Committee backs review of federal-fund exposure and creation of dependency dashboard

Representative Roberts told the committee HB 249 (first substitute) grew from Federalism Commission work assessing the state's budget fragility when federal funding levels change.

Roberts said two steps are central: require LFA to send the federal portion of its budget stress testing to the Federalism Commission for review and recommendations to the Executive Appropriations Committee, and fund a federal-dependency dashboard that will use Utah State analytics expertise to quantify the state's relationship to federal funds.

"It's just putting some extra eyes on the risks that our state budget has associated with federal funds," Roberts said, framing the measure as prudential oversight. Representative Cutler asked why recommendations would go to EAC rather than the full Legislature; Roberts said EAC handles budgeting and the referral avoids duplication.

Representative Cutler moved the committee favorably recommend the first substitute to the full House; the motion carried by voice vote and the bill was reported out favorably.