the substitute makes insurance carriers more comfortable.
▶ Watch at 44:44Read what they said
So does this substitute make it, uh, more comfortable for the insurance carriers who are nervous about this whole operations bill?
H.B. 336 Recovery Operations Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether the substitute makes insurance carriers more comfortable, given their concerns about the bill.
▶ Watch at 44:44Read what they said
So does this substitute make it, uh, more comfortable for the insurance carriers who are nervous about this whole operations bill?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Opposes the bill, arguing that a minimum wage applied only to labor costs would keep some contractors with different cost structures from winning bids.
▶ Watch at 58:51Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to give you a very short math and econ lesson 'cause I know that's why you came today. Um, so think about this. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with out of state or remote or whatever. Suppose that you have a market, a count county where there's five contractors that could bid on a government project. Those five will have different cost structures. Some of them have more overhead, some of 'em have more labor. They have different structures by setting a minimum wage only on the labor component. What you're saying is that if a company has high overhead, but low weight labor, they can't compete. So you're preferencing companies that …
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks what the continuing education training would include.
▶ Watch at 1:03:31Read what they said
So, um, could you just help me understand what exactly would be in this hour of training or continuing education that these guys are gonna take?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks what the continuing education hour would include.
▶ Watch at 1:03:31Read what they said
So, um, could you just help me understand what exactly would be in this hour of training or continuing education that these guys are gonna take?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether these contractors should already know this information.
▶ Watch at 1:04:15Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor also tell me, um, should these people already not know that?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Asks whether contractors should already know this material.
▶ Watch at 1:04:15Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor also tell me, um, should these people already not know that?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Thanks the sponsor for the answers and says he can be in mild support of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:04:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I do appreciate those thoughtful answers to my questions. Um, I, I think I can be in mild support for this bill.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Thanks the sponsor and says he can be in mild support of the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:04:48Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I do appreciate those thoughtful answers to my questions. Um, I, I think I can be in mild support for this bill.
H.B. 405 State Purchasing Reserve Funding · House floor debate (day 31) · Feb 20, 2026
Opposes fixing investment requirements in statute, arguing that the treasurer and professionals need flexibility to respond to markets.
▶ Watch at 1:23:05Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My concerns are similar to my colleague from Bountiful. Um, we have a board of professionals. The treasurer himself is a professional, and when we say you must invest this, maybe today, it's, it's an appropriate tool to hedge against inflation. I don't know. I'm not a professional in that area, but when we put something in statute, it limits their flexibility to adjust. If markets take off one direction or the other, if things head south, if things head north, we need those to not have to wait for us to come back and say, oh, you know, actually we want you to invest differently. So I prefer to give the flexibility to those who …
S.B. 147 Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said the advisory group is the key piece, bringing together the various entities that should catch errors to coordinate and set priorities for the Inspector General.
▶ Watch at 43:25Read what they said
You're On. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, uh, there are a couple of different responses. So the, one of the most important parts of this bill is the advisory group. They can actually have input as to where should the, where are. So they have such a diverse range of skills that they should be able to have input in saying, these are the places that we think OIG should be prioritizing. And noting that there are a lot of people that should catch mistakes. You know, obviously the frontline workers should catch a mistake, their supervisors catch a mistake. Uh, leadership at Department of Health and Human Services should catch mistakes. State auditor, O-A-O-I-G, there's a lot of people …
S.B. 147 Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Described layers of audit independence, from the DHHS internal audit team to the Inspector General, the state auditor, and the legislative auditor as the most independent.
▶ Watch at 49:09Read what they said
If I may, Mr. Chair? Yeah, go ahead. So, um, within the Department of Health and Human Services, there is an internal audit team. So they are already, and they are embedded within the department. The office of the Inspector General is removed from that department. They're housed in a separate department. So they have one step removal there. Currently, they have independent authority, so they're not subject to anybody, which is actually part of the problem we're trying to solve is that there's no guidance, there's no oversight. So they would have that in independent authority. And so we want to keep that the state auditor is one step further removed, still in the executive branch, but is now …
H.B. 444 State Land Access Road Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asked whether the bill covers private roads that have a public access easement.
▶ Watch at 45:15Read what they said
Can I ask a follow up? Pardon me? Yeah, go ahead. Okay. So, um, and there are some cases where we have roads that are quote unquote private roads, but there's a public access easement that's been established. Does this cover those as well, or is that a still a separate problem?
H.B. 444 State Land Access Road Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asked a follow-up on whether the bill covers private roads leading to privately owned lands.
▶ Watch at 46:35Read what they said
Remember that one. One more if I may. Mr. Sand Senator Sandall, I think it was. Yeah. Oh, that's right. That is who it was. Yep. Okay. Just one more follow up. Is that right? Sure. Okay. So you mentioned for, for public. So I can imagine that there's a road that leads to hunting areas or whatever, but there are also these private roads that lead to, um, privately owned lands, and so this covers those as well.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Asked whether DPS had concerns about parents conducting the six hours of in-car training with proper guidelines.
▶ Watch at 1:19:57Read what they said
Uh, Hey Hillary. Hey, representative. Um, so have you, has, have, has your department looked at this in terms of, did, did you have any concerns about a parent's ability to conduct that six hours of in-car training if they're, if they're given the proper guidelines as to what's to be covered?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said he spoke too early and supports the amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:49:22Read what they said
Are we gonna, no, sorry. Oh, okay. Back too early. You like, you like the amendment. I like this amendment. And then we should do something else.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Said the issue comes down to the six hours of training, expects few parents to choose it, argued the Nebraska study involved parents with no other option, and said the bill has enough structure.
▶ Watch at 1:50:08Read what they said
Yeah, I would. Um, I've been all over in my mind on this particular issue, and it really, it comes down to just one thing, which is the six hours of training. There's no question that the online module for the 30 hours, a lot of driving schools don't have an instructor teach that. It's just an online module. That's fine. State board provides that the 40 hours, what whatever your parents do, and whatever they sign, say they did, and sign off, that's already in place. So it really comes down to that six hours. Uh, and I've talked to a fair number of kids and parents recently about this. Most parents I know would not want to do …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 19, 2026
Thanked the committee, said it listened to all sides, and noted the bill is now a narrow six-hour option to solve a specific problem.
▶ Watch at 1:56:11Read what they said
I wanna just thank the committee for their interest and time in this. I, when I first saw it on the agenda, I thought this would be about a, a five minute discussion would be done. Here we are two meetings later, and we've spent, I think we've spent more time on this bill and this committee than any other bill. Uh, and that, I think that just should let the public know that we're not, we're not ignoring you, we're listening to you, but we're listening to everybody. And we're trying to come up with something that is the best answer for the people who need, uh, the government to come to their aid. And I, I think we're, …
H.B. 294 Employer Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Moved to set a time to adjourn at 6:00 p.m.
▶ Watch at 1:12:47Read what they said
Uh, Representative Thurston. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we set a time to adjourn at 6:00 PM
H.B. 294 Employer Verification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Said the Executive Appropriations Committee meets right after this one, so the meeting must end at six o'clock.
▶ Watch at 1:13:13Read what they said
Yeah. So Executive appropriations committee is coming here right after us. And I just wanna be fair to our audience and to everybody that's participating to know that we will have to end at six o'clock.
H.B. 304 Cash Payments Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked whether the bill would apply to a large stadium with concession stands throughout.
▶ Watch at 1:48:13Read what they said
Thank you. So would this apply to a sport like a 60,000 foot, uh, seat football stadium that has concession stands all throughout the stadium?
H.B. 304 Cash Payments Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Said the answer addressed the question. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:49:37Read what they said
That answers my question. I don't know if it helps, but it answers my question.
H.B. 304 Cash Payments Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked Vito Leone whether a government requirement to accept gold and silver coins would make him feel better.
▶ Watch at 1:59:27Read what they said
So if the government required you to accept gold and silver coins, would that make you feel better With the price of gold? Right
H.B. 304 Cash Payments Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked Vito Leone whether it seems discriminatory that he will not take cards, citing the legal tender language on bills.
▶ Watch at 1:59:42Read what they said
You get it. Decide it's, it is my choice. Okay. Thank you. But it does seem like discrimination if they won't take cash. 'cause it even says right on the bills that this is legal tender for all debts owed. Does It seem like discrimination that you won't take cards?
H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked who a bank would recommend when it declines to act as trustee and what happens if no institution will take the case.
▶ Watch at 2:27:35Read what they said
Thank you. So, when Bank of Utah refuses to act as a trustee for a trust, who do you recommend they go to, Uh, another financial institution? What, what if, what if no financial institution will take the case? Uh, as mentioned previously, family members, uh, have the ability to, to act as trustee as well. So you would rather have my brother who's a truck driver than Anthony, who's an attorney, run my family's trust.
H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Said he would not support the motion because a lot of work still needs to be done on the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:42:58Read what they said
Alright. I can't get my light off. Sorry. It's just one motion. So we, we have a, a motion and then a substitute motion. Oh, you're right. You're correct. Yeah. Back Representative chairman Lay, I, I would, uh, not support the motion. I think, uh, there's a lot of work that needs to be done and I think, uh, when I sum, I will make some comments, but I, that's, that's where I'm at.
H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Said the bill clarifies what occasionally means, that attorneys and CPAs already handle large sums under regulation, and that a family he knows had trouble getting a bank to act as trustee, so he supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:45:47Read what they said
I absolutely would. So this has been a study for the conversation currently in the law. CPAs and attorneys can do this occasionally. It's not well defined. Nobody knows what it means. They don't have to have bonding, they don't have to have regulation. DFI doesn't have have to get involved. They can just do it. The bill clarifies, it makes it more clear as to what occasionally means. It means that you can do it when you're asked. You can't advertise, you can't build a business out of it. It's what it means. You still don't have to have any newer requirements. And furthermore, I'm just really disappointed with the banks because I don't think that they've told you …
H.B. 176 Trust Business Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Apologized for being harsh toward the banks, said the bill clarifies what occasionally means and is a step in the right direction, and said more may be needed later.
▶ Watch at 2:51:11Read what they said
I apologize. I may have been a little bit harsh on the banks, but I have very sensitive feelings on this issue, so I apologize if I may have gone too hard on them. But, uh, I do feel like this is, this is something that we've talked about and from the very first moment we've just tried to figure out how to clarify what occasionally means. CPAs and attorneys can already do this. We just want to clarify what occasionally means. And I think the bill puts us in that right box. I think it moves us in a step in the right direction. Will we need to do more later? Probably. But at least it, it clarifies to …
H.B. 190 Child Care Business Tax Credit · House floor debate (day 29) · Feb 18, 2026
Asked the sponsor questions about the dynamic fiscal note's return on investment and whether enough childcare providers exist, then said the sponsor declined to answer and voiced concerns about the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:18:37Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a series of questions? Representative Thompson, will you yield to a series of questions? No Answer is, no Representative Thurston. That's just fine. I'll answer my own questions. Uh, you would've been wise to answer my questions, but I'll do it for you. So I'm looking at the dynamic fiscal note colleagues. This is unusual. LFA tells us that they can't do a dynamic fiscal note, but they did. So here, let's take a look at this. For our $3 million investment in the minimal scenario, we're getting $36,000 of return on investment. If it, in the high estimate, we're only getting $180,000, you have to look at the difference between …
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked whether driver education materials are currently available to parents.
▶ Watch at 1:00:15Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. So I wanna make sure I understand the status quo. So currently the materials are available to parents who want to use them to teach their kids to drive. Is that correct?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked what DLD would say today if a parent-taught teen showed up to be tested.
▶ Watch at 1:00:43Read what they said
So if a parent today someone went and obtained the materials, taught their kids how to drive, however they did that, they got them all done, they went down to DLD. What would DLD say if, like, if you for example, showed up with a 16-year-old and said, I've I've completed all the materials, I've taught them how to drive and here they are to be tested. I would like you to evaluate them. What would DLD say today?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked whether it would currently be legal for a parent to tell DLD they will teach their child.
▶ Watch at 1:01:45Read what they said
Okay. So one more if I may, Mr. Chair. So in your opinion, do you think it would be legal for a parent to tell DLDI, I've got this child, I'm gonna teach them how to drive, get the materials? Is that something that, that the DLD would say? Yeah, go ahead. That's fine. Or would they say, Hmm, we're not sure about that?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston clarified he was asking what happens if the bill does not pass.
▶ Watch at 1:02:21Read what they said
Was asking about before, if the bill doesn't pass, what, what they would they just tell you, sorry, this kid has not met the requirements and we're not gonna test them or
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked what the $2.50 driver education fee on vehicle registrations is used for.
▶ Watch at 1:12:03Read what they said
I have a question for RA if I may. Go ahead. So, um, on every motor vehicle registration rule, there's a $2 and 50 cent driver education fee that is collected and given to the State Board of Education. Can you just tell us what that money is used for?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Rep. Thurston asked whether driver education is available through online high school programs.
▶ Watch at 1:16:57Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I'm just kind of curious if anybody knows, is, is drivers that available through any of our online high school programs and maybe Audra is saying yes. Could you just speak to that briefly? Audra, How, how does that work for online high school?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Outlined the classroom, professional in-car and 40 parent-supervised hours and asked which part makes the safety difference.
