The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee voted unanimously to advance three gubernatorial nominees to the full Senate following brief confirmation hearings.

Judd Cook, nominated to serve as a member at-large on the Board of Economic Opportunity for the remainder of a term expiring May 15, 2026, described a long career in the natural-gas industry and said he wants to contribute to the state’s economic development. "I am the president of Questar Gas, vice president and general manager of Enbridge Gas, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho," Cook said, noting the company "serve[s] 1,200,000 customers" and operates "roughly 22,000 miles of pipe in the ground." He told the committee Utah’s low energy costs, education pipeline and focused industry recruitment are strengths, and he identified permitting inconsistency across municipalities as an area that could be improved.

The committee chair asked for examples of permitting reforms that would speed projects; Senator Stevenson asked specifically about practical steps. Cook said differing municipal rules, variable fees and inconsistent rules about street access and construction slow projects, and that "if we had some . . . near consistency, I think it would make it a lot easier." Senator Stevenson moved to advance Cook’s nomination; the motion passed unanimously.

Brigham Tomko, nominated to replace Caitlin Roberts as a member associated with a targeted industry on the Board of Economic Opportunity, said he is motivated by job creation and has a background in starting businesses and serving on state economic boards. Tomko said he has helped allocate state funds for rural economic development and described founding and selling companies, including a software firm sold to Rosetta Stone, current ownership of a market-research firm, and co-founding Resilience Health, a company focused on long-term recovery for mental-health and addiction patients. Senator Stevenson moved to advance Tomko’s nomination; the committee voted to recommend him to the full Senate unanimously.

Ryan Paul, nominated to the Board of State History to replace Tara Barish, appeared by video and summarized his work as a history professor at Southern Utah University and as a public historian who has worked for Utah State Parks and with the Utah Museums Association. Paul described public history as museum- and community-facing work and said he aims to bring nuanced historical stories to wider audiences. Senator Kwan moved to advance Paul’s nomination; the committee voted unanimously to send the nomination to the full Senate.

All three nominations were advanced without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript; the committee chair called for voice votes, and each motion was met with unanimous "aye." No members of the public spoke on the nominees during the hearing. The committee adjourned after the votes.

The committee’s action moves each nomination to the full Senate, where the chamber will take further action on confirmation.