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HB 352UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah directs the regional alignment and integration of higher education institutions

Original title: Higher Education Alignment

Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Karen Peterson and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Utah requires the Utah Board of Higher Education to group state colleges and universities into geographic regions, ensure integrated programs and shared services, and report to lawmakers by August 2026. The measure takes effect on May 6, 2026, and amends Section 53H-3-602 of the Utah Code.

Why it matters

Students across Utah public colleges and technical schools face changes to credit transfers, program pathways, and shared administrative services as institutions are reorganized into regional networks.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Utah Board of Higher Education

The board is required to organize institutions into geographic regions, facilitate integration, consult with campus stakeholders, and report to the legislature by August 2026.

Directly affected

Utah higher education students

Students experience changes to credit transfer predictability, integrated admission and enrollment processes, stackable program pathways, and shared student services.

Directly affected

Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee

The subcommittee receives a report from the board regarding the establishment of regional institutional organizations by August 2026.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the bill require the Utah Board of Higher Education to do?
The bill requires the board to organize state higher education institutions into geographic regions containing at least one degree-granting institution and one technical college, and to facilitate horizontal and among them.
When does the board have to report on its regional organization?
The board must report to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee by August 2026.
When does the law take effect?
The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

38 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 11, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 32 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 5, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  7. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  8. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  9. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  10. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  11. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  12. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Feb 13, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  14. Feb 12, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  15. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  16. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  17. Feb 10, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  18. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ floor amendment
  19. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  20. Feb 2, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  21. Feb 2, 2026House
    House/ committee report favorable
  22. Jan 30, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  23. Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  24. Jan 26, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  25. Jan 26, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0352
  26. Jan 25, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0352
  27. Jan 23, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  28. Jan 23, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  29. Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0352
  30. Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0352
  31. Jan 23, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  32. Jan 23, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Karen PetersonHouse · District 13RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Evan VickersSenate · District 28RepublicanCosponsor

Connected Entities

Utah Board of Higher Education, Snow College, University of Utah and 7 more
OrganizationUtah Board of Higher Education“Directed to organize institutions into regions and report to the subcommittee”Map →
OrganizationSnow College“Snow College comprehensive community college”Map →
OrganizationUniversity of Utah“Research university designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationHigher Education Appropriations Subcommittee“Receives the regional organization report from the board by August 2026”Map →
OrganizationUtah Valley University“Regional university designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationUtah Tech University“Regional university designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationSalt Lake Community College“Comprehensive community college designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationUtah State University“Research university designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationSouthern Utah University“Regional university designated in state code”Map →
OrganizationWeber State University“Regional university designated in state code”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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