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House creates committee to study feasibility of a Utah spaceport
Summary
Lawmakers passed a substitute to Senate Bill 62 to establish a Spaceport Exploration Committee to examine the feasibility and criteria for a potential Utah spaceport, citing the state’s aerospace and defense economic ties.
The Utah House passed a substituted version of Senate Bill 62 to create a Spaceport Exploration Committee charged with studying the feasibility of a spaceport in Utah and establishing evaluation criteria.
Representative Val Peterson, sponsor on the floor, said the committee would consider the Utah Test and Training Range and other state assets while evaluating opportunities tied to the growth of commercial space activity by companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. Peterson noted the state’s aerospace and defense sector accounts for roughly 20 percent of Utah’s economy and supports about 300,000 jobs, framing the committee as a way to explore potential economic development.
The House adopted a third substitute for SB 62 and moved the bill forward. Final passage on the floor was recorded at 63 yes votes and 8 no votes; the bill will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
Sponsor comments emphasized establishing committee membership and criteria rather than immediate project commitments.
