Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HCR008 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	02-10 14:40 H.C.R. 8
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3	3	Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for
4	4	Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance
5	5	2025 GENERAL SESSION
6	6	STATE OF UTAH
7	7	Chief Sponsor: Mark A. Strong
8	8	Senate Sponsor:
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12	12	LONG TITLE
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14	14	General Description:
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16	16	This resolution urges the federal government to give more flexibility and autonomy to
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18	18	states to allow for greater innovation and experimentation to help families who receive
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20	20	government benefits more successfully transition off of welfare programs and into work-based
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22	22	self-reliance.
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24	24	Highlighted Provisions:
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26	26	This resolution:
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28	28	▸ articulates the strength of Utah's economy and nation-leading upward mobility;
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30	30	▸ establishes Utah's track record as an innovative leader already showcasing the successes
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32	32	and advantages of state-driven approaches to work and welfare;
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34	34	▸ identifies evidence of families in Utah who still struggle to fully realize the American
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36	36	Dream due to perceived or actual disincentives in the social safety net in the form of the
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38	38	"benefits cliff" and "benefits plateau"; and
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40	40	▸ urges the federal government to increase flexibility and autonomy to allow states the
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42	42	ability to innovate through experiments and pilots to better transition families off of
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44	44	federally funded safety net programs and into work-based self-reliance.
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46	46	Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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48	48	None
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50	50	Other Special Clauses:
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52	52	None
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56	56	Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
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58	58	WHEREAS, according to the Archbridge Institute, Utah ranks first among all states as
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60	60	having the best upward social mobility in the nation;
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62	62	WHEREAS, WalletHub consistently ranks Utah's economy as among the best in the nation;
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64	64	WHEREAS, Utah's economic strength and social capital foster an environment of
65	65	H.C.R. 8 H.C.R. 8 02-10 14:40
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67	67	opportunity that benefits families striving to escape poverty;
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69	69	WHEREAS, Utah's uniquely successful approach of integrated workforce and welfare
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71	71	programs has proven effective and prompted other states to petition Congress for the flexibility
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73	73	to replicate Utah's model;
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75	75	WHEREAS, the state of Utah has made concerted and significant efforts to identify and
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77	77	address instances of chronic or intergenerational poverty that still occur among its citizens;
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79	79	WHEREAS, Utah's culture of continuous improvement has positioned it as a national
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81	81	leader in workforce and welfare policies that strengthen upward mobility for impoverished
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83	83	families;
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85	85	WHEREAS, new independent research from Sutherland Institute identifies evidence of
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87	87	families receiving public assistance feeling disincentivized from pursuing or accepting
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89	89	opportunities to increase their earned income and improve their financial situation;
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91	91	WHEREAS, this research finds that 77% of respondents to a statewide survey of public
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93	93	assistance recipients report concern that earning additional income would result in a loss of
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95	95	benefits that would worsen their family's financial situation;
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97	97	WHEREAS, this research further finds that 62% of respondents report feeling stuck in a
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99	99	low-income job due to the belief that increased income would cause loss of benefits that would
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101	101	not be worth the additional income;
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103	103	WHEREAS, this research further finds that 43% of respondents report having intentionally
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105	105	limited their earned income due to fear of triggering a "benefits cliff" or "benefits plateau";
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107	107	WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta defines this phenomenon as a wage
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109	109	increase that "may result in a family being financially worse off (a benefits cliff) or no better
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111	111	off (a benefits plateau) than before the wage increase";
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113	113	WHEREAS, for families who strive to improve their economic conditions, benefits cliffs,
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115	115	benefits plateaus, and other disincentive effects have the potential to trap families in poverty
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117	117	by hindering workforce participation and disincentivizing financial stability;
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119	119	WHEREAS, some families participating in multiple social safety net programs may face
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121	121	confusion about differing eligibility rules and phaseouts, making financial planning more
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123	123	challenging;
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125	125	WHEREAS, the state of Utah is committed to finding innovative solutions to any
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127	127	disincentive effects to work, family formation, economic independence, or other opportunities
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129	129	that may be present in the social safety net; and
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131	131	WHEREAS, due to federal restrictions, states have limited authority to experiment with
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133	133	federally funded social safety net programs for the purpose of finding innovative reforms that
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136	136	can address benefits cliffs, benefits plateaus, perception gaps, or other obstacles to upward
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138	138	mobility experienced by families receiving public assistance:
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140	140	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
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142	142	Governor concurring therein, urges the President of the United States, and Congress, to grant
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144	144	additional flexibility and autonomy to states to experiment with innovative pilot programs and
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146	146	other reforms to improve social safety net programs by addressing any existing work
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148	148	disincentives in a way that protects budget neutrality, ensures fiscal responsibility, and seeks
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150	150	better outcomes.
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152	152	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
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154	154	and Congress to expedite waiver approvals for states pursing innovative pilot programs or
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156	156	other reforms to the social safety net.
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158	158	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
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160	160	and Congress to pursue additional flexibility to the states in the form of block grants for a
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162	162	wider array of existing social safety net programs.
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164	164	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
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166	166	and Congress to streamline and consolidate reporting requirements from the states to the
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168	168	federal government to save taxpayer dollars and yield efficiencies.
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170	170	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor call upon the
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172	172	President and Congress to embrace the principles of federalism to further empower states to be
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174	174	the laboratories of democracy and drive innovative reforms and improvements to our nation's
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176	176	social safety net.
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178	178	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the clerk of the Utah House of Representatives shall
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180	180	distribute copies of this resolution to Utah's congressional delegation.
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