Senate approves $2.3 billion supplemental budget, sends House Bill 2 back to House

The Utah State Senate on Day 43 approved House Bill 2, a new fiscal‑year supplemental appropriations act that adds roughly $2.3 billion in appropriations and fund transfers to the state's operating and capital budgets.

Senator Stevenson, who presented the bill, said the measure "appropriates 2,300,000,000 including 754,000 or million, excuse me, from the general education funds" and transfers additional funds between accounts to complete appropriations for the coming fiscal year. He told colleagues the bill consolidates items and intent language approved by the Executive Appropriations Committee and appropriations subcommittees.

In floor action, Stevenson offered an amendment to change language on page 16, line 579 — deleting 'shall' and replacing it with 'may' — a change the Senate approved. With the amendment in place, the Senate voted under suspension of the rules to read the bill for second and third times and then took final passage.

The roll‑call vote was 25 yeas, 0 nays and 4 absent. President Adams directed that the bill be returned to the House for further consideration.

The bill contains numerous line items and transfers that the sponsor said build on earlier budget bills and Executive Appropriations Committee recommendations. Senator Stevenson offered to answer questions on particulars during committee follow‑up; floor debate on the Senate floor was limited and focused on the amendment and procedural steps.

The next procedural step is transmission to the House, where final concurrence and any technical corrections will be made before the bill goes to the governor.