House approves $569 million natural resources and environment budget with ARPA allocations

The Utah House approved the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality base budget (Substitute House Bill 5) on Jan. 26, funding agencies that include the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Representative Barlow said the bill appropriates $569,000,000 for FY2023, including $138,000,000 from the general fund. The substitute includes one‑time general fund support for last year’s fire suppression expenses (recorded in the remarks as '4,50000000' dollars), $10,000,000 one‑time for acquisition of Cinnamon Creek Trust Lands, and ARPA reallocations such as $25,000,000 to the Department of Environmental Quality for drinking‑water projects and $20,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture and Food for agricultural water optimization.

The bill also directs DEQ to submit a prioritized list of statewide needs for drinking and wastewater infrastructure and the sponsor said about 30% of the subcommittee budget comes from fee revenues. With summation waived, voting opened and the Clerk announced House passage, 70–0. The measure will be transmitted to the Senate.