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

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.