Senate passes $1.2 billion supplemental appropriations bill amid final-day push

Salt Lake City — On Day 43 of the legislative session the Utah Senate passed House Bill 2, a supplemental appropriations package for the 2027 fiscal year that sponsor Senator Stevenson said totals about $1.2 billion and includes a mix of general fund and other-account spending.

Senator Stevenson, introducing the bill on the floor, said the package contains items approved last Friday by the Executive Appropriations Committee and by the subcommittees that developed the funding requests. “This bill appropriates $1.2 billion, including $366 million from the general and income tax funds for fiscal year 2027,” Stevenson said, laying out that the bill includes operating and capital adjustments and transfers from expendable funds and accounts.

The bill was offered under suspension of the rules to expedite final consideration on the last day the Senate could pass supplemental appropriations and was adopted by roll call. The presiding officer announced the tally as 25 yeas, 0 nays, and 4 absent; the measure will be signed by the presiding officer and returned to the House for the Speaker’s signature.

Why it matters: The supplemental package updates the base budget enacted earlier in the session to add targeted funding for priorities the appropriations subcommittees and the Executive Appropriations Committee approved. Sponsor remarks and the Senate’s action indicate the Legislature sought to close outstanding funding items and align fiscal authorizations before the final deadline for supplemental and bond measures.

What the bill does: According to the sponsor’s floor presentation, the bill - Adds appropriations for both operating and capital needs for FY2027; - Includes funding items previously approved by the Executive Appropriations Committee and packaged for legislative consideration; and - Transfers and adjusts expendable fund authorizations to match approved program changes.

Procedure and next steps: Because the Senate acted under a rules suspension, the bill will be signed by the Senate presiding officer and returned to the House. Any fiscal or implementation details that require additional legislation or technical adjustments will be addressed through the existing appropriations and fiscal note processes the Legislature uses to enact and implement budget changes.

The Senate recessed at the close of the day and planned to reconvene later in the afternoon; the supplemental package remains subject to enrollment and the signature process before taking effect.