January 31 – February 4, 2022
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee continued its meetings this week and received presentations from the remaining USHE institutions. Below are links to the institutions’ presentations:
- Southern Utah University
- University of Utah
- Utah State University
- Utah Tech/Dixie State University
- Utah Valley University
- Weber State University
The subcommittee meets two more times this session: Monday, February 7, and Wednesday, February 9. The subcommittee will prioritize USHE budget priorities along with several other requests for state appropriations and advance those to the Executive Appropriations Committee for further review as the Legislature works to formulate a new budget for FY23.
Infrastructure and General Government Appropriation Subcommittee
The Infrastructure and General Government Appropriation Subcommittee met and heard requests for buildings/renovations from each USHE college. Below is a list (with links) to each request:
- Bridgerland Technical College — Land Bank
- Dixie State University — General Classroom Building
- Dixie Technical College — New Classroom Building
- Mountainland Technical College — Payson Campus
- Snow College — Center for Rural Studies & Community Development
- Southern Utah University — Music Center Renovation
- Tooele Technical College — Building Expansion
- University of Utah — Interdisciplinary Computing Building
- University of Utah — School of Medicine
- Utah State University — Animal Science Renovation
- Utah State University — College of Veterinary Medicine
- Utah Valley University — Engineering Building
- Weber State University — David O. McKay Education Building Renovation
Bonding and non-state funded project authorizations
- Southern Utah University — Apartment Complex
- University of Utah — Impact Health and Prosperity Increased Bonding
- University of Utah — Kahlert Village
- University of Utah — West Valley Health and Community Center
- University of Utah — Mental Health Facility
- University of Utah — Applied Sciences Building
- University of Utah — Indoor Football Practice Facility
- Utah State University — Art Education and Research Center
- Utah State University — Monument Valley
- Utah State University — Enhancements to Maverik Stadium
- Utah Valley University — M26 Parking Garage
- Dixie State University — Campus View Suites Phase III
- Davis Technical College — Campus Renovations/Program Expansion
The subcommittee meets one more time this session on Tuesday, February 8, to discuss priorities regarding buildings and government capital projects.
Legislation of Interest:
HB 96 – Government Records Amendments by Rep. Johnson — modifies provisions of the Government Records Access and Management Act, allowing a government entity to charge a fee for repeat requestors. The bill passed the House unanimously and awaits consideration by the Senate.
HB 226 – Higher Education and Corrections Council by Rep. Snow — establishes a council to advise the Utah Board of Higher Education regarding postsecondary education in Utah’s prisons. The council is also responsible for analyzing the outcomes of prison education. The bill awaits a committee hearing.
SB 42 – Higher Education Performance Funding Goals by Sen. Millner — codifies five-year performance goals for the Utah System of Higher Education and each institution of higher education. This bill passed the Senate and the House unanimously.
SB 71 – Financial Education and Savings Plan to Benefit At-Risk Children by Sen. Fillmore — creates the Parental Coaching to Encourage Student Savings Program that would provide financial training to parents of children experiencing intergenerational poverty, encourage the parents to save money for their child’s higher education expenses, and offer a financial contribution to a my529 savings account.
SB 133 – Food Security Amendments by Sen. Luz Escamilla — creates the State Nutrition Action Coalition at Utah State University to coordinate state efforts in addressing food security.
SB 143 – Office of Student Health Affairs by Sen. Kathleen Riebe — creates the Office of Student Health Affairs within the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate services provided by the department with public and higher education throughout the state. The bill awaits a committee hearing.
SB 172. Higher Education Student Assistance by Sen. Vickers — In fall 2021, the Utah Board of Higher Education voted to exit the loan servicing business after analyzing whether UHEAA should retain and refinance its portfolio or sell the portfolio and exit the market. This legislation creates an endowment managed by the Utah Board of Higher Education, the proceeds of which would be used for scholarships and student success initiatives. The bill awaits a committee hearing.
SB 175 – Daylight Savings Time Modifications by Sen. Dan McCay — establishes the year-round observed time of the entire state and all of the state’s political subdivisions is Mountain Daylight Time.
