Utah Lawmakers Approve $31 Billion State Budget

Funding increases for public education and homelessness services, but cuts to some programs

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Utah State Legislature's powerful Executive Appropriations Committee voted on a $31 billion state budget in a Friday night meeting. The budget includes funding increases for public education and homelessness services, but also cuts to some programs like a digital teaching and learning tool for teachers. A controversial homeless campus project in Salt Lake City's Northpointe neighborhood did not receive funding. Lawmakers also invested more in water conservation and the Great Salt Lake, as well as set aside money for pending Colorado River legal fights.

Why it matters

The state budget reflects the priorities and spending decisions of Utah's legislative leadership, impacting a wide range of public services and programs across the state. The budget process is closely watched by advocacy groups, lobbyists, and the public to see which initiatives receive funding and which get cut.

The details

The $31 billion budget package includes a 5.1% increase in public education funding, but an $18.3 million cut to a digital teaching and learning tool for teachers was opposed by some lawmakers. A controversial homeless campus project planned for Salt Lake City's Northpointe neighborhood did not receive funding, with lawmakers saying 'it's maybe too much too fast.' The budget does include more funding for homelessness services, water conservation, and the Great Salt Lake, as well as money set aside for pending Colorado River legal fights. Lawmakers also approved another small income tax cut and some tax credits for children and child care.

  • The Executive Appropriations Committee voted on the $31 billion budget in a Friday night meeting.
  • The $31 billion budget package will be voted on by the entire Utah State Legislature on the final night of the legislative session.

The players

Jerry Stevenson

The Senate's budget chief, a Republican from Layton.

Kathleen Riebe

A Democratic state senator from Cottonwood Heights who objected to the $18.3 million cut to a digital teaching and learning tool for teachers.

Mike Schultz

The Republican House Speaker from Hooper.

Nick Coleman

Utah's interim homelessness coordinator, who said he was pleased with the homelessness services funding in the budget.

Erin Jemison

From the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, who was happy that the budget included funding for victim services, including covering exams for victims of strangulation.

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What they’re saying

“This has been a very tough year. Revenues were down.”

— Jerry Stevenson, Senate Budget Chief (fox13now.com)

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

— Kathleen Riebe, State Senator (fox13now.com)

“Overall what was the total increase to public education?”

— Mike Schultz, House Speaker (fox13now.com)

“the camp idea has kind of drifted to the wayside. We'll have to look at that another year. It's maybe too much too fast.”

— Jerry Stevenson, Senate Budget Chief (fox13now.com)

“What's represented here tonight are high utilizers, emergency shelter and housing, and mental and behavioral health.”

— Nick Coleman, Interim Homelessness Coordinator (fox13now.com)

What’s next

The $31 billion budget package will be voted on by the entire Utah State Legislature on the final night of the legislative session.

The takeaway

The Utah state budget reflects the priorities and difficult tradeoffs faced by lawmakers, with funding increases for public education and homelessness services, but also cuts to some programs. The budget process highlights the ongoing challenges of allocating limited state resources to address a range of pressing needs across Utah.