▶ Watch at 1:39:54Read what they said
Thank you. I I'm like the chair. I'm, I'm trying to parse out what is the important part of this. So as I understand it, parents today can do online home study for the classroom instruction part. The part of the experience that is in the car with a professional teaching you is is three hours and then there are observation hours, there's three hours of observation during that part, and then there's the 40 hours with your parents. So which, which part of that do you think is making the difference of those of those areas?
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Confirmed the question was for him.
▶ Watch at 1:40:33Read what they said
Or? Yeah. Yeah. You're the only one. You're the only one that has the mic. So
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Noted that students are only on the road with a professional for three hours of the six-hour total.
▶ Watch at 1:41:27Read what they said
But the only time that they're on the road with a professional is the three hours when they're being observed by the professional. 'cause it's a six hour total, three hours of driving at three hours of observation.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Clarified he was not asking an audience member and concluded his question.
▶ Watch at 1:41:46Read what they said
For drivers. I'm not, I'm not asking you ma'am. I'm sorry. Um, so that's, that's, that's my question. Thank you.
H.B. 464 Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Said parents could handle the classroom and supervised portions, but the six professional hours give him pause, and suggested a hold could allow those components to be worked out.
▶ Watch at 1:54:18Read what they said
Thank you. So I, wow. Okay. So there are a lot of things that are not clear in my mind. Um, so there is a 30 hour instructional component. I have no reason to believe that a parent can't teach it. There are online modules that don't even involve an instructor. You can get it through online high school. There are, there are plenty of ways that those materials could be available to a parent to teach their child for free the workbook or classroom. I mean, I've looked online, people call it different things, but one company proudly says that this is a workbook exercise. It should take you no longer than 30 hours to complete and pass the …
H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments · House Education Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Presents the first substitute to HB 129, saying it clarifies that the State Board of Education may make rules only as required by statute or as necessary to implement statutory requirements, as delegated rather than inherent authority.
▶ Watch at 36:46Read what they said
Thank you. If this turn, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, members of the committee. So I will be speaking to the first substitute of the bill. So hopefully you all didn't spend too much energy looking at the full bill and wondering what is he trying to do. 'cause all we need to really look at is the first substitute of the bill. So, um, state, state statute currently allows the state board, by the way, the state board is an independently elected executive branch, just like the governor. So if you think about this, um, the board, they have the same level of authority as the governor. And statute currently allows the state board to make rules …
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston asked whether cities could already allow third-party inspections voluntarily under current law.
▶ Watch at 57:52Read what they said
Thank Mr. Chair for this will be either for the sponsor or for his guest. Um, is, is there any reason why municipalities or local governments couldn't do this today if they wanted to? Does state law prohibit this type of an arrangement if the count or the cities wanna do it voluntarily?
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston restated his question about whether cities can do this voluntarily without a statewide mandate.
▶ Watch at 58:36Read what they said
But that's not my, that's Not my Question prohibiting. Sorry ma'am. That's not my question. My question is, do the cities have the power to do this voluntarily without us mandating it to be a statewide?
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston asked how adding another party would save time.
▶ Watch at 1:13:58Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, I'm trying to reconcile in my mind, so if I'm gonna do a do it yourself project and I got down, I got the building permit, everything ready to go. Um, and then I am needed to get it inspected. It wouldn't make sense to me that the person that helped me on the front end with all the design and all that stuff should also be the one on the backend approving that. And then I just have to get a yet another party involved. And how are, how are they gonna, how is this gonna save anybody any time? This is all about getting stuff done faster.
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston again asked how this is faster.
▶ Watch at 1:15:13Read what they said
But is it, how is this faster? Because this is all, this has all been about delays and getting stuff done faster. So how is this
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston asked whether the speed comes from using lower-skilled people.
▶ Watch at 1:16:02Read what they said
So the answer is that you're hiring less lower skilled people to take the place of higher skilled people. And that's how you're making up the speed?
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston said he still did not understand how it is faster.
▶ Watch at 1:16:26Read what they said
As skilled or higher. Yes. So how, like, I still don't understand how this is faster
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston asked for specific cities causing months-long delays for routine inspections.
▶ Watch at 1:21:48Read what they said
Thank you. Um, so keep It short, please. Yes. You, you said that that that homeowners are, are suffering months long delays for routine inspections. Do you have any specific cases of cities that are causing months long delays for routine inspections that you could provide to us?
H.B. 470 Building Inspection Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Thurston said cities can already do this and urged cities to voluntarily pilot it rather than imposing a statewide mandate.
▶ Watch at 1:40:47Read what they said
Thank you. I'd just like to add to Representative Peterson's comment that I would really like to see, I mean, the cities can do this. They don't need us to tell all cities, you all have to do this way. In fact, I'm generally not a fan of telling all cities everywhere you have to do things the same way. But, uh, I would like to see a city step up and say, we'll, we'll give this a try. We'll give it a try. We'll, we'll see if it makes a difference, if it makes life better. And if multiple cities wanna step up and give it a try, be even more happy. 'cause then we can really see if …
S.B. 108 Online Marketplace Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 17, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it aligns with Utah's reputation for lower government regulation, especially on taxes, and thanks the senator for bringing it.
▶ Watch at 1:55:18Read what they said
I would like to speak to that. Um, like a TR said, I'm all in favor of increasing our reputation for being, uh, lower government regulation, especially on taxes. So I appreciate the Senator for bringing the bill.
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Presents H.B. 384, which has two parts: cleanup of provisions left out after the Department of Government Operations was consolidated, and allowing the governor to give gubernatorial appointees the title of commissioner.
▶ Watch at 18:41Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. This bill has two parts, both of which are relatively minor cleanups. The first part has to do with the Department of Government operations when we consolidated the Department of Government Operations, all those different components, D-T-S-D-H-R-M, et cetera, et cetera. There were some things that got left out and those are being cleaned up in the bill. And then the other part of this is that the governor has asked to be able to grant titles to all of his gubernatorial appointees. He would like to refer them to them as informally as commissioners. And that's what the bill does. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Said the bill should be considered as part of a larger conversation and supported keeping the bill as the chief sponsor intends.
▶ Watch at 46:00Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this is all part of a larger conversation and so I wanna be careful to say this correctly. We, we need to make sure that we are not thinking about these policies in isolation of other things that are going on. Uh, and so I, I would, um, favor the position of the chief sponsor and so keep, keep the bill clean, keep it what she needs it to be so that it can be part of a larger conversation moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the bill should be considered as part of a larger conversation and supports keeping the bill as the chief sponsor intends.
▶ Watch at 46:00Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Uh, this is all part of a larger conversation and so I wanna be careful to say this correctly. We, we need to make sure that we are not thinking about these policies in isolation of other things that are going on. Uh, and so I, I would, um, favor the position of the chief sponsor and so keep, keep the bill clean, keep it what she needs it to be so that it can be part of a larger conversation moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
H.B. 154 Water Loss Study Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the bill may be unnecessary, since water loss concerns can be raised directly with the governor's office without legislation.
▶ Watch at 54:00Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, my concern with this bill, as the sponsor indicated in his presentation that the only purpose of this bill is to let water resources know that we're interested. And, um, as you have heard the governor mention many times, if it's a something that could be handled with a phone call, he'd rather not us run a bill to handle something that he could have been handled with a phone call. I have actually personally taken him up on that several times and have found the executive branch to be very engaging and willing to provide information to conduct studies, to resolve issues, uh, without running a bill, which is part of the reason why …
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House floor debate (day 28) · Feb 17, 2026
Says the fee revenue goes to the transportation fund to be consistent with the state constitution and thanks the sponsor for making that change.
▶ Watch at 1:21:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, one of the things about the current version of the bill is the destination of the funds. The funds are placed in the transportation fund, and the reason for that is because of our state constitution. So our state constitution, and if you haven't read it lately, I highly recommend it's a good thing. Um, talks about when we collect taxes or fees on motor vehicles, there are very specific uses in our state constitution for that money to be used. And the Transportation Fund is typically the place where we place those funds to be used for general purposes. So, um, just want to make sure that my colleagues are aware, just in case …
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asked how aftermarket suppliers can sell the same quality part for less.
▶ Watch at 1:25:02Read what they said
Question? I Yes, a question. I actually two questions. Uh, so the first question is, can you just explain to us how it is that you are able to sell the same quality part at a lower price? Is it just monopoly that Mopar is charging more or is it just that you have a way of producing it cheaper? Or how, how is it, how are you able to sell it for less?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Asked whether OEM makers are upcharging.
▶ Watch at 1:26:02Read what they said
Well, can, can we just say that the OEM people are upcharging? Is that fair?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Noted his experience with store-brand jam and asked whether the OEM supply chain could handle more OEM repairs without long delays.
▶ Watch at 1:26:41Read what they said
Yeah. I will tell you, I used to work for Smuckers. Mm-hmm. We produced Smucker's brand Strawberry Jam, and we produced store brand SM right. Strawberry Jam. Uh, but my other question if I may, Mr. Chair, is there's been a question about supply chain. So if, if we are going to make a move that says more of these cars have to be fixed using OEM parts, is the supply chain sufficient to even deliver that number of parts? Would, would cars be waiting for weeks or possibly months waiting for the parts to come in?
H.B. 119 Automotive Repair Business Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Said he still objects to lines 263-265 because insurers cannot ensure that any part, even OEM, will perform equivalently.
▶ Watch at 1:42:22Read what they said
So I, I still have a problem in lines 2 63 to 2 65. I don't know how an insurer is going to ensure that anything actually works. I mean, that's, that's a manufacturer thing they can say, in fact, they can't even ensure that OEM parts are going to work. Right? They can't, they can't, they can't ensure that if they put a genuine factory part in there, that it is going to have the equivalent quality fix, whatever. It, it, they just don't know. And so, I, I don't know how in theory that is actually going to work because it's, it is a problem for these stuff.
S.B. 144 Relocation Assistance Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 13, 2026
Spoke in favor of the bill, citing a UTA project in his district and saying the available compensation is not enough.
▶ Watch at 1:49:11Read what they said
Thank, I'd like to speak in favor of this. We have a UTA project in my district, and those people are getting hosed, and I mean, they're getting treated really well, but when it comes right down to it, at the end of the day, UTA can only do what they can do. And they're, they're awesome. They're trying to U dot UTA, they're doing everything they can, but at the end of the day, there's, it's just not, the, the amount of compensation's available is just not enough to make it work for everybody. So I, I'm, yeah, I think it's time that we catch up. All right. Apologize for saying hosed in committee twice. All right. It's a …
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to adopt the first substitute to H.B. 313.
▶ Watch at 51:58Read what they said
Thank you. If I've got this sequence right, there's a substitute and then an amendment. So I move that we adopt the first substitute, The if your light's on your, it's to adopt the, okay. The, the, the motion is that we adopt the first substitute, uh, to house bill three 13.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Moved to adopt House Amendment 1.
▶ Watch at 52:28Read what they said
So I move that we adopt the amendment. Okay. The mo we move the motion is that we adopt house amendment one.
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
He said the substitute is a fair compromise that lets people gain skills without overly burdensome requirements and noted he would offer an amendment.
▶ Watch at 1:30:00Read what they said
Yeah, I would. I I do appreciate everyone's comments. Um, and I understand there are some concerns, but at the end of the day, uh, we're talking about a, an opportunity for people in our state to be able to gain skills and to be able to help people. And so, why overcomplicate it? Why make it so burdensome? I read through this, I talked with the sponsor. I think this is a fair compromise. I I do have one change that I would like to make. So if this is adopted, I have an amendment. But in general, I, I'm, I've come a long way on this topic, and I, I think this is a reasonable way of dealing …
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
He explained the amendment replaces "East Asian" with "relevant" medical theory so schools and students can choose the appropriate tradition.
▶ Watch at 1:33:15Read what they said
Yeah, just so that the committee, in case you can't see what it does, it, it replaces the word East Asian with the word relevant. Uh, so in describing medical theory, not everybody who, uh, is practicing acupuncture is interested in traditional Chinese medicine. That may not be relevant to everybody, but medical theory is important. So this would allow the student and the school to agree on what type of medical theory is appropriate, whether that's West, western tradition, Chinese medicine, or something else. And so that simple change would, um, create more options for more opportunity for people.
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
He waived further comment for now.
▶ Watch at 1:34:46Read what they said
I think, uh, I think collectively have already understand exactly what we're trying to do here. So I, I'll waive anything further comes,
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 12, 2026
He said the bill is consistent with the 2025 periodic review of acupuncture, which found it very safe and emphasized patient boundaries, and urged the committee to support it.
▶ Watch at 1:36:47Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, yes, absolutely. So, opular has had done a, in 2025 LER did a periodic review of acupuncture. Uh, and so they shared that report with me, uh, and I have reviewed that very carefully. Um, and I feel like that the, the provisions in this bill are consistent with opal's recommendations. They don't have a position of support or oppose on the bill, but they did provide the, the re the report to help guide this along. The, the, the most important part to me of the report is that acupuncture, relative to all healthcare proficient, is on the extremely safe end. I mean, as with anything, something could go wrong, but, uh, the, the …
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Presented HB 384, which clarifies statute for several Department of Government Operations offices and programs and sets a common title of commissioner for cabinet heads.
