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Senate OKs plan to divert growth in general fund revenue toward transportation projects
Summary
The Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 229 to dedicate a portion of new general fund growth to transportation, moving the share toward an estimated 17% target by dedicating 40% of new growth until the goal is reached; the measure passed 18–8 amid objections that it would reduce funding for higher education and social services.
Senate Bill 229, a measure to direct new growth in the state general fund toward transportation projects, passed the Utah Senate on third reading after floor debate and a roll-call vote.
Senator Adams, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the gas tax is stagnant as a per-gallon levy and that the bill would dedicate 40 percent of new general fund growth until transportation funding reaches about 17 percent of the general fund — up from the roughly 8 percent currently earmarked. "This is an opportunity for us to dedicate growth through the general fund to transportation projects," Adams said, framing the bill as a way to preserve long-term road funding as vehicle fuel-tax revenues fail to keep pace.
The bill drew opposition from several members who warned about trade-offs. "I just stand in opposition to this bill," Senator Romero said on the floor, arguing funds shifted from the general fund would reduce available support for higher education, health and human services and other priorities. Senator Valentine said he would vote no, saying the measure would remove about $80,000,000 from next year’s general fund and make future budget management more difficult: "That is a very large one. I'm afraid I'm going to have to vote no," he said, adding that the change would require broad majorities to alter in later years.
After debate the Senate proceeded to a roll-call vote. The clerk announced that SB229 received 18 yea votes, 8 nay votes and 3 absent; the presiding officer said the bill passed and will be transmitted to the House for its consideration.
Next steps: The bill is headed to the Utah House; no House action is recorded in this transcript.
Sources and provenance: Sponsor remarks and the floor vote are recorded in the Senate floor transcript during presentation and roll call (topic introduced in SEG 262; vote announced in SEG 400–402).
