Governor signs first bills of the 2022 General Legislative Session

SALT LAKE CITY— Gov. Spencer Cox signed nine bills in the 2022 legislative session Wednesday. Most of the bills were base budgets for different areas and one addressed students attending school in person, altering the test to stay requirements.

According to release from the Governor’s office, “Test to Stay is one element of a layered approach to offer in-person learning in a safe manner.  This law clarifies that the state will implement Test to Stay when it is determined that it will be helpful in controlling the spread of COVID-19. The virus has been evolving and our response needs to too.”

The bills included the following:

HB 183	In-Person Learning Amendments
HB 1	Public Education Base Budget Amendments
HB 5	Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Base Budget
HB 6	Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Base Budget
HB 7	Social Services Base Budget
SB 1	Higher Education Base Budget
SB 4	Business, Economic Development, and Labor Base Budget
SB 6	Infrastructure and General Government Base Budget
SB 7	National Guard, Veterans Affairs, and Legislature Base Budget

Gov. Cox spoke to allotting money to Utah’s “rainy day funds.”

“Utah has consistently built rainy day reserves since the last economic downturn — even during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Cox said. “The state’s major rainy day fund balances total more than $1.15 billion as of FY 2022, including $231 million in deposits made at the end of FY 2021. We’re thrilled that the Legislature agrees that planning for future unknowns is vital to our economic health with the allocation of an additional $57 million in rainy day fund deposits.”

In addition, money was allocated to improve Utah’s infrastructure.

“Reflective of its continuous AAA bond rating, Utah consistently considers both long-term and short-term impacts when budgeting for infrastructure,” Gov. Cox said. “We are grateful that the Legislature agreed to address authorized and outstanding bonds with one-time funds for the prison and FrontRunner double-track projects to ensure that our children do not have to pay for what we want today. This excellent use of one-time funds demonstrates the fiscal responsibility and foresight that our federal partners lack.”