Committee moves forward bill reorganizing GOEO programs and shifting several functions

The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee passed out second substitute House Bill 542, a package of reorganizations for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) that dissolves the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission (UEOC), reassigns several subcommittees and moves portions of GOEO into other state agencies.

Representative Hawkins (presenting) said the bill eliminates the UEOC at the request of its members, preserves GOEO duties such as identifying targeted industries and unifying economic development efforts, and relocates the Talent, Education and Industry Alignment subcommittee to the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). The bill also transfers the broadband center (the entity administering last‑mile broadband grants) and its staff to the Department of Transportation, and moves the Utah Innovation Center to the Nucleus Institute at USHE to align commercialization and innovation supports.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the reorganization seeks leaner alignment and operational synergies — for example, the broadband center works closely with UDOT on middle‑mile and conduit placements — and it aims to position state economic programs to better support recruitment and innovation.

Committee discussion and outcome Committee members asked about possible effects on programs such as the Women in the Economy subcommittee; sponsor and members agreed to continue discussions about placing that work in appropriate legislative or executive structures. Representative Hawkins said he would work with legislators to preserve the work and suggested legislative task‑force placement was an option.

The committee adopted the second substitute and sent HB542 out with a favorable recommendation (vote recorded 3–1).