Senate honors 20th anniversary of Utah Educational Savings Plan

The Utah State Senate on day 15 took time to honor the 20th anniversary of the Utah Educational Savings Plan, with Senator Vickers introducing guests and recounting the plan's growth and benefits. "We honor the Utah educational savings plan for its twentieth anniversary," Vickers said as he asked those associated with the program to come forward. He described the plan as a state-run 529 vehicle governed by the state higher education board of regents and noted it is self-sustaining and receives no state appropriations.

Vickers told the chamber the program started with about $950,000,000 and has grown to roughly $8,000,000,000, and that it yields an estimated $12,000,000 in annual economic benefit to the state. He and several other senators noted the plan's national reputation and its role in expanding access to post–high-school education.

Senator Yamamoto and other members echoed the praise, describing personal family use of the program and its recognition nationwide. Vickers moved to suspend the rules and move the resolution to final passage under suspension; the Senate approved the suspension and the resolution passed by voice and roll-call vote and will be transmitted to the House for consideration.

The action recognized the program's founders and managers and served as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the plan's role in the state's education-financing landscape. The resolution was taken under suspension of the rules and finalized that day; the Senate also invited guests and students connected to educational programs to the floor as part of the recognition.