▶ Watch at 1:47:15Read what they said
I will. Uh, so let me talk about this in the two parts. So the existing bill, I'll talk about first and then I'll talk about what we would like to add in the substitute. So the, the main part of the bill that's before you today, um, is to correct vestiges of shadows of things that never really got squared away back when all of these agencies got combined in the Department of Government operations. Um, the reality is it has worked so well that all of these ideas that some of them have independent authority, they're not really part of the department. They kind of are, but they're kind of not. We're ready for that to just go …
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Said the fiscal note shows no cost for the commissioner title change and that the governor's office staff would answer questions.
▶ Watch at 1:49:38Read what they said
It's free. We have the fiscal note just, just got to my attention and it is free. Um, because it basically is the governor referring to them as commissioners at the governor's will and pleasure. And I don't know that any, well maybe everyone else has to bow and say Commissioner too, but it's not really clear. And Mike Mauer is here to answer questions about the impact of that. If you have any, we've got him right behind us. So with that, and given the pressing time, maybe we'll just call it good for the presentation and, and punt us all to committee questions.
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Said the goal is a consistent title for cabinet heads.
▶ Watch at 1:52:00Read what they said
The, the, our primary goal is to make sure they have a consistent title. It, um, we now have
H.B. 384 Executive Branch Agency Amendments · House Government Operations Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Thanked Rep. Loubet for his support.
▶ Watch at 1:57:12Read what they said
Just I have the best advice chair of all the appropriations committees, so thank you. He's, he's great. Alright. The committee.
H.B. 32 Signature Gathering and Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026
Opposes the substitute, saying the seven-signature packet came from interim committee work to reduce cost, that the QR code makes the packet easier to read, and urges sticking with the first substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:26:28Read what they said
Ms. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I'm going to oppose this motion, the alternate packet. It would definitely negatively impact our vision and goal for the alternative packet. The alternative packet idea came out of, um, some interim committee work that happened in rules review and general government oversight committee. And, um, this is the moment where we sort of eat a little bit of crow. I've never been involved in these things before, but in talking to people who have, it's amazing what happens when you are on the other side of the issue when all of a sudden, when, when it's someone else's issue that you don't like, you wanna make it as hard as possible. But in …
H.B. 32 Signature Gathering and Verification Amendments · House floor debate (day 24) · Feb 12, 2026
Opposes the second substitute, saying it would reduce signature lines from seven to four, which is contrary to the committee's intent, and urges members to stick with the first substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:26:28Read what they said
Ms. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, I'm going to oppose this motion, the alternate packet. It would definitely negatively impact our vision and goal for the alternative packet. The alternative packet idea came out of, um, some interim committee work that happened in rules review and general government oversight committee. And, um, this is the moment where we sort of eat a little bit of crow. I've never been involved in these things before, but in talking to people who have, it's amazing what happens when you are on the other side of the issue when all of a sudden, when, when it's someone else's issue that you don't like, you wanna make it as hard as possible. But in …
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Scenic Byway Designations · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asks why state law requires a scenic byway corridor plan update to come back through the legislative resolution process and suggests the committee study this during the interim.
▶ Watch at 44:54Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's delightful reading. Thank you for the opportunity. You're welcome. Um, so my, my real question, it has to do with why we have to do it this way is, and so I did get an answer from Mayor Leach that said that there's some sort of federal designation, but is it possible that we could somehow not have to read this and vote on it next time? So I guess this would be something that this committee may want to consider during the interim, is to find out why is it that the law says that once a bypass or once a road has been designated as a scenic byway and once a corridor plan …
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Scenic Byway Designations · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asks how much the plan cost, including contractor fees and paid staff hours.
▶ Watch at 50:06Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Emily, could you just tell us, um, how much this costs, both in terms of dollar costs for contractors, plus the amount of paid worker hours that were just paid outta people's budgets, just out working on this. Just a rough guess as to how much this was, this report cost.
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Scenic Byway Designations · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Says she will vote yes reluctantly and wants staff to find out why the resolution must be read and voted on again.
▶ Watch at 52:28Read what they said
So Mayor Heard has convinced me that it actually does matter. Otherwise I would vote no out of protest because I just don't wanna read that thing again, ever. It was lovely. It was well written, it was well prepared, but I don't really know why we had to read it. And so I'm gonna of course, encourage our team to take a look and find out why that had to happen. But, uh, yeah. So I'm gonna end up voting yes, but only under duress. Otherwise that would be a no.
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked whether the only money coming in is voluntary contributions with no new fees or taxes.
▶ Watch at 58:23Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I wanna make sure I am getting this right. So it's the only money that's coming in is voluntary contributions. There's no new fees, new taxes, anything like this. So completely voluntary. So
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked whether the $2 million from the Transportation Investment Fund must be appropriated.
▶ Watch at 59:01Read what they said
So if I may follow up, Mr. Chairman, go ahead. So the, the 2 million that's coming from the tiff, that has to be appropriated somehow, right? That's,
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked whether the money comes from the fund rather than motor vehicle registrations.
▶ Watch at 59:15Read what they said
That might be, might be good to find out how that money, but, and that money would just come from the tiff. It's not necessarily from motor vehicle registrations, it's
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked that UDOT come up to answer the funding question.
▶ Watch at 59:40Read what they said
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I, I don't know if it would be appropriate to have Udot come up now or during public comment to answer that question. That would be helpful.
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked whether the bill would let these projects jump ahead of the existing prioritization process.
▶ Watch at 1:00:56Read what they said
There you go. Okay. So to make sure I understand. So that, uh, fund, uh, right now there is a prioritization process to prioritize all these processes. If this bill were to pass, it would automatically jump to the front of the line.
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asked whether funding this would mean other competing projects might not be funded.
▶ Watch at 1:01:42Read what they said
Yeah, I, I'm just still trying to figure out where the, where the, what the impact. So if, if this bill were to pass this project would be funded, and then other projects that are competing ideas that are competing for the other fund possibly wouldn't be funded.
H.B. 431 Wildlife Crossing Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Said he supports the program but opposes the earmark funding method, preferring the regular appropriations process.
▶ Watch at 1:19:05Read what they said
Thank Mr. Chair. I love the idea. I love the program. I don't like the way this is being funded. I think this should, uh, be create a program seeking RFA, uh, use the, the appropriations process. I, I don't like earmarks generally, so, um, I'd love the program. I have concerns with the funding.
S.B. 129 Commemorative Day Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Moves to hold the bill, saying the commemorative day should go through the governor's designation process agreed to in 2023 rather than through a bill.
▶ Watch at 2:05:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to hold. Okay. The motion is to hold. Would you like to speak to that? Absolutely. So, um, in the early 2020s, we had a rash, like truckloads of people wanting to add to the list of commemorative periods. And some of those were things I supported. Some of those were things I would not support, which is coming in. We were spending a lot of legislative time having presentations, taking up committee time on the floor, floor debates, people, speaking force, people speaking against. And at the end of the day, it's just a commemorative period. So legislative leadership asked us to come up with a better way of handling this. So it …
S.B. 132 Spaceport Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Rep. Thurston moved that the committee favorably recommend SB 132.
▶ Watch at 2:14:10Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Bill. I move that we favorably Mr. Chair. Sorry. Uh, Mr. Chair, I have moved that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 1 32 Space Port Amendments.
S.B. 191 Tow Yard Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Asks how a tow company was removed from the rotation and whether it was for poor performance.
▶ Watch at 2:19:27Read what they said
Say Senator, how did they get kicked off that rotation? Is that for just being bad?
S.B. 191 Tow Yard Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Says he missed the earlier answer and asks for it to be repeated.
▶ Watch at 2:19:33Read what they said
Okay. I was, I was out taking care of something, but if you can Answer again, that'd be great. Oh, okay.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · Senate floor debate (day 23) · Feb 11, 2026
Presents H.B. 199 on health data amendments, describing its goal of strengthening the Utah Health Data Authority's operations after a performance audit, and says he is open to questions.
▶ Watch at 50:50Read what they said
established in 1990 as the entity responsible for collecting data to inform the public policy makers and other decision makers about the quality and cost of healthcare in the state of Utah. The goal of 1 99 is to strengthen the operational aspects of the health of the health data authority. And this is largely in response to an OA performance audit from last year. That audit concluded that there is value in the data program, but some operational aspects need improvement. So what it does is it eliminates outdated language and requires the department to have publicly available plans that cover all aspects of the data data program. It clarifies how sensitive data can be used within the department …
H.B. 99 Eyewear Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asked whether the exemption applies to frames as well as lenses and whether there is a price limit on frames.
▶ Watch at 30:14Read what they said
yield to a series of questions? Representative Moss, we yield to a series of questions. Yes, yes. Representative Thurston. So can you clarify whether the sales tax exemption applies to just the lenses or does it also include the frames? I it would include the frames only with prescription lenses, not non cause, non, uh, prescription ware. So is there any price limit to how expensive those frames can be before they're no longer exempt from the sales tax?
H.B. 99 Eyewear Sales Tax Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Said he is concerned that exempting designer frames could extend the exemption to fashion items and suggested a price limit on frames.
▶ Watch at 30:59Read what they said
Okay. Mr. Speaker, here's, so here's the problem I have when we talk about frames, we're crossing over between a device and into fashion clothing. As you may be aware, you can buy fashion frames from designer brands that are thousands of dollars, and I don't feel sympathetic that those items should be exempted from the sales tax that I, you know, if there was a, if there was a price limit that said maybe the frames the first a hundred dollars or the first, something like that. But to just tell people that your choice of wearing Gucci or Prada or whatever you want to do somehow now gets you exempt from sales tax. Just because you can put …
H.B. 215 Landscaping Restrictions Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks whether the wildland urban interface definition in the bill follows the Utah or the International Wildland Urban Interface Code.
▶ Watch at 38:58Read what they said
One question. I am curious if this, uh, definition of w wildland urban interface currently is defined by the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code or the International Wildland Urban Interface Code.
H.B. 215 Landscaping Restrictions Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Says he can fully support the bill if the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code is used.
▶ Watch at 39:19Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. If it's the Utah Wildland Urban Interface, I can a hundred percent support this.
H.B. 141 International Money Transmission Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks to yield to a series of questions to the sponsor.
▶ Watch at 51:56Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. We'll to sponsor yield to two questions, a series of questions. Representative Gricius will yield to a series of questions.
H.B. 141 International Money Transmission Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks whether the bill's exemption could be used by people transferring money for criminal purposes, and whether a foreign-issued passport would be accepted as ID.
▶ Watch at 52:05Read what they said
So, uh, to the sponsor, are there people who are using this for criminal purposes to avoid being detected and be able to transfer money across country lines? Absolutely. If we see that, especially as we've seen an uptick in fentanyl and drugs moving through the state. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, on the list of approved documents, would a passport issued by a foreign country, uh, be acceptable as an, as a form of id?
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks how the school board association feels about the third substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:25:48Read what they said
Can you tell us how the school board association is feeling about the third sub?
H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Asks how the school board association feels about the third substitute.
▶ Watch at 1:25:48Read what they said
Can you tell us how the school board association is feeling about the third sub?
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Supports the bill, saying state websites could promote lifesaving programs such as suicide prevention, organ donation, and overdose prevention.
▶ Watch at 1:53:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. Uh, many of you have been to a variety of websites where on the side, in the bar, on the top and the bottom, you're bombarded with advertising. We don't allow that on our state websites. You go to a state government website, it's not there, but it is a very valuable tool that is in our arsenal. So being able to allow state programs to be advertised, if you will, or promoted on our state website, really is a helpful way for us to get more information to more people in more surgical circumstances. And especially the programs we're talking about are lifesaving programs, suicide prevention, organ donation, …
H.B. 117 Organ Donation Amendments · House floor debate (day 22) · Feb 10, 2026
Supports the bill, saying state websites could promote lifesaving programs such as organ donation, suicide prevention and drug overdose help.
▶ Watch at 1:53:27Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill. Uh, many of you have been to a variety of websites where on the side, in the bar, on the top and the bottom, you're bombarded with advertising. We don't allow that on our state websites. You go to a state government website, it's not there, but it is a very valuable tool that is in our arsenal. So being able to allow state programs to be advertised, if you will, or promoted on our state website, really is a helpful way for us to get more information to more people in more surgical circumstances. And especially the programs we're talking about are lifesaving programs, suicide prevention, organ donation, …
H.B. 387 Kratom Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked to confirm that the bill would stay dormant if a full kratom ban passes and serves as a backup for safety regulation.
▶ Watch at 54:52Read what they said
Mr. Chair, just, so, just to make sure I'm absolutely crystal clear. So if the, uh, complete ban on CRE bill passes, this bill would be dormant in case something happened. And so this is a backup plan. Well, in it's another way of thinking about this so that there's least some regulation for safety. Correct.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Introduces the third substitute of the bill and asks whether it should be adopted first or handled another way.
