Utah Senate passes multiple base budgets and technical bills, forwarding measures to the House

The Utah Senate on Jan. 29 passed a series of base-budget bills and other measures and sent them to the House for consideration, approving funding for higher education, economic and community development, transportation and several other state functions.

Senator Mike Milner, sponsor of Senate Bill 1, summarized the higher-education package, saying, “This bill appropriates 1,900,000,000 from the general fund and income tax fund for operating and capital budgets and another 91,500,000.0 from the income tax fund to the performance funding restricted account.” After brief remarks and a motion to pass, the Senate recorded 27 yea votes, 0 nay votes and 2 absent; the bill will be transmitted to the House.

Senator Musselman presented Senate Bill 4, the economic and community development base budget, noting “Across the funding sources, Senate Bill 4 appropriates a total of $1,800,000,000 in FY 2027.” The Senate approved SB4 by roll call, 26 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent, and the measure will go to the House.

Senate Bill 5 (general…