House adopts Utah Tomorrow strategic-planning resolution, sends it to Senate

The Utah House adopted House Concurrent Resolution 3 on Jan. 28, endorsing the Utah Tomorrow strategic-planning goals intended to shift state budgeting toward measurable, mission-driven outcomes. Representative Kim R. Birmingham, sponsor of the resolution, told colleagues the project assembled public hearings, task forces and agency input to create specific goals and measurement benchmarks.

Birmingham said the process was “reinventing government,” urging appropriators to ask whether proposed spending advances those goals. “With those measurements, then we'll be able to assess and really evaluate our process,” she said, describing benchmarks that will let lawmakers determine whether program actions produce the intended results.

Supporters from both parties praised the nonpartisan process. Representative Duarte spoke in favor and highlighted Birmingham’s role in sustaining continuity through committee turnover; Representative Voskisson and others described the effort as a way to increase accountability and align appropriations with goals.

The resolution was moved, debated and adopted as amended; the clerk recorded the vote at 31 affirmative and 0 negative. The House transmitted the adopted concurrent resolution to the Senate for further consideration. The House scheduled follow-up briefings and distributed copies of the Utah Tomorrow document to members for review.