March 2-6, 2026
The 2026 legislative session ended at midnight on Friday, Mar. 6. A recording of Governor Cox’s end-of-session press conference is available on YouTube. Updates on signed bills can be found in the Governor’s newsroom.
Executive Appropriations Committee
Final Appropriations Acts from this year’s session provide more than $86 million in new ongoing General Fund and Income Tax Fund to the Utah System of Higher Education, including $67.7 million for compensation, $16.7 million in new performance funding with an additional $4.5 million in performance funding recoveries, $7 million for technical college capacity, and $3 million for Talent Ready Utah initiatives. Notable one-time funding items include $45 million for research under HB 373, $4.5 million for outcome-based grant programs (SB 324), and $15 million for compute capacity to support access and use of artificial intelligence.
Select institutional-specific funding items include $1.8 million ongoing for the University of Utah medical school expansion in southern Utah, $5 million one-time to the University of Utah for cancer research, $1 million ongoing to Weber State University to continue lowering the cost of tuition for students with fewer than 60 credit hours, and $500,000 ongoing to increase full-time faculty positions at Utah Tech University, among numerous other appropriations.
Regarding USHE capital budget asks, all of the System’s dedicated capital projects were funded as requested. Non-dedicated project requests—the USU Animal Science Building Renovation project and Dixie Technical College’s Trades and Technology Building—received $28.8 million and $10.3 million in dedicated appropriations, respectively.
In its upcoming meeting on March 26, the Board will hear a full report of USHE budget impacts from the 2026 General Legislative Session.
Budget Bills
(PASSED) SB 1 – Higher Education Base Budget (Sen. Ann Millner, Rep. Karen Peterson): Supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026 and appropriates funds for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. This bill was signed by the Governor.
(PASSED) SB 6 – Transportation and Infrastructure Base Budget (Sen. Don Ipson, Rep. Doug Welton): Addresses the higher education capital projects fund. Provides intent language for the Coliseum Restoration Project at Southern Utah University. This bill was signed by the Governor.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 3 – Appropriations Adjustments (Rep. Val Peterson, Sen. Jerry Stevenson): Supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. Higher education begins at line 800 of the bill. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Other Legislation of Interest
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 84 – Higher Education Dangerous Weapons Amendments (Rep. Walt Brooks, Sen. Don Ipson): Establishes that individuals 18-20 years old without a provisional concealed carry permit may not carry a firearm (openly or concealed) at an institution of higher education. Establishes that individuals 18 years or older with a provisional, temporary, or regular concealed carry permit from Utah or another state may not openly carry a firearm at an institution of higher education unless lawfully responding to an active threat. Establishes that individuals 21 or older without a concealed carry permit may not openly carry a firearm at an institution of higher education unless lawfully responding to an active threat. The bill permits institutions to adopt policies that allow a student housing resident to request roommates who do not possess firearms in the dorm, even though the roommates may otherwise lawfully possess firearms in the student housing unit. Establishes that an actor commits openly carrying a dangerous weapon at an institution of higher education if the actor is intentionally carrying a dangerous weapon, the weapon is visible to the ordinary observation of a person, the weapon is not covered, hidden, or secreted to make it unobservable to the ordinary observation of a person, and the actor knows they are on or about institutional premises at the time. Establishes an individual who can lawfully concealed carry does not violate open carry restrictions if the individual accidentally exposed of the weapon, is lawfully responding to an active threat, if the actor is at their residence, if the open carry is approved by the responsible school administrator, if the open carry is done in connection with a lawful activity, or if the actor is in their vehicle. This bill passed both chambers and will be sent to Legislative Research and General Counsel for enrolling.
