Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB373: Higher Education Innovation
Status: Signed into law, March 18, 2026
This bill creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 11, 2026:
0 Higher Education Innovation 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Karen M. Peterson Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner LONG TITLE General Description: This bill creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - defines terms; - amends provisions regarding the Nucleus Institute, including: - authority regarding a facility on point of the mountain state land; - renaming the Utah Innovation Fund to the Nucleus Fund; - amending the appointment of certain positions and board members; and - amending compensation; - allows the commissioner of higher education to undertake certain duties previously dedicated to the Utah Board of Higher Education (board); - creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding; - requires the board to administer and approve funding grants, potentially through the Nucleus Institute, the Talent, Education, and Industry Alignment Board, or an ad hoc committee; - requires the board to report on the research funding grant program; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: This bill appropriates $50,000,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all of which is from the Income Tax Fund. Other Special Clauses: This bill provides a special effective date. Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 11-59-202 Effective 07/01/26 Repealed 01/01/29 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, …
Sponsors
- Peterson, Karen M. (R, 13) · primary sponsor
- Millner, Ann (R, 5)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : House/ to Governor
- : House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from House for Enrolling
- : House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
Votes
- House/ concurs with Senate amendment (March 5, 2026): 64 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (March 4, 2026): 28 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 26, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 20, 2026): 66 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 12, 2026): 5 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (February 12, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: School Finance, Education, Utah System of Higher Education, Governance, Higher Education, Colleges and Universities, Utah Board of Higher Education
Common questions
- What is HB373?
- HB373 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Higher Education Innovation.
- What does HB373 do?
- This bill creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding.
- What is the status of HB373?
- Signed into law as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB373?
- Peterson, Karen M. (R, 13), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB373?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0373.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.