Panel backs bill letting wildlife offices hand out voter‑registration information at license sales

Sponsor testimony and committee discussion on Feb. 14 described House Bill 423 as a narrow measure to expand opportunities for voter registration by allowing sellers of hunting and fishing licenses to provide applicants with voter‑registration information and printed materials.

The sponsor said the substitute limits the role of the Division of Wildlife Resources to supplying materials and information rather than collecting or holding private voter‑registration data; the privacy office advised that the division should not retain registration forms or personal data. Committee members noted that other state agencies already provide voter‑registration information (for example, the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Workforce Services) and asked whether statistics exist for the number of license purchasers who are not registered to vote; the sponsor said statewide figures were not available at the hearing.

Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch testified to clerks' general support for the concept, saying the substitute appeared more permissive and included protections around voter‑registration forms; he said clerks had not taken a formal position on the substitute because the clerks' committee had not met but that he did not anticipate opposition. Marilyn Mominee (commenter) later confirmed the substitute addressed privacy concerns she had raised.

The committee adopted the first substitute by voice vote and then voted unanimously to send first substitute HB 423 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.