(DID NOT PASS) HB 88, 6th Substitute – Public Assistance Amendments (Rep. Trevor Lee): Amends provisions regarding exceptions to verification of lawful presence for the receipt of certain public assistance benefits. Prohibits agencies or political subdivisions of the state (including USHE institutions) from providing to an individual “who is without lawful presence in the United States” a public benefit that is funded by state or local funds, including tuition assistance and other services. Strikes language in the statute that currently states institutions do not have to verify a student’s lawful presence in the U.S. to exempt the student from paying the out-of-state portion of tuition under Utah Code 53H-11-203. Provides an exception to governmental immunity, allows a private right of action for an individual who is injured by a violation of this bill, and provides for criminal or civil penalties if a government or agency employee willfully or recklessly disregards the verification requirements of this bill. Requires that an executive director of a state agency or department who knowingly violates or allows an employee to violate this section shall be subject to removal from office in accordance with the state agency’s or department’s procedures. Requires agencies and departments under the bill to conduct quarterly audits of compliance with this section and provides that the Office of the Legislative Auditor General may conduct a biennial audit of each state agency or department to verify compliance with this section. Requires state agencies and departments to provide an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House regarding the state agency or department’s compliance with this bill and the number and type of benefits for which an applicant applied and was denied if the agency or department denied the applicant benefits because the applicant was not a lawfully present in the United States. The seventh substitute would require USHE institutions to verify a student’s lawful presence in the US before providing out-of-state tuition waivers and certain scholarships (see also Substitute 2 of HB 386). This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(DID NOT PASS) HB 166 – Open Carry of a Firearm Amendments (Rep. Verona Mauga): Creates the offense of prohibited open carry of a firearm within 500 feet of large public gatherings as defined in the bill. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 204 – Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation (Rep. Michael Petersen, Sen. Brady Brammer): For courses that an institution mandates for graduation or for an academic major, requires public institutions of higher education to reasonably accommodate a student’s objection to a required examination or assignment if the student requests an accommodation for reasons of the student’s religion or conscience and if providing the accommodation would not create a fundamental alteration of the course. Requires the institution to establish policies and articulate provisions that institutional policies must address. Requires an institution to establish a process by which an instructor must inform the institution of the instructor’s decision to deny a request for accommodation under this section and requires the institution to designate one or more neutral arbiters to review denials. Prohibits an instructor from compelling a student to publicly take or communicate a specified position on a matter of public concern as the student’s own. Requires the Board to ensure the protection of students’ sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs and provide guidelines for institutional policies and practices related to this section. Requires institutions to annually report to the Board on accommodation details under this section, including subsequent neutral arbiter reviews and decisions, and requires the Board to report certain information to the Legislature upon request. This bill passed both chambers and will be sent to Legislative Research and General Counsel for enrolling.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 219 – Higher Education Civics Amendments (Rep. Melissa Ballard, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore): Requires the Board to adopt policies requiring USHE institutions to incorporate certain seminal historical and civic-related primary source documents into general education writing courses, where the institution and course instructor determine incorporation is appropriate and advances the learning objectives of the course. Requires a Board policy to preserve the discretion of institutions and faculty to select documents and design assignments and maintain genre diversity in writing instruction. The bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 279 – Higher Education Code Amendments (Rep. Val Peterson, Sen. Ann Millner): Includes private postsecondary educational institutions in certain sections of code that apply to public institutions of higher education and modifies provisions related to institutions of higher education participating in public procurement bidding. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) HB 297 – Higher Education and Private Equity Amendments (Rep. Jason Kyle): Prohibits higher education institutions from entering or changing major agreements with private capital firms without prior legislative approval through joint resolution. Requires institutions to, upon request, provide the state auditor with all accounts associated with the operation of the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program. Requires the Board to create administrative rules to implement and enforce the provisions of this bill. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 352 – Higher Education Alignment (Rep. Karen Peterson, Sen. Evan Vickers): Requires the Utah Board of Higher Education to organize USHE institutions into regions that include at least one degree-granting institution and one technical college to facilitate more seamless collaboration through horizontal and vertical integration. Enhanced collaborations include, for example, ensuring programs are articulated and stackable, integrating admissions, enrollment, and student services between partner institutions, leveraging shared administrative services, and identifying ways to share select academic programs and research opportunities. Requires the Board to report to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on the implementation of this section. An amendment to the bill requires the Board to consult with faculty, staff, and students while developing plans for System integration. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 353 – Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments (Rep. Ryan Wilcox, Sen. Mike McKell): Amends the Utah Board of Higher Education’s existing statutory obligations to establish clear pathways for transfer and articulation, reduce unnecessary course duplication, and improve communication to students regarding opportunities to receive credit for prior learning. Emphasizes that the Board must also consider students transferring from non-USHE institutions when executing on these responsibilities. This bill passed in both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 373 – Higher Education Innovation (Rep. Karen Peterson, Sen. Ann Millner): Amends provisions regarding the Nucleus Institute. Allows the Commissioner of Higher Education to undertake the Board’s responsibility of annually determining First Credential, Opportunity, and Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship amounts. Creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding and requires the Board to administer and approve funding grants, potentially through the Nucleus Institute, Talent Ready Utah, or ad hoc committees. Requires the Board to report to the Legislature on the research funding grant program. