HB 373 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Higher Education Innovation

HB 373 creates a pilot grant program to fund higher education research at Utah public universities, administered by the Utah Board of Higher Education through the Nucleus Institute or other designated bodies. The bill allows the commissioner of higher education to take over certain duties previously handled by the board and requires annual reporting on the program's implementation. It does not appropriate new state funds, and the program would operate under existing funding mechanisms. The bill directly affects Utah public universities, research institutions, and faculty seeking competitive funding for innovative academic projects.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Signed Mar 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add $50 million in funding for a higher education research pilot program and to update the Senate sponsor. The most significant policy change is the addition of administrative funding authority, allowing the board to use up to 1% of legislative appropriations to manage the new research grant program. The bill also includes technical corrections to section numbering and clarifies the name of the fund from 'Utah Innovation Fund' to 'Nucleus Fund'.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific administrative funding authority for the research pilot program, whereas the original version did not specify how the program would be administered financially.

FISCAL

Added $50 million in operating and capital budget appropriations from the Income Tax Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program.

REQUIREMENT

Added authority for the board to use up to 1% of legislative appropriations to administer the research grant program.

DEFINITION

Updated the name of the fund from 'Utah Innovation Fund' to 'Nucleus Fund' in multiple sections.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Ann Millner' and fixed formatting issues in section headers.

Amended 2/13/2026 10:02:704 → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a pilot grant program for higher education research funding, establishes a 'First Credential' program for high school students to earn industry-recognized certifications, and renames the Utah Innovation Fund to the Nucleus Fund. It also grants the Higher Education Authority new powers to manage the Point of the Mountain state land and allows the Commissioner of Higher Education to assume certain duties previously held by the Board. The changes aim to boost economic development through research, improve workforce readiness, and streamline institutional governance.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Higher Education Authority's powers regarding state land development and introduces new programs for student credentials and research grants that were not present in the previous version.

FISCAL

Establishes a new 'Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program' that distributes funds from the Performance Funding Restricted Account to research institutions and applied research projects based on specific criteria like impact and industry connection.

ELIGIBILITY

Creates a 'First Credential' program allowing high school students to earn certificates for completing concurrent enrollment courses, apprenticeships, or technical college certificates, with associated scholarships.

DEFINITION

Renames the 'Utah Innovation Fund' to the 'Nucleus Fund' and updates related definitions for the Nucleus Institute and investment committee.

REQUIREMENT

Grants the Higher Education Authority new powers to plan, manage, and implement development of the Point of the Mountain state land, including entering development agreements and imposing impact fees.

Allows the Commissioner of Higher Education to undertake duties previously dedicated to the Utah Board of Higher Education, shifting certain administrative responsibilities.

Requires the Higher Education Board to report annually on the new research funding pilot program to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee.

TIMELINE

Updates the effective date of the bill to July 1, 2026, and adjusts repeal dates for various sections in Title 53 and 53H.

Amended Excerpts 2/13/2026 10:02:704 → Amended 2/13/2026 10:02:704 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a new pilot grant program to fund higher education research in Utah, focusing on projects that connect with local industries and economic needs. It also establishes the 'Nucleus Institute' to manage a new investment fund (formerly the Utah Innovation Fund) for commercializing university technologies. Additionally, the bill introduces a 'First Credential Program' to help high school students earn industry-recognized certifications and provides a new scholarship for future public safety officers.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of higher education funding by adding a specific research pilot program and creates a new independent quasi-public corporation (the Nucleus Institute) to manage technology commercialization investments, while simultaneously repealing several older council and committee provisions.

FISCAL

Established a new 'Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program' that uses unearned performance funding to grant money to research institutions and applied research projects at regional institutions.

Created the 'Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship Program' to provide tuition and fee assistance to high school graduates who commit to working as peace officers for at least five years.

SCOPE

Created the 'Nucleus Institute,' an independent nonprofit corporation to oversee the Nucleus Fund, which invests in Utah businesses to commercialize technologies developed at universities.

Repealed multiple sections related to the Higher Education and Corrections Council, the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, and various other advisory boards and councils.

ELIGIBILITY

Introduced a 'First Credential Program' allowing high school students to earn industry-recognized certificates through concurrent enrollment, apprenticeships, or technical college courses, with associated scholarships.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Utah Innovation Fund' to the 'Nucleus Fund' and updated related definitions regarding the Nucleus Institute and investment committees.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the board of directors for the Nucleus Institute to include the director of the Talent Ready Utah Program and changed appointment processes for board and investment committee members.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

28–1

Passed

Total votes 29

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

21 Yea 1 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 18, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ to House with amendments

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor