Utah House approves four Senate budget bills and a package of state measures

SALT LAKE CITY — On Jan. 30, 2025, the Utah House of Representatives voted to approve four Senate budget bills — covering public education, natural resources and agriculture, criminal justice and social services — and passed a group of House measures on topics including petroleum storage tank oversight, rollback tax funds for agricultural land preservation, and organizational changes at the State Tax Commission.

The education budget bill, Senate Bill 1, was described by Representative White as the primary operating appropriation for public schools. "It appropriates more than $8,300,000,000 in total funding for FY 2026," White said during floor remarks, noting an increase in the WPU (weighted pupil unit) value of 4% and about $178.6 million in ongoing cost tied to that inflationary adjustment. The House approved SB 1 by voice tally and later recorded 73 yea votes and 0 nays.

House approval of Senate Bill 5, the natural resources, agriculture and environmental quality budget, included one-time and ongoing allocations across several agencies. Representative Barto summarized the bill, saying it includes a $5,000,000 one-time grant to replace the dam on Panguitch Lake and other items; the House passed SB 5, 74–0. Senate Bill 6, the criminal justice base budget, was presented as the starting point for criminal-justice-related agency appropriations; the House passed SB 6, 74–0. Senate Bill 7, the social services base budget, was reported to be heavily funded by federal dollars (the presenter cited roughly $6.8 billion in federal funds and about $1.5 billion in general fund) and passed 75–0.

On the House side, first substitute House Bill 18 (Petroleum Storage Tank Amendments) was described as an…