House concurs with Senate on tobacco-fund transfer to help balance state budget

The Utah House agreed to Senate amendments to the third substitute of House Bill 72, a measure that reallocates tobacco‑settlement and trust funds to help the state’s budget for fiscal year 2002–2003.

Representative Dee Hogue, speaking for the bill, described the changes in the substitute: certain percentage lines were altered to 80 percent and other adjustments shifted funds so that ‘‘it takes $5,500,000 for the year 02/2003 fiscal year from the permanent state trust fund and appropriates it to the general fund,’’ with an additional appropriation of about $10,000,000 noted in sponsor remarks.

Hogue warned members that the move requires a supermajority to take effect. ‘‘We need 75%. This takes, super majority to pass this bill out here. It takes 75% vote as well as the governor's concurrence and signature before we can do this,’’ Hogue said on the floor.

Members asked detailed questions about how the changes would be implemented and whether the reallocations would reduce dedicated program funding; the sponsor and appropriations members said the substitute aims to preserve key program funding while freeing money to meet budget needs. Representative King and floor managers stressed the bill's central role in the budget negotiations.

After debate, the House voted to concur with the Senate amendments and the clerk recorded the passage; the bill will be returned for the governor's and Senate's signature process as required by law.

The measure temporarily redirects trust funds for budget support but preserves mechanisms intended to protect programmatic appropriations and requires the higher threshold and gubernatorial approval to take effect.