[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6321466,"mediaKeyId","2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918","parentId",2350357,"title","Executive Appropriations Committee hears subcommittee budget reports; approves minutes and a social services funding adjustment","audioSeconds",2548,"startMs",37000,"endMs",2585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918&start=37&end=2585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918/thumbnail_37000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321466/Utah/Executive-Appropriations-Committee-hears-subcommittee-budget-reports-approves-minutes-and-a-social-services-funding-adjustment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321466-1a1f92d618aee6a198d9ae6b13c8ebfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924633&Signature=EExqXhgXWQz6WAbKGl4F~3Mmwxz95sjIyPAtv~OuYvsQh8zJXAao2bxNsA~GI4JfapVWA8Ab9dn5~Kz-1FrvrS0j9atx3c4BwuFflKRL8YI4l92Rz7Q~fa~diaTEX6WgvW8QpaJnOXQ8QkQtvuM8vw0p1QpPuy0246HDYCL4wuiy8gyGdpJ-bgjZlOdg7k5mBnCDeTd7d6uon96I82EaAVxXWHrL3PTgxLi7MOMb5JScdPuV3RIUzG5UkNzgI6yOLB-ivValnhtUXKS6EEry7g2em9oG45JcmOHHL3hi1EeNuZ2gYXhz4pr5FcjoSxH3BbGjMo1MsB8w3qgONMv4Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Executive Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 heard reports from multiple appropriation subcommittees and took several routine and budget-related votes, including approval of minutes and a social services funding adjustment.

The committee opened by approving the minutes of its Feb. 18 meeting by voice vote. Members then received reports from the criminal justice, public education, natural resources, agriculture & environmental quality, and social services appropriation subcommittees. Each subcommittee presented prioritized ongoing and one-time funding requests and internal reallocations intended to fit available revenue and statutory constraints.

Criminal justice subcommittee: Presenters said the subcommittee considered about 20 reduction items totaling roughly $13,000,000 in one-time cuts and $5,000,000 in ongoing reductions and produced a reallocation list covering about 34 items. The subcommittee said public safety — law enforcement, courts and corrections — was its top priority, and it identified several items that may qualify for opioid-settlement funding, including fentanyl-interdiction personnel and task force resources. The presenters noted that if opioid-settlement funds are used, some general fund requests could be freed up.

Public education subcommittee: Presenters reported the subcommittee reviewed numerous ongoing and one-time requests. They recommended five ongoing appropriations totaling about $109,100,000 and 22 one-time requests totaling roughly $234,500,000. Highlights included a discretionary WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) value increase of about $43,700,000 (characterized as a 1% increase), a statutory equalization adjustment tied to WPU, and set-aside funding of about $29,000,000 for future Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind facility needs. The subcommittee also described internal reallocations of ongoing spending and one-time reductions to fund high priorities and preserve a public education stabilization account reserve.

Natural resources, agriculture and environmental quality: That subcommittee reported prioritizing prevention efforts, including funding for Quagga mussel containment (dip tanks), cloud seeding, wildfire prevention and grants for food processors. The subcommittee indicated it reallocated roughly $3,800,000 in one-time state funds toward high priorities and approved fee changes and technical corrections noted in its report.

Social services: The social services subcommittee reported reviewing 75 budget building blocks and identifying $48,000,000 in ongoing savings for potential internal reallocation. The subcommittee recommended limiting ongoing opioid-settlement spending to approximately $4,500,000 and discussed a Medicaid dental shift tied to an existing contract and RFA. During the meeting, a motion was made on the social services packet to reduce a one-time reallocation related to shifting Medicaid dental to the University of Utah from $60,659,700 to $34,189,500 — a reduction of $26,470,200 — and to add the $26,470,200 amount to the subcommittee’s one-time priority list. The committee approved that motion unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve minutes of Feb. 18, 2025 — passed by voice vote.
- Reduce one-time reallocation for “shift Medicaid dental all to University of Utah” from $60,659,700 to $34,189,500 and add $26,470,200 to the subcommittee’s one-time priority list — moved during social services presentation; carried unanimously.
- Motion to adjourn — carried by voice vote.

Ending: Subcommittees provided prioritized lists and reallocations for EAC consideration in the larger budget package. The committee approved procedural items and a specific social services reallocation motion; many subcommittee requests will require further action in EAC and the full Legislature to become binding appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Executive Appropriations Committee - February 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee received reports from criminal justice, public education, natural resources and social services appropriation subcommittees, approved the Feb. 18 minutes, and unanimously passed a motion adjusting one-time Medicaid dental reallocation funding to the University of Utah.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321468,"Point of the Mountain’s Convergence Hall seeks state funding to build large innovation campus",357,220000,577000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918&start=220&end=577","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918/thumbnail_220000.jpg","/articles/6321468/Utah/Point-of-the-Mountains-Convergence-Hall-seeks-state-funding-to-build-large-innovation-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321468-db7e547da3194855e3c9b3056b5faf0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924633&Signature=Mm7X1bPkQz3hwe0lgKYNiZutGy2SMi8UdRN1Y4rS0jkYirB1C90Qo12qrBZr6U7PKW3qwyQpDDeSkbc0LnTrMcOEx5zirbVMKhoU1uKZXHbkNFi3E6ty6eiZ~46uRszEp7rpVG4oR0si41r8gcVYvyaDf7molkC~TSE7yYLbk05GnABD1xA84w64VG3xHl0Cw2nNDgh1OghNih6BakzKxWzTydd9Wv9RbcCcngAoYoIHY0LeGO5tECBw5Uu7NGPo7StPDmIQetZst7QA-ubQMjM4d1N9dm~M0TiM445RogW2DUkmw~BSBJjETsD0Mu0CHQdSNDmr1DpXHoVd4AeirA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Convergence Hall at the Point of the Mountain presented to the Executive Appropriations Committee and described a request the presenters characterized as two one-time appropriations of $50,000,000 each to build Convergence Hall, a state-owned innovation campus at the Pointe project.

