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Utah House introduces base budget bills, applies 2% ongoing cut amid capital-gains uncertainty
Summary
Representatives received two base-budget bills that exclude one-time spending and apply a 2% across-the-board reduction (about $88 million) while revenue from capital gains remains uncertain; committees may later restore funds, and floor action on posted bills was deferred to upcoming days.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives opened its session with procedural business and the first reading of two base-budget measures, one of which covers the minimum school program. Representative Bigelow told members two bills were distributed to desks that set a baseline of ongoing funding and deliberately exclude one-time allocations.
Bigelow said the bills apply a 2% across-the-board reduction to ongoing budgets, a step he said reflects "about $88,000,000," and is intended to avoid treating roughly $100,000,000 of projected capital-gains revenue as ongoing until revenue estimates are clearer. He described the distributed bills as the "base or starting point" from which committees and the Legislature may later restore or reallocate funds.
"These bills solely include ongoing money that we can be assured will be there," Bigelow said, adding that the decision was intended to preserve flexibility while presenting a conservative baseline.
Representative Hutchings asked how members should expect the process to unfold if the Legislature decides to add funding later in the session. Bigelow replied that committees retain the authority to move funds between lines and recommend restorations, saying the bills "do not restrict the committee from any action it will take." He added it was likely committees and legislators would modify funding before the session ends, based on committee reviews and public input.
The reading clerk presented House Bill 1 (Minimum School Program base budget) and House Bill 238 (Low Speed Vehicle Amendments); both were read for the first time and sent to the rules committee. The Speaker emphasized that, although many bills are posted on the board, the House did not intend to take up most of them that day and would begin consideration the next day.
Representative Julie Fischer noted a revised House calendar is on members' desks and announced evening events, including an art exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda and receptions sponsored by the Utah Manufacturers Association and the Utah Beverage Association. The House adjourned on a motion by Representative Garn to reconvene Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.
What happens next: House leadership said they expect to address the base-budget bills later in the week; committees will continue budget hearings and may propose restorations or modifications before final passage.
(Reporting based on statements in the House session.)