▶ Watch at 1:48:50Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair members of the committee. And, um, there is a third sub and if it's okay with the chair, I would like to speak to the third sub and I, I don't know if you want adopt that first or just course
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Explains that the third substitute adds two provisions: a farm vehicle definition exempting appropriately labeled farm vehicles from emissions testing, and a provision on Mercedes-Benz settlement money.
▶ Watch at 1:49:01Read what they said
So the third sub adds to important provisions that were overlooked. The first one clarifies a definition of farm vehicles to ensure that farm, all farm vehicles that are appropriately, uh, labeled would be exempt from the emissions attest. And the other one also deals with the Mercedes-Benz fiasco, if you want to call it that, that will ensure that, uh, the state is able to use the mitigation settlement money, uh, for those Mercedes from, for Mercedes-Benz. So it, it adds the definition of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles into the exempted class. And that's the difference between the third and the second sub.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Presents the bill: it removes the vintage vehicle program, creates a classic vehicle category for cars 1982 or older driven under 1500 miles a year for lifetime registration, and exempts cars without an OBD II port from emissions testing.
▶ Watch at 1:49:54Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. So House Bill 22 was a interim committee study. Bill, uh, tax commission came to us with a concern about the vintage vehicle program. And the specific concern was that there, it is widely viewed that there's widespread cheating and they have no ability to enforce it. So they asked us to come up with a solution, either give them the ability to enforce it or get rid of the program. So, uh, the committee's initial discussion was let's get rid of the program, but then we discovered that there are, uh, three benefits that would go away, one of which is very important to some people. So the three benefits are …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Responds that the old program had no clear mileage definition and that enforcement relies on owners' honesty.
▶ Watch at 1:52:34Read what they said
No, so the, on the old program, so the, the, there was no definition of mileage for the vintage vehicle program, Otherwise I thought there was a 3000 mile. Okay. The 15 hundreds probably. I thought it was 15, But yeah, I, I only could find ever any mention of 1500 in, in code and, but, and I don't think there was a, a clear definition anyway. I don't know for sure how you police it, but that probably works anyway. Yeah, I think, and I think your point is well taken that we don't know how to police it. We trust people to be honest and um, you know, car collectors as a group are honest people. So.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the registration fee savings are modest per vehicle but matter to collectors who own many cars.
▶ Watch at 1:53:49Read what they said
And and part of the reason why that's important is because there's not a whole lot of incentive. I mean, the incentive is you don't pay the registration fee for a person who has a car. They're saving 30, $40 a year. It's not that huge of an incentive, but it preserves that benefit to collector. We have collectors in our state that have thousands of cars and so you take that 30 or 40 and multiply that across thousand Listen cars. I think there is a, there, there's a lot of cars there. I don't know anybody that has Well, I do actually no. People that have thousands of cars. So it does happen. It does. And so well, …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Explains the old vintage vehicle definitions were meant for parades and collecting, and that some owners drove such vehicles daily because they could not pass emissions tests.
▶ Watch at 1:54:51Read what they said
That's a great question. I'm looking to Rachel to see if I can remember where in here it has the old definition of vintage vehicle. Um, there's a, it's kind of a long bill. I thought it was, there were three separate definitions when that was part of the problem. So there were different definitions of what a vintage vehicle was, but they were in the code. It said these were intended to be not driven for daily transportation. They were supposed to be collector cars for parades, et cetera. And we all know that we had neighbors that had the license plate with that cute little model T Ford and they were driving those things to work back and …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says owners keep discontinued license plates because the Tax Commission does not recall them.
▶ Watch at 1:55:43Read what they said
No, you, you get to keep, if, if your car currently has a Model T license plate, like, like, uh, Ms. Rockwell mentioned earlier the Okay. Tax commission's policy is that when a license plate is discontinued, they don't recall them. They just let people keep, keep them because it's just not worth dealing with. Okay.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the main benefit is avoiding the cost of new non-OBD II emissions equipment and testing for older cars.
▶ Watch at 1:56:15Read what they said
Yeah. So the benefit of the citizens of Utah are the, we won't have to pay for the expense of buying new Okay. Non OB two equipment and, and maintaining it. Okay. People who have a car that is 1995 or older or that does not have an OB two port, and that's, there are several examples in here of other cars when they go to register, it will say you're exempt. So they don't have to get an emissions test. So they will save on the emissions test and the county save on having to have the equipment. So that's, that's the primary benefit that the tax commission was, was pushing towards.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the replica clarification was requested by the Tax Commission and reads the existing replica vehicle definition. · speaker not certain
▶ Watch at 1:57:41Read what they said
um, that's a good thing. This was something that was requested by the tax commission to clarify and I bet there's nobody here behind me that knows the answer to that question. So I'm looking to, Rachel, can we find out what line that is? So I could read that rep replica. Oh, Say the question again. So Senator, what was your question? So my question is, what determines the year of a replica? Is it the year that it replicates or the year that it's manufactured? I Go ahead Rachel. Hold on. I dunno. She'll get that. It Starts talking about custom vehicle, vehicle 47. Yeah. Replica is a, uh, so the old definition said a replica vehicle means …
H.B. 374 Speech, Language, and Hearing Occupations Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said public comment showed the bill simplifies licensing and asked whether the bill keeps requirements the same so there is no new burden on SLPs.
▶ Watch at 2:01:48Read what they said
Great Representative Thurston. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm sorry, I got here just a little bit late, but I, I want to make clear what I heard from the public comment, um, that this bill simplifies and streamlines the process for licensing and regulation. Um, and then also just maybe a question for the sponsors. Does this keep the requirements the exactly the same as they always were, so that there's no new additional burden on people wanting to become an SLP? Maybe Representative Ballard, are you able to answer that?
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says he has several clarifying questions for the committee.
▶ Watch at 2:11:05Read what they said
Uh, Representative Thurston. Thank you Mr. Chair. I have three or four questions, if that's okay.
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks what similar installations the State Fire Marshal's office already certifies.
▶ Watch at 2:11:12Read what they said
Uh, so the first question, uh, just could you just recap for us, the Fire marshal already runs certifications for what types of similar, um, installations or applications? We,
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks the sponsor about the difference between a license and a certification in the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:12:29Read what they said
Thank you. And to the sponsor, on line 96, you reference establishing a licensing and certification program. Could you tell me, uh, representative, what's the difference between a license and a certification
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks whether a new license for a new occupation was created and whether a sunrise review was done.
▶ Watch at 2:14:12Read what they said
Not really, but that's okay. Oh, sorry. So representative, um, can you tell me, did this is creating a new license for a new occupation, did you, um, go to LER and have a sunrise review for this license? And if not, why not? I don't see it as creating a new sunrise for a new occupation right now for different businesses. We already have third parties, companies like State Fire, who come and do inspections on our hood systems and different things in, in where we have, um, you know, grease fires, those types of things. This lifesaving, uh, units that you said, right, The life safety systems, Life safety system, it's just augmenting another, augmenting another system that …
H.B. 240 Carbon Dioxide System Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Raises concerns about the implementation timing and about giving the State Fire Marshal broad authority without statutory guidelines, and suggests narrower language.
▶ Watch at 2:26:20Read what they said
Well, while we're waiting for them in, we can find, I'm just gonna express a, a couple of concerns. Uh, the first one, of course is the, is the implementation that, that gives me concern. And my second concern is, um, that as a government, we tend to make things harder than they need to be. And this just carte blanche, no restrictions, no guidelines, nothing to the state Ophir court martial. He can make it as easy or as hard as he wants with no guidelines from us as to what that process should be. And I am hesitant to give the executive branch that much latitude. I would rather, um, I would rather have a version of this …
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked whether a rural contractor with lower wages bidding a Salt Lake County project would have to pay Salt Lake County wage rates.
▶ Watch at 2:37:08Read what they said
Question for the sponsor. I'm looking at your area wage standard chart on the right hand column. Uh, it looks like in Beaver County or thereabouts, you can get carpenters for about 18 bucks an hour, and laborers for about $11 an hour. So, but your bill would say that if that employer bid a job in Salt Lake County, he could not compete on wages, he would have to bid as if those were Salt Lake County workers. Is that right?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said that would prevent rural contractors from competing on wages for Salt Lake County projects.
▶ Watch at 2:37:40Read what they said
Yeah. So the project's built in Salt Lake County, he couldn't say, well, I can get these guys to work me for 18 and $12 an hour, but now I gotta jack up my bid and I'm not gonna be able to compete because I've gotta pay my workers this higher Salt Lake County wage. And so that would preclude the rural guys from taking advantage of this opportunity to get a little bit more money. Is that how I'm seeing this?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said rural workers willing to work for less would be priced out of bidding on Salt Lake County projects.
▶ Watch at 2:38:13Read what they said
So, so you would tell the contractor, since this a Salt Lake County project, you have to pay your carpenters at least $32 an hour, and your labor's at least 25. And he's got people who are willing to work for significantly less than that, do a good job, willing to drive up here and do the job for significantly less than that. But we would preclude those rural guys from having an opportunity to come up and bid on Salt Lake County Project because they would have to be, they'd be priced out.
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked why the state would not use lower-cost rural labor if it produces good work, other than to protect higher Salt Lake County wages.
▶ Watch at 2:39:20Read what they said
That's, that's, maybe that's part of my confusion, Mr. Mr. Chair. So if we could build a Salt Lake County project for 30% labor costs using rural Utah labor, why wouldn't we do that? That seems better. Like it's better for everybody. It provides rural guys jobs, gets the job done, good quality workers. Why would we prevent that project from happening other than to protect the Salt Lake County workers and getting a higher wage?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked whether a wage floor would make AGC member businesses more or less competitive.
▶ Watch at 2:50:11Read what they said
Did you have a question for him? Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Gavin, can you, um, help me understand, um, this issue of if there was a floor on wages, would that make your businesses more competitive or less competitive?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Summarized that the bill could have no impact or could increase costs.
▶ Watch at 2:51:13Read what they said
So, so there is a potential that it has no impact, but there's also potential that it would increase
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked whether the witness was assuming lower-bidding rural contractors would have lower quality and safety.
▶ Watch at 2:56:37Read what they said
Representative Thurston. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanna make sure I understand what you just said. So are you saying that if a contractor from Kane or Piute or Wayne County came in a bit on a project lower than you because they have lower labor costs, that their, that there's a necessary assumption that their quality and safety would be lower just because they're from rural Utah?
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said rural Utah contractors would be surprised to hear they are considered low quality and unsafe.
▶ Watch at 2:57:33Read what they said
Okay. Um, think I, I think that would be surprising to our rural Utah contractors to hear that, that they are not quality and not safe.
H.B. 245 Construction Wage Standard Act · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Opposed the bill, saying problems like unpaid workers' comp and poor work should be addressed through contract terms, inspections and bonds, and that requiring higher pay would not change work quality.
▶ Watch at 3:08:40Read what they said
Uh, Representative Thurston. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sounds like that there's a problem and that we're just rushing to any solution, even if this solution won't work. So if the problem is they're not paying workers' comp, put that in the contract. Sue 'em, take 'em to jail. Whatever you gotta do. Uh, if the problem is, is that they do crappy work, put that in the contract. Have your inspectors go out and inspect the job and say, this is crappy work. You gotta redo it. Have them post a bond. Have them, there's all sorts of things you can do to address the problems, but the assumption that just making them pay their workers more is going to …
H.B. 41 Construction and Fire Codes Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asks what section 602 is and why it would be deleted.
▶ Watch at 3:27:24Read what they said
I'm in the second sub line one 15. Uh, this tells us to delete section 6 0 2. Yeah. Can you tell us what section 6 0 2 is and why we would want to delete it?
H.B. 41 Construction and Fire Codes Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Says the international code may not have the sprinkler provision right and confirms the change to a Utah code.
▶ Watch at 3:27:42Read what they said
Okay. So we don't think the international guys have got that quite right. That's right. We brought it home to a Utah code.
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Rep. Thurston says HJR 10 would let a sponsor post an optional PDF statement explaining a bill on its website, so the public and colleagues can learn what the bill does and why it is being run.
▶ Watch at 33:47Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. So colleagues, uh, we live in a modern age. Back when, uh, my great Greatuncle was in the very first legislature, it was not like this. They didn't have computers, they didn't have microphones. Uh, if you wanted to know what was in a bill, you had to go down to the bill print room and get a copy and read through it. Uh, and that's kind of how things were. But we live in a modern age now where that's not required anymore. Uh, information flows quickly, it flows easily. We allow the public to comment remotely through teleconferencing. We do a lot of things that are modern. One of the things that we are lagging …
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston says he has an amendment to propose and gives background first.
▶ Watch at 42:27Read what they said
Yeah. So I have an amendment that I wanna propose, but I want to give you some background before I propose the amendment.
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston explains that bills are easy to abandon before numbering but hard to abandon afterward, and that the House cannot require Senate action on a House bill.
▶ Watch at 42:31Read what they said
So, uh, we have a simple process for abandoning bills before they are numbered. But once a bill gets numbered, it gets really complicated and difficult to do. Um, in fact, it's nearly impossible to actually abandon a bill. You can strike the enacting clause, but that doesn't ever tell the public what's actually happening with that bill. So, um, in the process, there is a fundamental question about can we require a house bill that's already in the Senate to take action on a house bill? The answer is we cannot. The Senate is an independent body. So the amendment, oh, this time I'd like to move Amendment one in my name.
