Senate amends and approves $389 million natural resources base budget, increases a water infrastructure line to $1 million

Senate Bill 5, the base-budget bill for natural resources, agriculture and environmental quality, passed the Utah Senate after two floor amendments and final passage under suspension of the rules.

Sponsor Senator Hinkins presented SB 5 as a base-budget bill of approximately $389 million that rolls forward ongoing appropriations with adjustments for beginning balances, transfers, dedicated credits and federal funds. Senator Sandel moved an amendment to delete Lines 4:55 through 4:59 (as recorded on the amendment in his name), which the sponsor said fiscal analysts recommended be deleted now and added later with corrected amounts. The Senate approved that deletion.

A second floor amendment, offered by Senator Hinkins, corrected a water infrastructure line item from $100,000 to $1,000,000 in a restricted account; the sponsor said the change was an oversight correction requested by the department director. Senator Andrick questioned whether the change was a policy decision or a technical correction; the sponsor confirmed it was a correction to the restricted account and agreed to follow up.

Both amendments passed, and under suspension of the rules SB 5 passed by roll call (27 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent) and will be sent to the House. The bill contains wildfire suppression funding and other technical corrections approved by the Executive Appropriations Committee, and includes legislative intent language where applicable.

Next steps: SB 5 proceeds to the House. Any specific dollar amounts deleted for later restoration will be reintroduced with updated fiscal analyst figures.