Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0488 Compare Versions

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1-Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
1+03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
2+Keven J. Stratton proposes the following substitute bill:
23 1
34 Federalism Amendments
45 2025 GENERAL SESSION
56 STATE OF UTAH
67 Chief Sponsor: Ken Ivory
78 Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton
8-
9-Cosponsor: Logan J. Monson Stephen L. Whyte
10-
11-Kay J. Christofferson Nicholeen P. Peck
12-
13-Colin W. Jack Jason E. Thompson
149 2
1510
1611 3
1712 LONG TITLE
1813 4
1914 General Description:
2015 5
2116 This bill modifies provisions related to federalism.
2217 6
2318 Highlighted Provisions:
2419 7
2520 This bill:
2621 8
2722 ▸ defines terms;
2823 9
2924 ▸ expands the membership of the Federalism Commission (commission) and modifies the
3025 10
3126 manner in which members are appointed;
3227 11
3328 ▸ increases the number of committee bill files the commission is permitted to open each
3429 12
3530 year;
3631 13
3732 ▸ requires the Center for Constitutional Studies (center) at Utah Valley University, in
3833 14
3934 consultation with the commission, to:
4035 15
4136 ● develop a continuing education and training program for state and local government
4237 16
4338 employees regarding federalism issues;
4439 17
4540 ● organize an annual federalism conference and study the creation of a state-led national
4641 18
4742 federalism organization;
4843 19
4944 ● coordinate with private sector actors to conduct out-of-state outreach; and
5045 20
5146 ● establish informal working groups as necessary and report to the commission;
5247 21
5348 ▸ requires the Herbert Institute (institute) at Utah Valley University, in consultation with
5449 22
5550 the commission, to:
5651 23
57-● serve as a liaison between the commission, the center, and government entities on H.B. 488 Enrolled Copy
52+● serve as a liaison between the commission, the center, and government entities on
5853 24
5954 federalism issues; and
6055 25
6156 ● conduct outreach and coordination to support the commission's federalism efforts; and
6257 26
6358 ● coordinate with private organizations on local and national outreach efforts and report
6459 27
6560 to the commission;
6661 28
6762 ▸ requires the commission to:
63+2nd Sub. H.B. 488 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488 03-05 18:56
6864 29
6965 ● make recommendations to the center and to the institute regarding the entities'
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7167 federalism-related duties; and
7268 31
7369 ● report annually to the Legislative Management Committee regarding the entities'
7470 32
7571 progress;
7672 33
7773 ▸ requires executive branch agencies to designate a contact person to coordinate with the
7874 34
7975 commission regarding education and training; and
8076 35
8177 ▸ makes technical corrections.
8278 36
8379 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
8480 37
8581 This bill appropriates $910,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026, all of
8682 38
8783 which is from the Income Tax Fund.
8884 39
8985 Other Special Clauses:
9086 40
9187 None
9288 41
9389 Utah Code Sections Affected:
9490 42
9591 AMENDS:
9692 43
9793 63C-4a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 64
9894 44
9995 63C-4a-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 410
10096 45
10197 63C-4a-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 190
10298 46
10399 ENACTS:
104100 47
105101 53B-29-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
106102 48
107103 53B-29-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
108104 49
109105 53B-29-403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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111107
112108 51
113109 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
114110 52
115111 Section 1. Section 53B-29-401 is enacted to read:
116112 53
117113
118114 Part 4. Federalism
119115 54
120116 53B-29-401 . Definitions.
121117 55
122118 As used in this part:
123119 56
124120 (1) "Center" means the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University.
125121 57
126122 (2) "Commission" means the Federalism Commission created in Section 63C-4a-302.
127-- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
128123 58
129124 (3) "Institute" means the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley
130125 59
131126 University.
132127 60
133128 Section 2. Section 53B-29-402 is enacted to read:
134129 61
135130 53B-29-402 . Federalism-related duties of Center for Constitutional Studies.
