Utah House clears major budget bills and dozens of measures, sending appropriations to the Senate

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Jan. 27 approved a package of budget bills and cleared numerous Senate-originated measures, advancing funding and policy for higher education, infrastructure and veteran services.

Representative Miles, presenting Senate Bill 1, described a $2.2 billion higher-education base budget that covers operating and capital costs for the state's degree-granting and technical institutions. "This is our higher education base budget," Miles said, summarizing funding sources as roughly $900 million from the education fund, about $400 million from the general fund and about $900 million from dedicated credits (tuition). The House passed SB1 71-0.

Lawmakers also approved first-substitute Senate Bill 4, the business, economic development and labor base budget, which Representative Watkins said appropriates about $383 million in total funds, including $161 million from general and education funds, and provides ongoing pass-through funding for entities tied to GoUtah. The House passed the bill 72-0.

Representative Sagers presented first-substitute Senate Bill 6 — the infrastructure and general government (IGG) base budget — which includes capital budgets, transportation and other administrative items directed by the Executive Appropriations Committee. The House approved SB6 and returned it to the Senate for signature.

Representative Last described Senate Bill 7, which funds agencies overseen by the Executive Appropriations Committee, including Veterans and Military Affairs, the Utah National Guard and the Capitol Preservation Board. "For all funding sources, this bill appropriates $171 million," Last said, noting about $100 million is federal funds; the House passed SB7 69-0.

In addition to the appropriations, the chamber moved or passed a string of mostly noncontroversial measures: Senate Bill 17 (grazing advisory board amendments) passed 74-0; SB31 (water-rights administrative adjustments for small amounts of water) passed 74-0 after the sponsor explained that "small amount of water" covers scenarios such as one residence, a quarter acre of irrigable land or 10 head of livestock; SB29 and SB30 (sunset extensions) passed unanimously; SB34 (statewide radio system restricted account) was encircled then passed; SB37 (search-and-rescue advisory board) passed 73-0; SB27 (PowerSport Vehicle Franchise Advisory Board amendments) passed 75-0; and SB42 (higher-education performance goals) passed 73-0.

Representative Brooks framed SB34 as an interim fix to remove an expiring sunset on a restricted account dedicated to radio-system upgrades and oversight. "It's in a restricted account, has plenty of oversight, so they can use that funds when they need to use it," Brooks said.

House leaders moved several bills quickly under suspension of the rules to meet a noon deadline for appropriations, and a number of committee reports were adopted earlier in the session. Several bills read for first reading were referred to the House Rules Committee.

The bills approved on the floor will be returned to the Senate for the signatures required to enact the measures and, for the major appropriation bills, to complete the budget process. The House adjourned to reconvene Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.