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) HB 386, 2nd Substitute – Immigration Amendments (Rep. Lisa Shepherd): The second substitute requires USHE institutions to verify a student’s lawful presence in the US before providing out-of-state tuition waivers and certain scholarships (see also Substitute 7 of HB 88 from Feb. 26). This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 508 – State Facilities Modifications (Rep. Walt Brooks, Sen. Don Ipson): Establishes the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee as the subcommittee to hear and prioritize requests for state funding of capital facility projects within USHE. Addresses specific components a USHE institution must include in its proposal for a capital facility project funding request. Requires compliance with the dedicated and non-dedicated project approval process for higher education capital facility projects. Clarifies the process for requesting capital development appropriations by distinguishing between architectural programming and design-and-construction phases. Authorizes an agency to request funding for architectural programming without requiring the submission of a feasibility study. Requires an agency to complete architectural programming before requesting an appropriation for the design and construction of a capital development project. Increases the maximum project cost threshold (from $100,000 to $1,500,000) under which a state entity may directly supervise the design and construction of a state facility and establishes higher supervisory thresholds for certain USHE institutions. Requires a state entity that elects to do so to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Division of Facilities and Construction Management that addresses compliance with division standards. Authorizes the Legislature to transfer any excess amount from the statewide contingency reserve to the General Fund or the Income Tax Fund and, if the excess amount is attributable to a higher education or technical college capital project, requires the Legislature to transfer the excess amount to the applicable capital project fund. See the bill for additional provisions and requirements. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) HB 515, 1st Substitute – Graduate Supplemental Loans (Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost): Establishes the Graduate Student Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund to provide supplemental financial aid to certain graduate students for whom the cost of graduate programs exceeds new federal financial aid limits. This bill requires the Board to administer the program, make rules to provide supplemental loans, and annually report on the program to the Legislature and Governor. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) HB 520 – Higher Education Student Housing Study (Rep. Jason Thompson, Sen. Brady Brammer): Requires the Governor’s Office, in consultation with the Commissioner of Higher Education, to complete a feasibility study regarding the impact of higher education student housing on surrounding communities and report to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 77 – Dual Language Immersion Amendments (Sen. Daniel McCay, Rep. Candice Pierucci): Provides a new definition of “qualified instructor” and requires a USHE institution that offers an upper-division course in the Utah Language Bridge Program to ensure a qualified instructor teaches or co-teaches the course. If a USHE institution cannot provide a qualified instructor for an LEA in its service region, it must partner with another USHE institution to provide an upper-division Utah Language Bridge Program course. Requires a USHE institution that offers an upper-division course under the Utah Language Bridge Program to ensure the course counts toward the related foreign language degree the institution offers. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) SB 95 – Public Speaking Amendments (Sen. Kathleen Riebe): Requires USHE institutions to conduct content-neutral risk assessments for public events with outside speakers and, based on a multi-level threat classification system outlined in the bill, take certain mandatory security measures corresponding to the assigned threat level. Requires coordination between USHE institutions and the Department of Public Safety. Requires an entity sponsoring the guest speaker’s appearance to obtain a specific level of general liability coverage. Mandates training, requires the designation of institutional coordinators, and requires reporting and oversight by the Board and the Legislature for certain provisions of the bill. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(DID NOT PASS) SB 107 – Education Legislation Advisory Commission Amendments (Sen. Keven Stratton): The first substitute of this bill (not yet adopted) creates an Education Legislation Advisory Commission to study public education-related issues in the state and propose and provide feedback to legislators on proposed public education-related legislation. Membership would include the Commissioner of Higher Education, representing the Board of Higher Education as a stakeholder in public education issues. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(DID NOT PASS) SB 118, 1st Substitute – Mental Health Services in Higher Education(Sen. Jen Plumb): Codifies an existing ongoing appropriation from the 2022 Legislative General Session (was previously detailed only in intent language, not in State Code). Establishes that the institution may use the appropriation for mental health peer coaching programming or for other mental health resources at USHE institutions. Establishes specific requirements for peer coaching programming at USHE institutions. Requires the Board to administer and monitor the funds. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 152 – Public and Higher Education Collaboration (Sen. Michael McKell, Rep. Val Peterson): Requires the Utah State Board of Education (K-12) and the Utah Board of Higher Education to establish and implement a process for disclosing grades 7-12 student data to UBHE and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to support secondary student engagement in college and career readiness programs and facilitate easier access to higher education admissions and financial aid. Requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to inform parents of their right to opt out of sharing this information with higher education entities. Requires compliance with state and federal data laws and requires higher education employees with access to grades 7-12 student data to be trained on federal and state student data privacy laws, proper handling and protection of student data, data breach prevention and response procedures, and authorized uses and disclosure limitations for data received under this part. Requires UBHE to make administrative rules in coordination with USBE. