[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6376791,"mediaKeyId","2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967","parentId",2139768,"title","Committee adopts substitute to update National Guard, easement and procurement rules","audioSeconds",1960,"startMs",2250000,"endMs",4210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967&start=2250&end=4210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967/thumbnail_2250000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6376791/Utah/Committee-adopts-substitute-to-update-National-Guard-easement-and-procurement-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376791-0aa0a08d151df9d1a6f89c6580624227/orig.mp4?Expires=1770817567&Signature=jQkaDJYF46jJH8hfwo0ubAFWIgW70eSVwJ13srhXBe--IAIgPnFrRbdM1YEAeyXyjfesGDGg5C3kVlgHaXGoPHsQJU~2ijiQ1GFpColNIrQoE73bT0SA2MEUaHY3dq5j8OACDkDPMOijfznTdx058hPEVYuOjNni3R5DjsvLShg2veil-43QTdu0ynDQW7WCEt8r4M2j7ov4VhhYCb1IbU5KCTVu-NR9ERFVAVYSjLaGROF7v9GA6MCoWcUKeC~VcXPgfBYSCFwdM3bTw9rxLZ6fOI0ml8PZJZp1j3wEgGgye6~8xHrjE3Lo-KOU504fewq6r9eo2BxT~COBglLvNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","The House committee adopted a first substitute and forwarded a revised version of House Bill 122, a multi-part update to statutes governing the National Guard and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.

Sponsor Representative Burton, who previously served as adjutant general, said the bill modernizes a number of statutory provisions — from defining the adjutant general's term and clarifying the state armory board process to authorizing limited student-loan repayment and clarifying use-of-force and emergency procurement rules.

Why it matters: The changes are intended to improve continuity of leadership, speed the state's ability to acquire property needed for armories and training, and give the Guard limited flexibility to procure certain items quickly during emergencies. The bill moves existing language between code chapters and adds narrower authorities intended to protect missions and taxpayers.

Key changes described in committee

Adjutant general term and continuity. The substitute specifies a four-year term for the adjutant general timed to off-election years so a newly elected governor can confirm or change the appointment and to promote continuity in disaster response and training missions.

Army board, property acquisition and OPMA. The substitute clarifies the procedures for the state armory board so it can act nimbly on property acquisitions while maintaining public disclosure of the board’s findings. Sponsor and witnesses said the change responds to a recent episode in which a property of interest was purchased by a private buyer after a delay, later offered to lease back at higher cost, and ultimately increased taxpayer cost.

Student-loan repayment. The substitute would allow the Guard to use state tuition-assistance funds in some cases to repay student loans (for example, to recruit medical professionals who already hold degrees) and would pair those benefits with retention agreements.

Use-of-force and training. The bill clarifies use-of-force rules and requires appropriate briefings so service members understand whether they are operating in a disaster-relief, support or law-enforcement posture.

Procurement exemptions for emergencies. The substitute gives the Guard limited exemption from competitive procurement rules for purchases under a stated dollar threshold where a quick purchase is necessary to respond to a current or imminent emergency or disaster-recovery operation. During committee discussion the panel amended the substitute to require both conditions (a dollar threshold and an emergency-related mission) rather than either/or.

Sentinel landscape and intergovernmental agreements. The substitute authorizes participation in a Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape partnership to conserve habitat around training areas and to coalesce federal, state and local conservation dollars while protecting military training ranges. It also clarifies intergovernmental partnerships for shared services, design and construction assistance.

Committee testimony and concerns

Military testimony. Representative Burton brought Deputy Director Brian Garrett of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to explain technical points and say that most language reflects existing authority moved into the department’s chapter of code. Garrett described the sentinel-landscape work and said federal partners encouraged starting with a limited footprint that could expand.

Local-government concerns. The Utah Coalition of Cities and Counties (UC3) and several citizens asked committee members to scrutinize provisions that affect municipal authority and property rights. UC3’s Sarah Davenport Smith said the chapter’s language is broad and that municipalities are concerned about preserving local authority and transparency.

Public concerns about exemptions and omnibus scope. Several citizens said the bill bundles many topics — procurement, easements, condemnation authority, OPMA exemptions, student-loan repayment and others — into a single measure and urged the committee to split into narrower bills or clarify language to avoid unintended consequences. A commenter questioned whether a procurement exemption with a six-figure threshold could be misused; the committee amended the language so both a monetary threshold and an emergency mission are required.

Committee action and amendments

Substitute adoption. The committee adopted the first substitute on a voice vote.

Verbal amendment. Representative Ferrucci proposed a verbal amendment to change the substitute language at the cited line to require both a dollar threshold and mission-related emergency (change the connector from “or” to “and”); the sponsor agreed and the committee adopted that amendment.

Motion to recommend. The committee favorably recommended the substitute as amended and advanced the bill to the House for further consideration.

