House adopts first substitute to HB 1, advancing $7 billion public education base budget

The Utah House on Jan. 23 adopted and passed the first substitute to HB 1, the public education base budget for FY 2025. Representative Susan Pulsipher moved adoption of the first substitute and floor managers summarized the bill’s major funding elements before members voted.

Representative Polson (floor summary) outlined the bill’s major fiscal components: $7,000,000,000 in total FY2025 funding; approximately $4,800,000,000 from state funds, $881,500,000 in state fund transfers, and $2,900,000,000 from other sources. The package includes $9.1 million one-time and $28.1 million ongoing for student enrollment growth. Sponsors also noted a 3.8% increase in the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) value, costing about $165.3 million ongoing. The bill modifies a prior-year plus growth hold harmless and limits one-time hold harmless in certain enrollment-decline situations; sponsors said statutory deadlines were removed and additional reporting language was added in the first substitute.

Representative Pulsipher waived summation; voting was opened and closed, and the first substitute to HB 1 passed by a recorded vote of 71–0. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.

Next step: HB 1 (first substitute) is sent to the Utah Senate for further consideration as part of the FY2025 budget process.