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Senate creates spaceport exploratory committee, authorizes $1 million for study
Summary
The Senate advanced first-substitute SB 62 to form a spaceport exploration committee and provided $1,000,000 to stand up the committee; sponsors said the measure will evaluate sites, runways, and commercial opportunities, while senators asked about possible locations such as Green River. Vote: 28–0.
Senator Stevenson urged the Senate to establish an exploratory committee to study the feasibility of a Utah spaceport and the body approved first-substitute SB 62, which includes a $1,000,000 allocation to create and run that committee. The sponsor described existing state assets — long runways, wide open land in western and eastern Utah, and the Utah Test and Training Range — and asked the Senate to authorize a formal study to determine where and how operations might be feasible.
"We have all the ingredients the state of Utah currently needs to build and have space exploration out of Utah," Senator Stevenson said, listing runways, retrieval areas and defense contractors the sponsor said could support the effort. He emphasized the measure establishes an exploration committee to assess commercial and military opportunities rather than authorizing immediate launches.
Senator Hinkins asked whether areas such as Green River would be under consideration; Stevenson said any location with suitable runway infrastructure or large land areas could be evaluated and that expensive launch pads like Cape Canaveral are not the only model. "Green River certainly fits," Stevenson said, adding the committee would decide detailed site questions.
Stevenson told senators the bill sets aside $1,000,000 to establish the committee and emphasized the exploratory nature of the work; he also referenced partnerships with private sector contractors and existing test ranges. The Senate moved the bill to third reading and approved it by roll call, with 28 ayes and 0 nays, 1 absent.
The measure now moves toward final floor action and House consideration; sponsors said next steps include committee membership design, scope-of-work and site evaluations to follow.
The Senate’s vote does not authorize any launches or specific construction — it authorizes a funded exploration committee to study options and report back to the Legislature.