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston explains that Amendment one clarifies that a bill already in the Senate cannot be abandoned while it remains there.
▶ Watch at 43:10Read what they said
I would. So this amendment, what it clarifies is that we are not going, if frankly, uh, colleagues, if you have a bill that you're going to abandon, it's already been numbered. It's almost surely still here in the house. 99% of the time it will be in a committee or it'll be on the board. It'll be in rules, it'll be here in the house. But in the rare circumstance that it happens to be in the Senate, this amendment simply says it's in the Senate. If it ever comes back, you can abandon it, but if it stays in the Senate, you can't abandon it while in the Senate. So that's what the Amendment does. It's a, I …
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston explains that the bill creates a process where a sponsor notifies the chief clerk to abandon a bill, which is then noted and announced to the body without floor time.
▶ Watch at 44:18Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. So the impact of this bill, now that it's been amended, is that if you have a bill that you just don't want to get any more emails or texts, you want to signal to our colleagues and to the public that you're done, you're waving the white flag. This, this bill's not moving forward. It creates a real simple process for that to happen. And the process is that you notify the chief clerk, I wish to abandon this bill. Once the chief clerk has that bill in his possession, the bill is noted as abandoned and the speaker announces it to the body. It doesn't take any floor time, it doesn't, it re remove, …
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston answers that the sponsor controls when to notify the chief clerk, who then completes the process.
▶ Watch at 47:00Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Speaker. This is completely under the sponsor's control. The sponsor is the one who decides when to notify the chief clerk. And the chief clerk then follows through the process to make it happen.
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston says the idea came from a prior chief clerk who wanted fewer active bills to track and urges support.
▶ Watch at 47:16Read what they said
Yeah, thank you. Just briefly, colleagues, this was a, a, a concept that was brought to me by our prior chief clerk. Um, apparently the number of bills that were out there in uncertain circumstances causes workload caused her workload. And she said, could you help me figure out a way to get to cut down on the number of active bills so that we just have fewer things to keep track of? And this was the solution that we came up, came up with. And I encourage your support. Thank you.
H.B. 104 State Holiday Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston asked Wilcox whether he would yield to a series of questions.
▶ Watch at 49:41Read what they said
Thank you. We'll sponsor a yield to a series of questions. Representative Wilcox, will you yield to a series of questions?
H.B. 104 State Holiday Amendments · House floor debate (day 21) · Feb 9, 2026
Thurston asked whether the bill requires all state employees, including public safety workers, to get the day off, and whether it requires other employers such as hospitals to give employees a day off.
▶ Watch at 49:48Read what they said
Uh, my first question I may be, my only question is, does this Bill, uh, sorry, actually it's two questions. I'll just ask them together. Does this bill require all state employees to get the day off, including public safety and other workers that necessarily are important for our safety? And the second one is, does the bill require other employers also such as hospitals and healthcare workers to give their employees a day off?
H.B. 56 Vehicle Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks whether the refund goes to the seller for months paid but not used.
▶ Watch at 32:42Read what they said
Yes. So I just want to make sure that I'm clear on how this works. So the refund goes to the seller of the vehicle for months that they paid for but did not get to use that. Is that correct?
H.B. 56 Vehicle Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Asks whether a later buyer who resells the vehicle could also apply for refunds of unused months.
▶ Watch at 32:56Read what they said
Okay. And then if the buyer of the vehicle turned around and sold it again two months later, they could also re apply for the months that they didn't get to use. Is that, is that also correct Mr. Speaker?
H.B. 56 Vehicle Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Notes that successive owners can end up paying for the same months more than once.
▶ Watch at 33:10Read what they said
'cause then we would also, the next person who bought that car would also be registering again. So sometimes we can get up to, you know, three or four people down the line that have paid double on certain months throughout the year.
H.B. 56 Vehicle Registration Amendments · House floor debate (day 18) · Feb 6, 2026
Says data shows some vehicles change hands several times a year, so the state collects more than equitable, and supports the bill as correcting that unfairness.
▶ Watch at 33:26Read what they said
When we had looked at data on this, I was surprised to see that there are cars in our state that trade hands as many as four or five times a year in a 12 month period. And that means we are collecting more in revenue than we were really supposed to collect if we were being equitable on the value of the property. So one of our fundamental tenants of property tax is that similarly situated properties should be taxed similarly. And we have some cars that are paying five times or they're contributing five times to what other cars are contributing and it's not fair. So I really do appreciate the sponsor for bringing this forward and helping …
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Scenic Byway Designations · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Says holding the bill is reasonable but that the statute requiring a resolution should be fixed, and asks whether rejecting the plan would negate local approvals.
▶ Watch at 1:02:34Read what they said
So it's out of order for me to speak, but I would like to ask the leave of the committee to make a comment if that's okay with the chair. Um, I think holding it is a decent idea, but the problem is that if we want to change this so we don't have to prove these things, this is a resolution, right? Correct. And so we can't change the statute that requires us to do it in a resolution. So it doesn't really, I dunno, I kind of feel okay just letting it work its way through the process, but noting that somebody somewhere should fix that statute so that we don't have to do, do this resolution in …
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks for an estimate of how many trucks would not be registered in Utah because of the $175 fee.
▶ Watch at 1:16:15Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so the tax itself is designed to discourage bad behavior. Do you have an estimate of the number of trucks that would not be registered in Utah because of the $175 fee?
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks whether the number would be zero or positive, based on other programs.
▶ Watch at 1:16:30Read what they said
Is it, is it zero or positive Judging from other programs and perhaps another bill on another?
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Explains that Amendment #3 would deposit the fee into the transportation fund instead of a restricted account, keeping the funds flexible for air quality and other uses.
▶ Watch at 1:20:40Read what they said
I would. So what Amendment three does is instead of directing these funds into a restricted account, in other words, making this tax into an earmarked tax, it puts 'em in the transportation fund. They could still be used for these purposes. They could be used for other priorities, but it's not an earmark anymore. Um, and so part of my concern is that this is the, the, the catch 22 of being a government. When you tax the bad actors to raise money to solve a problem, your incentive is now for the bad actors to not go away. We're raising $175 off, off every bad truck that's on the road. Every bad truck that leaves the road costs …
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Argues that earmarked funds are hard to remove and prefers putting the fee in the transportation fund for flexibility.
▶ Watch at 1:23:48Read what they said
Yeah. So the, the important thing to recognize here is this is the challenge of earmarks and government budgets. Once you create an earmark, it's really, really hard for that program to ever go away. Even efforts outlived as usefulness. We're all in the middle of budget committees right now. We all see those earmarks, and we wonder, how do we get rid of this? And the answer is, you can't. So putting it into transportation fund gives, um, the committee full discretion and authority to use that for clean air, for whatever they wanna do. But every year they can come back and modify and move that around. If we're putting it into a specific program, that's a lot …
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend HB 263 as amended.
▶ Watch at 1:25:04Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably recommend house Bill 2 63 as amended.
H.B. 263 Heavy Duty Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Says the fee may be too low, suggests an economic analysis, and supports the bill as a framework to build on.
▶ Watch at 1:25:16Read what they said
I would. Um, you know, this is, it is not fair that people are doing this test. I actually agree with my colleague that fee's probably too low. It probably, uh, if you did some sort of economic analysis and came back on the floor with a number that makes more sense, I'd probably be even more excited. But there is that problem of collecting money and, you know, the whole other issue. But I do think that if you did an economic analysis, this probably doesn't really solve the problem, but I love the, where it is right now. It creates a base framework that I can subscribe to and we can make this work for going forward.
H.B. 269 Ambulance Provider Payment Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked about the second substitute removing the sunset date instead of extending it.
▶ Watch at 31:35Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, looking at line 180 3, instead of, uh, extending the Sunset date, the bill just gets rid of the Sunset date, so there would not be a Sunset date on that section.
S.B. 117 Occupational and Professional Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Described the history of the former occupational licensing review committee and the current review office, and said he supports the bill.
▶ Watch at 41:36Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um, I just, this takes me down memory lane just a little bit. So, back in the day, we used to have a thing called the Occupational Profe Professional License to Review Committee. And if you wanted to create a new license for new profession, this provision required you to go to that committee and beg and plead and make your case and pay a fee and bring a study and show us to why these people were crazy enough to wanna be regulated. Um, so over time, that has evolved. That process has evolved. First of all, the committee no longer exists. Second of all, we have the new Occupational Professional Licensure Review office. …
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked why the division needs to define landscape work and the licenses that may perform it.
▶ Watch at 1:06:08Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I just wanna make sure I understand all of the purposes of the bill. So please, uh, lines 76 through 78, uh, require the division to define landscape work and identify the types of licensees that may engage in landscape work. So, um, just, just maybe could you just briefly comment on why that, why we need the division to define landscape work and those licenses?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Suggested the definition exists to regulate those people more.
▶ Watch at 1:07:02Read what they said
So really the only reason for that definition is so that you can regulate those people a little bit more.
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Asked whether the bill increases required continuing education from six to nine hours.
▶ Watch at 1:07:24Read what they said
Okay, thank you. I just a couple of follow ups if I may. So, uh, at the, at the top of the bill in subsection one, all of these folks are required to have six hours of continual education that is approved by Doppel during a two year renewal period. And so you're proposing that for anybody who's doing landscape, that we increase that to nine. Is that, am I understanding that correctly in The, in the amendment?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Noted this would dedicate a third of a contractor's continuing education to these two topics.
▶ Watch at 1:08:25Read what they said
So, just to make sure I understand then, so with the amendment, a general contractor would be required to spend 33% of their continuing education specifically in this two areas over and above anything else that they may, well, not over and above in addition to four hours in the rest of their profession. Is that right?
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Explained Amendment 2 adds the nursery association as an approved provider but removes the prescriptive training topic requirement.
▶ Watch at 1:28:25Read what they said
I would, and I would like to also have the sponsor have a second to pull that up so he can see what I'm proposing here, but I'll describe it briefly. So, I don't like the idea that we are prescribing what people have to do. We don't prescribe that for anybody else. None of the general contractors, none of everybody else is prescribed in statute what they have to do. We presume that they are professionals, that they're capable of knowing what's relevant for their job, and they seek that, that training and that continuing education. But I am compelled by the argument that there's something missing from the list. That if you are in a landscape business, that …
H.B. 313 Landscaper Certification Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Said he supports adding the association as a provider but would likely vote against the bill without Amendment 2.
▶ Watch at 1:33:05Read what they said
Yeah. I, um, I, I'm kind of like my, uh, colleague who lives way far north of me here. Um, I would be inclined to not vote for the bill in its entirety. Um, I am sympathetic to the argument that there may be some value in having UNLA on the list of, of training providers so that people who need that training can get credit for it. But that's as far as I'm willing to go. So I think that the amendment two takes me as far as I'm willing to go, and without amendment to, I'm probably a no on everything else.
S.B. 24 Health Care Providers Immunity Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moved that the committee favorably recommend S.B. 24.
▶ Watch at 1:38:52Read what they said
Thank you. I may move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 41. 24 24. Sorry, I thought I was gonna throw a bone to Senator Vickers and just recommend it now.
S.B. 84 Department of Commerce Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Thurston asked why the fee would collect more than the cost of the service and be used for other purposes when the state already lapses money to the general fund.
▶ Watch at 1:43:01Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, typically when we talk about charging the public a service fee, the service fee in aggregate helps offset the cost of providing that service. But it looks to me like that you're intending to use this for many other things beyond the cost of providing the service. Um, can you help me understand why we should be collecting essentially a tax or a surcharge, surcharge really on this data so that you can have extra revenue for other things when you're already lapsing lots of money to the general fund?
S.B. 84 Department of Commerce Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Thurston said he supports the motion, saying the bill helps ensure fees match program costs so users pay their fair share.
▶ Watch at 1:48:52Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, where did Jacob go? Ni, nicely done answering my questions. That was actually very helpful. Uh, I am in support of the motion to favorably recommend. I think, uh, as we have done a lot of work trying to get fees to match program costs, uh, and sometimes we find that we're leaving money on the table, that we have people who are using it, who aren't paying their fair share, which means that somebody else is paying too much for it. And so I, I do appreciate this is an effort to make sure that everybody's paying their fair share and that we're covering the cost of those who use the system. So …
S.B. 40 Business Entity Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Moves to favorably recommend S.B. 40 and asks about the substitute versions.
▶ Watch at 1:54:39Read what they said
Thank you. I move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 40. Let's, let's move The, I move that we adopt the second sub third, third sub.
S.B. 40 Business Entity Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Says there is a third substitute that makes grammatical corrections and should be adopted.
▶ Watch at 1:55:02Read what they said
Yeah, there was a couple little typos that's just grammatical changes that they were updating. So yeah, we do need to adopt the third sub. Thank you for catching that. Okay.
S.B. 40 Business Entity Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Restates the motion to adopt third substitute S.B. 40.
▶ Watch at 1:55:12Read what they said
My motion, I'll restate my motion. My motion is to adopt third substitute Senate bill 40.
