This year’s state legislative session fell amid a national debate over the role, cost and governance of higher education. From funding to curriculum oversight, decisions made by Utah lawmakers reflected those broader discussions while highlighting the state’s measured approach to higher education governance.
One of the bills with the most immediate impact on colleges and universities is H.B. 265, which will require a collective cut of $60.5 million from the base budgets of the state’s eight public institutions. At nearly $20 million, cuts at the U will account for a third of the total higher education budget cut. Plans for how the cuts will be made must be approved by the Utah State Board of Higher Education by June 30. Once plans are approved, schools have the potential to earn funding back by reallocating it to programs that are deemed to be high-wage and high-demand.
“At the U, we are approaching H.B. 265 as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and make our university stronger,” said Taylor Randall, U president. “As we navigate the reallocation process, we are committed to working in partnership with state leaders to ensure our efforts help grow Utah’s economy, prepare students for high-demand careers, and amplify our impact across the state to improve the lives of all Utahns.”
Despite state revenues being down this year, lawmakers still allocated funding to the U for important healthcare initiatives, including $5.5 million to fund an expansion of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in Southern Utah to help address Utah’s primary care provider shortage, and just over $1 million for cancer screening and diagnostic equipment for the Huntsman Cancer Center Vineyard Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Other appropriations include:
- $4.7 million in performance funding
- $1 million in one-time funding and $500,000 in ongoing funding for the Odometry Lab
- $300,000 for a Non-partisan Debate Initiative
- $30,000 for the Impact Seminar at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
- Discretionary compensation increase for faculty and staff
- Funding for health and dental benefit cost increases
The legislature also approved allowing the U to bond for $65 million for the Huntsman Cancer Institute Vineyard Campus.
Here’s a look at other key legislation from this year’s session:
H.B. 77 implements new guidelines for flags displayed by any “unit of state government,” which includes the University of Utah.
Under the new law, flags for the United States, other countries, state governments and their subdivisions, the university, the Olympic Winter Games, Native American tribes and veteran or POW recognitions are allowed. Other types of flags are generally prohibited from being posted in a prominent location, including Pride flags, Juneteenth flags and government flags with altered colors and symbols.
Students, faculty and staff may wear or carry a flag as a personal expression of free speech or support for a group or historical event. University employees may also use flags as personal decorations in their offices so long as they are not easily visible outside of their personal space.
Flags may also be used as decorations in connection with a brief cultural celebration hosted by the university within a university building. Learn more about the guidelines here.
H.B. 269 outlines new requirements for students living in residential housing on campus. Students who apply for U housing will be asked to select either a “male” “female” or “gender inclusive housing” room when they apply. Per H.B. 269, if a student selects “male” or “female” this should align with the students’ sex at birth.
To ensure that all U students can live on campus, have a successful student experience, and enjoy all the amenities, benefits and experiences available to residential students, gender-inclusive housing is available to any student who feels this environment is right for them. Gender-inclusive housing options are available for students who are either unable or do not feel comfortable selecting a “male” or “female” room.
Gender-inclusive housing rooms are offered in every residential building (with the exception of Gateway Heights), and across every room type in order to give students maximum availability and flexibility when selecting their rooms.
This bill expands the scope for the use of funds generated from specialty license plates to include compensation to student athletes for the use of the student athlete's name, image or likeness, NIL.H.B. 341: Higher Education Revisions
Under this legislation, the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine will be able to provide medical school education to students in other states and enter into agreements with out-of-state medical school programs to provide education to their students.
This bill allows Utah student-athletes to receive direct Name, Image, or Likeness (NIL) compensation without losing eligibility and provides financial oversight, preventing tuition and state funds from covering NIL payments. It also mandates policies against abusive coaching, ensuring a safer environment.
As a part of the state budget bill, the University of Utah School of Dentistry is directed to expand care to pregnant individuals and pediatric patients. In response to both industry and state leaders' requests, the school will now provide high-quality dental services to all Medicaid patients. This expansion is projected to save the state approximately $20 million annually and allow students at our dental school the opportunity to provide excellent care to more patients.
This bill establishes a pilot project allowing the higher education institutions to manage and develop their own real estate assets. Subject to approval by governing bodies, under this bill the U will be allowed to generate additional revenue through developing and improving campus infrastructure without relying solely on state funding.
After S.B. 226: School of General Education Act failed in committee during the 2024 legislative session, the bill’s sponsor Rep. John Johnson, R- North Ogden, worked with leaders at Utah State University to draft S.B. 334. Passed during the 2025 legislative session, this bill will create a Center for Civic Excellence at USU, which will overhaul general education courses at the institution to focus Western civilization and the rise of Christianity. It is anticipated the curriculum instituted at USU will act as a pilot program for the state.