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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Overhauls Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding Models
Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Ann Millner and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
This measure restructures higher education funding in Utah by establishing new enrollment-based funding formulas, updating performance metrics for colleges and universities, and setting specific state cost-sharing weights effective July 1, 2026.
Changes how state tax dollars are distributed among Utah's public colleges and technical schools based on student enrollment changes and institutional performance in meeting workforce demands.
- The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee is a joint legislative committee responsible for reviewing operating budgets and recommending funding allocations for Utah's higher education system. context
- Utah utilizes a performance-based funding model and enrollment-based funding formulas to distribute state appropriations among its degree-granting universities and technical colleges. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
degree-granting institutions
Subject to new enrollment funding calculations, five-year performance metrics, budget recommendations, and institutional efficiency evaluations.
technical colleges
Subject to new technical college capacity funding frameworks, enrollment funding formulas with equivalent value for secondary and adult students, and placement rate performance metrics.
students under the age of 26 meeting specific homeless or state custody criteria
Eligible for mandatory waivers of transcript fees assessed by institutions of higher education.
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 does the state determine enrollment funding changes for higher education institutions?
What are the new performance metrics for colleges starting in July 2027?
Who is eligible for a transcript fee waiver under this bill?
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
47 actions- Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 41 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 5, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ floor amendment
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 23, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 23, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ floor amendment
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ amended
- Feb 3, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 3, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
- Jan 30, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0216
- Jan 30, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 29, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0216
- Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 29, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0216
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0216
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 28, 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 →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.
Transition to Workforce-Aligned Performance Metrics
The legislation shifts future performance periods toward workforce responsiveness, measuring degrees mapped to high-demand jobs and institutional efficiency per full-time equivalent student.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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