Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 321 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Hawkins, Jon

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• modifies the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Act to reflect the award of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Utah and the shift from a bid committee to an organizing committee;
• modifies requirements for the Utah Olympic bid and organizing committee (host committee) and the host committee's relation to the Legislature's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee;
• imposes requirements on the host committee;
• repeals provisions; and
• updates language and makes technical corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

19
63G-28-101
63G-28-201
63G-28-202
63G-28-203
63G-28-301
63G-28-401
63G-28-402
63G-28-403
0
Utah Olympics Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jon Hawkins
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Act.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
modifies the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Act to reflect the award of the 2034 
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Utah and the shift from a bid committee to an 
organizing committee;
modifies requirements for the Utah Olympic bid and organizing committee (host 
committee) and the host committee's relation to the Legislature's Olympic and 
Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee;
imposes requirements on the host committee;
repeals provisions; and
updates language and makes technical corrections.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63G-28-101
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 406
63G-28-201
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
63G-28-202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 406
63G-28-203
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
63G-28-301
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
63G-28-402
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
ENACTS:
63G-28-403
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
REPEALS:
63G-28-401
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
63G-28-101
 is amended to read:
63G-28-101
. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1)
(a)
"Corporation director" means a board member of the host committee who:
(i)
has the authority to vote in board decisions;
(ii)
is subject to the approval of the host representatives under Subsection 
63G-28-403(1)
; and
(iii)
is appointed by the board after a search conducted by the Nominations and 
Governance Committee.
(b)
"Corporation director" does not mean a board member of the host committee who 
was appointed by, or serves as a board member as a result of the individual's 
affiliation with:
(i)
the International Olympic Committee;
(ii)
the International Paralympic Committee; or
(iii)
the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
(1)
(2)
"Division" means the Division of Facilities Construction and Management created 
in Section 
63A-5b-301
.
(2)
(3)
"Fund" means the Olympic and Paralympic Venues Grant Fund.
(3)
(4)
"Games" means the 
2030 or 
2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
(4)
(5)
"Games committee" means the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 
Coordination Committee created in Section 
63G-28-201
.
(5)
"Host agreement" means an agreement with a site selection committee that is made in 
connection with the selection of the state for the location of the games.
(6)
"Host assurance" means a written assurance to a site selection committee that is made 
in connection with the selection of the state for the location of the games.
(7)
(6)
"Host committee" means a nonprofit corporation, including a successor in interest, 
that
 may
:
(a)
provide an application and bid to a site selection committee for selection of the state 
as the location of the games; and
(b)
(a)
execute an agreement with the United States Olympic and Paralympic 
Committee regarding a bid and the bid process to host the games.
has been awarded 
the authority to organize the games within the state; and
(b)
has the primary purpose of organizing and managing the games.
(7)
"Host representatives" means the governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker 
of the House of Representatives.
(8)
"Site selection committee" means the International Olympic Committee or the 
International Paralympic Committee.
(9)
"State security" means a financial obligation undertaken by the state under a host 
agreement.
Section 2, Section 
63G-28-201
 is amended to read:
63G-28-201
. Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee 
-- Creation -- Membership -- Chairs -- Quorum -- Compensation -- Staff.
(1)
There is created the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee to 
review and advise the Legislature on issues related to the state's hosting of the games.
(2)
The games committee consists of the following members:
(a)
three members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than 
two of whom may be from the same political party; and
(b)
three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the 
House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political 
party.
(3)
(a)
The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed 
under Subsection 
(2)
 as co-chair of the games committee.
(b)
The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House 
of Representatives appointed under Subsection 
(2)
 as co-chair of the games 
committee.
(4)
(a)
A majority of the members of the games committee constitutes a quorum.
(b)
The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes action of the games committee.
(5)
A member of the games committee shall be paid salary and expenses in accordance with 
Section 
36-2-2
 and Legislative Joint Rules, 
Title 5, Chapter 3, Legislator Compensation
.