S.B. 40 Business Entity Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Feb 4, 2026
Says he tries to read every bill but had to read repealed sections too, so the bill is longer than it looks.
▶ Watch at 1:56:01Read what they said
Yeah. And I would also just point out for Senator Vickers, um, benefit that I try to read every bill, but when something gets repealed, I have to read all those repealed sections too. So this is a lot longer than it looks and I didn't do it, so,
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Presented HB 199, saying it modernizes the Utah Health Data Authority statutes, requires HHS to maintain public strategic plans, and adds privacy and security safeguards; introduced Kyle Lunt of HHS to answer questions.
▶ Watch at 48:20Read what they said
Okay. Thanks, Mr. Chair. You're ready. Uh, thank you Mr. Chair. So, uh, house Bill 1 99. Uh, and I, first of all, I just wanna just recognize and thank Senator Comore for being my Senate sponsor. Uh, he's participated on the legislative audit committee. I know Senator is Kimmy is also on the audit committee. And this is tying directly back to a legislative audit. So we wanna bring that to your attention. Uh, the Utah Health Data Authority was established in 1990 to collect data that is very valuable. It doesn't, we can do a lot of things with the data that's provided. And by the way, I have Kyle Lent here with me from the Department of …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · Senate Health and Human Services Committee · Feb 3, 2026
Said the Health Data Authority cannot currently give individuals their data, and estimated that individual access to full medical records on personal devices is less than five years away, usually a private-sector development.
▶ Watch at 51:32Read what they said
That, that's a fantastic question. Um, the Health Data Authority does not currently, um, have a functionality to provide individual data to an individual. That functionality is generally, um, tied either to your healthcare providers or to your health insurance company. Um, I would say, just based on my professional experience, we are probably only less than five years away for individuals having access to their complete medical records and their health history on their own devices. So, but that is not currently something that the government is doing for you. It's usually a private sector opportunity. Thank you, chair.
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House floor debate (day 15) · Feb 3, 2026
Presents H.B. 22, which replaces the vintage vehicle program with a classic vehicle designation and removes emissions testing for vehicles 1996 and older.
▶ Watch at 49:15Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill file was opened at the request of the Transportation Interim Committee in response to a presentation from DMV or the State Tax Commission. Um, they highlighted to us the difficult administrative situation that they have in statutory confusion related to the vintage vehicle program. So for those who are not familiar with the Vintage Vehicle program, um, there are three main benefits that a person gets from having their car declared a vintage vehicle. First is that it's exempt from emissions inspections. Second, it's exempt from the registration fee forever for life. And third, they can get the black historic plate without having to pay the $25 contribution. So as you can see, there's …
H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asks how the decision is made about which roads become state roads and which stay local.
▶ Watch at 3:06Read what they said
Think I just have a, just a quick question. So, um, how do we make the decision about which roads should become state roads and which should stay?
H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asks who proposed the roads included in the bill.
▶ Watch at 5:06Read what they said
Just a quick follow up if I may, Mr. Chair. Go ahead. So the, the roads that are in this particular bill, those were vetted and proposed by somebody. Do you know who that somebody was? I, I sure do.
H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Thanks the staff witness for answering and says the committee is glad to have the sponsor's support.
▶ Watch at 6:33Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you for bailing out the sponsor. We're glad to have you here.
H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Moves to adopt the second substitute for House Bill 62.
▶ Watch at 8:22Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair. I move that we adopt the second substitute for House Bill 62.
H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Says the bill establishes jurisdiction for maintenance, operations and funding for these roads and is important to the community.
▶ Watch at 9:47Read what they said
Yeah, I would. I mean, this is, I mean this is a little bit of levity here today, but this is kind of an important thing because it does establish jurisdiction for maintenance and operations and other sorts of things. So this is kind of a big deal to actually, to have these roads de designated as state roads. It's good for the community, it's good. It helps us keep our funding straight. It does a lot of really good things and I'm glad that the sponsor is doing this for us today.
H.B. 272 Tourism Taxes Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asked whether the bill affects both TRT and TRCC.
▶ Watch at 13:35Read what they said
I think, just to make sure I understand, so this affects both TRT and TRCC?
H.B. 272 Tourism Taxes Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Moved to place HB 272 on the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 15:21Read what they said
We favorably recommend HB 2 72, Mr. Chair. Yep. I move that we place this on, recommend this to the consent calendar.
H.B. 272 Tourism Taxes Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Said the bill is a technical cleanup with no opposition and unanimous support, and recommended the consent calendar.
▶ Watch at 15:34Read what they said
Would you like to comment to that motion? Yeah. This Is really just a technical cleanup. I don't think there's a huge amount of discussion. There's no opposition and it's been unanimously supported,
H.B. 217 Stolen Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asked whether other states have similar provisions.
▶ Watch at 33:18Read what they said
Um, my only question is, are there any other states that have put in provisions like this, or would we be the first as we always are?
H.B. 217 Stolen Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asked whether the bill also applies to reporting stolen private vehicles.
▶ Watch at 34:04Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, so the discussion here has mostly been about commercial and rental cars, but it appears that this also applies to private citizens. So currently if I were in, if I were here and my car was stolen, I wouldn't be allowed to report it to Salt Lake City Police, right, right away. Yeah.
H.B. 217 Stolen Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asked whether reporting a contractual dispute as a crime is already prohibited under other law.
▶ Watch at 34:51Read what they said
Yeah. Okay. Then one more follow up. I might, so then, um, so reporting a car stolen when it's just a contractual dispute is in itself inappropriate under another law, right. Re reporting a crime that, that, you know, is not really a crime is already punishable by the courts or somebody, right.
H.B. 217 Stolen Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Said the bill balances reporting with requiring that a vehicle be more likely than not stolen.
▶ Watch at 35:16Read what they said
So this, this bill just gets the balance, right, which is, is like, you can report it, but you better be sure that it's, that it's more likely than not stolen and not just, well, it's late and I got another renter here and I want to get it out the door and I'm using the, the police to kind of help my business along.
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asks what the bill does for electric-assisted scooters.
▶ Watch at 57:21Read what they said
Hey, uh, representative, could you just, um, remind me, I, I may have missed this part of your presentation, but electric assisted scooters, what are, what are you doing to those poor kids?
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Asks whether a high-powered e-scooter is treated as a motorcycle.
▶ Watch at 59:55Read what they said
Okay. So then, and then if it's a high power e scooter, it's a motorcycle.
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Feb 2, 2026
Suggests that riders of these devices should have a driver's license, and that more discussion can happen later.
▶ Watch at 1:00:28Read what they said
I might be convinced that they should have a driver's license. I, I, that would be a safer thing, but yeah. Great. Well, I guess there can be more conversations later.
H.B. 404 Sex-Designated Housing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked whether legislative counsel, who had just arrived, could answer the legal questions.
▶ Watch at 1:07:49Read what they said
Thank you. I noticed that Tyler just walked in. Is it an appropriate time to see if he could answer some of those legality questions?
H.B. 404 Sex-Designated Housing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked whether federal law allows landlords to limit units to biological females and whether state law currently prohibits it.
▶ Watch at 1:10:52Read what they said
So, just to follow up on, on Representative Ballard's question. So under federal law, a landlord can say, I'm only going to allow biological females to live in this apartment. And if you're not a biological female, you can't live here. That's allowed under federal law, but it is prohibited under current state law or not prohibited under current state law.
H.B. 404 Sex-Designated Housing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked whether the bill lets landlords do anything they cannot already do under federal law.
▶ Watch at 1:11:28Read what they said
I guess my real question is, given what federal law says, and that all landlords are bound by federal law, does this bill actually do anything that they can't already do?
H.B. 268 Towing Notice and Ownership Rights Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked how the bill works in practice when a vehicle owner disputes a tow and wants the car released without paying the full amount.
▶ Watch at 1:27:23Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um, I've been told that it is a bad time to make your case on the side of the road. So I'm thinking if the guy's got my car, and he's saying like, and I'm telling him, Hey, you're breaking law. He says, no, I don't, I'm not breaking law. I want my money. You don't get me, don't get your car if you don't gimme the money. So how does this, how does this work in practice? When I go down there and I said, look, you haven't followed the law. I don't have to pay this much money. Give me my car right now. And he said, no, I followed the law to …
H.B. 268 Towing Notice and Ownership Rights Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked about the sequence of events, including whether the lienholder goes to the towing company rather than to the impound lot.
▶ Watch at 1:28:32Read what they said
And so then, so this, so they're not down there trying to get their car out of impound. They're just, they're just going to the, to the towing company and said, you, you are not gonna get paid from us. We don't really care what happens to the car. I'm, I'm trying to think through the sequence of events here. Sure.
H.B. 268 Towing Notice and Ownership Rights Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Questioned how a bank would practically be forced to pay a bill it had not been properly notified about.
▶ Watch at 1:29:38Read what they said
If you sent me a bill in the mail, I would just throw it in the garbage. Right. And just like, I'm gonna ban you. But h how, I'm just like, I'm missing the practicality of the bank just refusing to pay.
H.B. 268 Towing Notice and Ownership Rights Modifications · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Spoke in favor of the motion, saying tow companies should follow the rules that have been set for them.
▶ Watch at 1:31:19Read what they said
Okay. I would like to speak in favor of the motion. Um, mostly because I don't like it when tow companies do bad things. Uh, so this, if this helps somebody somewhere enforce that tow companies should be following the rules that we've given 'em. 'cause we've given them a lot, it's time for some thing to go the other way. Sorry, I'm speaking favor of the motion.
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston asked what the concern is given that testimony said intellectual property and client lists remain protected by other tools.
▶ Watch at 2:10:50Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm a little confused at your statement because you said this bill would leave you without the ability to protect intellectual property, client list, et cetera, but we just heard from our expert witness that all of those are already protected and would remain protected and lost. So if that's your only concern, and we have given those up, what is the concern?
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston asked whether better definitions would resolve her concerns.
▶ Watch at 2:11:30Read what they said
So if you, uh, if you assume that we do understand the difference between contract and non-compete, there is no more concerns. That's your really, your only concern is those two things are two are not carefully defined. And with that, if we could more carefully define 'em, you'd have no more concerns. I,
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston disagreed with the claim that businesses could not protect themselves under the bill.
▶ Watch at 2:12:02Read what they said
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's that that last part is the part that concerns me is that you're, you're claiming that we're not allowing you to protect yourselves when we are. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston asked whether protectionism that served the industry has also served its workers.
▶ Watch at 2:15:36Read what they said
You Mr. Colmore. So protectionism has served your industry well. Has it served your workers well? Excuse me, Protectionism has served your industry well. Has it served your workers well?
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston said preventing turnover is the point and turnover can be healthy in a competitive market.
▶ Watch at 2:15:56Read what they said
Isn't, isn't that the point is that these non-competes prevent turnover, which could be a healthy thing in a competitive market.
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston asked whether CHG uses training repayment agreements.
▶ Watch at 2:23:36Read what they said
Thank you. Um, do you have a contract that says that when you train an employee and pay for that training, that they're responsible to reimburse you if they leave before a certain amount of time?
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston said that was an opinion and repeated that an unused tool exists.
▶ Watch at 2:24:14Read what they said
I mean, that's an opinion, but there is a tool available that you haven't used. Thank you.
H.B. 203 Non-Compete Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Thurston quoted the FTC calling many non-competes scare tactics against workers, said the bill restores balance for workers, and criticized employers' trade secret arguments.
▶ Watch at 2:36:52Read what they said
Thank Mr. Chair. Um, this is what happens when economists think about lawyer problems. You get great answers. Uh, I have a statement here that I'm just, just very brief from the FTC document. Today, at least 30 million Americans are impacted by non-compete clauses. Many of these non-competes, to be clear, would likely be unenforceable in court. As such, they are scare tactics. They're scare tactics designed to take advantage of working people who don't have the money to get a lawyer to tell them this, this is exploitation. It is predatory and it's morally wrong. It is an abusive tactic that makes life less affordable for the people who, who form the backbone of this country. And I …
S.B. 5 General Government Base Budget · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Says the bill appropriates base budgets for ten agencies overseen by the committee, and lists them.
▶ Watch at 26:40Read what they said
So this Bill appropriates the base budgets for 10 agencies that are overseen by our committee and those agencies are the Career Service Review Office, the Departments of Commerce, government operations and financial institutions, the Governor's office, including the Lieutenant Governor's Office and the Elections Office, the insurance department, the Labor Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Office of the State auditor, and the Tax Commission.
S.B. 5 General Government Base Budget · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Says the bill appropriates about $149 million from the general fund and income tax fund for operating and capital budgets, plus another $10 million from the general fund to other funds and accounts.
▶ Watch at 27:08Read what they said
In total, this Bill Appropriates $149 million from general fund and income tax fund for operating capital budgets and another 10 million from the general fund to other funds and accounts.
S.B. 5 General Government Base Budget · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Says restricted accounts are the largest funding source at $153.9 million, and the bill appropriates over $450 million from all funding sources.
▶ Watch at 27:20Read what they said
Restricted accounts make up the largest funding source for this entire budget at 153.9 million because several of these agencies are almost entirely funded by the respective restricted accounts from all funding sources. This Bill Appropriates over $450 million.
