Utah Lawmakers Unveil $31 Billion Budget Recommendations for 2026

Republican leaders prioritize tax cuts, prison expansion, and homelessness funding in final budget proposal

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

With one week left in the 2026 Utah legislative session, Republican lawmakers on the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee have unveiled their final budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The $31 billion proposal includes a $101 million income tax rate cut, $130 million for a state prison expansion, and $17.6 million in ongoing funding for homelessness programs, among other priorities.

Why it matters

Utah's budget process is closely watched as the state has maintained a reputation for fiscal responsibility. This year's recommendations reflect Republican priorities around tax cuts and criminal justice, while also allocating significant new funding for homelessness and education - key issues for both parties. The final budget will shape the state's spending and policy agenda for the next year.

The details

The budget recommendations include $101 million for an income tax rate cut, $130 million for a state prison expansion, and about $17.6 million in ongoing funding for homelessness programs, including money for emergency shelters, mental health services, and a tiny home community. Lawmakers also allocated $35 million for workforce development programs in schools and $25 million for increased per-pupil spending on at-risk students. However, Democrats expressed disappointment over an $18.3 million cut to a digital training program for teachers.

  • The Utah Legislature's 2026 general session is scheduled to adjourn by midnight on March 6.
  • The Executive Appropriations Committee released its budget recommendations on Friday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Executive Appropriations Committee

The powerful budgetary body in the Utah Legislature that decides how to allocate the state's more than $31 billion budget.

Sen. Kathleen Riebe

A Democratic state senator from Cottonwood Heights who expressed concerns about a cut to a digital training program for teachers.

Sen. Jennifer Dailey-Provost

A Democratic state senator from Salt Lake City who said the budget process was "gut wrenching" but that the cuts could have been "so much worse."

Senate President Stuart Adams

A Republican state senator from Layton who emphasized that the committee was recommending a more than 7% increase to the state's overall budget.

House Speaker Mike Schultz

A Republican state representative from Hooper who noted that public education would be getting a more than 5% increase in funding.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a teaching program that we train over 8,000 teachers every year to use the technology that we adopt.”

— Sen. Kathleen Riebe, Democratic state senator (Utah News Dispatch)

“Especially after going through the potential cuts in social services, I'm just so relieved.”

— Sen. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, Democratic state senator (Utah News Dispatch)

“I think we've spent too much.”

— Senate President Stuart Adams, Republican state senator (Utah News Dispatch)

What’s next

Lawmakers will spend the next week finalizing the budget before the legislative session adjourns on March 6.

The takeaway

Utah's Republican-controlled legislature has crafted a budget proposal that reflects the party's priorities around tax cuts and criminal justice, while also allocating significant new funding for homelessness and education - key issues for both parties. The final budget will shape the state's spending and policy agenda for the next fiscal year.