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House narrowly approves funding request for additional highway patrol troopers after tense budget debate
Summary
After a heated floor debate about enforcement strategy and budget priorities, the House approved HB9 to add highway patrol troopers; the bill passed 47–21 amid discussion of an approximately $6.7 million fiscal note and whether enforcement or behavior change is a better safety remedy.
The Utah House voted 47–21 on Jan. 23 to approve HB9, a bill seeking funding for additional highway patrol troopers. Representative Gary Abare, sponsor, said the department needs 80 troopers to address traffic safety shortfalls caused by population growth and road construction.
Abare emphasized that the highway patrol is stretched thin: vehicle miles traveled have risen sharply since 1985 and trooper time is heavily obligated to non-patrol duties. He presented a fiscal note of roughly $6,736,000 for the current year and $360,000 for the following year and said additional patrols would improve safety and response times.
Opponents questioned whether additional troopers were the most cost-effective way to reduce crashes, suggesting enforcement strategy and public compliance with speed limits also matter. Representative Jordan Tanner and others warned the fiscal note is large given current budget conditions and called for realism about funding limits. Supporters argued more troopers would reduce fatalities and improve public safety, citing increases in traffic and constrained existing patrol coverage.
After extended debate over policy and the budget, and a procedural motion to end debate, the House approved HB9 on a recorded vote. The bill will be sent to the Senate for its consideration.