Representative – and co-chair of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority – introduced the proposal and said the building is a state asset intended to drive industry, higher education and government partnerships. Angela Smith, program director for Convergence Hall, told the committee the campus will be modeled on large global innovation hubs such as Station F in Paris and T-Hub in India and aims to accept more than 200 startups, provide corporate innovation programming, and host dedicated university spaces. The presentation said the campus will include up to 200 dorm rooms for students and entrepreneurs, a policy lab, and programming focused on sectors the governor has prioritized: artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, energy and life sciences.

During questioning, Senator Reby expressed concern about using state funds to build space that could be used by wealthy corporations. Presenters replied that the building’s primary purpose is to support startups and universities; corporate programs would be paying tenants or partners rather than primary beneficiaries of state construction funds. A committee member asked whether the request was two separate $50 million one-time appropriations; presenters confirmed the ask was structured as two one-time appropriations of $50,000,000.

The committee did not vote on the Convergence Hall request at the meeting. Presenters said Convergence Hall will host accelerators, corporate innovation programs, and student-focused initiatives and that the state building would be a “physical embodiment” of innovation and workforce development goals, but they did not provide a final financing plan, timelines for construction, or specific operating agreements with universities or private partners during the presentation.

Ending: No appropriation was adopted during the meeting; the request was presented for committee consideration.","Representatives of Convergence Hall asked the Executive Appropriations Committee for two one-time $50 million appropriations to build an innovation campus at the Point of the Mountain project, describing plans for startups, university partnerships and dorm housing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321470,"Executive Appropriations Committee approves $10 million loan to revive Tooele County rail link",70,74000,144000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918&start=74&end=144","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350357-970df7452a598e0dda20565ddcfaf918/thumbnail_74000.jpg","/articles/6321470/Utah/Executive-Appropriations-Committee-approves-10-million-loan-to-revive-Tooele-County-rail-link","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321470-162e45d9a42784b54e24c76c12fc1c25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924633&Signature=Ay5VaUbBPijK-q4csiVAbD7Fo7NK-tIqEiEAePWQbC1ZsjJQaxWHfgwOuOtHpPOBNeeWqZBAVMJ1HddIsggtoOgmd6YnM6nrjIG2c365hvZCL6hiKR80Y1y5fGmXqCgJaS1RWxYg99erAW-VvsfDW6A8HrRByXTuHIfflh7qr6gJixrXemJw2k2LydizdKZvVZggH9Zq6xI2EUVW2kqCF~0ABTD8E7U7KEoRN7Zt2T4n24-mmSfwJ7YNIyn3HI0kgPLaegqTfv7LWQbcTYSBknWOtbGntglvXgujZSflwt493SS~xj9FnT8SgQ~hmuqOtzyCYGYIT6dORH8GTwo5Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Executive Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 approved a $10 million infrastructure loan from the Utah Inland Port Authority to rebuild and extend rail in Tooele County.

The loan, recommended by the port’s loan committee and approved by the Inland Port Board, will be for 10 years at a 3.45% interest rate and is intended to revive a six-mile abandoned Union Pacific line and construct five miles of new track to link the Lakeview Multimodal Business Park to a Class I rail line and transload facility near Burmester, Utah. The Authority estimated the project could remove about 5,000 trucks from roads in the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake City.

Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority, presented the loan background and said the request originates from the Authority Infrastructure Bank, a program funded by the Legislature roughly four years ago with $65,000,000 for logistical infrastructure. Ariane Gibson, the port authority’s chief financial officer, handled the formal presentation and outlined the loan committee’s recommendation, which named the Savage to Willow Railroad as the recipient.

A committee member moved to advance the item and approve the loan as presented; the chair called the voice vote and the motion carried without recorded opposition.

The loan package as described will be used for track rehabilitation and new construction to connect the Lakeview Multimodal Business Park to Class I rail. The committee did not set an implementation schedule, name a specific department assignee for construction oversight, nor specify additional required state permits; those details were not provided in the presentation.

The discussion recorded in the transcript consisted of the port’s presentation and brief committee acknowledgement; no amendments to the loan terms were offered on the record.

Votes at the meeting also included routine business items and other budget motions (see the meeting summary article for the full list of votes and the social services funding adjustment that passed later in the hearing).

Ending: The committee approved the loan and advanced the port authority’s request to the next steps of the process; further procedural or contracting steps were not detailed during the presentation.","The committee approved a $10 million loan from the Utah Inland Port Authority to rebuild abandoned track and connect Lakeview Multimodal Business Park to Class I rail, a project the port authority says will remove an estimated 5,000 trucks from Salt Lake City-area roads.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Executive Appropriations Committee hears subcommittee budget reports; approves minutes and a social services funding adjustment

Point of the Mountain’s Convergence Hall seeks state funding to build large innovation campus

Executive Appropriations Committee approves $10 million loan to revive Tooele County rail link