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 summit. Troy Smith, director of the Federalism Initiative at the Center for Constitutional Studies, said the center has been asked to "organize an annual conference for state representatives and leaders" and to study models for an interstate commission.

Justin Jones, director of the Herbert Institute of Public Policy at UVU, said the university advanced one-time funds to hire staff and cover summit costs while state funds are scheduled to begin on July 1. Jones said Herbert has hired two interns to support the commission’s implementation work and that the institute will coordinate outreach to agencies and other partners.

The commission said the summit will invite roughly 50 state legislators and executive leaders from both parties, and that Governor Spencer Cox has agreed to participate in a keynote panel. Troy Smith said the summit is scheduled for September 25–26 in Salt Lake City and will include scholars drawn from the federalism field. The summit will also solicit delegate input on whether to form a national, state‑led federalism organization and how it should operate.

Commission members emphasized outreach to a broad set of states and organizations. Representative Jill Covert and other legislators asked that UVU and the commission coordinate with national intergovernmental organizations, state policy networks and groups such as the Utah Association of Counties to avoid duplicating effort and to attract balanced delegations.

Gus Harb, legal counsel for the commission, reviewed the commission’s statutory duties and pointed members to the commission materials and the statutory criteria used to evaluate federal laws. He noted HB 488 also tasks the Center for Constitutional Studies and the Herbert Institute with developing education programs and organizing the annual conference.

Several federal delegation staff members attended and described policy topics their offices are watching — including the Antiquities Act and efforts to curtail executive-branch rulemaking — but they also told the commission they want to support Utah’s outreach. Justin Anthony, who spoke for Senator Mike Lee, highlighted land-management issues and called for statutory reforms to reduce swings caused by changes in presidential administrations.

The commission asked voting and nonvoting members to populate a shared contact list of state counterparts so UVU and commission staff can invite appropriate delegations to the September summit. Representative Thompson said the commission will distribute a Google form asking members to provide names of potential delegates and partners.

Next steps outlined by the commission include (1) a series of continuing-education sessions with state agencies starting in the coming weeks, (2) preparation of case studies and summit materials before September and (3) a report-back and further planning at the commission’s June meeting. No new legislative votes were taken at this meeting beyond routine approvals of minutes.

The commission and UVU officials said they will provide written materials and a one‑page summary of the National Federalism Initiative to members ahead of the next meeting.