136131 62
137132 In consultation with the commission and subject to appropriations by the Legislature, the
133+- 2 - 03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
138134 63
139135 center shall:
140136 64
141137 (1) develop a nonpartisan continuing education and training program for state and local
142138 65
143139 government employees on:
144140 66
145141 (a) the principles of federalism;
146142 67
147143 (b) the sovereignty, supremacy, and general jurisdiction of the individual states,
148144 68
149145 including the breadth and extent of state police power jurisdiction;
150146 69
151147 (c) the history and practical implementation of the Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth
152148 70
153149 Amendments to the United States Constitution;
154150 71
155151 (d) the limited jurisdiction and powers of the federal government as proscribed by the
156152 72
157153 United States Constitution, as amended;
158154 73
159155 (e) methods of evaluating federal jurisdiction, law, or action in the context of the
160156 74
161157 principles of federalism;
162158 75
163159 (f) the duty, jurisdiction, and powers of the state to restore or maintain the
164160 76
165161 constitutionally balanced state and federal governing roles and responsibilities; and
166162 77
167163 (g) other education or training components related to federalism as recommended by the
168164 78
169165 commission;
170166 79
171167 (2) organize an annual conference for state representatives and leaders whose primary
172168 80
173169 purpose is to facilitate nonpartisan discussion and coordination amongst states with
174170 81
175171 respect to federalism issues;
176172 82
177173 (3) study and advise the commission in regards to the creation of a state-led national
178174 83
179175 organization focused on strengthening federalism and improving intergovernmental
180176 84
181177 relations, including the makeup, duties, and functions of such organization;
182178 85
183179 (4) coordinate with private sector actors who agree to conduct out-of-state outreach to build
184180 86
185181 national support for the commission's federalism efforts;
186182 87
187183 (5) establish informal working groups consisting of public and private stakeholders as is
188184 88
189185 appropriate to assist the center in fulfilling the requirements of this section; and
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191187 (6) report to the commission as requested regarding the center's progress in fulfilling the
192188 90
193189 requirements of this section.
194190 91
195191 Section 3. Section 53B-29-403 is enacted to read:
196-- 3 - H.B. 488 Enrolled Copy
197192 92
198193 53B-29-403 . Federalism-related duties of Herbert Institute.
199194 93
200195 In consultation with the commission and subject to appropriations by the Legislature, the
201196 94
202197 institute shall:
203198 95
204199 (1) serve as a liaison between the commission and the center with respect to federalism
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206201 issues;
202+- 3 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488 03-05 18:56
207203 97
208204 (2) conduct outreach and coordination with public and private sector entities to support the
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210206 commission's federalism efforts;
211207 99
212208 (3) coordinate with private sector actors who agree to conduct out-of-state outreach to build
213209 100
214210 national support for the commission's federalism efforts; and
215211 101
216212 (4) report to the commission as requested regarding the institute's progress in fulfilling the
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218214 requirements of this section.
219215 103
220216 Section 4. Section 63C-4a-102 is amended to read:
221217 104
222218 63C-4a-102 . Definitions.
223219 105
224220 As used in this chapter:
225221 106
226222 (1) "Account" means the Constitutional Defense Restricted Account, created in Section
227223 107
228224 63C-4a-402.
229225 108
230226 (2) "Center" means the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University.
231227 109
232228 [(2)] (3) "Commission" means the Federalism Commission, created in Section 63C-4a-302.
233229 110
234230 [(3)] (4) "Constitutional defense plan" means a plan that outlines actions and expenditures to
235231 111
236232 fulfill the duties of the commission and the council.
237233 112
238234 [(4)] (5) "Council" means the Constitutional Defense Council, created in Section 63C-4a-202.
239235 113
240236 [(5)] (6) "Federal governmental entity" means:
241237 114
242238 (a) the president of the United States;
243239 115
244240 (b) the United States Congress;
245241 116
246242 (c) a United States agency; or
247243 117
248244 (d) an employee or official appointed by the president of the United States.
249245 118
250246 [(6)] (7) "Federal issue" means a matter relating to the federal government's dealings with
251247 119
252248 the state.
253249 120
254250 [(7)] (8) "Federal law" means:
255251 121
256252 (a) an executive order by the president of the United States;
257253 122
258254 (b) a statute passed by the United States Congress;
259255 123
260256 (c) a regulation adopted by a United States agency; or
261257 124
262258 (d) a policy statement, order, guidance, or action by:
263259 125
264260 (i) a United States agency; or
265-- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
266261 126
267262 (ii) an employee or official appointed by the president of the United States.
268263 127
269264 (9) "Institute" means the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley
270265 128
271266 University.
272267 129
273268 [(8)] (10) "R.S. 2477" means Revised Statute 2477, codified as 43 U.S.C. Section 932.
274269 130
275270 [(9)] (11) "R.S. 2477 plan" means a guiding document that:
271+- 4 - 03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
276272 131
277273 (a) is developed jointly by the Utah Association of Counties and the state;
278274 132
279275 (b) is approved by the council; and
280276 133
281277 (c) presents the broad framework of a proposed working relationship between the state
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283279 and participating counties collectively for the purpose of asserting, defending, or
284280 135
285281 litigating state and local government rights under R.S. 2477.
