[{"_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",6531253,"mediaKeyId","3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1","parentId",3571164,"title","Senate approves slate of governor’s appointments to boards, trustees and commissions","audioSeconds",751,"startMs",774000,"endMs",1525000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1&start=774&end=1525","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1/thumbnail_774000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531253/Utah/Senate-approves-slate-of-governors-appointments-to-boards-trustees-and-commissions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531253-9762a5580c92257dbcebe2f068d63c3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770883948&Signature=PuMDGEKneLUQbJH2m67oBHmD5BSfLq3zpeJa4PxPPFJ34vAyakfq-tQOfwbmeq0kdoOP9pSyWjJk25-NlLCDEM92rYpLmWlwljgbLR9-DwezKdlkcDZ1s1H9di~eqamWPDOOZ7A~9IdOz6oea7XTnA2DHqw1X3G1EME5WByREKH6swQMGnKVNZhvFHFEcD-ooCRQW0H5uXx25tWknjVLDtNxv9bRuhU8eQuY5ZlwH51~Lawili215vA6DExzTf6h3dj8aB4dscA-Brj4~EClS-wFSWMAbb9D7B1d2fxsoEtYvc5Yvs-gan2wn4~QqLkifpG2lT6d3IyHwVNZCvCRBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","2025 2nd Extraordinary Session","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate during its second extraordinary session consented, 26–0 with three absent, to a slate of appointments transmitted by Governor Spencer J. Cox to higher-education boards, state advisory boards and other entities.

The governor’s April 20 transmittal named a series of appointments and reappointments, including reappointments to the Ogden-Weber Technical College Board of Trustees (Corey Anderson; Christine Jacobson Ware), multiple appointments to Snow College’s Board of Trustees (Gail Albrecht; Michael Barton; Rusty T. Bastian; Kimberly Moss; Clinton Painter), and appointments and reappointments to the Utah Tech University board of trustees (Devin McDonald reappointed; Patricia Jones reappointed; Lincoln Bridal appointed to replace Colleen Gvetko; Sean Guzman appointed to replace David Elkington; Natalie Ashby appointed to replace Ginger Chin; Kristen Norton appointed to replace Tiffany Wilson). The letter also included appointments to the State Money Management Council (Sheila Srivastava), the Title and Escrow Commission (Kim Cruz), the Utah Housing Corporation board (Lori Fleming; Rob Alfin), the Utah State Retirement Board (Carl Wilson reappointed), and trustees for Tooele Technical College and other institutions.

Several confirmation committees reported favorable recommendations before the floor motions. Senator Evan J. Vickers reported a favorable recommendation from the Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee for Kim Cruz and Sheila Srivastava. Senator Ann Milner reported favorable recommendations from the Senate Education Confirmation Committee for the Utah Tech University and Snow College slate. Senator Wayne A. Harper reported favorable recommendations for the Utah Housing Corporation reappointments, the Utah State Retirement Board reappointment, and Transportation Commission nominees.

Senator Ibsen rose during the roll call to declare a conflict of interest and publicly disclosed an engagement to Kristen Norton, one of the appointees to the Utah Tech University board. “Kristen Norton and I are engaged to be married next month,” he said on the Senate floor.

After committee reports and brief remarks recognizing appointees in the gallery, Senator Hinkins moved and the Senate voted to consent to the remaining appointments as read by Senate staff. The motion carried by roll call vote, 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent.

Formal action: motion to consent to the remaining gubernatorial appointments passed by roll call vote, tally 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent.

Why it matters: The appointments fill leadership roles on public college boards, financial oversight councils and state entities that influence higher education governance, housing finance and state benefits administration.

No numeric funding amounts or implementation dates were provided on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 2nd Extraordinary Session (5/21/2025) - Part 1","oneSentenceSummary","The Utah Senate voted 26–0 to consent to a broad slate of gubernatorial appointments to college boards, the Title and Escrow Commission, Utah Housing Corporation trustees, Utah State Retirement Board and several technical college boards; one senator disclosed a personal conflict related to a nominee.","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},6531258,"Senate confirms two Transportation Commission nominees as senators debate representation",135,1062000,1197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1&start=1062&end=1197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1/thumbnail_1062000.jpg","/articles/6531258/Utah/Senate-confirms-two-Transportation-Commission-nominees-as-senators-debate-representation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531258-6e916ef1134e53c31ac2aa725f901942/orig.mp4?Expires=1770883948&Signature=mvm-wSmYnZ7OwiMT9qBSoa91ayF88Kh-tzRj2nDhebN~yQvBocbY8NUPC5EZyMQCLuQhsI92RH2QvoyJgh1770x3xR7GJUWT81RFWUYr4WmefIpcugzJjxqZ-w7gKGdmtVadhbYzszz05h8IhtGMN-uGuMvDOFJ7NX67Bxtdidmmuv2vq10PTWEfzbIdnd9~-3aYcYeiYWcf0c5vZj5R9orAmVjLW9DNAHNLLnSMGySHZlJUoJcixZu8qREvrghtTDIL3GS~JcjS9x8q2hZfbu8K1KLYWJHBdvDBsKZak1z0a0cU72FI7Ltebli9Ua7zhnMu3Dn45-FOa2OZYUV7dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Tuesday consented to Governor Spencer J. Cox’s nominations of Bruce Adams and Thomas Jacobson to the state Transportation Commission, voting 26–0 with three senators absent.

