Utah House passes $6.3 billion public education base budget, raises WPU to $3,908

The Utah House on Jan. 26 approved Substitute House Bill 1, the public education base budget for fiscal year 2023, appropriating more than $6.3 billion and increasing the weighted pupil unit (WPU) to $3,908.

Representative Lisonbee, speaking to the House, said the bill “appropriates, over $6,300,000,000 for our school funding for fiscal year 2023” and sets the WPU at $3,908 to fund projected student counts, an increase of 2.6% with an estimated recurring cost of about $94 million. He also described funding shifts that include approximately $3.9 billion from state general and uniform school funds and additional transfers to restricted accounts.

The substitute makes technical corrections — including a decimal correction in the WPU calculation — and extends limited budgetary flexibility for local education agencies through FY2023, language initially adopted during the 2021 general session in response to the pandemic. The bill also deposits $121 million of ongoing funds into the public education stabilization account, according to the sponsor.

After brief discussion was waived, the House opened and closed voting; the Clerk announced the bill passed 70–0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill’s passage funds routine operations and includes the WPU increase described by the sponsor. Lawmakers said the substitute is intended to provide a steady base of funding regardless of how the session’s broader budget negotiations conclude.