Utah launches National Federalism Initiative; UVU to run training, host summit

The Utah Commission on Federalism on May 13 outlined steps to implement House Bill 488, the statute that establishes what members called the National Federalism Initiative and assigns duties to the Center for Constitutional Studies and the Herbert Institute at Utah Valley University (UVU).

The commission’s chair, House Representative Ken Ivory, said the initiative’s purpose is to “restore structure” in federal–state relations and to build a durable, apolitical infrastructure so states have clearer roles "where decisions should be made versus what a particular decision should be." He told the commission the effort will focus on structure rather than partisan outcomes.

The commission described three pillars for HB 488 implementation: continuing education for state agency officials, an interstate summit to build collaboration and an effort to reconstitute a national federalism organization. Matthew Brogdon, senior director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU, said the center will help create curriculum and host the…