286282 136
287283 [(10)] (12) "United States agency" means a department, agency, authority, commission,
288284 137
289285 council, board, office, bureau, or other administrative unit of the executive branch of the
290286 138
291287 United States government.
292288 139
293289 Section 5. Section 63C-4a-302 is amended to read:
294290 140
295291 63C-4a-302 . Creation of Federalism Commission -- Membership -- Meetings --
296292 141
297293 Staff -- Expenses.
298294 142
299295 (1)(a) There is created the Federalism Commission, comprised of the following [nine] 14
300296 143
301297 voting members:
302298 144
303299 [(i) the president of the Senate or the president of the Senate's designee who shall
304300 145
305301 serve as cochair of the commission;]
306302 146
307303 [(ii) two other members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate;]
308304 147
309305 [(iii) the speaker of the House or the speaker of the House's designee who shall serve
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311307 as cochair of the commission;]
312308 149
313309 [(iv) three other members of the House, appointed by the speaker of the House;]
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315311 [(v) the minority leader of the Senate or the minority leader of the Senate's designee;
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317313 and]
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319315 [(vi) the minority leader of the House or the minority leader of the House's designee.]
320316 153
321317 (i) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, comprised of
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323319 four members from the majority party and one member from the minority party;
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325321 and
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327323 (ii) nine members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
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329325 House of Representatives, comprised of seven members from the majority party
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331327 and two members from the minority party.
332328 159
333329 (b)(i) Subject to the provisions of this Subsection (1)(b), the Legislative Management
334-- 5 - H.B. 488 Enrolled Copy
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336331 Committee may appoint nonvoting members to the commission from a list of
337332 161
338333 individuals recommended by the cochairs of the commission.
339334 162
340335 (ii) If the Legislative Management Committee chooses to not appoint an individual
341336 163
342337 on the list described in Subsection (1)(b)(i), the Legislative Management
343338 164
344339 Committee may ask the cochairs of the commission to submit an additional list of
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345341 165
346342 recommendations.
347343 166
348344 (iii) The Legislative Management Committee may not appoint an individual who is
349345 167
350346 not recommended by the cochairs of the commission.
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352348 (iv) The nonvoting members appointed by the Legislative Management Committee
353349 169
354350 under this Subsection (1)(b) shall be appointed or reappointed for a two-year term.
355351 170
356352 (v) When a vacancy of a nonvoting member occurs for any reason, the Legislative
357353 171
358354 Management Committee, in consultation with the cochairs of the commission,
359355 172
360356 shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.
361357 173
362358 (2)(a) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitute a quorum of the
363359 174
364360 commission.
365361 175
366362 (b) Action by a majority of the members of a quorum constitutes action by the
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368364 commission.
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370366 (3) The commission may meet up to nine times each year, unless additional meetings are
371367 178
372368 approved by the Legislative Management Committee.
373369 179
374370 (4) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to
375371 180
376372 the commission.
377373 181
378374 (5) Compensation and expenses of a member of the commission who is a legislator are
379375 182
380376 governed by Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative
381377 183
382378 Compensation and Expenses.
383379 184
384380 (6) Nothing in this section prohibits the commission from closing a meeting under Title 52,
385381 185
386382 Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act, or prohibits the commission from complying
387383 186
388384 with Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
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390386 (7) The commission may, in the commission's discretion, elect to succeed to the position of
391387 188
392388 any of the following under a contract that any of the following are party to, subject to
393389 189
394390 applicable contractual provisions:
395391 190
396392 (a) the Commission on Federalism;
397393 191
398394 (b) the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands; and
399395 192
400396 (c) the Federal Funds Commission.
401397 193
402398 (8) The commission may:
403-- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
404399 194
405400 (a) open up to two committee bill files per calendar year relating to the commission's
406401 195
407402 statutory duties, including the committee bill file described in Subsection
408403 196
409404 63L-10-103(6); and
410405 197
411406 (b) provide assistance to an interim committee regarding a committee bill file opened by
412407 198
413408 the interim committee that relates to the commission's duties.
409+- 6 - 03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
414410 199
415411 Section 6. Section 63C-4a-303 is amended to read:
416412 200
417413 63C-4a-303 . Federalism Commission to evaluate federal law -- Curriculum on
418414 201
419415 federalism -- Environment discussions -- Oversight of Center for Constitutional Studies
420416 202
421417 in relation to center's federalism duties.
