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House narrowly passes $250,000 appropriation request for Berryman Institute
Summary
House Bill 236 seeks an ongoing appropriation (up to $250,000) to match funds for the Berryman Institute at Utah State University; sponsor described Institute research and cited over $1 billion in annual vehicle–deer collision damage; the House approved the measure 38-41 and forwarded it to the Senate.
House Bill 236, an appropriations request to provide matching funds for the Berryman Institute at Utah State University, passed the Utah House by a narrow margin.
Representative Thomas Boone Hatch presented the measure and described the Institute’s work resolving wildlife–human conflicts, citing research that has helped Utah Department of Transportation reduce vehicle–deer collisions in one area by 60%–70% and stating that "there's over a billion dollars in damage each year from vehicle and deer collisions." Hatch said the Institute historically relied on federal and private grants and is now seeking local matching funds to demonstrate local support.
Floor Q&A focused on the Institute’s operating budget and whether the $250,000 request represented an ongoing commitment. Representative Hatch said the appropriation would be prioritized through the Legislature’s budget process and acknowledged it might be lower than the requested amount.
The bill recorded a close vote: HB236 passed the House 38 yes and 41 no (transcript records a close passage count) with 6 absent and will be transmitted to the Senate for potential inclusion in appropriations later in the session.
