Utah’s 45-day legislative session wrapped up earlier this month with a record introduction of 1,015 bills — just over half of which passed. Last week, the Hinckley Institute of Politics hosted a panel of lawmakers to discuss the session’s highlights.

“The truth is what you see in the news is the sexy stuff that develops a story,” said Rep. Grant Miller, D- Salt Lake County. “But quite frankly, most of what we’re doing is just government administration.”

While that may be true, many developments from this session are poised to have large impacts on the lives of Utahns and the University of Utah. Here is some of the funding secured for the U this session: 

Ongoing funding:

• 2.5% labor market compensation increase for university employees and funding for health and dental benefit cost increases
• $1.8M for the medical school in St. George, where 10 new medical students will begin their studies this fall
• $300K for the Utah Wildfire Camera Network
• $616K for operations and maintenance of the Rio Grande Building
• $245K for the Reading Clinic
• $125K for the Statewide Population Data Improvement Project
• $10K for SafeUT App multilanguage translation services

One-time funding:

• $18.6M for the Utah Health Artificial Intelligence Vault 
• $15M for AI Research Infrastructure
• $5M for cancer research
• $4.5M  for the Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Program 
• $1M for Veterans PTSD Clinical Research 
• $620K for the University Academy at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute
• $45M to establish a pilot research grant program for Utah System of Higher Education schools 

Here’s a sampling of the panel conversation where Miller was joined by Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Davis County; Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Salt Lake County; and Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake County. Jason Parry, vice president for government relations and director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, moderated. 

Investing in research

In the face of growing uncertainty around federal funding, Utah lawmakers invested in university research at a historic level. This session, Sen. Anne Milner and Rep. Karen Peterson sponsored legislation to create a competitive research grant program open to all Utah degree-granting institutions. Lawmakers approved $45 million for the fund. In order to maximize this investment, institutions can access the funds by matching them with federal dollars or private foundation support.

“Research does not happen without intentional thought and investment,” Peterson said.  

Boosting mental health resources

When it comes to accessing mental health resources, accuracy matters. A legislative audit found that nearly 70% of mental health providers listed in insurance directories were not actually available to new patients. Rep. Steve Elison sponsored and passed legislation requiring these directories be kept current, an effort to reduce barriers to help for those already struggling.

Lawmakers also increased funding for Safe UT, a free, state-sponsored app that connects users to licensed clinical social workers at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, completely anonymously. This funding will provide translation services so the app can be used in multiple languages. 

“No AI, just live caring people,”  Elison said. “And you don’t have to be on the verge of a suicidal crisis to reach out.”

An additional bill formalizes a pathway for law enforcement to divert people in mental health crises to treatment facilities rather than jail.

Addressing housing affordability through infrastructure 

“The biggest concern I hear from constituents and people your age is, ‘Am I ever gonna be able to afford a house?’” Peterson said. 

Addressing home ownership access requires coordination between state and local government. Across the state there are thousands of lots that have already been zoned and approved for development, but can’t be built on because water, sewer, and storm drain infrastructure hasn’t reached them yet. Legislation passed this session explores state and local government partnerships to fund that last-mile infrastructure, specifically for affordable housing projects.

Moving water policy forward

Utah’s warmest and driest winter on record pushed water policy to the top of this year’s legislative agenda. Bipartisan bills targeted everything from data center water usage transparency to overhead irrigation reform and long-term Great Salt Lake planning. A $60 million federal settlement also secured public access to a key stretch of the lakeshore.

But lawmakers were frank that legislation alone won’t solve it. 

“We live in a desert, but (the way) we use water is not matching,” said Sen. Luz Escamilla. 

The panel noted that hydrologists studying centuries of tree ring data have found the region has experienced droughts lasting 70 years. This current dry cycle began about 15 years ago, leading to options once considered for-fetched, including desalination, to be seriously discussed.

Watch the full panel discussion and learn more about upcoming Hinckley forums, lectures, and public events at hinckley.utah.edu. Learn more about Hinckley legislative internship opportunities here.