S.B. 5 General Government Base Budget · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Notes the interim study focused on fees, that the committee oversees 49% of fees, and urges members to check that fees in their committees reflect costs and that any increases are justified.
▶ Watch at 27:37Read what they said
And just a quick note, our interim deep dive was on fees because some of these agencies are entirely funded by fees. Um, our, our committee oversees 49% of the fees, but every com budget committee has fees. And we would highly encourage you to take a careful look to make sure that the fees in your committees reflect costs and any requested increases are actually justified and not just another way of raising revenue from taxpayers.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Moves to adopt the first substitute to HB 199, which adds privacy and security protections developed with state information and privacy officers.
▶ Watch at 58:35Read what they said
Commissioner Speaker, I move the adoption of the first substitute Motions order. Would you like to speak to It? I would. Uh, so there were some comments and, and questions about, um, can we do something to make sure that we are enhancing privacy and security? So over the weekend, last weekend, I worked with, uh, some of our colleagues here. The, the Chief Information Security Officer, the Chief Privacy Officer, the Chief Information Officer, and the first substitution, um, incorporates, um, everything that we could possibly think of to hold the Department of Health and Human Services accountable for. Im implementing the very best available security and privacy protection. So this first substitute is very important because it adds …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Explains that the bill strengthens operations of the Utah Health Data Authority, requires a defined strategic plan covering data collection, management, analysis, dissemination, and security, limits access to sensitive data, and implements recommendations from a 2025 Office of the Legislative Auditor General performance audit; asks for support.
▶ Watch at 1:00:17Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. Uh, the Utah, the Utah Health Data Authority was established in 1990 as the entity responsible for collecting data to inform the public policy makers and others, other decision makers about the quality and cost of their healthcare. Uh, this information is used for a lot of different purposes and is very valuable to policy makers. A most recent example was recently we had a bill discussing, uh, the value of fluoridation in public water. And the question was, well, what difference does it make? And we were able to go to this data source because it existed and pull out data that showed, um, exactly the impact of fluoridation in the water and help inform public …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House floor debate (day 10) · Jan 29, 2026
Presents H.B. 199 as strengthening the Utah Health Data Authority's operations, incorporating recommendations from a recent performance audit, including a strategic plan and limits on access to sensitive data.
▶ Watch at 1:00:17Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker. Uh, the Utah, the Utah Health Data Authority was established in 1990 as the entity responsible for collecting data to inform the public policy makers and others, other decision makers about the quality and cost of their healthcare. Uh, this information is used for a lot of different purposes and is very valuable to policy makers. A most recent example was recently we had a bill discussing, uh, the value of fluoridation in public water. And the question was, well, what difference does it make? And we were able to go to this data source because it existed and pull out data that showed, um, exactly the impact of fluoridation in the water and help inform public …
H.B. 173 Disabled Parking Permit Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Asks whether the bill could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and expose the state to federal action.
▶ Watch at 45:15Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm just wondering, um, is there some chance this might violate the A DA because the whole parking space thing is tied to the a DA and that we would subject ourselves to some sort of federal intrusion if we tried to do something like this?
H.B. 173 Disabled Parking Permit Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Asks Andrew Riggle for examples of alternatives that do not conflict with the ADA or reduce disabled access.
▶ Watch at 1:00:32Read what they said
Yes, thank you, Andrew. Um, you mentioned that there may be other ways of addressing this that are, um, helpful, that, that don't conflict with the Erda A and don't di diminish the access of D dis of disabled Persons D Um, yeah. Can you just maybe give us one or two examples of those?
H.B. 173 Disabled Parking Permit Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Asks whether limiting eligibility to the third trimester would comply with the ADA and restrict access for disabled persons.
▶ Watch at 1:02:31Read what they said
So if I may, Mr. Church a quick Sure. So that last option, um, limiting it to the third trimester, does that comply with the a DA and is there some possibility that it restricts access to parking spots for disabled persons?
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Thurston said renters of Lime scooters must be 18 and suggested the rental exemption be revisited for minors riding them.
▶ Watch at 1:40:18Read what they said
Thank you. I, I just wanted to clarify on the, the Lime rentals, those little nasty, I mean those little nice things that people ride around, it's my understanding that you're supposed to be 18 to rent one of those. Correct. So if there are tourists coming in from outta town and letting their kids who are under 18 ride those, I don't have any sympathy for also not cracking down on that. So I'm just thinking if you're gonna come back with another version of the bill, we should probably talk about
H.B. 381 Electric Mobility Device Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Thurston said minors should not be on rental scooters at all and noted OHV visitors must take a training class.
▶ Watch at 1:41:13Read what they said
Well we can. I mean, it just, I basically should, I think what it should say, I don't know. We'll have to talk about it because those kids shouldn't be on those things anyway. They shouldn't. So why would we be talking about helmets or training if they're not supposed to be on 'em anyway? And, and if Someone comes to Utah to ride off highway vehicles, they have to take this training class before they can ride.
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House Rules Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Rep. Thurston explained that the proposal would let a House member formally abandon a numbered bill through a request to the chief clerk, as a House rule only.
▶ Watch at 17:21Read what they said
Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this is something that we worked on, I worked on last year at the request of Megan Allen, our house chief clerk. We, um, did okay getting, it sort of started, but there were a lot of concerns. And so we ended up taking it back to legislative process committee. Um, and, uh, one thing that became clear is that this has to be a house rule. It can't be a joint rule because the Senate does not share our views on this type of thing. So, uh, lemme just explain what the, what the issue is and what the solution is that that, that Megan and I had worked out. So the …
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House Rules Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Rep. Thurston said a hostile takeover of a sponsor's bill conflicts with House practice, and reopening a filed bill is administratively burdensome.
▶ Watch at 21:03Read what they said
Or did you think through that? Yeah, We thought through that and, and it, the, the challenge is there's, there's two, there's two ways this could go down. So one is it's a hostile takeover. So now I've got a bill and I've, it's got to a point where I just don't want to deal with it anymore because whatever I just, like, I really actually think it's a bad idea to proceed. Um, and then allowing someone to take your efforts and just put their name on it, continue forward, seems to be counter to our process that typically in the house, the, the bill belongs to the sponsor, it doesn't belong to anybody else. So the hostile version …
H.R. 3 House Rules Resolution - Abandoning Legislation · House Rules Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Rep. Thurston said the process came from the former chief clerk and asked the committee to make it work for future members.
▶ Watch at 24:06Read what they said
Thank you. Just as this was a pro process that was brought to me by our former chief clerk, and, um, even though she's not the chief clerk anymore, I checked with her on the way out and she said, just make it better for the next guy. So just please continue with that and hopefully can make it happen.
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · House Rules Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Presented the bill, which would let a sponsor post an unofficial briefing sheet on the bill's website as soon as the bill is numbered.
▶ Watch at 24:50Read what they said
With the chair's permission. I have a handout because you can't have a bill about handouts without a handout. Please go ahead and distribute that. We'll pass it. Yeah. So this also was a bill that was heard by the committee last year, went over to the Senate, got modified significantly by the Senate and ultimately the Senate decided after they fixed it that they didn't want to pass it. So they said, well, let's take this back to the legislative process committee. Um, and it has been back there and created, I would just say a robust discussion among the legislative process committee. So it's very interesting. But, uh, just for, for context, um, as now whether you like …
H.J.R. 10 Joint Rules Resolution - Sponsor's Supporting Information · House Rules Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Thanked members for their feedback, said the bill aims to minimize staff burden while serving the public, and urged support.
▶ Watch at 30:11Read what they said
Think I just want to thank all of you. I'm looking here. I think everybody heard this bill last year. Um, and some of you heard it twice 'cause you're on the process committee. Uh, and very good feedback. We're trying to minimize the burden on our staff, but still provide this valuable service to the public and to our own body. So I would encourage your support. Thank you.
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked how confident the sponsors were that the new pathway's training levels were not set too high.
▶ Watch at 55:10Read what they said
You, Mr. Chair. So, um, my biggest concern with these types of bills is that we set the bar too high on this new path, and that we have to come back later and pull that bar down. So, um, okay. One of you, could you just tell me like how confident you are that this bar isn't too high and is creating just yet another barrier? Um, and so like, what, what were the, what were the thought, what was the thought process and establishing the levels of training that are included in your bill?
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked who in Utah would have the capacity to provide the training.
▶ Watch at 56:40Read what they said
I, I do. Mr. Chairman, if I may follow up. Yeah. So, um, so the, the beauty of this is that people could still stay here and work here and get this training while they're, while they're working. Yeah. So who do we have in Utah that's capable? Do we have the capacity, um, does Rocky Mountain need to have a program in acupuncture do this? Or how do they, who's the, who are the trainers to make this happen? Yeah.
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked whether Utah has enough acupuncturists.
▶ Watch at 1:19:03Read what they said
Yeah. Uh, so what's your assessment of, um, the availability of acupuncturists in the state of Utah right now? Do we have just the right amount, not enough or, uh, too many There?
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked the wait time for a new patient to get an appointment.
▶ Watch at 1:24:41Read what they said
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So you mentioned that there are plenty of acupuncture. What's, what's the wait time currently for you? A patient, a new patient to get an appointment with you?
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Confirmed he could get an appointment the next day.
▶ Watch at 1:24:55Read what they said
Like, just I could get an appointment with you tomorrow. Yes. Okay. Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Asked Shumway whether this alternative path is consistent with goals of competency-based licensing without excessive hours.
▶ Watch at 1:32:39Read what they said
Oh, yeah. My question Was for Jeff, he can't do it tomorrow. Can we do it next week? Right. Okay. I was thinking, uh, I just forgot that rep, Mr. Sheway is still on board online because we got off on another tangent here. So, uh, Mr. Sheway, um, could you, uh, tell us this proposal is an alternative path. How does it compare to our other goals of making sure that we're working within a competency based framework and not requiring excessive hours and excessive, um, irrelevant requirements? Is this, is this consistent with, are other stated goals that way?
H.B. 202 Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Jan 27, 2026
Spoke against holding the bill, saying the risk of harm is minimal, the consumer benefit is large, and he was ready to pass it as is.
▶ Watch at 1:38:34Read what they said
Yeah, I, I'd like to speak against the motion to hold only because I'm ready to vote yes. To move the bill out. Um, I don't have any concerns. I mean, it's honestly, the, this is a profession where the risk of harm is minimal. It's like massage therapy. The, the, the risks are theoretical. They're not practical. It's basically, it just doesn't happen. And the benefit is huge. So from a consumer perspective, the benefit is huge. The risk is small. Why make it hard for people who are ready and willing to learn the profession to get in the profession? So I'm, I'm ready to move the bill out as it is today. So I would speak against …
H.B. 77 Tax Modifications · House floor debate (day 8) · Jan 27, 2026
Explained that Amendment 2 keeps the 150% property value increase trigger for residential property while keeping the 350% trigger for vacant land and some commercial property.
▶ Watch at 24:48Read what they said
Yes, I would. So part of the, uh, impact of this bill is that it gives the assessors less obligation to review, um, excessive property value increases and in the way the bill was originally drafted. It just has a broad based jump for all properties. So if your property jumps from, say, a hundred thousand dollars to $200,000 or 300,000, 400,000, at some point somebody says, Hey, maybe the assessor ought take a look at that in the bill. The, the old threshold is 150% increase and the new bill moves at a 350% increase, which makes sense for vacant land or for some commercial properties. I don't know that it makes sense for residential properties. So Amendment two …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Explained that the bill ends the vintage vehicle program, replaces it with a classic vehicle designation that keeps only lifetime registration, and cleans up replica and custom vehicle code, citing emissions-testing and cheating concerns.
▶ Watch at 52:14Read what they said
You, Mr. Chair. So I am looking around the room. I don't remember if everybody was on the committee for interim, but just in case you warned, or in case a member of the public that warn, I wanna explain where this bill came from and how it got here. So, uh, as part of our normal process during the interim, uh, tax commission came and pointed out several things in the code that were causing them grief or headaches, or that they viewed as problematic. One of them was one that we have probably talked about for three, four years in a row, which is the, uh, cheating associated with the vintage vehicle program. So, uh, you've probably all …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Explained the definition of a classic vehicle as a model year 1982 or older vehicle driven fewer than 1500 miles per year, whose only benefit is lifetime registration.
▶ Watch at 57:45Read what they said
Yes. So the classic vehicle, I'm looking here to see if the definition of a classic vehicle, uh, It's on the first page of the model. It's what? First page at the bottom? We go. Classic. Oh, it's in purple. Even Classic vehicle means a motor vehicle or motorcycle with a model year of 1982 or older that is driven fewer than 1500 miles per calendar year, or a classic travel trailer. So we've taken the guesswork out of it for the tax commission. It's pretty straightforward. It's just the age of the vehicle and it's driven fewer than 1500 miles and they can get the classic designation. And the only benefit from that designation is the lifetime registration fee. …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Described replica vehicles and a second modified older-car category, and said the tax commission asked for clearer definitions of both.