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 193 – State Legal Holiday Amendments (Sen. Keven Stratton, Rep. Walt Brooks): Starting with the 2027-28 academic year, requires higher education institutions, to the extent possible, to prioritize scheduling school breaks to coincide with Good Friday and other state holy days described in the bill. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 195 – Workforce Development (Sen. Ann Millner, Rep. Karen Peterson): Authorizes the Governor to delegate to the Board the authority to approve eligible USHE programs to submit to the Secretary of Education for consideration regarding participation in the federal Workforce Pell Grant program. Authorizes the Department of Workforce Services to provide wage record data to the Board. Authorizes the Utah Data Research Center to maintain a program to support data collection, analysis, and exchange with participating state agencies. Establishes the Statewide Youth Apprenticeship Governance Council to coordinate youth apprenticeship programs across the state agencies and education providers. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) SB 207 – Protection from Unfair Treatment Based on Religion or Other Irrelevant Characteristics (Sen. Brady Brammer, Rep. Jordan Teuscher): Requires a USHE institution to reasonably accommodate an individual’s beliefs, faith, or conscience in relation to the institution’s admissions process, a student’s attendance in class, the scheduling of an exam or academic requirement, and participation in specific academic requirements. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 216 – Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding (Sen. Ann Millner, Rep. Karen Peterson): Establishes a process and formula for determining certain enrollment-based funding for USHE institutions. Establishes new performance metrics and goals for performance-based funding specific to institutional roles and missions. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 240 – Higher Education Institutional Governance (Sen. Chris Wilson, Rep. Karen Peterson): Consolidates and reorganizes general duties of boards of trustees for institutions of higher education. Clarifies the relationship between trustees and the institutional president, including requirements that the president consult with the board of trustees when exercising authority to control and manage the institution’s budget and finances, and that the board of trustees conducts an annual performance review of the president in consultation with the Utah Board of Higher Education. Defines the authority of the board of trustees over institutional internal audits. This bill amends the membership of a technical college board of trustees for a service region that contains four or more school districts. Enacts provisions regarding the duties of an institution’s legal counsel, including requiring the Board of Higher Education to make rules regarding the scope of the role of an institution’s legal counsel. Prohibits the president from hiring outside counsel for the purpose of prosecuting or defending litigation and requires that, if outside counsel is hired, the attorney general shall approve the costs and services before the outside counsel incurs the cost. This bill also requires reporting of certain institutional compensation information, including information that demonstrates an institution is meeting the Board’s faculty teaching and instructional workload metrics. See the bill language for additional provisions and requirements. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
(DID NOT PASS) SB 260 – Dangerous Weapons at Institutions of Higher Education (Sen. Nate Blouin): Authorizes an institution of higher education to make rules and regulations regarding the carrying or possession of firearms at the higher education institution. Expands the offense of carrying a dangerous weapon at an institution to include carrying, possessing, or storing a dangerous weapon in a dormitory located on higher education grounds. This bill failed because the legislature struck the enacting clause.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 268 – Religious Curriculum in Schools (Sen. Todd Weiler, Rep. Tiara Auxier): Adds to existing statutory language requiring that a student shall demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States before receiving a bachelor’s degree or teaching credential by additionally requiring that the student demonstrate a reasonable understanding of “the role of religion in United States history and the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.” This bill passed both chambers and will be sent to Legislative Research and General Counsel for enrolling.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SB 295 – Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government (Sen. John Johnson, Rep. Katy Hall): Moves certain definitions created under HB 261 (2024 General Session) from Utah Code 67-27-108 to Utah Code Title 53H. Amends Utah Code 53H-1-504 to clarify that, in addition to existing language that says this section of code does not apply to academic course teaching in the classroom, this section additionally does not apply to a presentation or instruction given by a guest lecturer in an academic course or to a speaker invited to speak by an administrative unit of the institution, faculty member or faculty organization, staff member or staff organization, or student club or organization. Requires USHE degree-granting institutions to establish policies, practices, and procedures that will introduce campus communities to diverse viewpoints, including hosting public policy events such as group forums and debates. Requires the institution to maintain an online calendar and recordings of such events when they are open to the public. Requires the Utah Board of Higher Education to annually provide the previous academic year’s calendars of these events to the Governor, Education Interim Committee, and Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Clarifies that nothing in this section prohibits an institution from inviting an individual speaker who articulates a singular or specific perspective, and that nothing in this section requires the institution to strike an exact balance between presenters of differing viewpoints. This bill passed both chambers and will be sent to Legislative Research and General Counsel for enrolling.
(PASSED, awaiting Governor’s signature) SJR 8 – Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University (Sen. Brady Brammer, Rep. David Shallenberger): Directs Utah Valley University, in consultation with the Utah Board of Higher Education, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for establishing a law school at Utah Valley University or at another institution or as a shared school with multiple universities within the Utah System of Higher Education. Requires UVU to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the Education Interim Committee and the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee no later than Nov. 30, 2026. This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.