House approves measure to add performance measures to governor's budget process

The House passed House Bill 104, which inserts performance and productivity measures into the budgetary procedures governing the governor's budget presentation for new programs and corrects an inconsistency concerning agency expenditure estimates.

Sponsor Representative Harvard told the House the change originated from recommendations by Charlie Johnson (then director of the Office of Planning and Budget) and would require agencies proposing new programs to state the program's intended outcomes and how success would be measured. "When someone proposes a new program that takes new money... ask them what's this program intended to do, and then ask them, how do we tell if it did it?" Harvard said.

Representatives asked how the requirement would be reported and whether it would apply to existing programs. Representative Olson asked whether the bill prescribes how the measures are reported; Harvard said the measures would come through the governor's budget process and appear to the Appropriations Committee via the governor's presentation and the analyst response. Representative Rever asked whether the requirement applies only to new programs; Harvard confirmed it applies initially to new programs and noted the law would take effect 60 days after the session ends, giving agencies time to adapt.

Supporters argued the change aligns with the Utah Tomorrow strategic planning focus on measurable outcomes; Representative Birmingham called it "the very heart of what we're trying to do in Utah Tomorrow." The House opened and closed debate and then voted 68–0 in favor. The bill will be referred to the Senate for consideration.