Fiscal note and funding

Witnesses said the fiscal note attached to the substitute is modest ($4,000) and that the department expects to absorb those costs under existing budgets; student-loan repayment would be implemented within existing state tuition-assistance funds, paired with retention agreements, according to witnesses.

Next steps

The committee moved the substitute as amended out with a favorable recommendation. Several local-government groups and citizens requested additional committee review or that some items be separated into standalone bills.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Government Operations Committee - January 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House committee adopted and amended a first substitute to House Bill 122, updating statutes governing the National Guard, clarifying armory-board procedures and land-easement work, and allowing limited emergency procurement and student-loan repayment within existing state tuition-assistance authorities.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6376797,"Committee backs bill to stop twice-yearly clock shifts, move Utah toward permanent standard time",953,1276000,2229000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967&start=1276&end=2229","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967/thumbnail_1276000.jpg","/articles/6376797/Utah/Committee-backs-bill-to-stop-twice-yearly-clock-shifts-move-Utah-toward-permanent-standard-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376797-90c81153bea892e2aee0fe24277e5774/orig.mp4?Expires=1770817567&Signature=EBhVknhTAuYYorwzqWOEaRY~nqtUvtHPenIQBQv5xtAdlrtqZOvWWAdFj8r4Aam2m8FH8RQ1LOllO5buv2GmnG7ziB7mu2c7-DU9tKkVjctUuKWla201CjtODZ44iBkqrHVUqMjJIk~T-ZqES3QfUyleU~8hfP385kCXPC2WKabFGovLJPkouuipv8j6v9hfGoVYHVvcRncfYeuccIViooSFoerVV4gXLduAitSVuif-w23F-2KZ86GnPI8r-9lPa7-9J6YFMgfWn02w-Zk3vjcGpdPRyDMNomISZdO4DdlnlWs6KrwfmNx0XaDa~BLvhc~sQog5wSNLAnP3CzCgwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend House Bill 120, which would end Utah’s twice-yearly clock changes by putting the state on permanent standard time unless federal law later authorizes a different national approach.

Sponsor Representative Lisonbee told the committee the bill does not advocate for daylight saving time but instead gives Utah control: \"This bill simply solves a very simple problem ... the majority of Utahns want us to stop moving the clocks,\" he said, adding the measure moves to standard time until Congress acts on a nationwide daylight-saving change.

Why it matters: The bill would stop the spring and fall clock changes that citizens, parents and some health experts say disrupt sleep and routines. Opponents and some businesses warned of economic impacts tied to reduced evening daylight for activities such as golf.

Committee discussion and testimony

Sponsor explanation. Representative Lisonbee (presenting the measure as Joe Ellison introduced the bill to the committee) said the statute change is narrowly focused: it would place Utah on standard time permanently, with an option to switch later if Congress passes national daylight-saving legislation. He reviewed the Uniform Time Act of 1966 and federal limits on state changes.

Supporters. Parents and sleep-advocacy groups spoke in favor. Jay P. (who identified himself online as the president of Safe Standard Time and co-chair of the Coalition For Permanent Standard Time) said permanent standard time improves sleep for children and workers and is endorsed by medical societies. “Permanent Standard Time is the honest to god sundial time where 12 PM corresponds roughly to high noon,” he said.

Concerns and industry input. Ryan Peterson, representing the Golf Alliance for Utah, said many rounds and leagues occur in summer evenings and said moving to permanent standard time would shorten playable daylight hours after work and could hurt the golf economy. He said he would support permanent daylight time if federal action made that possible.

Procedural and timing questions. A member asked whether the bill could take effect immediately; the sponsor said the draft sets an effective date in 2026 so the state would not flip mid-year but said he was open to changes if the committee wished.

Committee action and votes

Motion to recommend. Representative Malloy moved to favorably recommend House Bill 120; the motion passed unanimously.

What the bill does (as explained in committee)

- Puts Utah on permanent standard time (the bill’s language indicates the change is effective in a later year as drafted).
- Provides that if federal law later allows states to adopt permanent daylight time, Utah could coordinate accordingly; state statute cannot unilaterally put the state on permanent daylight time without Congressional action under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

Details and context

- Sponsor cited history: the Uniform Time Act (1966) and later federal changes make clear Congress controls permanent national time changes. Utah’s prior 2020 plan contemplated regional coordination, but federal action is required to make daylight time permanent nationwide.
- Public commenters stressed different priorities: sleep and public-safety advocates favored permanent standard time; some business and recreation groups, including the golf industry, raised economic and scheduling concerns.