(6)
The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall:
(a)
provide staff support to the games committee;
 and
(b)
assist the games committee in the games committee's communications with the host 
committee regarding the host committee's activities in relation to the games and the 
requirements of this chapter; and
(b)
(c)
consult with the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst on fiscal issues 
reviewed by the games committee.
Section 3, Section 
63G-28-202
 is amended to read:
63G-28-202
. Games committee duties.
(1)
The games committee shall:
(a)
review issues related to:
(i)
the state's 
bid to host or
and the host committee's activities and finances involved 
in preparing for and coordinating the
 hosting of the games;
(ii)
the impact of hosting the games on the state; and
(iii)
any 
state security
financial or public resource obligation undertaken by the state 
in relation to hosting the games
;
(b)
review a report provided to the games committee under Section 
63G-28-203
;
(c)
review 
a host agreement or host assurance provided to the games committee under 
Section 
63G-28-401
any contract that legally binds the state or lists the state as a 
party
; and
(d)
make recommendations to the Legislature regarding 
a host agreement, a host 
assurance,
the host committee
 and the state's role in hosting the games.
(2)
The games committee may, during a regular meeting of the games committee, or a 
meeting scheduled by the games committee at the request of the division, provide 
recommendations regarding the fund and grants from the fund.
Section 4, Section 
63G-28-203
 is amended to read:
63G-28-203
. Host committee reports to games committee.
At least 
twice
once
 each year and at the request of the games committee, the host 
committee shall
, at the discretion of the chairs of the games committee,
 provide 
a
either a 
verbal or written
 report to the games committee regarding:
(1)
the 
state's bid
the host committee's ongoing activities and preparations
 to host 
or 
hosting of 
the games;
(2)
the projected budget for the games;
 and
(3)
the financial impact of the games on the state
.
; and
(4)
any other activity or impact that is requested by the games committee.
Section 5, Section 
63G-28-301
 is amended to read:
63G-28-301
. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
"Division" means the Division of Facilities Construction and Management created in 
Section 
63A-5b-301
.
(2)
(1)
"Fund" means the Olympic and Paralympic Venues Grant Fund.
(3)
(2)
"Improve" or "improvements" means the replacement or addition to infrastructure, 
buildings, building components, or facility equipment.
(4)
(3)
"Venue" means a facility:
(a)
designed and currently approved under standards developed by a generally 
recognized sports federation to host world-class level, international winter sports 
competitions; and
(b)
used for recreational, developmental, and competitive athletic training.
(5)
(4)
"Venue operator" means a person who:
(a)
operates a venue that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 
501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code; or
(b)
owns a venue or operates a venue under contract with the public owner of the venue.
Section 6, Section 
63G-28-402
 is amended to read:
63G-28-402
. Host committee insurance agreements -- State liability under host 
committee agreements.
(1)
The host committee shall:
(a)
list the state as an additional insured on any insurance policy purchased by the host 
committee to be in effect in connection with the preparation for 
hosting 
and 
conduct 
of
conducting
 the games; and
(b)
include in any agreement signed by the host committee that the state is not liable for 
the host committee's failure to perform the duties under the agreement.
(2)
An insurance policy or other agreement that violates Subsection 
(1)
 is void.
Section 7, Section 
63G-28-403
 is enacted to read:
63G-28-403
. Approval of certain positions of host committee -- Condition on use 
of state services or state resources.
(1)
The host representatives shall approve the following individuals for the host committee:
(a)
a chair;
(b)
a vice chair; and
(c)
a replacement corporation director.
(2)
The approval required under Subsection 
(1)
 shall be a condition of receiving state 
services or necessitating the use of state resources.
(3)
The approval required under Subsection 
(1)
 is subject to any other legal or contractual 
requirements governing the approval of directors of the host committee.
Section 8, 
Repealer.
Governor authority to execute host agreement -- Legislative notice.
Section 9. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-14-25 11:10 AM