Executive Appropriations Committee approves $25.5M ongoing, $40.7M one-time budget additions and authorizes HB 3 consolidation

The Utah Legislature’s Executive Appropriations Committee on March 5 approved additional end-of-session budget adjustments that add about $25,500,000 in ongoing general income-tax-funded spending and $40,700,000 in one-time general income-tax funds, and authorized staff to consolidate committee-approved appropriations into House Bill 3.

Mr. Ball, who presented the packet to the committee, told members, "So, these sheets then would add in another $25,500,000 from the general education funds or excuse me, income tax funds. General income tax funds ... And that's ongoing and then $40,700,000 in 1 time general income tax funds." He explained positive numbers are new expenditures and negative numbers are savings or revenue offsets.

Senator Stevenson moved to adopt the orange packet of one-time and ongoing changes and to approve a companion yellow packet of consolidated motions that provide intent language and technical cleanups. Mr. Allred, who reviewed the yellow packet for the committee, said the yellow sheet "complements the orange sheet" and places language required to clarify or limit how funds in the orange packet can be used, along with technical clarifications agencies requested.

The motion to adopt the orange packet passed with one recorded no vote; the chair asked the dissenting member to identify themself and Senator Reby was named as the lone no. The yellow packet passed unanimously.

Senator Stevenson also moved to "authorize legislative staff to prepare the ... House Bill 3 Appropriations and Adjustments as an Executive Appropriations Committee bill," and specified that staff and the fiscal analyst may make technical changes, including changes between funding sources and fiscal years, to balance the overall budget. That motion passed unanimously.

The meeting opened with the committee approving the minutes from Feb. 27, 2026, and concluded after brief tributes and remarks thanking Senator Stevenson for his years of service on appropriations; Senator Stevenson told colleagues he will be stepping away from the role and praised committee staff for their work. The committee adjourned following the closing motion.

The committee record does not show a roll-call count of yes votes for the orange packet; the only recorded dissent was the single no by Senator Reby.