House rules panel backs bill to formalize legislative review of federal grants

Representative Veil Peterson, sponsor of House Bill 342, told the House Rules Standing Committee on Jan. 28 that the bill would create a tiered legislative review process for federal grants coming into the state.

"Under this process, a grant up to 5,000,000 or less could be approved by the agency or the governor. Grants 5 to $25,000,000 could be reviewed and approved by the Executive Appropriations Committee. Anything 25,000,000 and more, would go through EAC and then need legislative approval," Representative Veil Peterson said during her presentation.

The bill, Peterson said, "sets up parameters for approval through the legislature" and is intended to restore legislative oversight of federal funds that flow into Utah. She referenced an earlier ad hoc review that looked at a $194,000,000 rural health grant and noted agencies must sometimes submit revised budgets to federal partners on tight timelines.

Committee members offered no substantive opposition during the question period. Representative Burton praised the proposal as long overdue and said it would give lawmakers a clearer picture of grant dollars routed through state agencies. After hearing from the sponsor and no public testimony, Representative Hollins moved that the committee favorably recommend HB342; the motion passed unanimously.

What happens next: The committee’s favorable recommendation sends HB342 on to the next step in the legislative process for further consideration by the full House or other committees, according to standard procedure.

Ending: The committee recorded its recommendation without amendment and advanced the bill out of committee for later consideration.