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House backs overhaul of USTAR research program, shifts funding and campus responsibilities
Summary
After hours of debate over mission and accountability, the House passed a fourth-substitute bill to refocus the Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) and move some researcher and building responsibilities to universities; the measure passed 62–10 and goes back to the Senate.
The Utah House on March 8 approved a fourth-substitute bill to change the scope and funding of the Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), voting 62–10 to send the measure back to the Senate for final consideration.
Sponsor Representative Webb described the proposal as a refocusing of USTAR after a difficult audit and restructuring in prior years. Under the language the principal researchers and certain buildings would be transferred to the research universities; research grants and support systems would remain with USTAR in a narrower role. Webb said the bill converts some funding to a one-time appropriation, creates a restricted account for workforce-development uses, and requires review of those programs during the interim.
Webb also addressed questions about university obligations: “The University of Utah has a 4, $4,000,000 plus obligation. What this bill does is it gives $2,000,000 ongoing for 10 years toward that $4,000,000 obligation,” he said, adding that an additional $2,000,000 in one-time money would be used over the next two years to help the university transition.
Supporters framed the bill as a measured course correction intended to preserve commercialization opportunities in the state while increasing oversight of how research dollars are spent. Representative Hutchings and others praised the sponsor’s outreach to stakeholders and stressed the need to keep research and jobs in Utah. Several members warned that program evaluation must continue during the interim and that university faculty and principal researchers should have clear channels for input.
The bill passed and will be returned to the Senate; floor discussion indicated further interim review and committee work are expected to evaluate whether state involvement in this space should continue in the same form.
