Committee splits on debate-committee bill; substitute fails, motion to hold succeeds

Representative Abbott presented HB 557, debate committee amendments, proposing a debate committee housed at the Utah Valley University (UVU) Herbert Institute to organize, produce and sponsor mostly statewide debates (governor, attorney general, congressional races) and to fund that committee. He said universities provide educational synergies for student involvement in organizing and producing debates.

Justin Jones, director of the Herbert Institute at Utah Valley University, spoke in favor, saying a university-based committee would promote student engagement and nonpartisan policy conversations. Becky Edwards, co-chair of the existing Utah Debate Commission, and other members of the Utah Debate Commission — including co-chair/treasurer Phil Cooper and founding member Scott Howell — testified that the commission has been operating as an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) since 2014, hosting numerous debates statewide. They urged the legislature to send the bill to interim for additional study, arguing the bill’s proposed appointment structure (legislative and governor’s appointments) could threaten the commission’s long-standing independence and that the proposal risked favoring a single university.

Representative Ballard moved to hold HB 557 so sponsors and stakeholders could work through process and funding concerns. Representative Kyle subsequently offered a substitute motion to recommend HB 557 favorably; the substitute motion failed on roll call. After debate was closed, the committee voted to hold HB 557 (motion to hold passed 7–4 by roll call, with Representatives Roberts, Wilcox, Kyle and Malloy recorded as voting no). Committee members who supported holding cited concerns about process for university program expansion, potential double-dipping of taxpayer funds, and the need to engage the existing Utah Debate Commission and higher-education stakeholders for a collaborative solution.