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House hears HB 166 to let state cemetery grants fund restoration as well as digitization
Summary
House members heard Representative Winder’s HB 166 to allow Division of State History cemetery grants to fund restoration of pioneer cemeteries and headstones in addition to record digitization; summation was waived and voting was opened.
Representative Winder presented House Bill 166 during a time-certain floor hour, asking members to support expanding the Division of State History’s cemetery and burials grant program. The current $25,000 general‑fund grant program was described as focused on digitization of records; HB 166 would allow those grant dollars also to be used for restoration of headstones and repair of pioneer cemetery sites.
Representative Winder noted staff and allies from the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts were present, including Amy Berry (cemeteries and burials program manager) and Kevin Phalas (deputy director of state history). Winder said digitization progress has made strides and the program now faces growing demand to restore deteriorating markers and cemetery fabric; the bill is intended to let existing funds address both recordkeeping and physical preservation needs.
Discussion was limited on the floor and summation by the sponsor was waived; voting was opened. The transcript does not record a final floor tally for HB 166 during the morning session. The bill had been heard previously in Economic Development and Workforce Services and was brought forward as a time-certain item with agency staff in attendance to provide context.
Next steps: voting opened on HB 166 on the morning floor; members expected to resolve it during the scheduled floor period.
