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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah appropriates $50 million for Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program and renames Utah Innovation Fund to Nucleus Fund
Last action · March 18, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Karen Peterson and 2 others
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What This Bill Does
Utah lawmakers enacted HB 373 to establish a competitive research funding grant program for higher education institutions, supported by a $50 million one-time from the Income Tax Fund for 2027. The legislation also renames the Utah Innovation Fund to the under the newly adjusted Nucleus Institute, shifting governance and administrative responsibilities effective July 1, 2026.
Higher education research institutions will compete for state grants totaling $50 million, with 75% to 85% allocated to major research universities and 15% to 25% designated for applied research projects at regional institutions.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Higher education institutions
Eligible colleges and universities may apply for and receive grants from the $50 million research funding allocation.
Nucleus Institute
The organization undergoes a name change for its associated fund and assumes updated responsibilities regarding state research and commercialization.
Utah Board of Higher Education
The board is tasked with administering grant applications, establishing scoring rubrics, and submitting annual legislative reports.
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
How much money is appropriated for the research funding pilot program?
How will the research grant money be divided among institutions?
What is the Nucleus Institute's role under this legislation?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
52 actions- Mar 18, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 12, 2026HouseHouse/ to Governor
- Mar 12, 2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Clerk of the HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 46 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from House for Enrolling
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 4, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 3, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0373S02
- Mar 3, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0373S02
- Mar 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0373S02
- Mar 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0373S02
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 24, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 23, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 20, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 13, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 13, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ amended
- Feb 12, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 12, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Amendment Recommendation
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 10, 2026House Rules CommitteeBill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
- Feb 4, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0373S01
- Feb 4, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0373S01
- Feb 2, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0373S01
- Feb 2, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0373S01
- Jan 29, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0373
- Jan 26, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 26, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0373
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0373
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill 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 →Voting Record
House/ passed 3rd reading
Total
75
- Yes
- 66
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 8
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (1)
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Restructuring of Higher Education Innovation Funding
The state consolidated and rebranded innovation investment structures by renaming the Utah Innovation Fund to the Nucleus Fund and creating a dedicated $50 million research grant pilot program.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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