422418 203
423419 (1)(a) In accordance with Section 63C-4a-304, the commission may evaluate a federal
424420 204
425421 law:
426422 205
427423 (i) as agreed by a majority of the commission;
428424 206
429425 (ii) submitted to the commission by a council member; or
430426 207
431427 (iii) reported to the commission in accordance with Subsection (1)(b).
432428 208
433429 (b)(i) To assist the commission in the evaluation of federal law as required in this
434430 209
435431 section and Section 63C-4a-304, the commission may contract with a third party
436432 210
437433 that is a Utah institution of higher education to monitor federal law for possible
438434 211
439435 implications on the principles of federalism.
440436 212
441-(ii) A third party contracted to monitor federal law as described in Subsection (1)(b)(i)
437+(ii) A third party contracted to monitor federal law as described in Subsection
442438 213
443-shall:
439+(1)(b)(i) shall:
444440 214
445441 (A) monitor federal law for possible implications on the principles of federalism
446442 215
447443 and state sovereignty; and
448444 216
449445 (B) report to the commission any law or action by the federal government that
450446 217
451447 may implicate the principles of federalism or state sovereignty.
452448 218
453449 (c)(i) As used in this Subsection (1)(c), "interim committee" means the same as that
454450 219
455451 term is defined in Section 36-12-1.
456452 220
457453 (ii) The commission shall provide an annual report to each interim committee
458454 221
459455 concerning any law or action by the federal government that implicates the
460456 222
461457 principles of federalism or state sovereignty.
462458 223
463459 (iii) The commission may notify the appropriate interim committee of any law or
464460 224
465461 action by the federal government that implicates the principles of federalism or
466462 225
467463 state sovereignty.
468464 226
469465 (2) The commission may request information regarding a federal law under evaluation from
470466 227
471467 a United States senator or representative elected from the state.
472-- 7 - H.B. 488 Enrolled Copy
473468 228
474469 (3) If the commission finds that a federal law is not authorized by the United States
475470 229
476471 Constitution or violates the principle of federalism as described in Subsection
477472 230
478473 63C-4a-304(2), a commission cochair or the commission may:
479474 231
480475 (a) request from a United States senator or representative elected from the state:
481476 232
482477 (i) information about the federal law; or
478+- 7 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488 03-05 18:56
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484480 (ii) assistance in communicating with a federal governmental entity regarding the
485481 234
486482 federal law;
487483 235
488484 (b)(i) give written notice of an evaluation made under Subsection (1) to the federal
489485 236
490486 governmental entity responsible for adopting or administering the federal law; and
491487 237
492488 (ii) request a response by a specific date to the evaluation from the federal
493489 238
494490 governmental entity;
495491 239
496492 (c) request a meeting, conducted in person or by electronic means, with the federal
497493 240
498494 governmental entity, a representative from another state, or a United States Senator
499495 241
500496 or Representative elected from the state to discuss the evaluation of federal law and
501497 242
502498 any possible remedy; or
503499 243
504500 (d) give written notice of an evaluation and the conclusions of the commission to any
505501 244
506502 other relevant entity.
507503 245
508504 (4) The commission may recommend to the governor that the governor call a special
509505 246
510506 session of the Legislature to give the Legislature an opportunity to respond to the
511507 247
512508 commission's evaluation of a federal law.
513509 248
514510 (5) A commission cochair may coordinate the evaluation of and response to federal law
515511 249
516512 with another state as provided in Section 63C-4a-305.
517513 250
518514 (6) The commission shall keep a current list on the Legislature's website of:
519515 251
520516 (a) a federal law that the commission evaluates under Subsection (1);
521517 252
522518 (b) an action taken by a cochair of the commission or the commission under Subsection
523519 253
524520 (3);
525521 254
526522 (c) any coordination undertaken with another state under Section 63C-4a-305; and
527523 255
528524 (d) any response received from a federal government entity that was requested under
529525 256
530526 Subsection (3).
531527 257
532528 (7)(a) The commission shall develop curriculum for a seminar on the principles of
533529 258
534530 federalism.
535531 259
536532 (b) The curriculum under Subsection (7)(a) shall be available to the general public and
537533 260
538534 include:
539535 261
540536 (i) fundamental principles of federalism;
541-- 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
542537 262
543538 (ii) the sovereignty, supremacy, and jurisdiction of the individual states, including
544539 263
545540 their police powers;
546541 264
547542 (iii) the history and practical implementation of the Tenth Amendment to the United
548543 265
549544 States Constitution;
550545 266
551546 (iv) the authority and limits on the authority of the federal government as found in the
547+- 8 - 03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
552548 267
553549 United States Constitution;
554550 268
555551 (v) the relationship between the state and federal governments;
556552 269
557553 (vi) methods of evaluating a federal law in the context of the principles of federalism;
558554 270
559555 (vii) how and when challenges should be made to a federal law or regulation on the
560556 271
561557 basis of federalism;
562558 272
563559 (viii) the separate and independent powers of the state that serve as a check on the
564560 273
565561 federal government;
566562 274
567563 (ix) first amendment rights and freedoms contained therein; and
568564 275
569565 (x) any other issues relating to federalism the commission considers necessary.