Next steps

The committee forwarded House Bill 120 with a favorable recommendation to the full House.","The committee unanimously recommended passage of House Bill 120, which would move Utah to permanent standard time (ending the twice-yearly clock change) unless federal law later allows permanent daylight time; testimony ranged from parents and sleep advocates to the golf industry.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6376800,"Committee approves substitute for bill restricting county clerks' use of voter data",1241,1200000,2441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967&start=1200&end=2441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139768-51dcd799d2057a9b38a0d307765a8967/thumbnail_1200000.jpg","/articles/6376800/Utah/Committee-approves-substitute-for-bill-restricting-county-clerks-use-of-voter-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376800-ec0ef6c323c8fba9f61d539096b1e913/orig.mp4?Expires=1770817567&Signature=HJ4ljJJzXauQ0aK822ciOMO4X2aaew75zGXKUjKAzu5KDbyGEhTjsdT9swMaBurP6InyBNajAL4l-ZLbpiHOfVvNu3XNRgT7pjhSEHu8letOmWhEqtXITCzMbOlQOHo0xu0iBHVv~0tDkOslg3X~B63SkuNUAHa5NUMAKD45CkcCZ-BBox5LR5AQx4Eq9xGLGtfS9qwVjYQHspwQLDzjUkKogYPqVHdch9bfFZx-qPPOvwjWL5CD5ZF93JYqCx~pktcw1eeLgubU0yP6RSDm0ShF409vaILOzvTC0MgwG4EjR8MxWcdmDw5eVjG5Y4qmmCufajhBibqeJREEsBNR~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House committee adopted a first substitute to House Bill 69 on a unanimous voice vote after a day of testimony and debate over what parts of voter records should remain public and whether county clerks may access records for political purposes.

The substitute codifies an explicit list of fields that remain public and adds a code of conduct that bars election officials from accessing or using voter information “for a purpose that is unrelated to the course of your duties,” Representative Riesha, the bill sponsor, told the committee. \"You cannot use someone's voting information for political purposes or access their information without a reason that is directly related to the course of your duties,\" she said.

Why it matters: The bill grew out of complaints that county clerks' access to voter information had been used in ways some considered political. Supporters said the substitute balances transparency with individual privacy and prevents “weaponizing” of voter data. Opponents said the measure could reduce transparency for researchers and members of the public who study elections.

Committee discussion and summary

Sponsor remarks. Representative Riesha told the committee the substitute was crafted after meeting with county clerks, the lieutenant governor's office and other stakeholders. She said the substitute preserves currently public data and explicitly classifies other voter-record elements as private unless access is needed for a clerk’s official duties.

Support testimony. Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie testified in favor, saying the bill \"clarifies what is a voting history record\" and creates a commonsense prohibition on officials using information outside their duties. Max Sims, who said he does data processing for the Republican Party, also supported the substitute, saying it leaves parties and candidates with the information they need while keeping less relevant data within clerk offices.

Opposition and transparency concerns. Voters and data analysts, including Wendy Hart and Marilyn Momoney, urged the committee to preserve broad access to voting information. Hart told the panel that greater transparency builds voter confidence and that details such as whether a ballot was returned by mail are valuable to public analysis. Greg Duerden, state chair of the Independent American Party of Utah, asked the committee to reject what he called a legislative solution to a private dispute and praised Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson for his work.

County clerk testimony and the postage dispute. Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson described a dispute that partly led to the bill: when he stopped paying return postage on ballots he said the change exposed postal delays and drew public comments from elected officials. Davidson said the county’s practice saved taxpayers money and increased the use of secure drop boxes, and he defended his decisions to encourage drop-box use rather than relying on postal returns.

State office view. Shelley Jackson of the lieutenant governor’s office testified the office was neutral but stressed that voting records should not be politicized and that aggregate data is appropriate to release while individual data can be weaponized.

Committee action and votes

Motion to adopt substitute. Representative Koehler moved to adopt the first substitute to House Bill 69; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Motion to recommend. Representative Keltner moved to favorably recommend the first substitute to the House; the motion carried unanimously.

What the substitute does (in committee discussion)

- Lists specific voter-record fields that remain public (language in the bill begins at the cited lines) while marking other fields private unless access is tied to an official duty.
- Adds a code of conduct forbidding clerks from using access to voter records for purposes unrelated to their official duties.
- Directs that if future bills change what information is public or private, coordinating language would be used so the most recent law governs.

Details and remaining questions

- The substitute does not change how ballots are cast (for example, mail versus in-person voting), committee members clarified. One committee member asked whether the bill would affect conversations about whether a ballot had been processed; the sponsor said curing and processing remain a duty of clerks and that necessary information to perform those duties would still be available to clerks.
- Testimony indicated GRAMA requests (public-record requests) could still reveal some voter record details unless the new law explicitly classifies them as private.

Next steps

The committee voted to adopt the substitute and to favorably recommend the first substitute to the House. The substitute was forwarded to the House with a favorable recommendation.","The House committee unanimously adopted a substitute to House Bill 69, which defines which voter-record fields remain public and adds a code of conduct restricting county clerks from accessing or using voter information for purposes unrelated to their duties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts substitute to update National Guard, easement and procurement rules

Committee backs bill to stop twice-yearly clock shifts, move Utah toward permanent standard time

Committee approves substitute for bill restricting county clerks' use of voter data