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Utah House passes amended HB 1 appropriations bill after contested debate on CHIP, drug courts and senior services
Summary
The House amended and passed HB 1 (Appropriations Act) after debate over one-time funding and targeted restorations for CHIP coverage, drug courts and senior services; final House vote 55–17; bill referred to the Senate.
The Utah House voted to pass the Appropriations Act, HB 1, as amended after extended debate over the use of one-time funds to restore several programs, including a proposal to remove the cap on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), restore funding for drug courts and add one-time support for senior services such as Meals on Wheels. The final voice and roll-call action resulted in HB 1 passing the House 55–17 and being sent to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Arrant offered an amendment that would use Centennial Highway Fund savings to restore benefits: "It would be used first to remove the cap on the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP," she said, and described additional restorations for drug courts and services for seniors. Supporters argued the targeted restorations addressed urgent needs and leveraged federal matches; opponents warned that relying on one-time money risks creating unsustainable ongoing obligations.
Representative Alexander cautioned that the allocations being proposed were one-time money and that creating new ongoing programs with one-time funds could lead to future funding shortfalls. Representative Bigelow offered a substitute motion presenting a smaller package of restorations tied to the governor’s priorities, which included federal matching funds for homeland security-related public safety items.
After debate and amendment votes, the House adopted the substitute amendment and then approved the overall bill as amended. The transcript records the final tally: "having received 55 yes votes and 17 no votes, [HB 1] passes this body, and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration." The bill now moves to the Senate where further action may follow.
No specific implementation schedule or effective dates for the amendments were given during floor action; sponsors said some restorations were one-time expenditures and that certain items were intended to draw federal matching funds.