570566 276
571567 (8) The commission may apply for and receive grants, and receive private donations to
572568 277
573569 assist in funding the creation, enhancement, and dissemination of the curriculum.
574570 278
575571 (9) The commission shall submit a report on or before November 30 of each year to the
576572 279
577573 Government Operations Interim Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
578574 280
579575 Environment Interim Committee that:
580576 281
581577 (a) describes any action taken by the commission under Section 63C-4a-303; and
582578 282
583579 (b) includes any proposed legislation the commission recommends.
584580 283
585581 (10) The commission shall comply with Section 19-1-110 in discussions with the
586582 284
587583 Department of Environmental Quality on issues related to the environment or the
588584 285
589585 functioning of the Department of Environmental Quality.
590586 286
591587 (11) The commission shall:
592588 287
593589 (a) coordinate with and make recommendations to the center concerning the center's
594590 288
595591 federalism-related duties under Section 53B-29-402, including:
596592 289
597593 (i) the development of the federalism education and training program under
598594 290
599595 Subsection 53B-29-402(1); and
600596 291
601597 (ii) the scope and objectives of:
602598 292
603599 (A) the annual federalism conference organized under Subsection 53B-29-402(2);
604600 293
605601 (B) the study conducted under Subsection 53B-29-402(3); and
606602 294
607603 (C) the center's coordination efforts under Subsection 53B-29-402(4);
608604 295
609605 (b) coordinate with and make recommendations to the institute regarding the institute's
610-- 9 - H.B. 488 Enrolled Copy
611606 296
612607 federalism-related duties under Section 53B-29-403; and
613608 297
614609 (c) report annually to the Legislative Management Committee regarding:
615610 298
616611 (i) the center's progress in fulfilling the requirements of Section 53B-29-402; and
617612 299
618613 (ii) the institute's progress in fulfilling the requirements of Section 53B-29-403.
619614 300
620615 (12) Each executive branch agency shall, at the request of the commission, designate a
616+- 9 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488 03-05 18:56
621617 301
622618 contact person to coordinate with the commission regarding the federalism education
623619 302
624620 and training program developed under Section 53B-29-402 for purposes of:
625621 303
626622 (a) determining the extent of federal jurisdiction in the agency's resource sphere;
627623 304
628624 (b) determining whether federal action exceeds the federal government's jurisdictional
629625 305
630626 authority;
631627 306
632628 (c) assessing what actions the agency may take in the event that federal action exceeds
633629 307
634630 the federal government's jurisdictional authority; and
635631 308
636632 (d) assessing how actions described in Subsection (12)(c) may better enable the agency
637633 309
638634 to use the agency's best judgment in serving the people of Utah.
639635 310
640636 Section 7. FY 2026 Appropriations.
641637 311
642638 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
643639 312
644640 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
645641 313
646642 fiscal year 2026.
647643 314
648644 Subsection 7(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
649645 315
650646 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
651647 316
652648 Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
653649 317
654650 the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
655651 318
656652 ITEM 1 To Utah Valley University - Education and General
657653 319
658654 From Income Tax Fund 560,000
659655 320
660656 From Income Tax Fund, One-time 350,000
661657 321
662658 Schedule of Programs:
663659 322
664660 Public Service 910,000
665661 323
666662 The Legislature intends that the Center for
667663 324
668664 Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University use
669665 325
670666 $500,000 of the ongoing appropriation provided under
671667 326
672668 this item and the $350,000 one-time appropriation
673669 327
674670 provided under this item to fulfill the requirements of
675671 328
676672 Utah Code Annotated Section 53B-29-402.
677673 329
678674 The Legislature further intends that the Herbert
679-- 10 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 488
680675 330
681676 Institute at Utah Valley University use $60,000 of the
682677 331
683678 ongoing appropriation provided under this item to fulfill
684679 332
685680 the requirements of Utah Code Annotated Section
686681 333
687682 53B-29-403.
688683 334
689684 Section 8. Effective Date.
685+- 10 - 03-05 18:56 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 488
690686 335
691687 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
692688 - 11 -