▶ Watch at 58:31Read what they said
So replica vehicle, uh, so none of you're old enough to remember, but back in the seventies there were people who were creating, uh, rat rods. It's rat rods. So they're, they're designed to look like a model T. So they have a model T coop body, and they have, but they have this big, you know, Adams family engine in the front with the pipe sticking out the side, and they're really tiny wheels and all that stuff. Uh, so they're designed to look like a model t that's just been modified, but they're really brand new construction. So we have adjusted the definition of what a replica vehicle is, so that, that's just easier for the tax tax …
H.B. 22 Vintage Vehicle Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Explained that the first substitute added an accommodation for vehicles without an OBD two port imported from countries such as Japan, and the second substitute streamlines it for counties.
▶ Watch at 1:00:30Read what they said
Yeah, just so everybody, in case you were missing, substitute one sub I sent out substitute one yesterday, which created this non B two accommodation. Um, substitute two just makes that even easier on the counties. So they asked for it to be even streamlined, but essentially that's what it does, is it makes the, makes an accommodation for non B two vehicles that are imported from countries like Japan, et cetera, et cetera.
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said it is hard to believe law enforcement ever enforces the signaling requirement.
▶ Watch at 1:05:31Read what they said
So I'm just having a hard time believing, does law enforcement ever even enforce this? This is like the craziest thing ever
H.B. 128 Traffic Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked whether officers were reprimanded for the tickets and whether drivers can still signal if they choose to.
▶ Watch at 1:05:58Read what they said
So did that police officers get reprimanded by somebody? Can we, can you have a I do not know. Yeah. Can we have a citation on the floor to reprimand that? And my other, my other question is this, obviously this bill does not, if somebody wants to signal they can, right? It's not against a law of Correct. Because sometimes you're not supposed to signal if you're not doing something, but you can if you want.
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked what actually happens when someone receives a class C misdemeanor citation.
▶ Watch at 1:45:28Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Representative. Can you just remind me, uh, when someone gets a Class C misdemeanor citation, what actually happens? You, you're not in handcuffs in the back of a car. Right.
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Noted the driver would need other transportation if the car is impounded and would have to appear in court.
▶ Watch at 1:45:49Read what they said
But then after you get the Class C misdemeanor, then you got, first of all, you gotta figure out how to get where you're going. 'cause you don't have a car. You mean if the vehicle's been impounded, you got, yeah. Yeah. But, and then the Class C means you gotta show up at the court and do some whatever you gotta do.
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said first-time class C misdemeanors rarely bring jail time and typically play out like a citation.
▶ Watch at 1:46:13Read what they said
But my, my understanding is, is that class C misdemeanors for first time offenses, jail time is almost never a thing unless you're a really habitual offender. Not, I'm not looking at Representative Dominguez or anything, but, but, but typically that, so it's typically it plays out as if it was a citation for most people. It,
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked law enforcement in the room to confirm his understanding and concluded it was correct.
▶ Watch at 1:46:39Read what they said
All right. I'm looking at if anybody, law enforcement in the room can wink at me if I got it right. Okay. We, I think looks like we got it right. Okay. Thanks.
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Moved to adopt Amendment 2.
▶ Watch at 1:49:54Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we favorably re recommend. Bill, can I get an amendment? We have an amendment. I move that we adopt the fabulous amendment number two.
H.B. 136 Unlicensed Driver Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said a driving privilege card is not hard to obtain, identifying drivers is an important problem, and urged passage.
▶ Watch at 1:58:50Read what they said
Yeah, I, I agree with the sponsor on many of these issues. Uh, this is not complicated. Uh, it's, it's not that hard to get a driving privilege card. Uh, I've had family members who've come from other countries and, uh, taken them down to the DMV and gone through process. It's, it's just not, I mean, there is some effort required, but this is a privilege. And so there, the people put in the effort, uh, you, you can take care of this, and people who just don't know, don't care, don't want to, uh, just, it's not fair to the rest of society for people like that to be out there, especially in the second part of the …
H.B. 120 Tail Light Obstruction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked about reflectors shown on the bike carrier in the first photo.
▶ Watch at 2:10:43Read what they said
Sorry. That's okay. Uh, so the first picture you showed had a bicycle, and it looked like that the bicycle carrier had reflectors on it. So I'm assuming that you meant that as an example of a good thing.
H.B. 120 Tail Light Obstruction Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said reflectors should be required when cargo covers the lights and noted that single-axle trailers must have reflectors.
▶ Watch at 2:11:38Read what they said
Okay. So that was, that was kinda my question was like, it seems like that that example would be exactly what we want people to do, which is if you can't, if it's gonna cover up the lights, you gotta have least reflectors. And by the way, I did check the information that I got was that single axle trailers do have to have reflectors, but they don't have to have lights, so.
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Asked whether the bill cleans up ineffective uninsured motorist solutions rather than creating new ones.
▶ Watch at 2:42:50Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um, just, uh, we, we mentioned, and this may be more for the commissioner, but uninsured motorists is still a problem. And I think in this bill we're not actually trying to create new solutions. We're just trying to clean up some ineffective solutions. Is that Yes. Is that a good way of ex
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Thanked the witness and said the committee remains committed to addressing uninsured motorists.
▶ Watch at 2:43:08Read what they said
Thank you for that clarification. But, but we are committed to continuing to look for ways to clean up the uninsured motorist problem. Yeah,
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Explained that he voted against the bill in the interim because the uninsured motorist problem remains unsolved, and thanked the commission.
▶ Watch at 2:43:23Read what they said
Great. Thank you. That, that was my, um, that's why I voted against it during the interim is because I didn't, we still don't have an answer, but at least I understand now that we have a commitment that we're all working to solve that problem. So thank you.
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Clarified that special group plates are not affected, while the rarely used special interest vehicle program is being eliminated for cost savings.
▶ Watch at 2:44:21Read what they said
I, I was going to, maybe I can do this later if it's appropriate, but I was gonna clarify, uh, representative Sawyer's question about that. 'cause I was involved in that discussion. Feel free. Go ahead. Yeah, So there's a difference between special group license plates, which we are not touching, and the special interest vehicle, which is rarely used. It's this weird category with a weird looking plate. And we're just, the, the intent of the bill always was to just get rid of that whole program. And it was a, it's a cost savings to the department for something that's kind of weird and didn't fit. Anyway. Thank you. Okay.
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said the substitute corrects a technical error and removes special interest vehicle language to reduce tax commission costs.
▶ Watch at 2:51:15Read what they said
Yeah, the first substitute clears that there's a technical error that was corrected and also, uh, fixes that language on the special interest vehicles to reduce costs for the tax commission.
H.B. 57 Motor Vehicle Division Amendments · House Transportation Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Said he is new to the committee, that the uninsured motorist problem remains unsolved, and hopes it will be fixed next year.
▶ Watch at 2:51:49Read what they said
By the way. First sub. Thank you. Um, no, I, I'm a rookie. We've, We've, uh, we talked about this plenty in the interim and um, again, the uninsured motorist thing still is a problem, hasn't been solved, but maybe next year we'll get that fixed.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Introduces the department-requested bill, which extends the program's sunset, responds to a legislative audit, and strengthens privacy protections.
▶ Watch at 2:11:34Read what they said
Thank Mr. Chair. Um, I have with me Nate Winters from the Department of Health and Human Services, and then also online, uh, Kyle Lund, and, I dunno, Patrice may be online as well. So tho they're, they're gonna help me with the presentation. Um, this is a department request bill. I'll give a brief introduction and then I'll ask, um, Nate and Kyle to provide more detail. So, uh, healthcare data has been collected in the state of Utah since 1990, and it is very important for us to be able to collect the healthcare data for lots of reasons. And I'll let Nate and Kyle talk about those reasons. Um, it is collected in all 50 states. Every …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Gives examples of how state health data informed past policy decisions and notes an amendment that adds another privacy protection.
▶ Watch at 2:18:11Read what they said
Great. Thank you Kyle. And Nate. Um, so I just wanna just kind of add on to what, uh, Kyle said about using data for policy. Uh, Utah is known as one of the leading states in terms of data availability for policymakers. In other words, legislators. And the case that he referred to last year was actually very critical. We had a bill talking about the fluoridation of water, and there was a question about what difference does it make? Well, where do you find data on that? Well, fortunately, the State Department of Health has data on cavities and, and children's health, oral health, and was able to provide data that helped us all to make that policy …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Says the amendment adds a requirement that the department's strategic plan address preventing re-identification of individuals, working with the state privacy officer.
▶ Watch at 2:27:19Read what they said
Yeah. So I received that similar similar com uh, comment feedback. So amendment one adds a requirement that the health department, um, include in their plan actions or efforts that will be used to prevent, identify individual re-identification. So they, they already have policies, they're already doing that. But we wanna make sure that that is consciously front of mind that this issue of re-identification is something that is part of their strategic plan. And so that they are taking, you know, again, working with the state privacy officer to figure out how do we prevent this? There, there are, there are guidelines, there are federal guidelines, and there are other best practices that can be used to prevent re-identification.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Supports the amendment, which requires the Health Department to publish its strategy for preventing re-identification.
▶ Watch at 2:33:46Read what they said
This is an important addition to the privacy protections requiring the Health Department to have and to publish their strategy for preventing re-identification.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Says cybersecurity requirements already apply to the department, that opt-out is simple, and that the bill strengthens safeguards against the risks of data use; urges a yes vote.
▶ Watch at 2:37:32Read what they said
Alright. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm, I'm gonna attempt to miracle. I'm gonna try to re help my colleague change his mind on the spot. Um, the, the, the reason why cybersecurity is not mentioned in this particular section of code is because it is mentioned already in the Department of Health and Human Services code. So they already have a cybersecurity requirement by the state of Utah. They're already working with the state privacy officer, the state cybersecurity office. All of those people are already, this falls under the umbrella of all of that additional protection. So we didn't feel a need to call it out special in this section of code because it is captured, uh, at the …
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Offers to work with Rep. Fiefia on changes to address his concerns.
▶ Watch at 2:41:28Read what they said
But I will be happy, I will be happy to work with Representative ffi to, to look at other changes or strengthen how this, we, you do that From the committee member made the motion substitute, right? Still has to come back to you. You're the one who made the final. Still not, it's still not still not done until the maker of the motion. So we're still in the, in between of to hold.
H.B. 199 Health Data Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Jan 22, 2026
Offers to work on language that could earn the representative's support and agrees to return at a future meeting.
▶ Watch at 2:44:02Read what they said
Yeah. So, um, absolutely. If the representative has some specific ideas of the way that we could change Lake Wind to the bill that would get his support, I would a hundred percent want that. Not only because I want his vote, which is good, but because I want it to be the best policy. Yeah. And I think that's the most important thing. And as we all know that we would prefer to do our work here in the committee if we can, uh, before we get to the house floor. And, you know, it's day three. Yeah. We got time. So, um, I'm not opposed, um, I'm taking him at his word that we are gonna be able …
H.B. 47 Vehicle Registration and Insurance Amendments · House floor debate (day 2) · Jan 21, 2026
Says the bill addresses a real problem but about 7% of Utah vehicles are uninsured, and urges the body to work on the underlying issue.
▶ Watch at 24:27Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, I, I fully understand that this was an attempt to fix a real serious problem that just kind of went in the wrong direction, but I do want to highlight to my colleagues that this is still a problem. Uh, roughly 7% of the cars on our roads in the state of Utah are uninsured. That means if somebody hits you, just a random car hits you, causes an accident, damages your proper property, there is about a one in 17 chance that that car is not insured. And that you're gonna have to deal with that. If, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, which you are paying for, you can get some reimbursement for …
H.B. 29 Unfair and Deceptive Pricing Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it aims to stop advertised prices from leaving out required fees, so the advertised price should be the all-in price apart from taxes and shipping.
▶ Watch at 1:12:19Read what they said
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill and I think just want to be clearer as to what the objective is. This is about advertised pricing bait and switch. So when I'm shopping online for a hotel and I'm comparing a night in a hotel, this one's 140, this one's 130, this one's 160. What I don't want to choose is the lowest priced one. And then show up at the hotel only to find out that there's an additional $60 resort fee or some sort of a, a amenities fee. And I said, well, I don't want that. And they'll say, sorry, that's a required fee, and they should have told me upfront that it …
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Asks how the lien would work when a renter, not the property owner, is delinquent on utility bills.
▶ Watch at 1:34:16Read what they said
Thank you. Uh, could you just explain to me, um, so a lot of utility bills are not accruing to the owner of the property. They're accruing, accruing to renters. So how, could you just explain to us how this would work? In the case that the delinquency is actually not the owner of the property, but it is a renter, Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. My understanding is that in our state law, ultimately the property owner has responsibility for, uh, bills, utilities. For that property, it can be put in a renter's name and with the expectation and agreement between the landlord and the renter that they will pay that bill. But ultimately, the property owner …
H.B. 13 Municipal Services Fees and Political Subdivision Lien Amendments · House floor debate (day 1) · Jan 20, 2026
Concludes that the bill makes no change in policy on this point.
▶ Watch at 1:36:18Read what they said
Okay, thanks Mr. Speaker. So, so my understanding is this is no change in policy from that perspective.
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.