UtahUtah’s economic development council coordinates statewide priorities
Starting May 6, Utah’s economic development council will set statewide priorities, coordinate certain projects, and report to lawmakers.
What it does
The law provides for a council to set statewide economic development objectives, coordinate projects with regional or statewide effects, and advise the office and Legislature. The governor or a designee chairs the council.
The law requires an initial report on coordination around opportunity zone applications, followed by annual reports on the council’s objectives and the office’s work.
Argument forThe council could help align projects that affect multiple communities and give lawmakers recommendations on statewide economic development priorities.
Argument againstThe council’s coordination role could add another step when state and local bodies plan projects with regional or statewide effects.
More detail
The law provides for an Economic Development Council to set statewide objectives, coordinate certain projects, and advise the office and Legislature. The council includes the governor or designee, legislative leaders or designees, and representatives of specified authorities, cities, and counties. The council includes state officials, legislative leaders or their designees, representatives of specified development authorities, and representatives for cities and counties. These provisions take effect May 6, 2026.
The law requires the council chair and executive director to report to lawmakers about the council’s and office’s work. Reports go to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee. Reports cover coordination around opportunity zone applications, the council’s objectives and project coordination, and the executive director’s progress and duties. The initial report is due by May 31, 2026. Annual council reports begin by July 1, 2027, and annual executive director reports begin by July 1, 2028.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 16House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 16House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 5House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ substituted
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0475S04
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0475S04
- Mar 3LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0475S04
- Mar 3LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0475S04
- Feb 27Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 27Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 24Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 24LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0475S03
- Feb 23Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 23LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0475S03
- Feb 21Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 20House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 20House/ substituted
- Feb 20House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 20LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0475S03
- Feb 20LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0475S03
- Feb 17LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0475S02
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0475S02
- Feb 13House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 13House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
- Feb 12House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 12House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Major
- Feb 12LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0475S02
- Feb 12LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0475S02
- Feb 11House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 11Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0475S01
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0475S01
- Feb 9House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 6LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0475S01
- Feb 6LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0475S01
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0475
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0475
- Feb 4House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 4House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0475
- Feb 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0475
- Feb 4Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 4Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Economy & JobsGovernment & Ethics