Utah Senate passes SB 1 and a package of base budgets, including $2.0 billion for higher education

The Utah Senate on day 9 passed a package of base budget bills that together fund higher education, infrastructure, retirement systems and other state operations.

Senate Bill 1, the higher‑education base budget sponsored by Senator Grover, passed after the sponsor made the three required motions to suspend rules and the Senate’s three‑reading requirement and to read the bill for second and third times under suspension. "From this fund from us, this bill will take 312… That's 312,000,000," Grover said in presenting the bill, which the sponsor described as drawing roughly $312 million from the general fund, $904 million from the education fund and $889 million in dedicated credits (mostly tuition). Grover said the bill aims to keep institutions "responsive to their local areas" while pressing for efficiency and a forthcoming strategic plan for higher education. The Senate recorded 26 yeas, 0 nays and 3 absent; SB 1 passed and was transmitted to the House for consideration.

Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 6, the infrastructure and general government base budget. Sponsor Senator Cullimore said the bill "appropriates about $4,000,000 in the current fiscal year for operating and capital budgets, and about $2,300,000,000 in the upcoming fiscal year," detailing large allocations for the Department of Transportation, capital improvements and debt service. The Senate amended SB 6 and, after suspending rules and the three‑reading requirement, passed it by roll call (28 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent); it was sent to the House.

Other budget measures approved on the floor included SB 4 (business, economic development and labor base budget), SB 5 (retirement and independent entities base budget) and SB 7 (National Guard, Veterans Affairs and Legislature base budget). Sponsors identified programmatic priorities in their presentations — for example, SB 4 included funding changes for the Division of Arts and Museums and a new percent‑for‑the‑arts line; SB 5 included ongoing firefighter retirement funding — and each bill was passed under suspension and transmitted to the House. Recorded tallies noted in floor proceedings included SB 4 (27 yeas, 1 nay, 1 absent) and SB 7 (28 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent).

All measures described on the floor were moved under the procedural sequence President Adams outlined earlier: lift from third to second reading, seek suspension of rules and of the three‑reading constitutional requirement, then pass under suspension and send the bills on to the House. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.

Votes at a glance: SB 1 (26‑0, 3 absent) — higher education base budget; SB 4 (27‑1‑1) — business/economic development base; SB 5 (passed; amendment adopted) — retirement/independent entities base; SB 6 (28‑0, 1 absent) — infrastructure/general government base; SB 7 (28‑0, 1 absent) — National Guard/Veterans/Legislature base. Each bill was reported to the House for further consideration.