Senator Hinkins moved the consent after the Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Confirmation Committee reported a favorable recommendation. The governor’s transmittal letter cited Utah Code sections 67-1-1 and 67-1-2.

During floor discussion before the roll call, a senator urged structural reform of the Transportation Commission, saying rapidly growing communities lacked direct representation and that public-transit options in areas such as Saratoga Springs, Lehi and Eagle Mountain were effectively nonexistent. The senator argued that transportation decisions affecting “hundreds of thousands of Utahns” were being made without input from the communities most impacted.

Other senators, including Stratton and Brammer, acknowledged those concerns while voting in favor, and one senator represented the rural perspective, noting that transportation challenges in low-density, higher-speed rural roads also present urgent safety issues. Senator Stratton said his aye vote came “with an eye to reform to address all the issues across the rural and in our high density areas.”

Roll call: 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent. President Adams asked the chamber to extend congratulations; one person involved in transportation administration, Carlos Braceras, was noted in the gallery by the president.

Formal action: the motion to consent to Bruce Adams and Thomas Jacobson passed by roll call vote, tally 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent.

Why it matters: The Transportation Commission helps set policy and priorities for state transportation investments. On the floor, senators used the confirmation to highlight concerns about geographic representation and the balance between transit needs in rapidly growing suburbs and safety/maintenance needs in rural corridors.","The Utah Senate consented, 26–0, to appointments of Bruce Adams and Thomas Jacobson to the Transportation Commission. Debate on the floor focused on representation for fast-growing suburban communities and calls to reform commission structure.",{"_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},6531263,"Utah Senate unanimously confirms Kelly Pearson as agriculture commissioner",279,166000,445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1&start=166&end=445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3571164-fb73880f82f9b7d22cc358901b580ce1/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6531263/Utah/Utah-Senate-unanimously-confirms-Kelly-Pearson-as-agriculture-commissioner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531263-203424c254c3cb297c3054d789b8061c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770883948&Signature=i8hHtQlEWfiZw920J4Nr2ic7MNoe5o8P0E3t10QlNON4kjtd0rofPnwGGhXrPbi5Ay-NKOByJ1QrLEao9T6F5p4PoHuSZfpsgutxyTihyXwI6u1mFt7m~-V1O5nLd~7S99-NN1QCvzOtDWbjRxWuhkhGRZ34yfJuI0nNsWMFKCVETaoTqfqB9~m9YMTSsz38jHKtHOLd~yPGl1ysnTXuRgZiN5gzUVm1gCrG-Mi11auEGHRjMYlquLX0wm0WjfZifrnyvVIVZmD7s4Ej-1WrbWw~zycxYXKoYG9-QPxL3UAdnkN11aq5kJIRFvMonqgPZiPwrvtiuBH42OCOFifZ2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Tuesday consented to Governor Spencer J. Cox’s appointment of Kelly Pearson as executive director (commissioner) of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, voting 26–0 with three senators absent.

The confirmation came during the second extraordinary session called by the governor to consider appointments. The governor’s letter transmitting the nomination cited Utah Code sections 67-1-1 and 67-1-2.

The Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee reported a favorable recommendation before the full Senate vote, and Senator Hinkins moved the consent. Committee chair Senator Darren R. Owens told senators the confirmation hearing was “the most attended” he had seen and asked that Pearson and his family be recognized in the gallery after the vote.

Pearson, who told the committee he grew up in Monticello, introduced his wife Heidi, daughter Caitlin and sons Trey and Wyatt, and his parents-in-law Val and Susan Peterson. He described priorities he intends to bring to the agency, saying agriculture work in Utah touches food security, water, public lands and grazing. “I’m very energized,” Pearson said, and said he was “very humbled” by the confirmation.

After the roll call, President Adams said the Senate would resolve into a committee of the whole so Pearson could speak and be introduced to members and guests. Senators then voted to return to the floor and formally conclude the session’s business.

Formal action: the motion to consent to Kelly Pearson’s appointment passed by roll call vote, tally 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absent.

Why it matters: The executive director of the Department of Agriculture and Food oversees state programs affecting farmers, ranchers, food safety, and grazing on public lands — areas Pearson highlighted in his remarks.

No effective date for Pearson’s tenure was stated on the floor during the session.","The Utah Senate on a voice and roll-call vote consented to Governor Spencer J. Cox's appointment of Kelly Pearson as executive director/commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, 26–0 with three absent. Pearson introduced his family and outlined priorities including food security, water and grazing issues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves slate of governor’s appointments to boards, trustees and commissions

Senate confirms two Transportation Commission nominees as senators debate representation

Utah Senate unanimously confirms Kelly Pearson as agriculture commissioner